Biomarkers of gastrointestinal nematodes in beef cattle raised in a tropical area

Biomarkers are specific molecular, histological, or physiological characteristics of normal or pathogenic biological processes and are promising in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). Although some biomarkers have been validated for infection by Ostertagia sp. in cattle raised in temperate regions, there is a lack of information for tropical regions. The aim of this project was to assess potential biomarkers and validate the most promising. In the first study, 36 bovines (Nelore breed) naturally infected by GINs were distributed into two groups: infected (not treated with anthelmintic) and treated (treated with fenbendazole on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56). The variables of interest were live weight, fecal egg count, hemogram, serum biochemical markers, phosphorus, gastrin, and pepsinogen. In the second step, pepsinogen was assessed in cattle of the Nelore breed distributed among three groups: infected (not treated with anthelmintic), MOX (treated with moxidectin), and IVM + BZD (treated with ivermectin + albendazole). In the first study, no difference between groups was found for weight, albumin, hematocrit (corpuscular volume [CV]), erythrocytes, or hemoglobin. Negative correlations were found between pepsinogen and both CV and albumin, and albumin was negatively correlated with the percentage of Haemonchus sp. in the fecal culture. Among the biomarkers, only pepsinogen differentiated treated and infected (beginning with the 28th day of the study). In the second study, a reduction in pepsinogen was found after anthelmintic treatment. Therefore, pepsinogen is a promising biomarker of worms in cattle naturally infected by the genera Haemonchus and Cooperia in tropical areas.

Caracterização bioquímica do líquido peritoneal de bovino sadio

O objetivo com este estudo foi estabelecer os intervalos de referências de diferentes analitos em líquido peritoneal de bovinos da raça nelore. Foram coletadas amostras do líquido de 50 machos e 50 fêmeas, oriundo de um abatedouro frigorífico na região central do Brasil. A determinação das concentrações de albumina; cálcio total; Cloro; fosfatase alcalina; glicose; Potássio; Lactato; Sódio; proteína total foi realizada em equipamento automático. Valores como razão A:G: razão albumina:globulina foram realizados por meio de cálculo matemático. Este é a primeira descrição do intervalo de referência de líquido peritoneal em bovinos da raça nelore. O tamanho da amostra e a distribuição dos dados indicam que os valores médios obtidos são representativos e podem ser usados para o diagnóstico de enfermidades nesse estrato populacional.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Third Eyelid of a Dog

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm that originates from the keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and predominantly affect light-skinned animals. In dogs, breeds such as American Staffordshire Terriers, white or speckled Bull Terriers, and Beagles have a higher predisposition. Squamous cell carcinoma presents in the skin, at slightly pigmented or hairy sites, especially in digits, but also may occur in the nasal planum, oral mucosa, and rarely, in the eye. Considering that few reports have been published on eye neoplasms, the aim of this paper is to describe a dog with a lesion in the third eyelid of his right eye which was diagnosticated with squamous cell carcinoma. Case: A 10-year-old male American Staffordshire dog was admitted to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics College, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande, Brazil with injury to the right eye. During the physical examination, there was also a non-adhered lump near the foreskin, measuring 1.5 cm in diameter. In addition, there was another lump in the third eyelid of the right eye, approximately 3 mm in diameter. Cytology of the dermal nodule was performed by fine-needle aspiration cytology; however, the sample was insufficient for cytological evaluation. Therefore, the animal was placed under general anesthesia for skin lump excision and for fine-needle aspiration cytology of the third eyelid nodule. The histopathological exam revealed high cellularity of epithelial cells, intense anisocytosis and pleomorphism, cytoplasmic basophilia and vacuolation, multiple evident nucleoli, and anisocariosis and coarse chromatin. These finds were compatible with squamous cell carcinoma, which was the same result suggested by fine-needle aspiration cytology of the third eyelid sample. Based on these results, the dog underwent a surgical procedure for enucleation and subsequent histopathological evaluation of the nodule in the third eyelid, which confirmed the squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis.Discussion: Squamous cell carcinoma is an extremely aggressive tumor with low metastatic potential, characterized by invasion of the dermis by proliferation of malignant epithelial cells from the prickly layer. It is most common in elderly animals, and American Staffordshires are among the breeds that are predisposed to develop this tumor. The clinical presentation is highly variable, depending on the tissue involved. In this case, the dermal nodule was an elevated area on the skin and the third eyelid nodule resembled an ulcerative mass. Cytological examination from the lesion located on the third eyelid, showed malignancies cytoplasmic changes frequently found in carcinomas such as anisocytosis, cytoplasmic basophilia, and cell pleomorphism. In addition, nuclear changes had also occurred, such as crass chromatin, multiple evident nucleoli, and multinucleated cells. A presumptive diagnosis was made based on cytology and was confirmed after biopsy and histopathological examination. Because it is uncommon in dogs, squamous cell carcinoma of the third eyelid may be misdiagnosed, delaying correct treatment, and accelerating the development of the tumor. Currently, various therapeutic approaches are available, such as surgical excision, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, radiation, and hyperthermia. The choice of treatment depends on the location and stage of the lesions. Surgical treatment should be aimed at removing sufficient tissue to leave surgical margins free of neoplastic cells.

