Ultraviolet light C prototype device against Sporothrix brasiliensis as a potential physical method for surface disinfection.

Sporothrix brasiliensis is recognized as an emergent fungal pathogen and the high amount of fungal propagules in the lesions of infected cats allows the contamination of surfaces by direct contact. Given that the environment can play a role in the transmission of this fungus, effective methods to eliminate this pathogen from contaminated surfaces are necessary. Physical methods, such as ultraviolet light C (UVC), are broad used for surfaces disinfection, however, non-data about its activity against S. brasiliensis is reported. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate an easy handled prototype of a UVC device, in the inhibition of S. brasiliensis. Three doses and times of exposure of irradiance were tested: 3.5 mJ/cm2 (1 s), 5.25 mJ/cm2 (1.5 s) and 329 mJ/cm2 (94 s) against a standardized inoculum of yeast and mold phase of S. brasiliensis. A decrease in CFU was shown in all doses of irradiance in both phases of S. brasiliensis, the average reduction ranged from 78 to 100% among doses, being a complete fungicidal activity achieved against the yeast phase after the 94 s exposure (329 mJ/cm2). Our data shows that UVC is a potential physical method for disinfection of surfaces contaminated with S. brasiliensis, and the prototype device developed provides an easy handling, and quickly results.

Tattooing as a gateway to Sporothrix brasiliensis infection.

Recently, sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis transmitted during tattooing process was described in the epicenter of the Brazilian epidemic sporotrichosis. We report a similar case of this mycosis in a patient recently tattooed, but probably infected by a sick cat instead of via a contaminated procedure. Clinical cure was attained after two months of oral itraconazole. In the hyperendemic S. brasiliensis regions of sporotrichosis, health professionals must be aware of atypical transmissions of this fungus.

Update of the Epidemiology of the Sporotrichosis Epidemic in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Sporotrichosis is a disease not requiring jurisdictional notification and consequently is underreported in Brazil. Therefore, the epidemiological picture even in hyperendemic states is unknown. Thus, we evaluated the occurrence of sporotrichosis throughout the territory of the southern state of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). METHODS: We update the epidemiological situation of sporotrichosis in the southern region of this state and describe the emergence of this disease in the Metropolitan region. We engaged professionals from RS enrolled in animal health care in answering a questionnaire regarding sporotrichosis. RESULTS: The occurrence of local cases of feline sporotrichosis was reported by 83% of the participants from 40 cities, distributed through the seven health districts of RS. Human sporotrichosis cases, transmitted by cats, were also reported by professionals from four regions of the state. The frequency of the disease in both the South and Metropolitan regions showed a marked increase in recent years. CONCLUSION: Feline and cat-transmitted human sporotrichosis is an underreported mycosis in RS, widely distributed in the territory of this state and increasing. Aggressive public health policies are urgently necessary to control the geographical expansion of this spreading mycosis.

Pythiosis in cats in northeastern Brazil.

The epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of pythiosis in cats in northeastern Brazil are described. From January 2000 to December 2018 the Laboratory of Animal Pathology of the Federal University of Campina Grande received 1928 tissue samples of cats, three of which were diagnosed as pythiosis. Grossly, the cats showed a multinodular mass in the oral cavity associated with facial deformity (case 1), a large multinodular mass thickening the jejunum wall (case 2), and an ulcerated nodule in the skin at the base of the tail (case 3). Histologically, pyogranulomatous inflammation and necrosis, with intralesional predominantly negatively stained hyphae, were observed in all cases. Immunohistochemistry for Pythium insidiosum revealed strong immunolabelling of the hyphae. The diagnosis of pythiosis was based on the epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological findings, and was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Although uncommon in cats, pythiosis should be readily considered as a differential diagnosis of chronic pyogranulomatous infections of the gastrointestinal tract and skin, especially in endemic areas, where the disease is often diagnosed in other animal species.

Toxoplasmose sistêmica em filhotes de gatos / Systemic toxoplasmosis in kittens

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease that affects virtually all species of warm-blooded animals. The felids,domestic and wild, are considered the definitive hosts of the protozoan. In Brazil, Toxoplasma gondii infection has beendiagnosed in horses, goats, primates, dogs and cats. In the backlands of Paraíba, the disease has been sporadically reportedaffecting dogs with canine distemper and swine, but cases of systemic toxoplasmosis in cats have not yet been described.The aim of the present study was to describe the main epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of twocases of systemic toxoplasmosis in kittens.Cases: Two kittens were affected with three (cat 1) and six (cat 2) months old, females, and crossbreed. The kittens had notbeen vaccinated or dewormed, and were raised with other cats in a peridomiciliary regime in a rural area in the backlandsof Paraíba. Cat 1 was thin, apathetic, dehydrated, tachypneic and with pale mucous membranes. Cat 2, showed inappetence,apathy, jaundice, fever, dehydration, dyspnea and abdominal breathing pattern. At necropsy, non-collapsed, shiny, reddishlungs with multifocal whitish areas, punctuated or nodular, measuring from 0.1 to 0.3 cm in diameter, were found on thepleural surface and parenchyma. The livers were pale, with lobular pattern accentuation, and reddish depressed multifocalareas randomly distributed on the capsular surface. Histologically, multifocal to coalescent areas of necrosis, moderate (cat1) or marked (cat 2), associated with intralesional bradyzoites and tachyzoites and variable lymphoplasmacytic infiltratewere observed. In cat 2, numerous bradyzoites were visualized in the gray matter of the left cerebral hemisphere (temporaland parietal lobes), sometimes associated with a moderate lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate. In the perivascularspaces of the...(AU)

