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In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists

A concurrent outbreak of infection with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis occurred in adult captive African lions ( Panthera leo). Two 17-y-old male lions and one 14-y-old female lion developed respiratory distress, lethargy, ataxia, and hyporexia. Within 3–5 d of the onset of clinical signs, one male and the female lion died and were submitted for postmortem examination. Macroscopically, the liver and spleen had multifocal-to-coalescing, semi-firm, pale-tan nodules throughout the parenchyma. The lungs were non-collapsed and marked by petechiae. Histologic examination identified lytic, necrosuppurative foci in the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidney, with abundant intralesional gram-negative coccobacilli in the male lion. Similar findings were seen in the female lion in the liver, spleen, kidney, and mesenteric lymph node; however, the intralesional bacterial colonies were more pleomorphic, comprising rod and filamentous morphologies. Aerobic bacterial culture of the liver, spleen, and lung revealed Y. pseudotuberculosis growth. The source of infection is unknown, and an epidemiologic study was performed. Sources to be considered are from the predation of rodent and/or bird reservoirs, or contaminated soil or water. Mortality associated with Y. pseudotuberculosis has been described in an African lion cub, however, to our knowledge, Y. pseudotuberculosis has not been reported in adult African lions, and this is only the second report of Y. pseudotuberculosis with aberrant bacterial morphology observed histologically.

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists

Infection by Rhodococcus equi is considered one of the major health concerns for foals worldwide. In order to better understand the disease’s clinical and pathological features, we studied twenty cases of natural infection by R. equi in foals. These cases are characterized according to their clinical and pathological findings and immunohistochemical aspects. Necropsy, histologic examination, bacterial culture, R. equi and Pneumocystis spp. immunohistochemistry were performed. The foals had a mean age of 60 days and presented respiratory signs (11/20), hyperthermia (10/20), articular swelling (6/20), prostration (4/20), locomotor impairment (3/20) and diarrhea (3/20), among others. The main lesions were of pyogranulomatous pneumonia, seen in 19 foals, accompanied or not by pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis (10/20) and pyogranulomatous and ulcerative enterocolitis (5/20). Pyogranulomatous osteomyelitis was seen in 3 foals, one of which did not have pulmonary involvement. There was lymphoplasmacytic (4/20), lymphoplasmacytic and neutrophilic (1/20) or pyogranulomatous arthritis (1/20), affecting multiple or singular joints. Immunohistochemistry revealed to be a valuable tool for the detection of R. equi, confirming the diagnosis in all cases. Furthermore, pulmonary immunostaining for Pneumocystis spp. demonstrates that a coinfection with R. equi and this fungal agent is a common event in foals, seen in 13 cases. RESUMO: Infecção por Rhodococcus equi é considerado um dos maiores problemas sanitários para potros em todo o mundo. Para melhor compreender a apresentação clínica e patológica da enfermidade, foram avaliados vinte casos de infecção natural por R. equi em potros. Os casos são caracterizados de acordo com seus achados clínicos e patológicos e aspectos imuno-histoquímicos. Foram realizados exames de necropsia, histologia, bacteriologia e imuno-histoquímica para R. equi e Pneumocystis spp. Os potros tinham idade media de 60 dias e apresentaram sinais respiratórios (11/20), hipertermia (10/20), aumento de volume articular (6/20), prostração (4/20), distúrbios locomotores (3/20) e diarreia (3/20), entre outros. As lesões mais importantes eram pneumonia piogranulomatosa, vista em 19 potros, acompanhada ou não por linfadenite piogranulomatosa (10/20) e enterocolite ulcerativa (5/20). Osteomielite piogranulomatosa foi constatada em três potros, um dos quais não apresentava envolvimento pulmonar. Artrites afetando uma ou múltiplas articulações eram caracterizadas por infiltrado linfoplasmocítico (4/20), linfoplasmocítico e neutrofílico (1/20) e piogranulomatoso (1/20). A imuno-histoquímica demonstrou ser uma ferramenta valiosa na detecção de R. equi, permitindo confirmar o diagnóstico em todos os casos avaliados. Além disso, a imuno-histoquímica para Pneumocystis spp. demonstra que a coinfecção por R. equi e o agente fúngico é um evento frequente em potros, constatado em 13 casos.

