Epidemiological characterization of notified human brucellosis cases in Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT Brucellosis is one of the most important and widespread bacterial zoonotic diseases worldwide, and it is transmitted to humans from various sources, including direct contact with infected animals and the ingestion of contaminated products, including unpasteurized milk. There are only a few epidemiological studies on said disease in humans in Western Santa Catarina, a region instantiated by agriculture. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize the epidemiological aspects of human brucellosis reported in Western Santa Catarina from 2013 to 2018. The data were provided by the Epidemiological Surveillance Board (Diretoria de Vigilancia Epidemiologica). The frequency of the disease in humans and the epidemiological profile of confirmed human cases were evaluated. Cases that were screened positive and those that were confirmed and submitted to the therapeutic protocol were analyzed. During the study period, 3,671 people were tested, of which 12.34% were screened positive (453/ 3,671) and 3.40% were confirmed (125/3,671). The year with the highest number of people testing positive was 2015 (123 cases), and 2018 was the year with the highest number of confirmed cases (39 cases). Confirmed cases predominated in males (48.8%), self-declared white (22.4%), aged 20-59 years old (60%), with incomplete primary education (22.4%), of rural origin (59.2%), with occupational contact with cattle (64.8%), engaged in professions directly linked to agricultural and livestock activities (55.5%), and who reported consumption of unpasteurized dairy products (59.2%). No seasonal variation was observed in case numbers. The results demonstrated that brucellosis is an endemic disease in Western Santa Catarina.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on the membrane induced by the Masquelet technique at an orthotopic site in rabbits

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the membrane induced by the Masquelet technique in rabbits. Methods: Twelve Norfolk rabbits at approximately 3 months of age were used. A 1-cm segmental defect was induced in both radii, which were filled with polymethylmethacrylate cylinder. LLLT was used postoperatively in the bone defect of one of the forelimbs every 48 hours for 15 days. Six rabbits were euthanatized on third and sixth postoperative weeks. Results: In both forelimbs, radiographs showed new bone growth from radius cut ends on the third postoperative week and more advanced stage on the sixth postoperative week. Ultrasound showed induced membrane one week after the surgery. Histologically, there were no significant differences in the semi-quantitative score of inflammation intensity, total number of blood vessels, bone metaplasia, and collagen. The average thicknesses were 2,050.17 and 1,451.96 μm for control membranes and 2,724.26 and 2,081.03 μm for irradiated membranes, respectively, on third and sixth postoperative weeks. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) expression were present in the induced membranes of control and irradiated forelimbs, but there was no significant difference. Conclusions: Based on assessment methods, it was not possible to demonstrate the effect of LLLT on the induced membrane.

Carcinoma inflamatório de mama ­ Uma abordagem comparada / Inflammatory mammary carcinoma - A comparative approach / Carcinoma inflamatório de mama - Un enfoque comparativo

O Carcinoma Inflamatório de Mama (CIM) é um neoplasma maligno de rápida evolução que apresenta baixa ocorrência tanto em cadelas quanto em mulheres. É pouco relatado pelos médicos veterinários no Brasil, fato que pode ser relacionado à falta de conhecimento da doença associado à necessidade da relação dos achados clínicos com exame histopatológico para o diagnóstico definitivo. Esse neoplasma também acomete a glândula mamária de mulheres, nas quais demonstra características clássicas de inflamação como dor, turgor de pele e aumento de temperatura local. Para diagnóstico definitivo é considerado a presença de êmbolos de células tumorais em canais linfáticos da derme associados aos sinais clínicos de inflamação. Devido ao grau de infiltração local, os sinais de inflamação e a presença de êmbolos em linfáticos, o paciente humano e veterinário apresentam prognóstico desfavorável. O CIM é pouco responsivo à quimioterapia e devido às características de inflamação, não apresenta indicação cirúrgica na maioria dos casos. Devido à agressividade do CIM em mulheres e nas cadelas, do prognóstico desfavorável e das restritas opções terapêuticas essa revisão objetiva descrever os avanços das opções terapêuticas além do tratamento paliativo na literatura atual além de apresentar uma abordagem comparada, considerando a cadela um modelo de estudo para a doença na mulher.

