Ingeborg Maria Langohr

Doenças do sistema nervoso central em bovinos no Sul do Brasil

A retrospective study was carried out on 6,021 necropsies of cattle performed over a 36-year period in southern Brazil. Of those, 552 (9.16%) presented neurological clinical signs and their necropsy protocols were reviewed to gather information on type of gross and histopathological diagnosis, etiology, and clinical signs. In 147 cases (26.63% of 552) there were no significant lesions in the central nervous system, in 79 (14.31% of 552) no samples of nervous tissue were submitted to the laboratory and in 21 (3.81% of 552) the tissues submitted were autolysed and not suitable for histological diagnosis. Lesions found in the remaining 305 cases were classified as inflammatory, degenerative, circulatory, congenital, and neoplastic. The inflammatory lesions accounted for the largest category (66.89% of 305 cases). This was further divided in lesions caused by viruses (57.38% of 305 cases) and by bacteria (9.51% of 305 cases). Diseases caused by viruses were rabies (49.51% of 305 cases), necrotizing meningo-encephalitis by bovine herpesvirus (4.59% of 305 cases), and malignant catarrhal fever (3.28% of 305 cases). The degenerative changes were represented by 74 cases (24.26% of 305 cases) and included status spongiosus due to liver failure induced by Senecio spp poisoning (10.49% of 305 cases) or to the direct effect of poisoning by Ateleia glazioviana (0.33% of 305 cases); cases of liver failure not associated with morphological changes in the brain (2.95% of 305 cases), myelomalacia due to cord compression (2.62% of 305 cases), primary neuronal degeneration associated with Solanum fastigiatum poisoning (2.29% of 305 cases); polioencephalomalacia (1.97% of 305 cases); tetanus (1.31% of 305 cases) and intestinal coccidiosis in calves, ketosis, and botulism with one case each (0.33% of 305 cases). Circulatory disturbances accounted for 19 cases (6.23% of 305 cases) and included cerebral babesiosis (5.57% of 305 cases) and hemorrhages due to trauma (0.66% of 305 cases). Congenital conditions represented 2.29% of the 305 cases and included cerebelar abiotrophy (two cases) and one case each of porencephaly, hypomyelinogenesis, demyelination, hydrocephalus, and cerebellar malformation. Only one neuroectodermal neoplasm (0.33% of 305 cases) was found in this series.

Aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e distribuição das lesões histológicas no encéfalo de bovinos com raiva

The type, distribution and intensity of the histopathological changes were determined in the brain of 25 cattle which had neurological signs and were confirmed as rabies cases by direct immunofluorescent antibody or biological assay in mice. Sections of the brain examined included medulla at the obex; pons and cerebellar peduncles/ cerebellum; mesencephalon at the level of rostral colliculi; diencephalon and telencephalon through the mamillary bodies; and telencephalon at the level of frontal cortex. The cervical spinal cord was also examined in seven of those cases. The duration of clinical course averaged five days and was characterized by ascendent paresia. Specific necropsy findings were absent. Microscopically brainstem, cerebellum and cervical spinal cord were more affected than the thalamus and telencephalon, including hippocampus. The type of lesions were characteristic of viral infection and included non-suppurative encephalomyelitis with neuronal degeneration, nodular gliosis, and mononuclear perivascular infiltrate. Negri bodies were observed in 17 (68%) of the examined brains. The observed intensity and distribution of the lesions were correlated with the signs and duration of the clinical disease.