A concurrent outbreak of infection by canine parvovirus 2b (CPV-2b) and Clostridium difficile producing A and/or B toxins occurred in Asian small-clawed otters ( Amblonyx cinereus). The 5 clinically affected otters were 6- to 24-mo-old intact females that had severe diarrhea, dehydration, were acutely comatose, and died 1–4 d after the onset of clinical signs. Postmortem examination was performed in 3 of 7 otters. Macroscopically, the small intestine was diffusely reddened and contained red-to-brown, malodorous, watery digesta without formed feces (3 of 3). Histologic examination identified loss of enterocytes and necrosis of crypt epithelial cells. Denuded villi were often covered by mixed bacterial colonies with a predominance of gram-positive cocci to short rods in addition to larger gram-positive and -negative rods. There was also splenic lymphoid follicle depletion (2 of 3). Immunofluorescence assay revealed CPV antigen in enterocytes (2 of 3), mesenteric lymph nodes (3 of 3), and spleen (1 of 3). Immunohistochemistry revealed CPV antigen in enterocytes, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells of the Peyer patches and spleen (3 of 3), and lingual epithelial cells (1 of 2). CPV was isolated from tissues from 2 of 3 otters, and DNA sequencing identified CPV-2b for the 1 isolate tested. C. difficile producing A and/or B toxins were identified in the intestinal content by ELISA (3 of 3). To our knowledge, an outbreak of CPV-2b infection and C. difficile with clinically significant gastrointestinal disease has not been described previously in otters. The source of the viral infections remains unknown; however, these agents should be considered in otters and other mesocarnivores with similar clinical and pathologic findings.

Previous research has shown that the transect walks (TW) method provide a practical and effective approach to welfare assessment in broiler and turkey farms. This method for turkey welfare assessment is reasonable in terms of time demands within minimal costs. Furthermore, TW approach resembles the routine checks used by farmers. The overall aim of this study was to verify the feasibility of the TW method as potential practical tool for on-farm welfare assessment in turkeys during the fattening period. A total of 14 commercial turkey farms (8 male and 6 female flocks) of the same genetic strain (British United Turkeys [B.U.T.] - Big 6) with similar management standard procedures were evaluated. Bird ages at evaluation ranged from 122 to 138 D and 90 to 103 D old, for males and females, respectively. Two independent assessors walked slowly on randomized longitudinal paths (transects) within each house, while recording the prevalence of birds showing any of the 12 welfare and health indicators considered: immobility, lameness, wounds, small size, featherless, dirtiness, sick, terminally ill, dead, and behavioral indicators, such as, aggression towards mate, interaction with humans and mating. The effect of assessor, gender, and interaction assessor by gender was evaluated by using ANOVA. Reliability of the method was noted by the effect of gender (P0.001) for immobility, lameness, wounds, and dirtiness indicators. Male flocks showed higher prevalence of immobility (0.035±0.004% vs. 0.004±0.001%), lameness (2.269±0.108% vs. 1.253±0.051%), wounds (0.288±0.014% vs. 0.127±0.009%), and dirtiness (0.050±0.004% vs. 0.022±0.004%) as compared to female flocks. Differences among assessors were relatively minor, with differences detected only for back and tail wounds, dirtiness, aggression towards mate, and interaction with humans. This study reports advantages and limitations of this method for welfare assessment on-commercial turkey flocks and it is the first description of the Italian welfare profile of turkey's commercial flocks.

Freshwater salinization is a rapidly emerging ecological issue and is correlated with significant declines in aquatic biodiversity. It remains unclear how changing salinity regimes affect the physiology of sensitive aquatic insects. We used the parthenogenetic mayfly, Neocloeon triangulifer, to ask how ionic exposure history alters physiological processes and responses to subsequent major ion exposures. Using radiotracers (22Na, 35SO4, and 45Ca), we observed that mayflies chronically reared in elevated sodium or sulfate (157 mg L−1 Na or 667 mg L−1 SO4) had 2-fold (p

A concurrent outbreak of infection by canine parvovirus 2b (CPV-2b) and Clostridium difficile producing A and/or B toxins occurred in Asian small-clawed otters (Amblonyx cinereus). The 5 clinically affected otters were 6- to 24-mo-old intact females that had severe diarrhea, dehydration, were acutely comatose, and died 1–4 d after the onset of clinical signs. Postmortem examination was performed in 3 of 7 otters. Macroscopically, the small intestine was diffusely reddened and contained red-to-brown, malodorous, watery digesta without formed feces (3 of 3). Histologic examination identified loss of enterocytes and necrosis of crypt epithelial cells. Denuded villi were often covered by mixed bacterial colonies with a predominance of gram-positive cocci to short rods in addition to larger gram-positive and -negative rods. There was also splenic lymphoid follicle depletion (2 of 3). Immunofluorescence assay revealed CPV antigen in enterocytes (2 of 3), mesenteric lymph nodes (3 of 3), and spleen (1 of 3). Immunohistochemistry revealed CPV antigen in enterocytes, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells of the Peyer patches and spleen (3 of 3), and lingual epithelial cells (1 of 2). CPV was isolated from tissues from 2 of 3 otters, and DNA sequencing identified CPV-2b for the 1 isolate tested. C. difficile producing A and/or B toxins were identified in the intestinal content by ELISA (3 of 3). To our knowledge, an outbreak of CPV-2b infection and C. difficile with clinically significant gastrointestinal disease has not been described previously in otters. The source of the viral infections remains unknown; however, these agents should be considered in otters and other mesocarnivores with similar clinical and pathologic findings.

