Extramedullary plasmacytoma in a captive collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) / Plasmocitoma extramedular em cateto criado em cativeiro (Pecari tajacu)

An extramedullary plasmacytoma case in a captive collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) is reported. The animal, a female aging three years old, had a medical history of diffusely distributed skin and mucocutaneous junction lesions, associated with swollen lymph nodes. Clinical examination and complementary exams (complete blood count, biochemical analysis, skin scraping to search mites and fungal culture) were performed. Thirty days after examination, the animal died. At necropsy, multiple consistent nodules, aseptic pustules and swollen lymph nodes were found. On histological exams of the skin and oral mucosa, we observed a large number of round cells forming masses organized in nests, sheets, and cords of cells in a well-vascularized fibrovascular tissue. Neoplastic plasma cells infiltrated between the fibers and the lamina propria of smooth muscle. Spaces among the cell masses were filled with some eosinophil and fluid. Most of the cells were well differentiated, presenting a perinuclear clear zone. In some points, the cells were pleomorphic. The plasma cells presented eccentric, basophilic and spherical nuclei, showing a dense to organized chromatin with distinct nucleoli. Binucleate cells were observed, but multinucleated giant cells were rare. Oral mucosa and lymph nodes tested by immunohistochemical analyses were positive for Mb-1, with a multifocal distribution. In regard to Bcl-2, the neoplastic cells were intermittent weakly positive. So, an extramedullary plasmacytoma was diagnosed in the collared peccary considering the location, the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings.(AU)

Um caso de plasmocitoma extramedular em cateto criado em cativeiro (Pecari tajacu) está sendo relatado. O animal, uma fêmea com três anos de idade, apresentou um histórico médico de lesões de pele, envolvendo junção mucocutânea e de aumento de linfonodos. Exame clínico e exames complementares (hemograma completo, análise bioquímica, raspado de pele para pesquisa de ácaros e cultura fúngica) foram realizados. Após 30 dias, o animal morreu. Na necropsia, verificou-se a presença de múltiplos nódulos, pústulas assépticas e aumento dos linfonodos. Na pele e mucosa oral, histologicamente as massas consistiam em ninhos, lençóis e cordões de células redondas, e um estroma fibrovascular bem vascularizado. Os plasmócitos foram observados infiltrados entre as fibras e músculo liso da lâmina própria. Espaços contendo eosinófilos, fluido e células livres estavam presentes na massa. A maioria das células estava bem diferenciada, com uma zona perinuclear clara, mas algumas células demonstraram-se pleomórficas. Os plasmócitos apresentavam núcleo excêntrico, redondo, basófilo, e pontilhado, com cromatina variando de densa a grosseiramente organizada e nucléolos distintos. O citoplasma finamente granular de anfifílico para basofílico. As células foram interpretadas como plasmócitos neoplásicos. Células binucleadas foram observadas e células gigantes multinucleadas eram raras. Na imunohistoquímica de tecidos da mucosa oral e de linfonodos observou-se positividade moderada e multifocal para Mb-1. As células tumorais revelaram positividade fraca e intermitente para Bcl-2. Com base na localização, achados histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos, um plasmocitoma extramedular foi diagnosticado.(AU)

Postmortem findings in collared peccaries raised in captivity in northeastern Brazil / Achados post-mortem em catetos criados em cativeiro no Nordeste do Brasil

This study is a retrospective examination of diseases in collared peccaries that were diagnosed by the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido. Necropsy and histological examination were performed from 2005 to 2010. Of the 50 necropsied collared peccaries, 24% died due to restraint and capture myopathy; 18% died from trauma; and the remainder was diagnosed with splenic hemangioma (6%), enterolithiasis (6%), gastritis (6%), gastric ulcer (4%), intestinal volvulus (4%), gastric volvulus (2%), mammary carcinoma (2%), polycystic kidney disease (2%), pyometra (2%), and suppurative bronchopneumonia (2%). Twelve animals remained undiagnosed, seven of which (14%) were in advanced autolytic condition and five of which (10%) had no gross or microscopic lesions that were compatible with disease. This paper describes illnesses that have not been reported in the collared peccary, focusing on their clinical and pathological aspects.(AU)

