Mechanical removal (epidermal scarification) of pododermatitis injuries reduces the presence of both inflammatory tissue and its associated microbiota in broiler feet.

Chicken feet have become an important commodity in the international market, representing a significant portion of poultry products exported by countries such as Brazil and the USA. However, the presence of pododermatitis in the footpad is an important barrier to exportation, since importing countries do not accept injured feet or allow the use of automatic equipments to remove the affected tissue. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of using an automatic equipment to remove injuries of pododermatitis on histological and microbiological traits of broiler feet processed according to commercial practices. A total of 240 broiler feet obtained from a commercial processing plant was visually classified according to the degree of pododermatitis and distributed in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, totalizing eight treatments with 30 replications. Factors were feet classification (1 to 4) and injury removal (yes or no). Feet were sampled for microbiological and histological analysis before and after the mechanical removal of pododermatitis injuries by an automatic machine that promoted footpad epidermal scarification. No significant interaction between feet classification and injury removal was detected for any of the analyzed variables. Also, no significant effect of feet classification was detected on aerobic plate counts, total coliforms and Escherichia coli. Feet inflammation score tended to increase (P = 0.06) according to the downgrading of feet classification, but the mechanical removal of pododermatitis injuries reduced feet inflammation score (P < 0.01), total coliform counts (P = 0.01), and E. coli (P = 0.01) independently of feet classification. Together, these results demonstrate the efficacy of the automatic equipment in removing both the inflammatory tissue and its associated microbiota in broiler feet affected by pododermatitis. Therefore, in addition to the already authorized use of blades, the use of automatic equipments for epidermal scarification in the processing of broiler feet deserves further consideration by the regulatory agencies.

The prevalence of swine enteropathogens in Brazilian grower and finish herds.

Diarrhoea among growing and finishing pigs is an important problem in many herds. The prevalence of L. intracellularis, B. pilosicoli, B. hyodysenteriae, Salmonella spp., enterotoxigenic E. coli, Trichuris suis and the occurrence of mixed infection were investigated. Fecal samples for forty-six herds with diarrhea or a history of diarrhea were randomly collected in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The enteric pathogens were detected by culture (E. coli and Salmonella sp.), PCR (L. intracellularis and Brachyspira spp.) and eggs counts (T. suis). The overall herd prevalence of L. intracellularis, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium and enterotoxigenic E. coli were 19.56%, 6.52%, 10.86% respectively. Mixed infection was diagnosed in 30.43% of herds, and L. intracellularis and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium are main pathogens association (10.87%). B. pilosicoli was diagnosed only in two herds, always associated with mixed infections. B. hyodysenteriae and T. suis were not demonstrated in any sample. These pathogens have been reported world-wide but studies regarding epidemiology in Brazil are few. This study contributes to establish of prevention programs for the control enteropathogens in grower finish herds in Brazil.

Anemia mielotísica por osteopetrose em um cão: relato de caso / Mielotisic anemia caused by osteopetrosis in a dog: case report

A osteopetrose é uma doença rara, caracterizada pelo aumento generalizado da densidade óssea. Tem como característica principal, a reabsorção osteoclástica defeituosa, resultando no acúmulo de massa óssea. Além disso, pode ocorrer retardo do crescimento, desnutrição progressiva, anemia e caquexia. O presente relato descreve o caso de uma cadela, com aproximadamente nove meses de idade, sem raça definida, com histórico de apatia e disorexia. Hemogramas seriados demonstraram pancitopenia persistente. Vários exames laboratoriais foram realizados para excluir doenças como erliquiose, leishmaniose e cinomose, porém todos foram negativos. O mielograma constatou hipocelularidade relativa por provável aplasia/hipoplasia medular. Exames radiográficos evidenciaram o aumento da radiopacidade óssea e hipertrofia da região cortical, e a necropsia confirmou a redução do canal medular. O exame histopatológico confirmou a osteopetrose. Conclui-se que a osteopetrose pode causar comprometimento na produção de células sanguíneas, sendo uma causa rara de anemia mielotísica, além de alterações neurológicas secundárias à má-formação dos ossos do crânio.

Osteopetrosis is a rare disease characterized by generalized increase in bone density. The defective osteoclastic resorption results in the accumulation of bone mass. Furthermore, there may be growth delay, progressive malnutrition, anemia and cachexy. This report describes the case of a nine month old, mixed breed, female dog presented with apathy and disorexia. Laboratory tests were performed to rule out Ehrlichiosis, Leishmaniasis, and Canine distemper, but all were negative. Hemogram showed persistent pancytopenia and myelogram showed relative hypocellularity, probably due to spinal cord aplasia/hypoplasia. Radiographs showed increased bone opacity and hypertrophy of the cortical region, and the necropsy confirmed the reduction of the medullary canal. Histopathological examination confirmed osteopetrosis. In conclusion, osteopetrosis can compromise blood cell production, and is a rare cause of mielotisic anemia. It can also cause neurological deficits due to cranium bone deformation.