Polycystic liver is usually considered an incidental finding in human and veterinary medicine. Two unrelated adult llamas ( Lama glama) with a history of marked anorexia and weight loss were received for autopsy and diagnostic workup. The main gross change in the liver of both animals was multiple variably sized cysts randomly distributed throughout the parenchyma. Histologically, the cysts compressed the adjacent parenchyma and were lined by a single layer of cuboidal-to-columnar epithelium, surrounded by a fibrous collagen capsule. The lumen of the cysts contained finely granular-to-homogeneous basophilic material. The lining epithelium displayed strong immunoreactivity for pancytokeratin AE1/AE3 and cytokeratins 7, 8, 8/18, and 19, and was negative for vimentin, confirming the biliary epithelial origin of the cysts. No parasitic or infectious agents, or neoplastic changes, were detected. All other laboratory tests performed in both llamas were negative or non-diagnostic, suggesting that the congenital hepatic cysts described may have been at least partly responsible for clinical disease in both animals.

Liver cancer results in a high degree of mortality, especially among men. As fatty liver disease is a risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma, we investigated the role of dietary fat type in tumor promotion by high-fat diets in mice after initiation with the chemical carcinogen diethyl nitrosamine. Tumor incidence and multiplicity were significantly greater in males than those in females. In males, fat type had complex effects on tumorigenesis. Preneoplastic foci were most prevalent in mice fed a polyunsaturated fat diet enriched in docosahexaenoic acid, whereas carcinomas and large visible liver tumors were significantly greater in mice fed a saturated fat diet made with cocoa butter relative to mice fed mono- or polyunsaturated fats. Different mechanisms thus seemed involved in early and late tumor promotion. The hepatic transcriptome and gut microbiome were assessed for traits associated with tumorigenesis. Hepatic expression of more than 20% of all genes was affected by sex, whereas fat type affected fewer genes. In males, the saturated fat diet induced expression of the proto-oncogene Agap2 and affected the expression of several cytochrome P450 genes, and genes involved in lipid, bile acid and fatty acid metabolism. The gut microbiome had a higher level of genus Akkermansia and a lower level of Firmicutes in females than in males. Males fed saturated fat had an altered microbiome, including an enrichment of the genus Coprococcus. In conclusion, sex and the dietary fat type affect the gut microbiome, the hepatic transcriptome and ultimately hepatic tumor growth.

Difalo, pênis duplo ou bífido é uma anomalia congênita rara que ocorre em animais e no homem, com escassos relatos na literatura. Este relato apresenta um caso de difalia em um bovino macho adulto castrado. A peça do sistema reprodutor de um bovino foi encaminhada por um frigorífico local para realização de exame histológico. O material foi analisado, fixado em formol 10%, processado de forma rotineira para histologia e corado pela hematoxilina-eosina. Macroscopicamente, a peça apresentava duas glandes penianas, uma composta pelo corpo cavernoso, corpo esponjoso, uretra e prepúcio do pênis, sugerindo que esta fosse a parte normal. Adjacente a essa, havia uma formação tecidual idêntica à glande peniana, que, ao corte, no entanto, não se observavam uretra, corpos cavernoso e esponjoso. Ao exame microscópico das duas glandes, confirmou-se sua estrutura histológica, uma composta por corpo cavernoso, corpo esponjoso e uretra e a outra somente de tecido conjuntivo fibroso revestido por epitélio. O diagnóstico foi baseado nas alterações macroscópicas e constituição histológica característica. Esta anomalia pode prejudicar a micção assim como o desempenho reprodutivo do animal. Diphallus, double or bifid penis is a rare congenital anomaly that affects animals and human, which a few cases have been report in the literature. This report describes a case of diphallia in a bovine male, adult, castrated originating from a slaughterhouse that had two penile glands for histological exam. For microscopic examination, specimens were previously fixed in 10% formalin solution, processed routinely for histology and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Macroscopically, duplication of glans penis in this bull was observed, one of them was composed with corpus cavernosum, corpus spongiosum, urethra and prepuce. Besides, one portion of tissue that reminds a glans penis was next the normal organ. Although, corpus cavernosum, corpus spongiosum, urethra did not find. In histological examination of the two glands, only one showing corpus cavernosum, corpus spongiosum and urethra and another one had fibrous connective tissue lined by epithelium. The definitive diagnosis was based on macroscopic and histological features. This congenital anomaly could cause difficult in urination, also, affect reproductive performance of this animal.

Samples of the liver, telencephalon, brainstem, and cerebellum were obtained from 22 bovids suffering from spontaneous or experimental acute toxic liver disease. Perreyia flavipes larvae, and leaves of Cestrum corymbosum, Cestrum intermedium, Dodonaea viscosa, Trema micrantha, and Xanthium cavanillesii were the causal agents in the disorders studied. Hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid–Schiff staining, as well as anti-S100 protein (anti-S100), anti–glial fibrillary acidic protein (anti-GFAP), and anti-vimentin immunostaining were used to evaluate the brain sections. Astrocytic changes were observed in all samples and were characterized by swollen vesicular nuclei in gray (Alzheimer type II astrocytes) and white matter; and by abundant eosinophilic or vacuolated cytoplasm with pyknotic nuclei in the white matter. These changes were evidenced by anti-S100 and anti-GFAP immunostaining. Our study demonstrates major changes in astrocytes of cattle that died with neurologic clinical signs as the result of acute toxic liver disease.