Este trabalho teve por objetivo realizar um estudo retrospectivo sobre as doenças de catetos diagnosticadas pelo Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, através do exame de necropsia e histológico no período de 2005 a 2010. Dos 50 catetos submetidos à necropsia, as percentagens das enfermidades diagnosticadas foram: miopatia por captura e contenção (24%), morte por traumas (18%), hemangioma do baço (6%), enterolitíase (6%), gastrite (6%), úlcera gástrica (4%), vólvulo intestinal (4%), vólvulo gástrico (2%), carcinoma mamário (2%), doença renal policística (2%), piometra (2%) e broncopneumonia supurativa (2%). Onze (22%) animais permaneceram sem diagnóstico, dos quais sete (10%) apresentavam avançado estado autolítico e cinco (14%) não foram observadas lesões macroscópicas e microscópicas compatíveis com nenhuma enfermidade. Este estudo apresenta relatos de doenças ainda não descritas em catetos, com enfoque nos aspectos clínicos e patológicos.(AU)

Pathogenesis of reproductive failure induced by Trypanosoma vivax in experimentally infected pregnant ewes.

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of experimental infection by Trypanosoma vivax in different stages of pregnancy, determining the pathogenesis of reproductive failure, and confirming transplacental transmission. We used 12 pregnant ewes distributed into four experimental groups: G1, was formed by three ewes infected with T. vivax in the first third of pregnancy (30 days); G2 comprised three infected ewes in the final third of pregnancy (100 days); G3 and G4 were composed of three non-infected ewes with the same gestational period, respectively. Each ewe of G1 and G2 was inoculated with 1.25×10(5) tripomastigotes. Clinical examination, determination of parasitemia, serum biochemistry (albumin, total protein, glucose, cholesterol, and urea), packed cell volume (PCV), serum progesterone, and pathological examination were performed. Placenta, amniotic fluid, blood and tissues from the fetuses and stillbirths were submitted to PCR. Two ewes of G1 (Ewe 1 and 3) presented severe infection and died in the 34th and 35th days post-infection (dpi), respectively; but both fetuses were recovered during necropsy. In G2, Ewe 5 aborted two fetuses on the 130th day (30 dpi) of pregnancy; and Ewe 6 aborted one fetus in the 140th day (40 dpi) of gestation. Ewes 2 and 4 delivered two weak lambs that died five days after birth. Factors possibly involved with the reproductive failure included high parasitemia, fever, low PCV, body score, serum glucose, total protein, cholesterol, and progesterone. Hepatitis, pericarditis, and encephalitis were observed in the aborted fetuses. The presence of T. vivax DNA in the placenta, amniotic fluid, blood, and tissues from the fetuses confirms the transplacental transmission of the parasite. Histological lesion in the fetuses and placenta also suggest the involvement of the parasite in the etiopathogenesis of reproductive failure in ewes.

Follicular degeneration in the ovaries of goats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax from the Brazilian semi-arid region.

Infection by Trypanosoma vivax and other African trypanosomes plays an important role in reproductive disorders in male and female livestock. Outbreaks of T. vivax in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil are characterized by wasting disease in cattle, sheep and goats with hematological, cardiac and nervous compromises in addition to reproductive failures. Similar to reports from Africa, we previously observed a reduction in fertility rates and severe testicular degeneration and epididymitis in male sheep infected with T. vivax from this region. Although anestrus is frequently reported in goats and sheep infected with T. vivax, the effects of this infection on the female reproductive organs need clarification. In this study, we addressed this issue through a histopathological evaluation of ovarian follicular morphology and classification in goats experimentally infected with a T. vivax isolate from the Brazilian semi-arid region. The infected animals presented typical clinical signs of trypanosomosis by T. vivax, including anemia, hyperthermia, pallor of the mucous membranes, enlarged lymph nodes, and progressive loss of weight. All the infected goats remained anestrus throughout the experimental period and exhibited important disturbances in the ovaries, evidenced by reduced size and a smooth surface without follicles or corpora lutea, and abnormal follicular development. In addition, through PCR, we detected T. vivax DNA in the ovarian tissues of the infected goats. Our findings contributed to understand the female reproductive failure associated with trypanosomosis caused by T. vivax.