Intoxicação experimental por Ateleia glazioviana (Leg.Papilionoideae) em ovinos

The leaves of Ateleia glazioviana were fed daily to seven sheep. Another sheep was used as control. Total amounts (g/kg/body weight) of the plant consumed by each animal were 75 during 60 days (Sheep 6), 125 during 25 days (Sheep 4), 130 during 13 days (Sheep 7), 150 during 60 days (Sheep 5), 180 during 18 days (Sheep 3), 330 during 33 days (Sheep 2), and 375 during 25 days (Sheep 1). Six sheep were fed the green leaves while Sheep 7 was fed dried A. glazioviana leaves. Five sheep (Sheep 1-4 and 7) developed clinical signs 8 to 16 days after the first administration of the plant. The clinical course varied from 6 to 50 days and clinical signs included apathy, loss of appetite, and increased heart and respiratory rates; affected sheep were reluctant to move and showed a low carriage of the head, instability of the hind limbs, and staggering gait. Some sheep supported their weight against the wall of the stable. Sheep 1, 3, and 4 died spontaneously; paddling movements preceded death. Sheep 2 and 7 were euthanatized when presenting marked clinical signs of the toxicosis. Sheep 5 and 6 did not get clinically ill and were euthanatized along with the control sheep 103 days after the first administration of the plant. All sheep were necropsied and several of their organs, including heart and brain, were evaluated histologically. Additionally, fragments of the myocardium of Sheep 3 and 4 were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. To provide more controls for the myocardial changes, the hearts were collected from six animals at an abattoir known to slaughter sheep from regions free of A. glazioviana. These hearts were processed for histology and examined in the same way as the other eight. All seven treated (plant fed) sheep had gross changes at necropsy. There were firm, irregular white or yellow areas in the myocardium of all treated sheep. These pale areas were more evident on the cut surface of the heart. Hydrothorax and/or hydropericardium were observed in five animals (Sheep 1-4 and 7). Nutmeg livers were seen in Sheep 1 and 7. This latter sheep also had ascites. The main histopathological findings in treated sheep were degenerative/necrotic changes in the myocardium. The early changes consisted of acute swollen myocardial fibers associated with bizarre nuclei. Apparently this change progressed until the sarcoplasm disappeared and an empty collapsed sarcolemmal tube remained surrounded by interstitial connective tissue and fibrosis. Overt necrosis (hyaline and floccular) associated with mononuclear infiltration and phagocytosis of fiber fragments were also observed. Varying degrees of spongy degeneration were seen in the white matter of the brain of Sheep 1, 3, 4 and 7. Mitochondrial swelling and loss of density of the mitochondrial matrix were the earliest ultrastructural changes observed. In advanced lesions cardiac cells had vacuoles in the sarcoplasm, rupture of the sarcolemma and necrosis with intervening macrophages and fibroblasts associated with increased collagen.

Intoxicação por Senna occidentalis (Leg. Caesalpinoideae) em bovinos em pastoreio

Three outbreaks of Senna occidentalis poisoning in cattle exclusively at pasture are described. The outbreaks occurred in the fall and early winter on three farms of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Affected cattle had access to pastures previously used as culture fields for soybean and corn, which were heavily infested by coffee senna (S. occidentalis). On farm 1, 10 (29,1%) out of a total of 34 about 18-month-old heifers died; on farm 2, 9 (4,2%) out of 212 pregnant cows died, and on farm 3, 36 (12,0%) out of 50 adult cattle died. Clinical courses varied from 3 to 6 days, and clinical signs included dark urine, muscle weakness, tremors, staggering gait, sternal recumbency and death. Even when in recumbency, affected cattle remained alert and with normal reflexes; they drunk water and kept their appetite until few hours before death. On farm 2, clinical signs appeared 7 days after the animals had been removed from the coffee senna infested fields. The main gross pathological findings were pale areas in the skeletal muscles, mainly in the heavy muscles of the hindlimbs, and pale yellowish streaks in the myocardium. The main histopathological finding was necrosis of skeletal muscles (multifocal and multiphasic toxic degenerative myopathy). The diagnosis of S. occidentalis poisoning in these three outbreaks was based on the epidemiological and clinical data, the necropsy and histopathological findings.Three outbreaks of Senna occidentalis poisoning in cattle exclusively at pasture are described. The outbreaks occurred in the fall and early winter on three farms of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Affected cattle had access to pastures previously used as culture fields for soybean and corn, which were heavily infested by coffee senna (S. occidentalis). On farm 1, 10 (29,1%) out of a total of 34 about 18-month-old heifers died; on farm 2, 9 (4,2%) out of 212 pregnant cows died, and on farm 3, 36 (12,0%) out of 50 adult cattle died. Clinical courses varied from 3 to 6 days, and clinical signs included dark urine, muscle weakness, tremors, staggering gait, sternal recumbency and death. Even when in recumbency, affected cattle remained alert and with normal reflexes; they drunk water and kept their appetite until few hours before death. On farm 2, clinical signs appeared 7 days after the animals had been removed from the coffee senna infested fields. The main gross pathological findings were pale areas in the skeletal muscles, mainly in the heavy muscles of the hindlimbs, and pale yellowish streaks in the myocardium. The main histopathological finding was necrosis of skeletal muscles (multifocal and multiphasic toxic degenerative myopathy). The diagnosis of S. occidentalis poisoning in these three outbreaks was based on the epidemiological and clinical data, the necropsy and histopathological findings.