Actinobacilose é uma doença infecciosa, não contagiosa, geralmente crônica, caracterizada por reação inflamatória piogranulomatosa que ocorre em bovinos e, menos comumente, em ovinos, suínos e equinos. Tecidos moles de cabeça, pescoço e linfonodos regionais são afetados. Neste estudo foram compilados e avaliados 18 casos de bovinos dos livros de registro de janeiro de 1997 a maio de 2011 com diagnóstico de actinobacilose. As lesões foram caracterizadas histologicamente, avaliadas por técnicas de histoquímica e imuno-histoquímica. No exame histológico foram evidenciados piogranulomas típicos de actinobacilose contendo clavas eosinofílicas radiadas, circundadas por neutrófilos, macrófagos, linfócitos e abundante tecido conjuntivo fibroso. Todas as lesões apresentaram cocobacilos Gram negativos na coloração de Gram histológico. Abundantes macrófagos tiveram marcação positiva para CD68, especialmente células epitelioides e células gigantes multinucleadas. Foi observada marcação positiva para CD3 (Linfócitos T) em cerca de 1:3 das células do infiltrado inflamatório linfocitário, e marcação positiva para CD79αcy (Linfócitos B) em 2:3 dos linfócitos, indicando que estes correspondem à maioria dos linfócitos nas áreas inflamatórias das lesões de actinobacilose. Actinobacillosis is a not contagious infectious disease, usually chronic, and characterized by pyogranulomatous inflammatory reaction that occurs in cattle and is less common in sheep, pig, and horse. Soft tissues of head, mouth, and regional lymph nodes are affected. In this retrospective study, lesions suggestive of Actinobacillosis from 18 cases of anatomopathologic bovine samples were retrieved from the archives of Setor de Patologia Veterinária of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, from January 1997 to May 2011. The lesions were classified histologically, evaluated by histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in order to standardize inflammatory infiltration. The most frequent histological findings were typical pyogranulomas of actinobacillosis contained radiating eosinophilic clubs surrounded by neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and abundant fibrous connective tissue. Gram-negative coccobacillus bacteria were shown in all lesions by Gram stain. Abundant macrophages were immunopositive for CD68, especially epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells. In addition, a positive immunostaining for CD3 (T lymphocyte) was observed in proportion of 1:3 in lymphocyte inflammatory infiltration, while IHC for CD79αcy (B lymphocytes) was obtained in proportion of 2:3. These results indicated that B lymphocytes are the majority of lymphocyte in the inflammatory area.

Trema micrantha, a fast-growing tree distributed throughout the Americas, produces palatable leaves that have been associated with hepatic necrosis and acute death when consumed by livestock. This report describes fatal pulmonary disease of sheep triggered by consumption of Trema micrantha. Affected sheep had severe progressive dyspnea for a few days before death. Subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema, reddened lungs, interalveolar septal thickening, and diffuse type II pneumocyte proliferation were the main pathological findings. After ingesting 77.5 and 102.5 g/kg (divided in 3 doses, at 30-day intervals) of T. micrantha leaves, 2 additional sheep developed the same condition. These findings indicate that T. micrantha toxicosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ovine respiratory disease.

Concern on animal welfare has become an important issue in Europe for a decade now. In commercial poultry husbandry, there are many trials to standardize the production in order to reduce the economic loss caused by poor welfare at marketing age. As it known, factors such as density, group size, space availability, maturation, lighting, feeding, and transportation can have effects on welfare of turkeys. However, to ensure a better quality of live for the birds as well as the industry as good performance, reducing the mortality and condemnations it is important to have another point of view as different kind of indicators. This paper reviews the available scientific literature related to the turkeys? welfare according to the main relevant physiopathology indicators by taking into a count whether they are feasible or not for being used. We addressed foot pad dermatitis and breast skin lesions as being the most relevant indicators so far. They may be relevant to improve the welfare assessment indicators of turkeys. However, measurements of corticosterone, enzyme activities, cytokines, and hematological profile seemed to be flourishing indicators to be applied more often. In this way associating the indicators that were previously studied to these new ones, it is assumed that animal, producer, industry and consumer may have a suitable bond between them (poultry chain) according to their different interests.

