Clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of feline chronic gingivostomatitis.

Objectives This study presents the clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of 26 cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCG). Methods Oral mucosal biopsies, blood and swabs were collected from cats presenting with oral lesions. The tissue sections were submitted for histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis for feline calicivirus (FCV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The swabs were subjected to PCR analysis for FCV, and blood for FeLV and FIV. Results The main clinical findings were dysphagia (88.2%), halitosis (76.5%), sialorrhea (47.1%), weight loss (41.2%), intense oral discomfort (35.3%), oral hemorrhage (17.6%), and lackluster and fragile coat (11.8%). Gross inspection revealed bilateral lesions across the palatoglossal fold to the lateral tongue base. The lesions were diffuse, proliferative, intensely red and friable, and bled easily upon examination in 80.8% of cases. In 23.1% of cases, the lesions were multifocal to coalescent, at times forming multiple vesicles on a reddened, edematous palatoglossal fold. Microscopic examination showed that 15.4% of lesions had moderate (grade 2) and 84.6% had severe (grade 3) inflammation. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of FeLV antigens in the epithelium and the inflammatory infiltrate of 30.8% of the cats with FCG. FCV antigens were not detected in the FCG lesions. Conclusions and relevance The FCG cases analyzed could not be correlated with FCV. It is possible that FeLV plays a role as a causal agent of lesions in cases where the presence of the virus has been confirmed by immunohistochemistry in epithelial samples.

Stent placed by endoscopy for the treatment of tracheal obstruction caused by a tumor in a domestic cat

Background: Tracheal tumors are rare and may cause obstruction of the trachea. The neoplasms most commonly diagnosed in cats are lymphosarcoma, squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. Surgical resection may provide a clinical cure for small, benign and localized tumors. For malignant neoplasia, surgery is usually palliative. Tracheal segment excision is an invasive procedure, particularly when the intrathoracic trachea is involved, and this increases the risk of stenosis, surgical suture dehiscence, necrosis and pneumothorax. Intraluminal tracheal stents have been used in dogs with tracheobronchomalacia, presenting a feasible alternative to surgery for the treatment of tracheal lumen obstruction. Case: A 11-year-old male mixed-breed cat was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (HCV-UFRGS) with a history of appetite loss, wasting and progressive inspiratory dyspnea, for the last 30 days. The cat presenting with oral breathing. Radiography of the lateral thorax shown a radiopaque area, 1cm in diameter, superimposed in the tracheal region, close to the carina cartilage, at the fourth intercostal space. A tracheoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of tracheal neoplasia, which was identified as an adenocarcinoma by biopsy and histopathology. Given that surgical resection may result in significant morbidity and consequent mortality, the owner chose a palliative treatment without adjuvant therapy for adenocarcinoma until acquisition of the stent, with partial resection of the tumor performed during tracheoscopy. This procedure was performed twice at an interval of three months. After the first endoscopic examination, the patient regained weight and normal behavior. Three months after the second tracheoscopy, signs of labored breathing recurred. At this point, the obstruction was treated with implantation of an intratracheal stent. A nitinol biliary stent, 35 mm in length, 8 mm in diameter, was applied during tracheoscopy without fluoroscopy aid. The cat received postoperative treatment with dexamethasone 0.25 mg.kg­¹ SID for seven days. The patient showed immediate clinical improvement in dyspnea, but retained an episodic cough. After six months, the cat suffered a relapse of dyspnea. Radiographic examination revealed a large area of radiopacity in the region of the tracheal stent, suggesting an increase in size of the tumor, and possible metastasis in the lung parenchyma. The patient underwent repeat tracheoscopy, and almost complete obstruction of the tracheal lumen was found. The cat died during this procedure. Post-mortem examination was requested, which confirmed tracheal obstruction resulting from growth of the tumor, and pulmonary metastasis. Discussion: There are few reports of tracheal neoplasms in cats, because they are uncommon. The diagnosis was based on radiography, tracheoscopy and incisional biopsy. Treatment with surgery involves high morbidity and mortality. For this reason we chose the use of a tracheal stent, although palliative in cases of cancer. Stents are frequently used in humans with malignant tracheal obstruction, but the few reports in the veterinary literature, are focused on dogs presenting with tracheobronchomalacia. In cats, a few cases of tracheal stenosis and tumors have been treated experimentally with stents, which have shown success in reestablishing an airway. In previous reports, the technique has always been carried out with the aid of fluoroscopy. The application of the stent using tracheoscopy alone was efficient. The patient in this report suvived for one year since it diagnosed before near-total obstruction of the trachea occurred. Therefore this was a palliative measure, which allowed the patient a good quality of life while receiving adjuvant therapy when possible or necessary.

