Aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos da infecção neurológica associada ao herpesvírus eqüino 1 (ehv-1) em cavalos que morreram com sinais nervosos no Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Durante o período de Outubro de 2004 a Fevereiro de 2006, 75 amostras de sistema nervoso central (SNC) oriundas de eqüinos que morreram com sinais neurológicos no estado de Minas Gerais foram enviadas ao Laboratório de Virologia Comparada no ICB/UFMG para o diagnóstico de herpesvírus eqüino. Essas amostras foram previamente diagnosticadas negativas para o vírus da raiva através dos testes de imunofluorescência direta e inoculação em camundongos, no Laboratório de Saúde Animal (LSA) do Instituto Mineiro de Agropecuária (IMA). Dentre as amostras analisadas, 39 (52%) foram positivas para o herpesvírus eqüino 1 (EHV-1) através da técnica de reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR). Na maioria dos casos, o exame histopatológico do SNC revelou uma discreta vasculite com infiltrado perivascular de células mononucleares, congestão, trombose arterial e degeneração do tecido nervoso central. As amostras de SNC positivas para o EHV-1 foram coletadas de eqüinos oriundos de 30 municípios de Minas Gerais. Os casos de EHV-1 ocorreram de forma isolada não apresentando caráter sazonal. Na maioria dos casos (71,8%), a evolução dos sinais clínicos foi aguda, sendo que os sinais clínicos observados com mais freqüência foram ataxia, instabilidade dos membros posteriores, paralisia dos membros posteriores e decúbito. De acordo com informações relatadas pelo IMA, as infecções causadas pelo EHV-1 foram tão freqüentes como as infecções causadas pelo vírus da raiva em eqüinos no estado de Minas Gerais durante o período estudado. Portanto, torna-se importante a inclusão da encefalite pelo EHV-1 no diagnóstico diferencial de outras doenças do SNC de eqüinos no estado de Minas Gerais.

An outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever in Murrah buffaloes in Minas Gerais, Brazil

An outbreak of Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF) resulted in death of five female buffaloes and one domestic cow from the same farm. Four buffaloes died 10-15 days after the appearance of clinical signs, while the fifth was euthanized in extremis, after similar clinical signs. Histopathological lesions included multifocal histiolymphocytic epicarditis, myocarditis and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, which are commonly seen in cases of MCF in buffaloes. Furthermore, lymphocytic vasculitis centered in the adventitia, with occasional fibrinoid necrosis in the muscular layer, was found in the kidneys, liver, spleen, lymph nodes and brain. Nucleotide sequencing of DNA fragments from the central nervous system amplified by PCR revealed 98% similarity with known OHV-2 sequences from Genbank. Additionally, PCR analysis also revealed the presence of OHV-2 DNA in the peripheral mononuclear blood cells of two clinically healthy buffaloes. The diagnosis of MCFwas based on epidemiological, clinical, gross and histopathological findings and on the results of a semi-nested PCR followed by nucleotide sequencing.

Hydrocephalus caused by a venous varix

INTRODUCTION

Vascular malformations are uncommon causes of aqueductal obstruction. To our concern, only one case of hydrocephalus caused by a venous varix draining an unruptured arteriovenous malformation has been described in the literature.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a 70-year-old woman presenting with progressive cognitive impairment, gait disturbance and urinary incontinence. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography revealed a large venous varix draining an unruptured arteriovenous malformation causing hydrocephalus.

CONCLUSION

Although uncommon, it is necessary to consider the presence of a vascular malformation in adults who presented with signs of aqueductal obstruction.

Naturally occurring feline leukemia virus subgroup A and B infections in urban domestic cats

A nested-PCR (n-PCR) was used to detect feline leukemia virus (FeLV) proviral DNA in blood samples from 464 sick and 608 healthy domestic cats (Felis catus) selected by convenience, and a significantly high prevalence of FeLV infection was observed. n-PCR results revealed the presence of FeLV proviral DNA in 47.2 % of sick cats and 47.4 % of healthy cats. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FeLV samples from healthy or sick cats were grouped into separate clades. We determined FeLV subgroups by an n-PCR based on the envelope (env) gene. The partial env gene of FeLV Minas Gerais (MG) samples were compared to various exogenous FeLV isolates and endogenous (enFeLV) provirus from the same region. FeLV-B MG samples were more similar to endogenous sequences and to natural FeLV-B isolates than to either FeLV-A or FeLV-C. The results revealed the circulation of FeLV-B in large populations of urban domestic cats in Brazil.

Histologically malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the orbit

An intra-conical histologically malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the orbit presented in a 28 year-old female with intact vision and exophthalmos. Total resection was achieved by means of a frontal craniotomy and orbital roof osteotomy. Evidence of a beneficial role for adjuvant treatments in this particular tumor is controversial and vision impairment is a possible side effect. Therefore they were not employed. The patient is well after two years of follow-up.