São descritos surtos de intoxicação espontânea por Cestrum intermedium em bovinos leiteiros do Município de Salgado Filho, sudoeste do Estado do Paraná, com morte de dezesseis bovinos de um total de 72 de quatro pequenas propriedades. O histórico obtido nessas propriedades incluía curso clínico agudo, com morte em menos de 24 horas. Em todas foram observadas elevada lotação por área com escassa pastagem disponível e grande quantidade de plantas arbustivas identificadas como C. intermedium e com sinais de terem sido consumidas pelos animais. Dois bovinos foram necropsiados e os achados mais importantes foram congestão de mucosas conjuntivais e vulvovestibular; hemorragias e evidenciação do padrão lobular no fígado; hemorragia, congestão e edema pulmonares; congestão esplênica e encefálica, além de hemorragias multifocais no coração. Amostras de tecidos desses bovinos foram avaliadas, com alterações histológicas importantes no fígado, caracterizadas por necrose acentuada de hepatócitos e hemorragia, indicativas de hepatopatia tóxica aguda e, no encéfalo, foram observadas alterações astrocitárias em substância branca de cérebro e cerebelo e na substância cinzenta do cerebelo, caracterizadas por tumefação celular com citoplasma amplo e eosinofílico, núcleo picnótico, ora excêntrico. Essas alterações astrocitárias foram evidenciadas pela técnica de imuno-histoquímica (IHQ), com imunomarcação fortemente positiva para os anticorpos anti-proteína S100 (anti-S100) e anti-proteína glial fibrilar ácida (anti-GFAP). O trabalho visa enfatizar em lesões encefálicas relacionadas à hepatotoxicidade aguda em bovinos Outbreaks of Cestrum intermedium poisoning affected cattle from dairy herds in Salgado Filho, Southwest of Paraná, southern Brazil, with death of sixteen from 72 animals of four small properties. The onset of the acute clinical signs and death within 24h were reported. High animal density and many shrubs identified as C. intermedium that showed signs of having been consumed by the animals were noticed in all farms. Two animals were necropsied and the most important findings were congested conjunctival and vulvovestibular mucosae; hemorrhages and enhanced lobular pattern in the liver; hemorrhages, congestion and edema in the lung; splenic and brain congestion, and multifocal hemorrhages in the heart. Tissue samples from these two bovines were evaluated. Histological lesions were marked in the liver, such as severe centrolobular necrosis and hemorrhage, what is indicative of acute toxic liver disease. In the brain tissue, astrocytic changes were observed in the white matter of the cerebrum and cerebellum, and in the gray matter of the cerebellum. They were characterized by cell swelling with large and eosinophilic cytoplasm, pyknotic and sometimes eccentric nucleus. These astrocytic changes features were demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques using the anti-S100 protein and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), with a strongly positive immunostaining for both antibodies. The paper aims to emphasize on neurological lesions of acute hepatotoxicity in cattle