Toxoplasmose sistêmica em filhotes de gatos / Systemic toxoplasmosis in kittens

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease that affects virtually all species of warm-blooded animals. The felids,domestic and wild, are considered the definitive hosts of the protozoan. In Brazil, Toxoplasma gondii infection has beendiagnosed in horses, goats, primates, dogs and cats. In the backlands of Paraíba, the disease has been sporadically reportedaffecting dogs with canine distemper and swine, but cases of systemic toxoplasmosis in cats have not yet been described.The aim of the present study was to describe the main epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of twocases of systemic toxoplasmosis in kittens.Cases: Two kittens were affected with three (cat 1) and six (cat 2) months old, females, and crossbreed. The kittens had notbeen vaccinated or dewormed, and were raised with other cats in a peridomiciliary regime in a rural area in the backlandsof Paraíba. Cat 1 was thin, apathetic, dehydrated, tachypneic and with pale mucous membranes. Cat 2, showed inappetence,apathy, jaundice, fever, dehydration, dyspnea and abdominal breathing pattern. At necropsy, non-collapsed, shiny, reddishlungs with multifocal whitish areas, punctuated or nodular, measuring from 0.1 to 0.3 cm in diameter, were found on thepleural surface and parenchyma. The livers were pale, with lobular pattern accentuation, and reddish depressed multifocalareas randomly distributed on the capsular surface. Histologically, multifocal to coalescent areas of necrosis, moderate (cat1) or marked (cat 2), associated with intralesional bradyzoites and tachyzoites and variable lymphoplasmacytic infiltratewere observed. In cat 2, numerous bradyzoites were visualized in the gray matter of the left cerebral hemisphere (temporaland parietal lobes), sometimes associated with a moderate lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate. In the perivascularspaces of the...

Stings of the Ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as Cause of Punctate Corneal Lesions in Humans and Other Animals.

Numerous researchers have observed a form of punctate corneal lesions causing leukomas (corneal opacities) in humans, domestic animals, and wild animals in different parts of the world. This condition has been reported under different names, including West Indian (or Caribbean) punctate keratopathy, West Indian dots, tropical punctate keratopathy, Rice's keratopathy, Florida keratopathy, and Florida spots. Many of these cases, appear to have a common cause, the stings of a small red ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), originally from the Neotropics, but spread to other parts of the world through human commerce. The purpose of this article is to link disparate literature on punctate or nummular corneal lesions published in medical, veterinary, wildlife, and entomology journals, because many researchers seem largely unaware of the literature from disciplines other than their own. Recognizing a common cause of this corneal condition is important to insure proper medical treatment and foster efforts to limit the spread and negative impact of W. auropunctata.

Enfermedad por arañazo de gato como causa de fiebre de origen desconocido / Cat scratch disease as fever of unknown origin

The cat scratch disease is a relatively rare disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Only a small proportion of the cases that described extranodal involvement occurs. We report a 11 year old male patient with persistent fever, liver and osteoarticular involvement with a predominance of dorsolumbar spine. Evolution was satisfactory with complete clinical and imaging evidenced recovery in several months of monitoring. Case was analyzed considering EAG published literature, emphasizing the need to include this condition in the differential diagnoses in patients with bone involvement suggestive of systemic disease.

La enfermedad por arañazo de gato (EAG) es una enfermedad infecciosa aguda usualmente benigna, relativamente común, causada por Bartonella henselae. De los casos descritos una pequeña proporción presenta compromiso extranodal. Presentamos el caso clínico de un niño de 11 años con un sindrome febril prolongado, compromiso hepático y óseo múltiple, con predominio en la columna vertebral dorsolumbar. Su evolución fue satisfactoria con resolución clínica y de las imágenes, después de varios meses de seguimiento. Se realiza una revisión de la bibliografía sobre EAG, enfatizando la necesidad de incluir esta enfermedad en el diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes con síndrome febril prolongado con compromiso óseo sugerente de una enfermedad sistémica.

