Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine最新文献

Crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) is widely distributed throughout South America, being the most common wild canid in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. It is considered a host for several parasites and contributes to the maintenance of its biological cycle due to its generalist and synanthropic habits. Due to the importance of the disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, knowing its distribution in wild animals is essential to understand the transmission cycle of the protozoan. Therefore, the objective of the study was to report the molecular identification of T. gondii DNA in a sample of cardiac muscle tissue from C. thous in southern Brazil. For this purpose, a specimen of C. thous, found dead after being run over, was collected on the highways of Cerrito, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and sent to the laboratory for necropsy. Tissue fragments (spleen, liver, kidney, heart, lung, lymph nodes, bone marrow and blood) were collected and its genomic DNA was extracted. The samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using the 18S rRNA gene, and T. gondii DNA was amplified in cardiac muscle samples. The presence of the protozoan was confirmed by genetic sequencing. This study reports the molecular detection of T. gondii DNA in cardiac muscle of C. thous in southern Brazil, demonstrating the presence of the protozoan in the studied region. In addition, a new molecular sequence is being provided, contributing to the knowledge and epidemiology of the parasite.

Leishmania infantum is a parasite that causes leishmaniasis in its visceral clinical manifestations, which is considered a zoonosis and can infect both humans and animals. Currently, there is no highly effective treatment available, and many animals that exhibit symptoms ultimately die as a result of the disease and its complications. The clinical signs of leishmaniasis are varied and nonspecific. The main symptoms are severe anemia and thrombocytopenia, weight loss, splenomegaly, lymphadenomegaly, liver disease, kidney failure, and skin lesions, among others. Due to the chronic inflammatory state caused by the parasite, an oxidative environment is created, leading to potential cell injury and damage to the infected animals' genetic material. To investigate DNA damage, we conducted the micronucleus test and comet assay, as well as measured serum LDH levels in infected and non-infected dogs. Our results indicate that infected dogs present significantly higher levels of serum LDH (461.4 ± 204.5 U/L, n=36) compared to healthy dogs (142.38 ± 37.94 U/L, n=5). Additionally, the DNA of infected dogs is more damaged than that of the control group, as demonstrated by the micronucleus test (p=0.01) and comet assay (p=0.002). These findings suggest that Leishmania infantum infection can lead to clastogenic events, highlighting the need for further research on this process. It is important to consider the potential mutagenic properties of Leishmania infantum, given its ability to cause DNA damage in infected animals.

This study aimed to evaluate the use of antimicrobials in horses, focusing on administration practices, adherence to veterinary prescriptions, and the impact on the development of antimicrobial resistance. The research was based on a questionnaire completed by 220 horse owners in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The data collected covered aspects including antibiotic use, prescription sources, the performance of culture and susceptibility tests, and the disposal of veterinary drug waste. The results indicated that 98.63% of horse owners administered antibiotics mainly to treat respiratory diseases. However, adherence to veterinary prescriptions was limited, with only 47.72% of horse owners correctly following the guidelines regarding dosage and treatment duration. Additionally, 68.18% of horse owners did not perform culture tests prior to antimicrobial treatment, and many obtained antibiotic recommendations from non-professional sources, such as friends or staff at veterinary product stores. These findings suggest that inappropriate antibiotic use practices, such as empirical and non-prescribed use, are contributing to the rise in antimicrobial resistance. The need for educational campaigns targeting horse owners is critical to raise awareness about the importance of rational antimicrobial use, risks of indiscriminate use, and necessity of performing laboratory tests to select appropriate treatment options.

A retrospective study was conducted at the Foal Care Equine Perinatology Center in Colombia from October 2017 to May 2023. The goal was to analyze the most frequent pathologies, as well as assess the sexes, ages, and breeds of the patients, with an emphasis on the perinatal population. Out of 945 clinical histories, 776 pertained to perinatology. Survival rates were calculated, and a descriptive analysis was performed. The overall survival rate for neonates was 73.6%, with females constituting 57% of the neonatal patients. The most prevalent breed among mares and neonates was the Creole Colombian Horse. Neonatal maladjustment accounted for 39.34% of the neonatal cases, and regarding the affected systems, there was a common multisystemic presentation (71.40%). Of the 341 foals admitted for neonatal adaptation, 72 were clones (with a survival rate of 76.39%), while 269 were non-clones (with a survival rate of 72.49%). A total of 202 mares (88.98%) were hospitalized for pregnancy monitoring, while 25 mares (11.02%) were brought to the perinatology center to treat dystocia or other reproductive pathologies. The most frequent diagnosis among mares was placentitis (73.68%). This study noted an increase in survival rates over time, which was associated with improvements in protocols and the acquisition of new medical equipment. The survival rates observed in this study are consistent with those reported in previous research. The collected data indicate that foaling occurs year-round in Colombia since the country experiences no distinct seasons. Studies with larger sample sizes are suggested, as well as periodical analysis of casuistry in the equine neonatology field, to improve the clinical management of patients and enhance productivity in the horse breeding industry.