Swine influenza (SI) is caused by the type A swine influenza virus (SIV). It is a highly contagious disease with a rapid course and recovery. The major clinical signs and symptoms are cough, fever, anorexia and poor performance. The disease has been associated with other co-infections in many countries, but not in Brazil, where, however, the first outbreak has been reported in 2011. The main aim of this study was to characterize the histological features in association with the immunohistochemical (IHC) results for influenza A (IA), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in lung samples from 60 pigs submitted to Setor de Patologia Veterinária at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (SPV-UFRGS), Brazil, during 2009-2010. All of these lung samples had changes characterized by interstitial pneumonia with necrotizing bronchiolitis, never observed previously in the evaluation of swine lungs in our laboratory routine. Pigs in this study had showed clinical signs of a respiratory infection. Swine samples originated from Rio Grande do Sul 31 (52%), Santa Catarina 14 (23%), Paraná 11 (18%), and Mato Grosso do Sul 4 (7%). Positive anti-IA IHC labelling was observed in 45% of the cases, which were associated with necrotizing bronchiolitis, atelectasis, purulent bronchopneumonia and hyperemia. Moreover, type II pneumocyte hyperplasia, alveolar and bronchiolar polyp-like structures, bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) hyperplasia and pleuritis were the significant features in negative anti-IA IHC, which were also associated with chronic lesions. There were only two cases with positive anti-PCV2 IHC and none to PRRSV. Therefore, SIV was the predominant infectious agent in the lung samples studied. The viral antigen is often absent due to the rapid progress of SI, which may explain the negative IHC results for IA (55%); therefore, IHC should be performed at the beginning of the disease. This study has shown how important a careful histological evaluation is for the diagnosis. Since 2009, a new histological feature of swine pneumonia in animals with respiratory clinical signs has been observed in samples from pigs with clinical respiratory disease submitted to SPV-UFRGS. In addition, the results proved the importance of histological evaluation for swine herd health management. Influenza suína (IS) é uma doença altamente contagiosa, de curso rápido e pronta recuperação, causada pelo vírus influenza tipo A (SIV). Os principais sinais clínicos são tosse, febre, anorexia e baixo desenvolvimento. A doença está presente em outros países e, geralmente, está associada com outros agentes infecciosos. No Brasil, a primeira descrição ocorreu em 2011 e foi associada ao vírus H1N1 pandêmico (pH1N1). O principal objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar as alterações histológicas em casos de doença respiratória suína sugestiva de IS e estudar a associação dessas alterações com os resultados de imuno-histoquímica (IHQ) anti-vírus da influenza A (SIV), anti-circovírus suíno tipo 2 (PCV2) e anti-vírus da síndrome reprodutiva e respiratória (PRRSV). Para tanto, foram estudadas amostras de pulmões de 60 suínos selecionadas dos materiais do arquivo do Setor de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (SPV-UFRGS), de casos de doença respiratória remetidos no período de 2009 a 2010 e que apresentavam alterações histopatológicas compatíveis com pneumonia viral causada pelo SIV. Todas as amostras apresentavam pneumonia intersticial e bronquiolite necrótica muito peculiar que não eram vistas antes na rotina do nosso laboratório. Trinta e uma amostras (52%) tiveram origem no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, 14 (23%) do Paraná, 11 (18%) de Santa Catarina e quatro (7%) do Mato Grosso do Sul. A IHQ para IA confirmou a presença do agente viral em 45% das amostras analisadas. Os achados histológicos mais significativos associados à IHQ positiva para IA foram bronquiolite necrótica, atelectasia, broncopneumonia purulenta e hiperemia. Por outro lado, as alterações histológicas dos pulmões estudados, mais significativamente associadas às IHQ negativa para IA foram hiperplasia dos pneumócitos tipo II, estruturas similares a pólipos em alvéolo e bronquíolo, hiperplasia de tecido linfoide associado a brônquios (BALT) e pleurite, que são alterações associadas a processos crônicos. Somente dois casos apresentaram marcação positiva na IHQ para PCV2 e nenhum pulmão foi positivo para PRRSV. Esses resultados sugerem que as lesões histológicas encontradas no presente estudo foram, predominantemente, causadas pelo SIV. Os casos negativos de IHQ para IA (55%) podem ser explicados pela ausência do antígeno viral nos tecidos estudados. Como o curso da doença é muito rápido, o teste de IHQ é mais indicado para diagnóstico no início da doença. Este estudo possibilitou demonstrar um conjunto de novas alterações histológicas pulmonares de suínos com problemas respiratórios, observadas em amostras pulmonares enviadas ao SPV-UFRGS a partir de 2009. O presente trabalho também reforça a importância de estudos histopatológicos dos casos de campo para auxiliar na monitoria da sanidade dos rebanhos suínos.

Listeriose foi identificada em quatro porcos-da-índia (Cavia porcellus) enviados para diagnóstico postmortem. Dois cobaios (1 e 2), apresentaram especialmente nódulos esbranquiçados multifocais no fígado e ceco, alterações que corresponderam microscopicamente a múltiplos focos necróticos associados com estruturas bacterianas basofílicas, degeneração gordurosa difusa e infiltrado linfocitário periportal. Lesões similares estavam presentes no intestino delgado, ceco e baço desses dois cobaios. Os outros cobaios (3 e 4) apresentavam exclusivamente alterações pulmonares caracterizadas por coloração avermelhada difusa e áreas esbranquiçadas multifocais na superfície pleural associadas histologicamente com infiltrado neutrofílico multifocal acentuado nos lúmens alveolar e bronquiolar, além de edema interseptal e alveolar, trombos vasculares e numerosos macrófagos alveolares (pneumonia supurativa). Em seções histológicas coradas pelo Brown-Hopps, foram identificadas estruturas bacilares Gram-positivas. A avaliação imuno-histoquímica para anticorpos antiListeria monocytogenes revelou marcação fortemente positiva nos focos necróticos do fígado, ceco, baço, útero, estômago e linfonodos mesentéricos dos dois cobaios com listeriose sistêmica. Nos cobaios com pneumonia supurativa, observou-se intensa marcação nos lúmens alveolares. L. monocytogenes foi isolada de amostras de fígado e de casca de arroz utilizada como cama dos cobaios. Sugere-se que as lesões pulmonares foram consequentes à aspiração de partículas da cama de casca de arroz contaminada com L. monocytogenes. Listeriosis was identified in four guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) received for post mortem evaluation. Two animals showed multifocal white nodules in the liver and cecum. These changes corresponded microscopically to multiple necrotic foci associated with basophilic bacterial structures, diffuse lipid vacuolation, and periportal lymphocytic infiltrates. Similar lesions were seen in the small intestine, cecum, and spleen of these two guinea pigs. The other two guinea pigs showed almost exclusively pulmonary changes that were characterized by diffuse red coloration and multifocal whitish areas in the pleural surface, which were microscopically associated with multifocal marked neutrophilic infiltrate within the alveolar and bronchiolar lumens, besides of interseptal and alveolar edema, vascular thrombi, and increased numbers of alveolar macrophages (suppurative pneumonia). The basophilic bacterial structures were Gram-positive for the Brown-Hopps special stain. The immunostaining antiListeria monocytogenes showed strong positive reactions in the necrotic foci of the liver, cecum, spleen, uterus, stomach, and mesenteric lymph node in the two guinea pigs with systemic listeriosis. The two guinea pigs with suppurative bronchopneumonia showed positive intense antiListeria monocytogenes immunostaining within the alveolar lumens. L. monocytogenes was isolated from samples of liver and rice hulls used as bedding material in the cages of the guinea pigs. It is suggested that the pulmonary changes observed here were caused by aspiration of particles of the rice hulls bedding contaminated with L. monocytogenes.