Prevalência de lesão de reabsorção dentária em felinos atendidos no OdontoZoo no primeiro semestre de 2009 / Prevalence of dental resorption in cats treated at OdontoZoo in the first half of 2009

A prevalência de lesões de reabsorção dentária foi determinada no Odontozoo serviço de odontologia veterinária a partir do atendimento de 50 felinos, machos e fêmeas, de idades e raças variadas. Todos os animais foram anestesiados para que se pudesse realizar o exame clínico, realizado por inspeção visual e exploração do sulco gengival, e, quando necessário, radiografia intraoral digital do elemento dentário com sinais clínicos relacionados à LRDF ou toda a boca, no caso do paciente apresentar um dente com lesões reabsortivas. Na mesma sessão se procedia ao tratamento dos pacientes. Trinta felinos (60%) apresentaram diagnóstico da doença. Desses, 31 (62%) eram machos e 19 (38%) eram fêmeas. Dezoito animais (60%) apresentavam a lesão em um elemento dentário, seis (20%) em dois elementos, dois (6,66%) em três elementos e quatro (13,32%) em mais de cinco dentes. Entre os dentes acometidos pela doença, oito (13%) eram molares, 36 (58%) pré-molares e 18 (29%) caninos. Os autores concluíram que a prevalência da lesão e os elementos dentários acometidos estão de acordo com a literatura pertinente e que a radiografia de todos dentes deve ser realizada sempre que houver sinais de lesão de reabsorção dentária dos felinos mesmo em um único elemento

Dental resorptive lesions prevalence was determined in 50 cats at Odontozoo (veterinary odontology service). There were male and female, with different ages and breeds. All cats were anesthetized in order to perform a complete physical examination that was executed by visual inspection and gingival groove exploration. Moreover, intraoral digital radiographs were done in one dental element when only clinical signs were present. However, in cases where the patient presented one tooth with resorptive lesion, the whole mouth was explored with dental radiographs. During the same procedure, treatment was instituted to the patient. Thirty cats (60%) presented diagnosis of the disease, where 31 (62%) were male and 19 (38%) female. In addition, eighteen (60%) presented the lesion in one dental element, six (20%) in two elements, two (6,66%) in three elements, and four (13,32%) in more than five teeth. Between the teeth involved, eight (13%) were molars, 36 (58%) premolars, and 18 (29%) canines. The authors concluded that prevalence of resorptive lesions as the dental elements involved agree with the presented literature. Furthermore, radiographs of all dental elements should be taken every time there are clinical signs of resorptive lesions even when the lesion is in only one dental element

Prevalência de lesão de reabsorção dentária em felinos atendidos no OdontoZoo no primeiro semestre de 2009 / Prevalence of dental resorption in cats treated at OdontoZoo in the first half of 2009

A prevalência de lesões de reabsorção dentária foi determinada no Odontozoo serviço de odontologia veterinária a partir do atendimento de 50 felinos, machos e fêmeas, de idades e raças variadas. Todos os animais foram anestesiados para que se pudesse realizar o exame clínico, realizado por inspeção visual e exploração do sulco gengival, e, quando necessário, radiografia intraoral digital do elemento dentário com sinais clínicos relacionados à LRDF ou toda a boca, no caso do paciente apresentar um dente com lesões reabsortivas. Na mesma sessão se procedia ao tratamento dos pacientes. Trinta felinos (60%) apresentaram diagnóstico da doença. Desses, 31 (62%) eram machos e 19 (38%) eram fêmeas. Dezoito animais (60%) apresentavam a lesão em um elemento dentário, seis (20%) em dois elementos, dois (6,66%) em três elementos e quatro (13,32%) em mais de cinco dentes. Entre os dentes acometidos pela doença, oito (13%) eram molares, 36 (58%) pré-molares e 18 (29%) caninos. Os autores concluíram que a prevalência da lesão e os elementos dentários acometidos estão de acordo com a literatura pertinente e que a radiografia de todos dentes deve ser realizada sempre que houver sinais de lesão de reabsorção dentária dos felinos mesmo em um único elemento(AU)

Dental resorptive lesions prevalence was determined in 50 cats at Odontozoo (veterinary odontology service). There were male and female, with different ages and breeds. All cats were anesthetized in order to perform a complete physical examination that was executed by visual inspection and gingival groove exploration. Moreover, intraoral digital radiographs were done in one dental element when only clinical signs were present. However, in cases where the patient presented one tooth with resorptive lesion, the whole mouth was explored with dental radiographs. During the same procedure, treatment was instituted to the patient. Thirty cats (60%) presented diagnosis of the disease, where 31 (62%) were male and 19 (38%) female. In addition, eighteen (60%) presented the lesion in one dental element, six (20%) in two elements, two (6,66%) in three elements, and four (13,32%) in more than five teeth. Between the teeth involved, eight (13%) were molars, 36 (58%) premolars, and 18 (29%) canines. The authors concluded that prevalence of resorptive lesions as the dental elements involved agree with the presented literature. Furthermore, radiographs of all dental elements should be taken every time there are clinical signs of resorptive lesions even when the lesion is in only one dental element(AU)