Pathologic, histochemical, and immunohistochemical findings in pulmonary and encephalitic cryptococcosis in a goat.

We describe the pathologic, histochemical, and immunohistochemical findings associated with pulmonary and encephalitic cryptococcosis in a 3-y-old, mixed-breed, nanny goat from central-west Brazil. The goat had progressive neurologic signs over 30 d; cryptococcosis was diagnosed antemortem by cytologic evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment was initiated, but the animal died spontaneously shortly thereafter. Grossly, there was a large space-occupying gelatinous mass (cryptococcoma) in the left lung and smaller masses in the cerebral temporal and frontal cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, basal nuclei, and mesencephalon with consequent internal hydrocephalus. Histologic evaluation revealed marked granulomatous cryptococcal pneumonia and meningoencephalitis. Intralesional narrow-necked budding cryptococcal yeasts were identified on special stains (Mayer mucicarmine and Grocott methenamine silver) in sections of lung and brain. Immunohistochemistry utilizing a panel of monoclonal antibodies that selectively label capsules of Cryptococcus spp. was consistent with C. neoformans var. grubii.

Histophilus somni-associated syndromes in sheep from Southern Brazil

Histophilus somni is a Gram-negative bacterium that is associated with a disease complex (termed histophilosis) that can produce several clinical syndromes predominantly in cattle, but also in sheep. Histophilosis is well described in North America, Canada, and in some European countries. In Brazil, histophilosis has been described in cattle with respiratory, reproductive, and systemic disease, with only one case described in sheep. This report describes the occurrence of Histophilus somni-associated disease in sheep from Southern Brazil. Eight sheep with different clinical manifestations from five farms were investigated by a combination of pathological and molecular diagnostic methods to identify additional cases of histophilosis in sheep from Brazil. The principal pathological lesions were thrombotic meningoencephalitis, fibrinous bronchopneumonia, pulmonary abscesses, and necrotizing myocarditis. The main clinical syndromes associated with H. somni were thrombotic meningoencephalitis (n = 4), septicemia (n = 4), bronchopneumonia (n = 4), and myocarditis (n = 3). H. somni DNA was amplified from multiple tissues of all sheep with clinical syndromes of histophilosis; sequencing confirmed the PCR results. Further, PCR assays to detect Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica were negative. These findings confirmed the participation of H. somni in the clinical syndromes investigated during this study, and adds to the previous report of histophilosis in sheep from Brazil.(AU)

Histophilus somni-associated syndromes in sheep from Southern Brazil

Abstract Histophilus somni is a Gram-negative bacterium that is associated with a disease complex (termed histophilosis) that can produce several clinical syndromes predominantly in cattle, but also in sheep. Histophilosis is well described in North America, Canada, and in some European countries. In Brazil, histophilosis has been described in cattle with respiratory, reproductive, and systemic disease, with only one case described in sheep. This report describes the occurrence of Histophilus somni-associated disease in sheep from Southern Brazil. Eight sheep with different clinical manifestations from five farms were investigated by a combination of pathological and molecular diagnostic methods to identify additional cases of histophilosis in sheep from Brazil. The principal pathological lesions were thrombotic meningoencephalitis, fibrinous bronchopneumonia, pulmonary abscesses, and necrotizing myocarditis. The main clinical syndromes associated with H. somni were thrombotic meningoencephalitis (n = 4), septicemia (n = 4), bronchopneumonia (n = 4), and myocarditis (n = 3). H. somni DNA was amplified from multiple tissues of all sheep with clinical syndromes of histophilosis; sequencing confirmed the PCR results. Further, PCR assays to detect Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica were negative. These findings confirmed the participation of H. somni in the clinical syndromes investigated during this study, and adds to the previous report of histophilosis in sheep from Brazil.

Histophilus somni-associated syndromes in sheep from Southern Brazil.

Histophilus somni is a Gram-negative bacterium that is associated with a disease complex (termed histophilosis) that can produce several clinical syndromes predominantly in cattle, but also in sheep. Histophilosis is well described in North America, Canada, and in some European countries. In Brazil, histophilosis has been described in cattle with respiratory, reproductive, and systemic disease, with only one case described in sheep. This report describes the occurrence of Histophilus somni-associated disease in sheep from Southern Brazil. Eight sheep with different clinical manifestations from five farms were investigated by a combination of pathological and molecular diagnostic methods to identify additional cases of histophilosis in sheep from Brazil. The principal pathological lesions were thrombotic meningoencephalitis, fibrinous bronchopneumonia, pulmonary abscesses, and necrotizing myocarditis. The main clinical syndromes associated with H. somni were thrombotic meningoencephalitis (n=4), septicemia (n=4), bronchopneumonia (n=4), and myocarditis (n=3). H. somni DNA was amplified from multiple tissues of all sheep with clinical syndromes of histophilosis; sequencing confirmed the PCR results. Further, PCR assays to detect Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica were negative. These findings confirmed the participation of H. somni in the clinical syndromes investigated during this study, and adds to the previous report of histophilosis in sheep from Brazil.

Molecular survey of infectious agents associated with bovine respiratory disease in a beef cattle feedlot in southern Brazil.