A clamidiose é causada por Chlamydophila psittaci e representa uma das principais zoonoses de origem aviária. Realizou-se um estudo retrospectivo em psitacídeos do período de 1995 a 2012 e exame imuno-histoquímico (IHQ) anti-Chlamydia. Foram avaliados 111 casos, dos quais 12 foram a óbito devido à clamidiose. As aves eram provenientes de apreensão ou cativeiro (zoológicos, criatórios, centros de triagem e domicílios). À necropsia observou-se fígado aumentado (4/12) com áreas branco-amareladas (3/12), baço aumentado (2/12) e rompido (1/12), saco pericárdico com deposição de fibrina (1/12), polisserosite fibrinosa (1/12) e em três casos não havia lesões. Na avaliação histopatológica evidenciou-se hepatite necrótica mononuclear (7/12), hepatite mononuclear (3/12), hiperplasia de ductos biliares (8/12), esplenite necrótica histiocitária (9/12), hemossiderose em fígado (9/12) e baço (9/12), aerossaculite mononuclear (4/12), pericardite fibrino-heterofílica (2/12), necrose (1/12) e rarefação (1/12) linfoide de bursa de Fabricius, pneumonia fibrinosa (1/12), nefrite mononuclear (1/12) e granulomas renais (1/12). Observaram-se inclusões basofílicas intracitoplasmáticas (corpos elementares) em fígado (2/12), baço e rins (1/12). Evidenciou-se imunomarcação anti-Chlamydia em fígado (11/12), baço (7/9), pulmões (3/9), rins (2/8), intestinos (2/3), sacos aéreos (1/4) e bursa de Fabricius (1/2). A IHQ poderá ser utilizada como forma de diagnóstico definitivo post mortem de clamidiose em psitacídeos no Brasil.

Current scientific approaches to welfare assessment in broilers are based on individual sampling that can be time consuming under field conditions. On the other hand, farmers conduct routine checks based on walks through the house to screen birds' health con- dition. We adapted the walks through following line transect methodology used in wildlife studies to explore their feasibility as a welfare assessment tool. The aim of this study was to compare broiler welfare assessed by individual sampling and transect walks. We evaluated 6 identically managed flocks. For individual sampling, we collected measures on 150 birds, including weight, breast dirtiness, hock and footpad dermatitis, lame- ness, and immobility. Transect observations were con- ducted by slowly walking on randomized paths within each house recording: immobility, lameness, back dirti- ness, sickness, agony, and dead. Transect walks al- lowed detection of small variations (P < 0.003) in the prevalence of most welfare indicators considered with consistency in interobserver reliability (P ≥ 0.05). In addition, assessments across transects were highly con- sistent (P ≥ 0.05). Individual sampling was also sensi- tive to differences across houses (P < 0.01) with the ex- ception of immobility (P = 0.783). No differences were found across sampling locations (P ≥ 0.05). However, both methods differed greatly in the frequency of the incidence of the parameters considered. For example, immobility varied from 0.2 ± 0.02% for transect walks to 4 ± 2.3% for individual sampling, whereas lame- ness varied between 0.8 ± 0.07% and 24.2 ± 4.7% for transect and samplings, respectively. It is possible that the transect approach may have overlooked walking de- ficiencies because a large number of birds were scored, although if this was the case, the consistency obtained in the scoring across observers and transects would be surprising. Differences may also be related to possibly biased individual sampling procedures, where less mo- bile and passive individuals may be more likely to be caught. Furthermore the procedure may cause fatigue and fear reactions reducing mobility. Current study provides new insights into constraints and advantages of broiler on-farm assessment methods, which should be considered for designing on-farm welfare assessment protocols.

In modern rearing systems, turkey producers often face economic losses due to increased aggression, feather pecking, cannibalism, leg disorders, or injuries among birds, which are also significant welfare issues. The main underlying causes appear to relate to rapid growth, flock size, density, poor environmental complexity, or lighting, which may be deficient in providing the birds with an adequate physical or social environment. To date, there is little information regarding the effect of these factors on turkey welfare. This knowledge is, however, essential to ensure the welfare of turkeys and to improve their quality of life, but may also be beneficial to industry, allowing better bird performance, improved carcass quality, and reduced mortality and condemnations. This paper reviews the available scientific literature related to the behavior of turkeys as influenced by the physical and social environment that may be relevant to advances toward turkey production systems that take welfare into consideration. We addressed the effects that factors such as density, group size, space availability, maturation, lightning, feeding, and transport may have over parameters that may be relevant to ensure welfare of turkeys. Available scientific studies were based in experimental environments and identified individual factors corresponding to particular welfare problems. Most of the studies aimed at finding optimal levels of rearing conditions that allow avoiding or decreasing most severe welfare issues. This paper discusses the importance of these factors for development of production environments that would be better suited from a welfare and economic point of view.

