Cláudio João Mourão Laisse

Intra-abdominal fungal pseudomycetoma in two cats

BACKGROUND Pseudomycetomas are deep cutaneous to subcutaneous lesions caused by Microsporum canis mainly described in Persian cats, with few reports of intra-abdominal location. This report describes the clinical signs and lesions of intra-abdominal pseudomycetomas caused by M. canis in two Persian cats. CASE REPORT Two Persian cats with a history of previous laparotomy (ovariohysterectomy and nephrostomy) and fecal impaction were examined. Cat #1 was euthanized and subjected to necropsy, histopathology and mycological evaluation. Cat #2 presented with chronic dermatophytosis, and an intra-abdominal mass, that was subjected to histopathology evaluation. Cat #1 presented at necropsy a white-grayish, firm mass (6cm×3.5cm×2.8cm) in the uterine cervix. Cat #2 presented a firm whitish mass (6.5cm×1.5cm×0.5cm) located close to the left kidney. Histologically, both masses contained multifocal granules with hyphae and spores surrounded by Splendore-Hoeppli reaction, with a pyogranulomatous inflammatory infiltrate and fibrous connective tissue proliferation in the periphery. Hyphae and spores exhibited marked Grocott and periodic acid-Schiff staining. M. canis was identified by fungal isolation in cat #1. CONCLUSIONS Pseudomycetoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cats, especially in Persian cats presenting with an intra-abdominal mass. Entrance of the agent into the cavity can occur during laparotomy.

Detection and phylogenetic characterization of porcine circovirus 2 from pigs in Mozambique

Porcine circovirus–associated diseases (PCVADs), caused by porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2), have a significant economic impact on the swine industry worldwide. In Africa, there is little information, to date, regarding the occurrence of PCV-2, and it has not been reported in Mozambique’s swine population. We randomly collected mesenteric lymph nodes (n = 111) from slaughtered pigs from 9 districts in southern Mozambique. PCV-2 DNA was detected in 54% (62 of 111) of the samples and 78% (23 of 31) of the farms. PCV-2 antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry in lymph nodes (6 of 62; 10%) that were positive for PCV-2 by PCR. Histopathologic changes observed in these lymph nodes were lymphoid depletion, multifocal nodal necrosis, and infiltrates of histiocytes and multinucleate giant cells. One positive sample from each district was selected in order to obtain sequences covering the ORF2 region. Five sequences clustered with PCV-2d, of which 3 sequences from Maputo, Namaacha, and Moamba were grouped with PCV-2d-2; 2 sequences from Manhiça and Matola were grouped as PCV-2d-1; and 4 sequences from Boane, Matutuíne, Chibuto, and Xai-Xai were closely related to PCV-2b-1A/B genotypes. Our study indicates that a diversity of PCV-2 viruses is circulating in the Mozambican swine population.

Cytologic features of a feline inductive odontogenic tumor

The feline inductive odontogenic tumor (FIOT) is a rare entity among oral tumors in cats, the cytologic features of which are not well characterized but may prove useful. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed on the right mandible between the permanent canine (404) and permanent fourth premolar (408) of an 8-month-old female mongrel cat. Cytologic smears showed epithelial cells and occasional spindle cells with extracellular homogenous acidophilic material in a hematic background. The initial diagnosis of benign tumor was confirmed by histopathologic examination of the biopsy specimen. This report describes the cytologic findings in a case of FIOT.

Intoxicação natural por Baccharis megapotamica var.weirii em caprinos

Poisoning by the toxic species of Baccharis is an important cause of death in farm animals. Baccharis coridifolia and Baccharis megapotamica are the most common and most important of this genus. Epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of a natural outbreak of intoxication by Baccharis megapotamica var. weiriiare described in goats. Eleven young goats from a herd of 152 goats were affected by an acute fatal disease. The cases occurred in a small farm in the municipality of Viamao, State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Large patches of blooming Baccharis megapotamica var. weirii were observed in the pastures where the goats were held, especially in wet and flooded spots. Affected goats were between six months to one year old and all showed signs including apathy, anorexia, weakness, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal pain, bloat, decubitus and death. The clinical course was 12-24 hours. Three out of the eleven goats dead from the toxicosis were necropsied. Changes present in all necropsied goats included dehydration, liquid contents in the rumen, reddening, erosions and ulcers in the mucosae of the forestomachs, abomasum, and intestine. One goat had marked hemorrhage of mesenteric lymph nodes. Histological lesions of all animals included hyperemia as well as degenerative, necrotic, and ulcerative changes in the epithelial lining of rumen, reticulum, and omasum. Mucosae of the abomasum and of some sections of small and large intestines were also affected. Necrosis of lymphoid tissue was observed in mesenteric lymph nodes and in the lymphoid aggregates in intestine and in the follicles of spleen.