Flutter atrial e taquicardia ventricular em cão com síndrome dilatação e vólvulo / gástrico / Atrial flutter and ventricular tachycardia in dog with gastric-dilation volvulus Complex

Background: Gastric-dilation volvulus complex (GDV) is an acute condition characterized by dilation of the stomach associated with rotation around its mesenteric axis. Cardiac arrhythmias, especially of ventricular origin are frequently found in animals with GDV. Ventricular tachycardia is characterized by three or more ventricular premature complexes in sequence. Atrial flutter is a supraventricular arrhythmia uncommon in dogs, characterized by rapid atrial rate and altered atrial depolarization resulting in bidirectional saw-toothed atrial complexes. The aim of this work is describe the cardiac arrhythmias and electrocardiographic patterns observed in a postoperative period of seven days in a dog with GDV syndrome. Case: A 2-year-old female dog of Fila Brasileiro breed was presented to veterinary hospital due to an acute onset of abdominal distension. Clinical findings included hyperemic mucous membranes, capillary refill time of less than two seconds, normal sounds in cardiac auscultation, heart rate of 160 beats per min, tachypnea, normal femoral pulses and an increased abdominal volume compatible with accumulation of gas. The surgical procedure was the treatment of choice for correction of GDV syndrome. The stomach was dilated, rotated 180 degrees clockwise and possibly with a necrotic area. The spleen was congested and infarcted. During surgery, the patient had a period of low oximetry and two isolated ventricular premature complexes, treated with lidocaine in bolus. In the postoperative period, the electrocardiographic monitoring revealed the presence of two types of arrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia occurred one day after surgery, being treated with lidocaine in bolus and constant rate infusion. On the third day, the dog developed atrial fl utter, treated with digoxin. On the fourth day, cardiac rhythm returned to normal and showed no further changes up to 7 days after surgery, when the dog was discharged. Discussion: The presence of cardiac arrhythmias in the postoperative period is one of the factors that makes the prognosis worse in dogs with GDV. The etiological mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias in this syndrome has not been elucidated. Among the possibilities are myocardial ischemia, release of myocardial depressant factors, release of catecholamines, electrolyte imbalances and acidosis. Ventricular tachycardia is a relatively common arrhythmia in cases of GDV, which can progress to ventricular fibrillation, the leading cause of deaths from cardiac arrhythmia in dogs with the disease. Among supraventricular arrhythmias, atrial premature complexes were reported, however atrial flutter was not described before in this syndrome. Moreover, the dog developed cardiac arrhythmia until about 72 h after surgery, unlike another reports. An electrocardiographic pattern changed was the size of the P wave, suggesting left atrial enlargement, but thoracic radiography showed a normal-sized cardiac silhouette. Moreover, the animal showed T wave amplitude greater than 25% of the R wave amplitude, which may be related to low oximetry observed at the start of surgery, possible electrolyte imbalances or be physiological. The present case reinforces the importance of electrocardiographic monitoring in the postoperative GDV, including a period of up to 72 h after surgery. Moreover, it is concluded that atrial flutter may be another type of arrhythmia caused by secondary changes of GDV syndrome and confirms the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic therapy with lidocaine in cases of ventricular tachycardia.(AU)

Flutter atrial e taquicardia ventricular em cão com síndrome dilatação e vólvulo / gástrico / Atrial flutter and ventricular tachycardia in dog with gastric-dilation volvulus Complex