The prevalence of swine enteropathogens in Brazilian grower and finish herds

Diarrhoea among growing and finishing pigs is an important problem in many herds. The prevalence of L. intracellularis, B. pilosicoli, B. hyodysenteriae, Salmonella spp., enterotoxigenic E. coli, Trichuris suis and the occurrence of mixed infection were investigated. Fecal samples for forty-six herds with diarrhea or a history of diarrhea were randomly collected in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The enteric pathogens were detected by culture (E. coli and Salmonella sp.), PCR (L. intracellularis and Brachyspira spp.) and eggs counts (T. suis). The overall herd prevalence of L. intracellularis, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium and enterotoxigenic E. coli were 19.56%, 6.52%, 10.86% respectively. Mixed infection was diagnosed in 30.43% of herds, and L. intracellularis and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium are main pathogens association (10.87%). B. pilosicoli was diagnosed only in two herds, always associated with mixed infections. B. hyodysenteriae and T. suis were not demonstrated in any sample. These pathogens have been reported world-wide but studies regarding epidemiology in Brazil are few. This study contributes to establish of prevention programs for the control enteropathogens in grower finish herds in Brazil.

Aspectos histoquímicos e imunoistoquímicos nos neoplasmas do sistema nervoso periférico / Histochemical and immunohistochemical features of peripheral nerve neoplasms

Doze casos de tumores do sistema nervoso periférico, sete schwannomas e cinco neurofibromas foram diagnosticados entre 1964 e 2004, em caninos e bovinos. Histologicamente, as células predominantes nos schwannomas eram fusiformes organizavam-se em paliçada ou em feixes aleatórios. Nos neurofibromas as células neoplásicas eram fusiformes e se originavam da periferia dos nervos formando ninhos e feixes. O tecido conjuntivo era mais abundante nos neurofibromas e os colágenos dos tipos I e III eram os principais constituintes desses neoplasmas. Os neurofibromas foram caracterizados por uma concentração alta e difusa de mastócitos, provavelmente devido à origem das células neoplásicas do perineuro e epineuro. A coloração de AgNOR não se mostrou eficiente como indicador de prognóstico nos neoplasmas analisados. Imunoistoquímicamente houve forte marcação para vimentina (100 por cento) e S100 (100 por cento) em ambos os tipos de tumor. A maioria dos schwannomas (75 por cento) foi positiva para a proteína ácida fibrilar glial; os neurofibromas só apresentaram marcação nas células de Schwann dos fascículos nervosos

A retrospective study of peripheral nerve tumors was made from 1964 to 2004. The tumors summed up 12, being seven schwannomas and five neurofibromas. Schwannomas were composed of spindle-shaped cells either in a palisading pattern or random bundles loosely textured and neurofibromas by spindle cells. The connective tissue components were more prevalent in neurofibromas with a characteristic deployment of collagens type I and III. In AgNOR techniques, both benign and malignant schwannomas and neurofibromas did not show differences. Mast cells stained by toluidine blue were more prevalent in neurofibromas which are rich in reactive endoneurium. Schwannomas (100 percent) and neurofibromas (100 percent) were positive for vimentin and S100 protein, so they prove to be reliable for the diagnosis of peripheral nerve tumors. GFAP marked cells were found in three schwannomas and in Schwann cells within neurofibromas

Hipomielinização em cães Weimaraner: relato de caso / Hypomielination in Weimaraner dogs: case report

Três cães, fêmeas, da raça Weimaraner apresentaram tremores corporais rítmicos generalizados a partir da primeira semana de vida. Outros dois cães, machos, da mesma ninhada não apresentaram alterações. Uma fêmea com quatro semanas de idade foi submetida à eutanásia e necropsiada. Macroscopicamente, observou-se no encéfalo pouca demarcação da substância branca em relação à cinzenta. Histologicamente havia acentuada vacuolização de toda a substância branca subcortical. A mielinização no sistema nervoso periférico estava normal. Os sinais clínicos, a idade de ocorrência e as lesões histológicas são compatíveis com a hipomielinogênese congênita descrita em cães

Three female Weimaraner pups had generalized and rhythmic body tremors since the first week of age. The remaining two male littermates were unaffected. One 4-week-old female was euthanatized and necropsied. On gross examination, poor demarcation between the gray and white matter was observed. Microscopically, there was severe hypomyelination of the brain compatible with congenital hypomyelinogenesis reported in dogs

Nódulos fibro-histiocíticos no baço de uma cadela: relato de caso / Splenic fibroistiocytic nodules in a bitch: case report

Descreve-se a ocorrência de múltiplos nódulos fibro-histiocíticos no baço de uma cadela Rottweiler, de sete anos. O diagnóstico foi feito por histopatologia e confirmado por imunoistoquímica positiva para ED1, CD18, vimentina e lisozima. O animal foi sacrificado três meses após o diagnóstico, por severo agravamento dos sinais clínicos.

Multiple fibrohistiocytic nodules in the spleen of a 7-year-old female Rottweiler were reported. The diagnosis was made by histology and immunohistochemistry; cells were positive for ED1, CD18, vimentin and lysozyme. The dog was euthanatized three months after the tumor was diagnosed, due to severe clinical signs.