Osmoregulatory profiles and gill histological changes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin

Lambda-cyhalothrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that mimics the structure and insecticidal properties of pyrethrin, a natural insecticide derived from chrysanthemums. In fish, it disrupts the nervous system, causing motor paralysis and several other alterations associated with varying levels of mortality. This study aimed to evaluate osmoregulatory responses and histological changes in the gills of Oreochromis niloticus chronically exposed to a sublethal dosage (0.86 μg/L) of lambda-cyhalothrin. The mean serum values for Na²⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, Ca²⁺, pH, lactate, H⁺, HCO^3, and glucose along to degree of tissue change (DTC) at 24, 96, 168, and 240 h post-exposure (hpe) were evaluated. Lambda-cyhalothrin affected the neuronal motor function at 24 hpe, followed by the increase of the K⁺, Ca²⁺, H⁺, and glucose levels in the exposed group, compared to the control group. Lactate and H⁺ levels in the exposed group were higher than those in the control group at 168 and 240 hpe respectively. HCO³, and Cl- levels increased at 240 hpe, although there was no change in the pH values. DTC was higher in treated fish than in control fish, but there were no significant differences among time-exposure. The changes detected ranged from hyperemia of the branchial vasculature, eosinophilic granulocytic cell infiltration, mucous cell hyperplasia, and partial fusion of secondary lamellae at 24 hpe to vascular aneurysm formation, and necrosis of the lamellar epithelium at 240 hpe. Thus, a sublethal dosage of lambda-cyhalothrin in the long-term is toxic for Nile tilapia, characterized by hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, and respiratory alkalosis, followed by time-dependent histological changes.

RDW-CV E RDW-SD EM GATOS DOMÉSTICOS SAUDÁVEIS

O objetivo do presente estudo foi estabelecer intervalo de referência para valores de RDW-CV e RDW-SD em felinos clinicamente sadios. Amostras de sangue de 187 felinos jovens e adultos, clinicamente sadios e encaminhados para procedimentos cirúrgico eletivos foram utilizadas. As amostras foram obtidas a partir da punção de veia jugular, armazenadas em tubos com EDTA e posteriormente processadas.  A determinação do RDW foi realizada utilizando o analisador hematológico veterinário modelo pocH-100iV DIFF (Sysmex®). O intervalo de normalidade estabelecido para o RDW-CV foi de 16,8±1,84% e do RDW-SD 31,8±2,83 fL. A análise estatística não mostrou diferença significativa entre sexo e faixa etária (teste Z, p>0,05).  Os valores médios para RDW-CV e RDW-SD apresentados podem ser utilizados como referência para felinos domésticos saudáveis, sem raça definida, independente do sexo ou idade.

[Anti-Leptospira antibodies in patients in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul with clinical suspicion of dengue or viral hepatitis]

In view of the lack of clinical and epidemiological data on human leptospirosis in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, and the possibility of confounding it with other diseases, sera from patients with a preliminary clinical suspicion of dengue or viral hepatitis but without laboratory confirmation were examined by means of microscopic seroagglutination techniques for leptospirosis. The seroreactivity rates among the samples with clinically suspected dengue or viral hepatitis were 15.9% and 9%. The most frequent serovar was Hurstbridge (70.4%) and the serovar with the highest titer was Canicola (1:51,200). No association was found between seropositivity and the patients sex, age or occupation. This study demonstrated that, although the present notifications of leptospirosis cases in Mato Grosso do Sul are negligible, the prevalence of antibodies was high in the groups investigated. Therefore, the hypothesis that there is undernotification of human leptospirosis cases in this State and difficulties in the differential diagnosis between dengue and viral hepatitis should be considered.

Osteolytic osteomyelitis associated with visceral leishmaniasis in a dog

A dog was examined with a history of weight loss and lameness of the left hind limb. A painful response to examination of the left hip joint, and lymphadenopathy were noted. Amastigote forms of Leishmania sp. were observed by cytology in samples from the popliteus lymph node, and anti-Leishmania sp. antibodies at a titer of 1:640 were detected in serum by indirect immunofluorescence. Radiological changes included osteolysis and a periosteal proliferative reaction in the left femoral greater trochanter. These changes were histologically characterized as an osteolytic granulomatous osteomyelitis associated with amastigotes within macrophages. Non-decalcified fragments of the periosteum were processed for immunohistochemistry, observed with prominent immunolabelling of amastigotes of Leishmania sp. within macrophages. The diagnosis was further confirmed by positive PCR for Leishmania sp., belonging to the Leishmania donovani complex.

Feline leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

A case of leishmaniasis in a domestic cat (Felis domesticus) is described. The animal showed a single, nodular lesion on the nose and many nodules of different size on the ears and digital regions of all the paws. Diagnosis was made by microscopic detection of amastigotes in Giemsa-stained smears from the lesions. By monoclonal antibodies the aetiological agent was identified as Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, one of the seven species implicated in human leishmaniasis in Brazil. The clinical signs in feline leishmaniasis are unspecific and similar to those observed in other diseases such as cryptococcosis and in sporotrichosis, commonly found in cats. Leishmaniasis should therefore, be added to the differential diagnosis by feline veterinary practitioners and adequate investigations should carried out for dermal leishmaniasis in the area where the feline infection is detected.