Highly debilitating natural Trypanosoma vivax infections in Brazilian calves: epidemiology, pathology, and probable transplacental transmission.

Clinical, epidemiological, and pathological aspects of trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma vivax in calves were reported for the first time in northeast Brazil. Clinical and epidemiological data, packed cell volumes (PCV), and parasitemia were assessed in 150 calves in May 2009 (rainy season-survey 1) and in 153 calves in November 2009 (dry season-survey 2) in three farms (A, B, and C). Prevalence of T. vivax in calves examined in the survey 1 was 63.3%, 65.0%, and 80.0% in farms A, B, and C, respectively. Morbidity varied from 63.3% to 80%, mortality from 15% to 30% and lethality from 23% to 37.5%. In survey 1, for all farms, high parasitemia (from 30.3 to 26.2 × 10(6) parasites/mL), fever (from 39.8 to 40.3°C), low PCV (from 15.7% to 18.1%), and body score (from 2.5 to 3.5) were detected. Calves showed depression, weight loss, pale mucous membranes, enlarged lymph nodes, edema of the dewlap, cough, coryza, and diarrhea. The animals from farms A and B were treated with diminazene aceturate. Six months after, in survey 2, non-treated calves from farm C showed values for prevalence (81.82), morbidity (81.82), mortality (12.73), and lethality (15.55) similar to those in survey 1 (P > 0.05). Also in survey 2, four calves aging merely 1-3 days old presented high parasitemia levels (from 32 × 10(6) to 74 × 10(6) parasites/mL), suggesting transplacental transmission. In conclusion, trypanosomiasis by T. vivax constitutes high prevalent disease for calves raised in Brazilian semiarid and may have transplacental transmission.

Enfermidades de cutias (dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiro diagnosticadas pelo exame anatomopatológico / Diseases of agouti (dasyprocta aguti) raised in captivity diagnosed by pathological examination

O exame necroscópico é especialmente útil no diagnóstico de enfermidades em animais silvestres. Em muitas ocasiões, as manifestações clínicas não são características como em animais domésticos, sendo frequente a ocorrência de óbitos em animais assintomáticos. Este trabalho objetivou realizar um estudo retrospectivo sobre as doenças de cutias diagnosticadas pelo Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, através do exame anatomopatológico no período de 2006 a 2009. Em 32 cutias submetidas à necropsia, as percentagens das enfermidades diagnosticadas foram: morte perinatal pelo complexo inanição/hipotermia (21,6 por cento), urolitíase obstrutiva (6,24 por cento), distocia (6,24 por cento), obstrução do ceco por areia - sablose (6,24 por cento), intussuscepção (3,20 por cento), fecaloma (3,20 por cento) e obstrução do esôfago (3,20 por cento). Dezesseis (16) animais permaneceram sem diagnóstico, dos quais nove (28,48 por cento) apresentavam avançado estado autolítico e em sete (21,60 por cento) não foram observadas lesões macro e microscópicas compatíveis com nenhuma enfermidade. Este artigo apresenta relatos de doenças ainda não descritas em cutias e seus resultados poderão produzir literatura sobre os aspectos patológicos destas enfermidades nessa espécie.

Necroscopic examination is remarkably useful to diagnose wild animal's diseases. In several occasions the clinical signs are not charactheristic as in domestic animals and the occurrence of death in asymptomatic animals is frequent. Thus, the present work aimed to accomplish a retrospective study on agouti diseases diagnosed by pathological examination in the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid, through January 2006 to December 2006. In 32 agoutis submitted to the necropsy, the percentage of diagnosed diseases was: perinatal death due hypothermia/ inanition complex (21.6 percent), obstructive urolithiasis (6.24 percent), dystocia (6.24 percent), cecum sablosis (6.24 percent), intussusceptions (3.20 percent), fecaloma (3.20 percent) and esophagus obstruction (3.20 percent). A total of 16 (50.08 percent) animals remained undiagnosed in which nine (28.48 percent) showed advanced autolysis and seven (21.60 percent) agouti had none macroscopic or microscopic lesions compatible with any disease. The present article presents reports of some diseases not yet diagnosed in agoutis and these results may produce literature review about the pathologic aspects of these diseases in this species.