Post-operative concomitant radiochemotherapy in the treatment of primitive CNS high grade gliomas. A retrospective analysis

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Background: The authors analyse retrospectively the impact on tumour control and toxicity of concomitant radiotherapy (RT) and Temozolomide (TMZ) in high grade gliomas (HGG) of the CNS, in patients treated in the Clínica de Radioterapia do Porto - Portugal. Methods: This cohort represents all patients with HGG treated between January 2002 and January 2006, with concomitant RT a median total dose of 60 Gy, 2 Gy per treatment given once daily 5-days/week and TMZ 75mg/m2 for 42 days, followed by adjuvant treatment with TMZ 5-days schedule every 28 days (150 mg/m2 for the first cycle increased to 200mg/m2). The cohort was retrospectively analyzed for gender distribution, age, extent of surgical resection, initial KPS, median overall survival (OS) and haematological toxicity. Results: 23 with HGG (6 females, 17 males) were treated with concomitant RT (44–72 Gy) and TMZ followed by adjuvant TMZ; median age was 58 (ranging from 17–72); median KPS was 80 (ranging from 40–90); 3 patients had complete resection, 17 partial resection and 3 biopsy. All patients except one, who had treatment interruption for thrombocytopenia, completed the concomitant phase of treatment; 19 patients continued to received adjuvant treatment with TMZ (median number of cycles was 5 (ranging from 1–20). Median OS (measured from the date of diagnosis to the date of death) was 20.4 month and 1 yr OS was 54%. During concomitant phase, one patient had grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia. During the adjuvant TMZ therapy 4 patients had grade 3–4 haematological toxicity (anaemia: 1; thrombocytopenia: 1; leucopoenia and thrombocytopenia: 2). Conclusions: The results of concomitant RT+TMZ followed by TMZ in these patients with HGG showed values in accordance with the latest data published on literature for this association. Differences observed might be due to the small sample size.RT+TMZ followed by adjuvant TMZ is a well tolerated treatment with better results in median OS comparatively with previous results of RT only treatment in HGG. Treatment related toxicity was within acceptable levels, and this approach became routine practice in this set of patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Genotyping of infectious bursal disease virus strains by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the VP1, VP2, and VP3 genes

SUMMARY. This study aimed to genotype infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) isolates from the Minas Gerais state poultry industry. RNA was extracted from bursae obtained from field cases without passage or commercial vaccines. Genetic subtyping of IBDV isolates and vaccine strains was carried out by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. A 588-bp fragment in the VP1 gene, an 847-bp fragment in the VP2 gene, and a 320-bp fragment in the VP3 gene were amplified by PCR and digested with restriction enzymes PstI and ScaI (VP1); BamHI, BstEII, and PstI (VP2); and NcoI, ScaI, and XbaI (VP3). Our work shows that complementing the clinical history of the outbreaks with RT-PCR followed by RFLP analysis using PstI for VP1, BamHI for VP2, and XbaI for VP3 allowed an accurate classification of a causative agent as a very virulent IBDV.

Cavernous malformation of the trigeminal nerve

A cavernous malformation involving the Gasserian ganglion, 2nd and 3rd divisions of the trigeminal nerve on the left side was resected via an extradural route in a 54 year old male. Cavernous malformations of the cranial nerves are rare. Specific origin from the trigeminal nerve has not been previously reported.

Analysis of the influence of the variable size on the characteristics and behavior of meningiomas

Seventy-two patients submitted to meningioma surgery at Pedro Hispano Hospital from 1997 to 2001 were reviewed to analyze the association between size (largest diameter of the lesion obtained from imaging examinations) and other variables regarding the biological behavior and clinical outcome of these patients. Statistically significant associations were found between tumor size and location, type of first symptom, type of physical examination, histological grade, surgical complications, postoperative CSF bursae and the need for blood transfusion. Patient's age, gender, duration of first symptom, clinical status at discharge and persistent complaints were not associated to tumor size. There was a trend towards a statistically significant association between tumor size and both grade of resection and persistent deficits. The causes and implications of the findings are discussed. Tumor size is a parameter that may interfere with the neurosurgeon's capacity to treat these patients as well as with their recovery.

Skull osteosarcoma: illustrated review

A case of conventional intramedullary osteosarcoma (epithelioid subtype) with 10 years of evolution and another of high grade surface osteosarcoma of the chondroblastic type, both in the skull, gave rise to several diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Key points concerning the definition, classification, imaging, clinical series data and treatment options available for skull osteosarcoma are highlighted.