Background: Gastric-dilation volvulus complex (GDV) is an acute condition characterized by dilation of the stomach associated with rotation around its mesenteric axis. Cardiac arrhythmias, especially of ventricular origin are frequently found in animals with GDV. Ventricular tachycardia is characterized by three or more ventricular premature complexes in sequence. Atrial flutter is a supraventricular arrhythmia uncommon in dogs, characterized by rapid atrial rate and altered atrial depolarization resulting in bidirectional saw-toothed atrial complexes. The aim of this work is describe the cardiac arrhythmias and electrocardiographic patterns observed in a postoperative period of seven days in a dog with GDV syndrome. Case: A 2-year-old female dog of Fila Brasileiro breed was presented to veterinary hospital due to an acute onset of abdominal distension. Clinical findings included hyperemic mucous membranes, capillary refill time of less than two seconds, normal sounds in cardiac auscultation, heart rate of 160 beats per min, tachypnea, normal femoral pulses and an increased abdominal volume compatible with accumulation of gas. The surgical procedure was the treatment of choice for correction of GDV syndrome. The stomach was dilated, rotated 180 degrees clockwise and possibly with a necrotic area. The spleen was congested and infarcted. During surgery, the patient had a period of low oximetry and two isolated ventricular premature complexes, treated with lidocaine in bolus. In the postoperative period, the electrocardiographic monitoring revealed the presence of two types of arrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia occurred one day after surgery, being treated with lidocaine in bolus and constant rate infusion. On the third day, the dog developed atrial fl utter, treated with digoxin. On the fourth day, cardiac rhythm returned to normal and showed no further changes up to 7 days after surgery, when the dog was discharged. Discussion: The presence of cardiac arrhythmias in the postoperative period is one of the factors that makes the prognosis worse in dogs with GDV. The etiological mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias in this syndrome has not been elucidated. Among the possibilities are myocardial ischemia, release of myocardial depressant factors, release of catecholamines, electrolyte imbalances and acidosis. Ventricular tachycardia is a relatively common arrhythmia in cases of GDV, which can progress to ventricular fibrillation, the leading cause of deaths from cardiac arrhythmia in dogs with the disease. Among supraventricular arrhythmias, atrial premature complexes were reported, however atrial flutter was not described before in this syndrome. Moreover, the dog developed cardiac arrhythmia until about 72 h after surgery, unlike another reports. An electrocardiographic pattern changed was the size of the P wave, suggesting left atrial enlargement, but thoracic radiography showed a normal-sized cardiac silhouette. Moreover, the animal showed T wave amplitude greater than 25% of the R wave amplitude, which may be related to low oximetry observed at the start of surgery, possible electrolyte imbalances or be physiological. The present case reinforces the importance of electrocardiographic monitoring in the postoperative GDV, including a period of up to 72 h after surgery. Moreover, it is concluded that atrial flutter may be another type of arrhythmia caused by secondary changes of GDV syndrome and confirms the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic therapy with lidocaine in cases of ventricular tachycardia.

Efeito da presença de um coespecífico no alojamento de ovelhas em novo ambiente, após estresse agudo causado pelo transporte / Effect of the Presence of a Conspecific in the Housing of Sheep in the New Environment, Following Acute Stress Caused by Transportation

Sheep are social and gregarious animals. They feel at ease when free and clustered rather than isolated. In some situations, as in experimental procedures, they need to be separated from the flock and kept without social company. Both instances, separation from the flock and isolation are considered stressful and may impact their well being. As stress can affect the results of the study, special care should be taken when conducting biomedical or veterinary research. The aim of this study was to compare the concentration of cortisol and behavior of ewes housed at a research institution in the presence of a familiar conspecific, an unfamiliar conspecific or in the absence of conspecifics.(AU)

Efeito da presença de um coespecífico no alojamento de ovelhas em novo ambiente, após estresse agudo causado pelo transporte / Effect of the Presence of a Conspecific in the Housing of Sheep in the New Environment, Following Acute Stress Caused by Transportation

Sheep are social and gregarious animals. They feel at ease when free and clustered rather than isolated. In some situations, as in experimental procedures, they need to be separated from the flock and kept without social company. Both instances, separation from the flock and isolation are considered stressful and may impact their well being. As stress can affect the results of the study, special care should be taken when conducting biomedical or veterinary research. The aim of this study was to compare the concentration of cortisol and behavior of ewes housed at a research institution in the presence of a familiar conspecific, an unfamiliar conspecific or in the absence of conspecifics.