The Inflammatory Mammary Carcinoma (IMC) is a low-occurrence malignant neoplasm with rapid evolution that affects dogs and women. There are few reports of this disease in the Brazilian veterinary literature, which may be related to the lack of knowledge of the disease associated with the need of relating clinical findings to histopathology exams for definitive diagnosis. This neoplasm also affects the mammary glands in women, which demonstrates classical signs of inflammation such as pain, skin turgor and increased local temperature. The diagnosis considers the presence of tumor cell emboli in the lymph vessels in the dermis associated with clinical signs of inflammation. Due to the degree of local infiltration, signs of inflammation and the presence of lymph emboli, both human and veterinary patients have unfavorable prognosis. The IMC is poorly responsive to chemotherapy and due to its inflammation characteristics, in most cases, surgical removal is not recommended. Due to the aggressiveness of the IMC on women and bitches, poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options, this paper aims to describe the advances of therapeutic options beyond palliative care in current literature, as well as presenting a comparative approach considering the bitch as a study model for treating the disease in women.

El carcinoma inflamatorio de mama (CIM) es una neoplasia maligna de evolución rápida que tiene una baja incidencia tanto en perras como en mujeres. Es poco relatado por médicos veterinarios en Brasil, hecho que puede estar relacionado a la falta de conocimiento de la enfermedad, asociada a la necesidad de la relación de los hallazgos clínicos con examen histopatológico para el diagnóstico definitivo. Esta neoplasia también afecta a las glándulas mamarias de mujeres, lo que demuestra características clásicas de inflamación, como dolor, la turgencia de la piel y el aumento de la temperatura local. Para el diagnóstico definitivo se considera la presencia de émbolos de células tumorales en los canales dermis ganglios, asociados con los signos clínicos de inflamación. Debido al grado de infiltración local, los signos de inflamación y la presencia de embolias en el linfático, el paciente humano y veterinario presentan pronóstico desfavorable. El CIM es poco sensible a la quimioterapia y debido a las características de inflamación no presenta indicación quirúrgica en la mayoría de los casos. Debido a la agresividad del CIM en mujeres y perras, del pronóstico desfavorable y de las restrictas opciones terapéuticas, esa investigación tuvo como objetivo revisar el progreso de las opciones terapéuticas además del tratamiento paliativo en la literatura actual, allende presentar un enfoque comparativo, teniendo en cuenta que la perra es un modelo de estudios para la enfermedad en mujeres.

Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of oesophageal leiomyosarcoma in a dog / Aspectos clínico-patológicos e imuno-histoquímicos de um caso de leiomiossarcoma esofágico canino

Oesophageal leiomyosarcoma is a malignant neoplasm of smooth muscle fibres that is infrequently reported in the literature. Because of the importance of definitive diagnosis and the low incidence of this tumour in dogs, it was reported a case of oesophageal leiomyosarcoma in a dog. A 13-year-old intact male Rottweiler presented regurgitation, hyporexia, and chronic weight loss. After an imaging examination, tumour in the thoracic oesophagus was suspected and a biopsy was sugested for definitive diagnosis. However, the owner did not permit the procedure. Six months after the clinical diagnosis, the patient was brought for evaluation of anorexia, apathy, and severe dyspnoea. Because of the patient's clinical signs and lack of response to emergency treatment, he was euthanized. Upon necropsy, it was identified the neoplastic formation, previously identified in the radiographic examination in the thoracic oesophagus, near the diaphragm. Histopathology revealed a proliferation of mesenchymal cells, and the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma was confirmed by immunohistochemical examination. Despite the low incidence of oesophageal leiomyosarcoma, it should be included as a differential diagnosis for animals with chronic regurgitation.

O leiomiossarcoma esofágico é um neoplasma maligno das fibras musculares lisas pouco descrito na literatura e, devido à importância do seu diagnóstico definitivo e à baixa frequência desta neoplasia em cães, relata-se um caso de leiomiossarcoma em localização esofágica. Foi atendido um cão, 13 anos, Rottweiler, com histórico de regurgitação, hiporexia e perda de peso crônica. Após exames complementares de imagem, suspeitou-se de neoplasma localizado em esôfago torácico, no entanto, o proprietário optou por não realizar nenhum exame para o diagnóstico definitivo. Após seis meses do atendimento inicial, o animal retornou com anorexia, apatia e dispneia severa. Devido aos sinais clínicos apresentados e ausência de resposta ao tratamento emergencial instituído, optou-se pela eutanásia. Foi realizada a necropsia e, no esôfago torácico, próximo à região diafragmática, foi possível identificar a formação neoplásica anteriormente visualizada no exame radiográfico. O exame histopatológico revelou proliferação de células mesenquimais, sugestiva de leiomiossarcoma. O diagnóstico foi confirmado pelo exame imuno-histoquímico. Apesar da baixa frequência do leiomiossarcoma esofágico, animais que apresentam regurgitação crônica devem ser investigados quanto à possibilidade desse diagnóstico.