We investigated the occurrence of infectious pathogens during an outbreak of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in a beef cattle feedlot in southern Brazil that has a high risk of developing BRD. Nasopharyngeal swabs were randomly collected from steers ( n = 23) and assessed for the presence of infectious agents of BRD by PCR and/or RT-PCR assays. These included: Histophilus somni, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma bovis, bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine coronavirus (BCoV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), and bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (BPIV-3). Pulmonary sections of one steer that died with clinical BRD were submitted for pathology and molecular testing. The frequencies of the pathogens identified from the nasopharyngeal swabs were: H. somni 39% (9 of 23), BRSV 35% (8 of 23), BCoV 22% (5 of 23), and M. haemolytica 13% (3 of 23). PCR or RT-PCR assays did not identify P. multocida, M. bovis, BoHV-1, BVDV, or BPIV-3 from the nasopharyngeal swabs. Single and concomitant associations of infectious agents of BRD were identified. Fibrinous bronchopneumonia was diagnosed in one steer that died; samples were positive for H. somni and M. haemolytica by PCR. H. somni, BRSV, and BCoV are important disease pathogens of BRD in feedlot cattle in Brazil, but H. somni and BCoV are probably under-reported.

Meningiomas em cães: aspectos clínicos, histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos / Meningiomas in dogs: clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects

As neoplasias no sistema nervoso central (SNC) de animais de companhia são frequentemente diagnosticadas, no entanto dados sobre prevalência são escassos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar retrospectivamente a ocorrência de neoplasias primárias de SNC em cães atendidos em um Hospital-Escola Veterinário e descrever aspectos clínicos, histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos dos tumores mais frequentes. Quatorze casos (prevalência de 0,27%) de neoplasias primárias de SNC foram identificados no período de 1998 a 2013 e destes, 11 tiveram o diagnóstico de meningiomas. A idade média dos animais com meningioma foi 10 anos, sendo machos (7/11) e a raça Boxer (3/11) os mais afetados. Sete meningiomas eram espinhais e quatro intracranianos, sendo os principais sinais clínicos alteração na locomoção e convulsões, respectivamente. Metástase pulmonar ocorreu em dois casos. Em seis animais com meningioma espinhal foi realizada a mielografia, sendo que em um também foi realizada a tomografia. Em todos os casos os exames foram efetivos na visualização de desvio ou interrupção da coluna de contraste, com alterações sugestivas da presença de massa. Em cinco animais realizou-se cirurgia exploratória visando a confirmação da suspeita clínica ou retirada da massa, sendo que a sobrevida variou de 85 a 960 dias. Na avaliação histopatológica, os meningiomas foram classificados em transicional (4/11), meningotelial (2/11), papilar (2/11), angiomatoso (1/11), microcístico (1/11) e anaplásico (1/11). Destes, oito (8/11) apresentaram marcação positiva para tricrômio de Masson e um para vermelho congo nas técnicas histoquímicas. No painel imuno-histoquímico, todos os casos apresentaram imunomarcação positiva para vimentina, mas imunomarcação negativa para fator VIII e p53. A imunomarcação para S100 (6/11), GFAP (5/11) e pancitoqueratina (3/11) foi de intensidade variável. Na graduação histológica, dez meningiomas eram grau I e um grau III. O índice médio de proliferação...(AU)

Neoplasias of the central nervous system (CNS) of small animals are frequently diagnosed; however, data relative to prevalence are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the occurrence of primary CNS tumors in dogs in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital and describe clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects of the most common tumors. Fourteen cases of CNS primary neoplasia (prevalence of 0.27%) were identified from 1998 to 2013; from these 11 were diagnosed as meningiomas. The mean age of dogs with meningiomas was 10 years; male (7/11) and the Boxer breed (3/11) were most commonly represented. Seven meningiomas were located in the spinal cord and four intracranially; the main clinical signs were impaired locomotion and seizures, respectively. Pulmonary metastasis was found in two cases. Myelography was performed in six dogs with spinal meningiomas. In these cases it was effective in demonstrating the deviation or interruption of the contrast column. Exploratory surgery to confirm diagnosis or remove the tumor was performed in five animals and the survival rate varies 85 to 960 days. Meningiomas were histologically classified as transitional (4/11), meningothelial (2/11), papillary (2/11), angiomatous (1/11), microcystic (1/11) and anaplastic (1/11). Evaluation of histological grade was performed; 10 meningiomas were classified as grade I and one as grade III. The neoplastic cells of eight tumors (8/11) were positive for Masson's trichrome and one with the Congo red histochemical techniques. The immunohistochemical assays revealed in all tumors a positive immunoreactivity for vimentin but negative staining for factor VIII and p53. Immunolabelling for S100 (6/11), GFAP (5/11) and pancytokeratin (3/11) showed a variable staining intensity. The mean cell proliferation index was 3.2 mitotic figures and 3.4% for Ki-67 immunostaining. The results confirmed that meningiomas are the most frequent primary CNS neoplasia...(AU)

Meningiomas em cães: aspectos clínicos, histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos / Meningiomas in dogs: clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects

As neoplasias no sistema nervoso central (SNC) de animais de companhia são frequentemente diagnosticadas, no entanto dados sobre prevalência são escassos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar retrospectivamente a ocorrência de neoplasias primárias de SNC em cães atendidos em um Hospital-Escola Veterinário e descrever aspectos clínicos, histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos dos tumores mais frequentes. Quatorze casos (prevalência de 0,27%) de neoplasias primárias de SNC foram identificados no período de 1998 a 2013 e destes, 11 tiveram o diagnóstico de meningiomas. A idade média dos animais com meningioma foi 10 anos, sendo machos (7/11) e a raça Boxer (3/11) os mais afetados. Sete meningiomas eram espinhais e quatro intracranianos, sendo os principais sinais clínicos alteração na locomoção e convulsões, respectivamente. Metástase pulmonar ocorreu em dois casos. Em seis animais com meningioma espinhal foi realizada a mielografia, sendo que em um também foi realizada a tomografia. Em todos os casos os exames foram efetivos na visualização de desvio ou interrupção da coluna de contraste, com alterações sugestivas da presença de massa. Em cinco animais realizou-se cirurgia exploratória visando a confirmação da suspeita clínica ou retirada da massa, sendo que a sobrevida variou de 85 a 960 dias. Na avaliação histopatológica, os meningiomas foram classificados em transicional (4/11), meningotelial (2/11), papilar (2/11), angiomatoso (1/11), microcístico (1/11) e anaplásico (1/11). Destes, oito (8/11) apresentaram marcação positiva para tricrômio de Masson e um para vermelho congo nas técnicas histoquímicas. No painel imuno-histoquímico, todos os casos apresentaram imunomarcação positiva para vimentina, mas imunomarcação negativa para fator VIII e p53. A imunomarcação para S100 (6/11), GFAP (5/11) e pancitoqueratina (3/11) foi de intensidade variável. Na graduação histológica, dez meningiomas eram grau I e um grau III. O índice médio de proliferação...

Neoplasias of the central nervous system (CNS) of small animals are frequently diagnosed; however, data relative to prevalence are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the occurrence of primary CNS tumors in dogs in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital and describe clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects of the most common tumors. Fourteen cases of CNS primary neoplasia (prevalence of 0.27%) were identified from 1998 to 2013; from these 11 were diagnosed as meningiomas. The mean age of dogs with meningiomas was 10 years; male (7/11) and the Boxer breed (3/11) were most commonly represented. Seven meningiomas were located in the spinal cord and four intracranially; the main clinical signs were impaired locomotion and seizures, respectively. Pulmonary metastasis was found in two cases. Myelography was performed in six dogs with spinal meningiomas. In these cases it was effective in demonstrating the deviation or interruption of the contrast column. Exploratory surgery to confirm diagnosis or remove the tumor was performed in five animals and the survival rate varies 85 to 960 days. Meningiomas were histologically classified as transitional (4/11), meningothelial (2/11), papillary (2/11), angiomatous (1/11), microcystic (1/11) and anaplastic (1/11). Evaluation of histological grade was performed; 10 meningiomas were classified as grade I and one as grade III. The neoplastic cells of eight tumors (8/11) were positive for Masson's trichrome and one with the Congo red histochemical techniques. The immunohistochemical assays revealed in all tumors a positive immunoreactivity for vimentin but negative staining for factor VIII and p53. Immunolabelling for S100 (6/11), GFAP (5/11) and pancytokeratin (3/11) showed a variable staining intensity. The mean cell proliferation index was 3.2 mitotic figures and 3.4% for Ki-67 immunostaining. The results confirmed that meningiomas are the most frequent primary CNS neoplasia...

Pheochromocytoma in a Dog as a Cause of Aortic Thromboembolism

A thirteen-year-old female German Spitz dog was referred to Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Estadual de Londrina, with acute paraplegia and pain in pelvic limbs for two days. The clinical sings, as lack of femoral pulse and cold distal limbs, were consistent with ischemic neuromyopathy due to aortic thromboembolism. Soon after the examination, she had a severe epistaxis and died. On postmortem examination it was observed a thrombus adhered to the aorta trifurcation and a mass occupying the position of the right adrenal gland, which was diagnosed as pheochromocytoma on histological and immunohistochemistry examinations.(AU)

Spina bifida in three dogs

Spina bifida is a congenital bone malformation with incomplete closure of the dorsal vertebral arches that may occur in association with protrusion of the meninges or spinal cord and meninges due to the vertebral defect. The aim of the present paper is to describe the occurrence of spina bifida in two mongrel and an English Cocker Spaniel dogs. In first and third cases spina bifida were diagnosticated by clinical examination and myelography. First and second dogs were macerated and examined macroscopically. In the first case, we observed that besides spina bifida in the lumbosacral vertebrae and meningomyelocele, there were other congenital alterations such as thoracic block vertebrae and incomplete closure of some vertebral bodies. The second dog also presented open spina bifida in the sacrocaudal region, and a closed spina bifida in both the caudal cervical and initial thoracic vertebrae. In the third case, spina bifida in the lumbosacral region was associated with meningomyelocele.