Mammary carcinomas in cats are highly aggressive neoplasms, often with the development of metastasis. Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma, on the other hand, is an invasive carcinoma with aggressive behavior, rarely diagnosed in humans and dogs. This report describes a case of pleomorphic lobular carcinoma in cats. The histopathological and immunohistochemical features of the neoplasm in this species were characterized. The neoplasm was diagnosed in a 10-year-old cat, with regional lymph node involvement at the time of diagnosis, but without systemic signs based on imaging tests performed prior to mastectomy. However, respiratory clinical signs developed approximately 40 days after surgery, accompanied by neoplastic pleural effusion, and the patient was euthanized due to the onset of neurological signs and poor prognosis. Although uncommon, pleomorphic lobular carcinoma is a neoplasm that can affect cats, and given its poor prognosis, it is important for oncologists and pathologists to be familiar with this entity.

In routine veterinary medicine, the lacrimal and nasolacrimal systems are associated with several ophthalmopathies. Understanding its physiology and improving specific diagnostic tests will help establish an assertive approach and avoid lacrimal and nasolacrimal disorders that cause damage to the ocular surface. This prospective study was conducted on 43 dogs treated at the Veterinary Ophthalmology Service and approved by the Ethics Committee for the Use of Animals under protocol number 5154141022. The study's objective of this study was to evaluate lacrimal and nasolacrimal system findings in dogs treated byat an ophthalmology service, determine the frequency of lacrimal and nasolacrimal system disorders, and correlate the diagnosed changes with the patient's main complaint. All dogs underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, emphasizing the lacrimal and nasolacrimal tests: the Schirmer tear test, tear film break-up test, tear crystallization test, and Jones test. The findings of these tests correlated with those of the ocular surface and the general condition of the dogs. Statistical analyses were performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Pearson's chi-square test, and Student's t test. The Student's t test revealed that dogs with normal tear crystallization test scores had a significantly higher score (25.5 ± 4.94) than dogs with altered tear crystallization test scores (15.35 ± 6.64) (t (40) = 2.121, p = 0.004). Our findings suggest that quantitative and qualitative tear tests should be performed together and their interpretation depends on several factors, including ocular and systemic disorders.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are uncommon mesenchymal tumors in cats that originate from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). ICCs are mesenchymal cells found within the muscle layers of the alimentary tract that facilitate communication between the autonomic nervous system and smooth muscles. In this case, lapatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that targets EGFR1 and HER2, was used as part of precision therapy for metastatic GIST in an 8-year-old, 2.7 kg, spayed, female mixed-breed cat, guided by the high expression of these receptors in the tumor. The treatment resulted in partial remission of liver metastases, with a progression-free survival of 171 days and an overall survival of 192 days after starting lapatinib. Lapatinib was well tolerated, with minimal adverse gastrointestinal effects. These findings highlight the potential role of molecular profiling in guiding targeted therapy for feline GISTs and suggest that lapatinib may be a viable treatment option for EGFR1/HER2-positive tumors. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TKIs in veterinary oncology, as well as their impact on long-term survival and quality of life in feline patients with GISTs.

Lameness, which arises from functional or structural changes in the limbs or axial skeleton, causes asymmetry in the movement of the equine head and/or pelvis. This study aimed to investigate the lameness patterns of horses that underwent lameness examination or monitoring during the years 2016 to 2020. This retrospective study used data from the lameness examination, evaluated using an objective assessment with body-mounted wireless inertial sensors. The lameness examination comprised clinical history, static inspection, palpation, gait evaluation (for which the animals were equipped with a wireless inertial sensor system), flexion tests, lunging examination, diagnostic anesthetic blocks, and imaging examinations. Based on objective assessment data, the condition of lameness, limb with primary lameness, type of lameness, intensity, and location of lameness were determined. Of the 235 animals included in this study, 93,6% presented lameness. Of the animals with lameness, 59,5% had forelimb lameness and 40,5% had hindlimb lameness. The most frequent lameness condition was primary lameness in one limb and secondary lameness in the other. Impact lameness was the most frequent type in both the forelimb and hindlimb. Moderate-to-severe lameness was the most frequent level of intensity. Regarding the lameness location, in the forelimb, the distal region was the most affected, while in the hindlimb, the proximal lower region was the most affected. We conclude that forelimb lameness is more frequent in horses examined in southern Brazil and mainly affects the distal limb region.

In areas with low bovine tuberculosis (bTB) prevalence, such as Santa Catarina state, Brazil, effective surveillance is essential for disease eradication. Current strategies may miss high-risk farms by inadequately considering spatial risk factors. This study used Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) to analyze spatial risk patterns in Santa Catarina, Brazil, leveraging the official veterinary service's (CIDASC's Sigen+ database) farm data, testing history, and animal movement records. Results revealed that while existing surveillance targets many high-risk areas, some remain unmonitored. Practices such as on-farm slaughter and insufficient movement testing create vulnerabilities that can hinder bTB detection. Integrating KDE-derived risk maps into the current surveillance efforts can improve targeted resource allocation and disease control. This study demonstrated the value of spatial risk analysis for enhancing bTB surveillance in Santa Catarina state, offering a strategic tool to support CIDASC's eradication efforts and serving as a model for other regions seeking to strengthen their surveillance programs.

Stranded cetaceans face critical illnesses and often present with multiple co-morbidities, which are further exacerbated by the stress induced by stranding events and interactions with humans. Capture myopathy (CM) is a common condition in dolphins and other wildlife subjected to extreme stress during capture, handling, or transportation. This condition is particularly problematic in highly sensitive species such as dolphins, whose intense physiological response to stress can lead to severe complications. In this case report, we present the hematological, biochemical, and histopathological findings that contributed to the diagnosis of secondary CM in a wild Clymene dolphin, Stenella clymene, stranded alive on a beach in northeastern Brazil.