Doença granulomatosa sistêmica em bovinos no Rio Grande do Sul associada ao pastoreio de ervilhaca (Vicia spp)

Two outbreaks of a disease associated with grazing vetch species (predominantly Vicia villosa and to a lesser extent V. sativa) were observed during August-September 2001, in adult Holstein cows from two farms in southern Brazil. In one of the farms four out of 42 cows (9.5%) and in the other one out of eight cows (12.5%) were affected. Clinical signs included, although not consistently, fever, pruritus, thickening and wrinkling of the skin with multifocal plaques of alopecia, conjunctivitis, nasal serous discharge, loss of weight, dramatic drop in milk yield, and diarrhea. The duration of the clinical disease was approximately two weeks. All clinically affected cows died, one was euthanatized; three were necropsied. In each of these animals there was a pattern of systemic lesions consisting of multifocal to coalescing grey-white soft to moderately firm nodules which infiltrated several organs but were particularly prominent in the myocardium, lymph nodes, spleen, adrenal gland and renal cortex. These lesions resulted in enlargement and disruption of the architecture of the invaded organ. Microscopically the lesions consisted of extensive cellular infiltration composed of variabe proportions of epithelioid macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, multinucleated giant cells and eosinophils. Eosinophils numbers were usually large. This granulomatous infiltration caused degeneration and loss of parenchymal cells of affected organs. Intensity of lesions varied among the three cows and among individual organs. This is the first documented report on a systemic granulomatous disease in cattle associated with grazing vetch in Brazil.

Hiperplasia fibroepitelial mamária em felinos: cinco casos

Five cases of feline mammary fibroepithelial hyperplasia are described. Affected cats were all females with ages varying from 10 months to 11 years. The main complaint on presentation was swollen mammary glands with clinical courses of 3-24 weeks. In two of the cats the condition developed after treatment with contraceptive. Grossly, the mammary masses were covered by skin ocasionally ulcerated and had white cut surfaces with multifocal paler nodules of 2mm in diameter. Histologically, these multifocal nodules consisted of ductal proliferation surrounded by extensive fibrobalstic growth.

Reduçäo fechada e fixaçäo esquelética externa tipo II para o tratamento de fraturas de tibiotarso em pombos domésticos (Columba livia)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of closed reduction and type-II external skeletal fixation for treatment of tibiotarsus fractures in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). Twelve adult domestic pigeons were used. Anesthesia was induced with xylazine and ketamine hydrochloride; the right tibiotarsus was manually fractured by digital pressure applied at the mid-diaphysis. Four Kirschner wires were placed through both cortices of the bone, two proximal and two distal to the fracture site, and, after closed reduction of the fracture, they were stabilized by two acrilic bars, one in the lateral and another in the medial surface of the tibiotarsus. Abnormalities in bone angulation were observed radiographically in five birds; however, the function of the limb was not noticeably impaired. The mean time ± standard deviation for fracture healing was 24.8 ± 4.89 days. The results of this experiment demonstrate that closed reduction and application of a type-II external skeletal fixation are effective for treatment of tibiotarsus fracture in domestic pigeons (Columba livia).

Leishmaniose cutânea em cobaias (Cavia porcellus)

Three cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in three two-year-old male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) raised as pets are described. Gross lesions were similar in two of the guinea pigs and consisted of raised and ulcerated cutaneous nodules in the dorsal aspect of the pinna of both ears. In another guinea pig the lesion consisted of irregular thickenning in the skin of the scrotum which followed an orchiectomy performed two months before. Histopathology was similar in the three cases and consisted of severe diffuse granulomatous dermatitis with ulceration and numerous intrahistiocytic protozoal amastigotes resembling Leishmania sp. Electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of leishmaniasis.

Intoxicação experimental por cebola, Allium cepa (Liliaceae), em gatos

Onion poisoning is reported worlwide in several animal species. The toxic principle (n-propyl dissulfide) present in onions causes the transformation of hemoglobin in methemoglobin. In order to study the laboratory, gross and histopathological findings in onion poisoning in cats, five 4-month-old cats were fed a single dose of 10g/kg of dried-onion each. Another cat of the same age did not receive the onion meal and served as control. All five cats developed clinical signs of the toxicosis; one of them died within 24 hours of the ingestion of the onion meal. Clinical signs included apathy, tachycardia, tachypnea, and cyanosis. Laboratory findings included hemolytic anemia associated with Heinz bodies and methemoglobinemia. Main necropsy findings were splenomegaly and brown discoloration of blood. Histopathological findings included splenic and hepatic hemosiderosis and multifocal extramedullary hematopoiesis.

Cistadenocarcinoma renal e dermatofibrose nodular em cães pastor alemão: 4 casos

Renal cystadenocarcinoma-nodular dermatofibrosis syndrome of German shepherd are described in four 6 to 10-year-old male dogs. Clinical findings included hematuria and urinary retention, progressive weight loss, polydipsia, anorexia, vomiting, and respiratory distress. Several recurrent skin nodules were observed in one of the dogs. Three dogs died spontaneously and one was euthanatized. Main gross findings included multifocal to coalescent skin nodules and multiple nodules, mostly cystic, in both kidneys. Microscopically there was nodular dermatofibrosis in the skin and renal cysts, dysplastic, hyperplastic and neoplastic changes of the renal tubular epithelium. The neoplasms were classified as cystadenoma in one case and cystadenocarcinoma in the other three. There were metastases in the liver, spleen and lung of one dog and in the renal lymph node in another one.