Traumatic reticuloperitonitis combined with embolic pneumonia and hepatitis as unusual symptoms of foreign body syndrome in a Holstein bull

Traumatic reticuloperitonitis combined with embolic pneumonia and hepatitis is unusual signs of foreign body syndrome in cattle. A 4-year-old Holstein bull presented decreased appetite, dry cough, progressive weight loss, sternal recumbence and reluctance to stand and move. Laboratory tests revealed leucocytosis (18.4 × 10³ /μl) accompanied by neutrophilia (10.48 × 10³ /μl), and monocytosis (1.28 × 10³ /μl), hyperglobulinaemia (6.3 g/dl), hypoalbuminaemia (1.5 g/dl), hyperfibrinogenaemia (10 g/L) and severe increase in gamma-glutamyl transferase activity (1,216 U/L). Reticular ultrasonographical examination showed a large amount of hyperechoic and hypoechoic content between the reticular serosa and the hepatic visceral surface. The main gross findings included fibrin deposition and adhesions between the reticulum, liver and diaphragm surfaces; a 4.0 mm in diameter transmural reticular perforation; a 12.0-cm diameter and scarce small randomly abscesses in the liver's parenchyma. The lungs presented multifocal areas of suppurative embolic foci (pulmonary abscesses), interstitial emphysema and multifocal fibrin deposition on the pleural surface. Ancillary diagnostic tests, such as ultrasonography and laboratory test, associated with clinical evaluation, may increase the accuracy of the correct diagnosis and avoid wasting time and money on untreatable cases.

Pathogenesis of reproductive failure induced by Trypanosoma vivax in experimentally infected pregnant ewes

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of experimental infection by Trypanosoma vivax in different stages of pregnancy, determining the pathogenesis of reproductive failure, and confirming transplacental transmission. We used 12 pregnant ewes distributed into four experimental groups: G1, was formed by three ewes infected with T. vivax in the first third of pregnancy (30 days); G2 comprised three infected ewes in the final third of pregnancy (100 days); G3 and G4 were composed of three non-infected ewes with the same gestational period, respectively. Each ewe of G1 and G2 was inoculated with 1.25 × 10⁵ tripomastigotes. Clinical examination, determination of parasitemia, serum biochemistry (albumin, total protein, glucose, cholesterol, and urea), packed cell volume (PCV), serum progesterone, and pathological examination were performed. Placenta, amniotic fluid, blood and tissues from the fetuses and stillbirths were submitted to PCR. Two ewes of G1 (Ewe 1 and 3) presented severe infection and died in the 34^th and 35^th days post-infection (dpi), respectively; but both fetuses were recovered during necropsy. In G2, Ewe 5 aborted two fetuses on the 130^th day (30 dpi) of pregnancy; and Ewe 6 aborted one fetus in the 140^th day (40 dpi) of gestation. Ewes 2 and 4 delivered two weak lambs that died five days after birth. Factors possibly involved with the reproductive failure included high parasitemia, fever, low PCV, body score, serum glucose, total protein, cholesterol, and progesterone. Hepatitis, pericarditis, and encephalitis were observed in the aborted fetuses. The presence of T. vivax DNA in the placenta, amniotic fluid, blood, and tissues from the fetuses confirms the transplacental transmission of the parasite. Histological lesion in the fetuses and placenta also suggest the involvement of the parasite in the etiopathogenesis of reproductive failure in ewes.