Partial hepatectomy in a calf with an omphalocele: case report / Hepatectomia parcial em bezerra portadora de onfalocele: relato de caso

An omphalocele is a defect in the closure of the abdominal wall during the embryonic stage, preventing the return of some abdominal organs to the cavity. In stillborn animals, the involvement of the liver in the omphalocele has been reported. The aim of the present study is to report the success of a partial liver resection in a female bovine at two days of age which presented an omphalocele at birth. Surgical intervention was indicated to reduce and suture the abdominal wall. During the surgical procedure, the presence of hard, reddish tissue was noted inside the sac covered by the amniotic membrane, with characteristics consistent with hepatic parenchyma. Due to the impossibility of reducing the contents added to the suggestion of tissue infection, we elected to perform a partial resection. The histopathological examination confirmed that the resected tissue was of the hepatic parenchyma. Antibiotic and systemic anti-inflammatory therapies were performed post-surgery. Fifteen days after surgery, infection was detected at the surgical site in addition to abdominal wound dehiscence; surgical reintervention was performed. On physical examination, carried out 4 months after the second operation, the heifer presented normal development for the species. In conclusion, omphalocele may contain liver. Ectopic liver is an extremely rare condition. Surgical treatment in the presented case focused on umbilicus with exploration of the abdominal cavity appeared to be sufficient.(AU)

A onfalocele é um defeito no fechamento da parede abdominal durante a fase embrionária, não permitindo o retorno de alguns órgãos abdominais à cavidade. O envolvimento do fígado em onfalocele tem sido relatado, porém em animais natimortos. Com o presente estudo, objetiva-se relatar uma ressecção parcial do fígado realizada com sucesso em uma fêmea bovina com dois dias de idade apresentando onfalocele ao nascimento. Foi indicada a intervenção cirúrgica para a redução e rafia da parede abdominal. Durante o procedimento cirúrgico, notou-se, no interior do saco recoberto pela membrana amniótica, a presença de tecido firme, de coloração avermelhada, com características compatíveis com parênquima hepático. Devido à impossibilidade de redução do conteúdo e sugestão de infecção do tecido encontrado, optou-se pela ressecção parcial dele. O exame histopatológico confirmou tratar-se de parênquima hepático o tecido resseccionado. No pós-cirúrgico, realizaram-se terapias antibiótica e antiinflamatória sistêmicas. Após 15 dias do procedimento cirúrgico, foi detectada infecção do sítio operatório e deiscência da sutura abdominal, sendo realizada reintervenção cirúrgica. No exame físico, realizado no animal após quatro meses da segunda intervenção cirúrgica, constatou-se desenvolvimento normal para a espécie. Conclui-se que o fígado pode ser conteúdo da onfalolocele, sendo uma condição extremamente rara. O tratamento cirúrgico no caso apresentado, com exploração da cicatriz umbilical e da cavidade abdominal, foi suficiente.(AU)

The subclinical form of experimental visceral leishmaniasis in dogs

Pathological aspects of a subclinical form of experimental canine leishmaniasis is reported here for the first time. Fifteen mongrel dogs were used in the present study. Eight dogs were infected and seven were used as control. Four of the control dogs were inoculated with spleen cells from non-infected hamsters. The eight mongrel dogs inoculated intravenously with amastigotes forms of Leishmania chagasi envolved for periods as long as 25 months without any clinical characteristic sign of classical Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). Most of the laboratory test results were compatible to those of the seven control animals but culture of bone marrow aspirated material and serologic testing (IIF) demonstrated or provided evidence that the animals were infected. The most important and predominant histopathological lesion in infected animals were epitheloid granulomas presented in the liver, spleen, adrenal gland and lung of some animals. Channels containing erythrocytes in some granulomas of the liver suggeste that these granulomas are formed inside sinusoidal capillaries. Despite the animals were proved to be infected and presented characteristic histologic lesions, they did not present external signs of disease. The granulomatous aspect of the lesions indicates a good immunologic reactivity and suggest that a host-parasite equilibrium does exist in the dog experimental model