An aflatoxicosis outbreak affected 65 dogs from 9 different farms after they were fed diets with cooked corn meal as a common ingredient. Of the dogs, 60 died. Numerous dogs died on additional farms, but those dogs were not included in the study. The farmers acquired the contaminated maize products, in the form of whole corn grain or as corn meal, from the same supplier. The corn product was mixed with meat that was left over from home or commercial rations to form corn polenta, which was fed to the dogs. Necropsy was performed on 3 dogs. Two of the dogs died after a few days of refusing food, showing anorexia, polydipsia, icteric mucous membranes, hematemesis, hematochezia, or melena, and bleeding of the skin, eye, ear, and mouth. The primary necropsy findings included jaundice, hemorrhages in several organs, and yellowish enlarged liver with enhanced lobular pattern. The dog that experienced chronic ascites had a yellowish liver with reduced volume, irregular surface, and increased consistency. The main histological findings included hepatocyte fatty degeneration, biliary duct hyperplasia, cholestasis and, in the chronic case, hepatic fibrosis. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the corn meal from 2 affected farms revealed 1,640 ppb and 1,770 ppb of aflatoxin B1, respectively. The current study demonstrates an additional way that dogs can be exposed to, poisoned, and killed by aflatoxin.

Os arquivos de biópsia do período de 2000 a 2010 do SPV-UFRGS foram revisados e levantados os casos de neoplasias mesenquimais de genitália (útero, cérvix, vagina e vulva) de cadelas. Realizou-se estudo retrospectivo de 43 casos, incluindo caracterização histológica, coloração tricrômico de Masson (TM) e imuno-histoquímica (IHQ). As principais raças acometidas foram Cocker, Poodle e Pastor Alemão, porém o maior número de casos foi observado em cães sem raça definida (SRD). A idade média dessas cadelas foi de 10,6 anos (variação de 3 a 10 anos). Quanto à localização dos tumores, 44,2% estavam na vagina, 27,9% no útero, 23,3% na vulva e 4,6% na cérvix. Histologicamente, 46,5% eram leiomioma, 41,9% fibroleiomioma, 7,0% fibroma e 4,6% leiomiossarcoma. Na coloração de TM, os fibromas apresentaram todas as células neoplásicas coradas em azul (colágeno), os leiomiomas e os leiomiossarcomas apresentaram menos de 50% de colágeno em meio às células neoplásicas musculares e os fibroleiomiomas mais de 50%. Na IHQ, os fibromas apresentaram marcação positiva para vimentina e negativa para desmina. Todos os leiomiomas eram positivos para vimentina (em mais de 50% células) e para desmina (75% dos casos em mais de 50% das células e 25% em menos de 50%). Em um dos casos de leiomiossarcoma houve imunomarcação para vimentina e ausente para desmina e, no outro, ocorreu o oposto. Os fibroleiomiomas apresentaram marcação para vimentina em 94,4% (em mais de 50% células) e para desmina em 77,8% (64,3% em menos de 50% das células e 35,7% em mais de 50%). The biopsies archives from SPV-UFRGS (2000-2010) were retrieved, and cases of mesenchymal neoplasms of genitalia (uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva) of 43 bitches were revised. Also Masson's trichrome staining (MT) and immunohistochemical characterization were evaluated. The main breeds affected were Cocker, Poodle and German Shepherd, but the greatest number of cases were observed in mixed breed dogs. The average age of the bitches was 10.6 years (3-10 years of age). The anatomical locations of the neoplasms were vagina (44.2%), uterus (27.9%), vulva (23.3%) and cervix (4.6%). Histologically, 46.5% were classified as leiomyoma, 41.9% as fibroleiomyoma, 7.0% as fibroma, and 4.6% as leiomyosarcoma. In MT staining, the fibroma had all neoplastic cells stained blue (collagen), the leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas had less than 50% of collagen among the muscle neoplastic cells, and the fibroleiomyomas had more than 50% of collagen. Positive immunostaining for vimentin and absence for desmin was observed in fibroma. Leiomyomas were positive for vimentin in more than 50% of the cells, and for desmin (in 75% of the cases in more than 50% of the cells, and in 25% less than 50%). Regarding leiomyossarcomas, one case had immunostaining for vimentin and absence for desmin, and the opposite occurred in the other. Fibroleiomyomas were positive for vimentin in 94.4% (in more than 50% of the cells) and for desmin in 77.8% (64.3% in less than 50% of the cells, and 35.7% in more than 50% of the cells).