J. G. M. Guerra

Multiple trichoblastomas in a dog

BACKGROUNDnHair follicle tumours generally present as benign, solitary masses and have a good prognosis following surgical resection.nnnHYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVESnThis report describes a case of multiple trichoblastomas in a dog.nnnANIMALnA 2-year-old crossbred dog presented with multiple soft cutaneous periocular, perilabial, submandibular and nasal nodules, between 2 and 9 cm in diameter, located on the right side of the face. New nodules were observed on the same side of the face at a second consultation 3 weeks later.nnnMETHODSnSurgical resection of all nodules was performed in two procedures. Three nodules were initially resected and submitted for histolopathology and immunohistochemistry. The diagnosis was trichoblastoma for all three. At the time of the second consultation, new and remaining nodules were biopsied and the diagnosis of trichoblastoma confirmed. The dog was treated with doxorubicin and piroxicam for 30 days prior to the second surgical procedure in an attempt to reduce new tumour growth and the size of present tumours. All nodules were resected and the defects closed using rotation flaps.nnnRESULTSnNo recurrence of the neoplasm was noted within 10 months after surgery.nnnCONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCEnTrichoblastomas are generally benign but can present as multiple neoplasms that may require surgical resection and may respond to chemotherapy. To the authors knowledge, this is the first report of multiple trichoblastomas in a dog.

Outbreak of Yellow Fever among Nonhuman Primates, Espirito Santo, Brazil, 2017

In January 2017, a yellow fever outbreak occurred in Espirito Santo, Brazil, where human immunization coverage is low. Histologic, immunohistologic, and PCR examinations were performed for 22 deceased nonhuman New World primates; typical yellow fever features were found in 21. Diagnosis in nonhuman primates prompted early public health response.

Hypervitaminosis A-induced hepatic fibrosis in a cat

Rationale: The excessive intake of vitamin A in the form of vitamin concentrate, supplement or vitamin-rich liver can result in hypervitaminosis A in man and animals. Although osteopathologies resulting from chronic vitamin A intoxication in cats are well characterized, no information is available concerning feline hypervitaminosis A-induced liver disease. Clinical summary: We report the first case of hepatic stellate cell lipidosis and hepatic fibrosis in a domestic cat that had been fed a diet based on raw beef liver. Radiographic examination revealed exostoses and ankylosis between vertebrae C1 and T7, compatible with deforming cervical spondylosis. Necropsy showed a slightly enlarged and light yellow to bronze liver. Microscopic and ultrastructural analyses of liver tissues revealed diffuse and severe liver fibrosis associated with hepatic stellate cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy. These cells showed immunopositive staining for α-smooth muscle actin and desmin markers. The necropsy findings of chronic liver disease coupled with osteopathology supported the diagnosis of hypervitaminosis A. Practical relevance: As in human hepatology, if there is dietary evidence to support increased intake of vitamin A, then hypervitaminosis A should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic liver disease in cats.

Felid Herpesvirus 1 as a Causative Agent of Severe Nonsuppurative Meningoencephalitis in a Domestic Cat

ABSTRACT Felid herpesvirus 1 is an important respiratory pathogen of domestic cats. This report presents the first case of severe nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis caused by this virus in a cat.

Intrahost Diversity of Feline Coronavirus: A Consensus between the Circulating Virulent/Avirulent Strains and the Internal Mutation Hypotheses?

To evaluate the most controversial issue concerning current feline coronavirus (FCoV) virology, the coexisting hypotheses of the intrahost and interhost origins of feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) in regard to the pathogenesis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), this study aimed to assess the molecular diversity of the membrane gene FCoVs in 190 samples from 10 cats with signs of FIP and in 5 faecal samples from cats without signs of FIP. All samples from the non-FIP cats and 25.26% of the samples from the FIP cats were positive for the FCoV membrane (M) gene. Mutations in this gene consisted of SNP changes randomly scattered among the sequences; few mutations resulted in amino acid changes. No geographic pattern was observed. Of the cats without FIP that harboured FECoV, the amino acid sequence identities for the M gene were 100% among cats (Cats 1–3) from the same cattery, and the overall sequence identity for the M gene was ≥91%. In one cat, two different lineages of FCoV, one enteric and one systemic, were found that segregated apart in the M gene tree. In conclusion, the in vivo mutation transition hypothesis and the circulating high virulent-low virulent FCoV hypothesis have been found to be plausible according to the results obtained from sequencing the M gene.

Cryptococcus gattii molecular type VGII infection associated with lung disease in a goat

BackgroundCryptococcus gattii-induced cryptococcosis is an emerging infectious disease of humans and animals with worldwide distribution and public health importance due to its significant morbidity and mortality rate. The present study aimed to report a case of pulmonary infection by C. gattii molecular type VGII in State of São Paulo, Brazil.Case presentationA 5-year-old goat showing intermittent dry cough, ruminal tympany, anorexia, fever, tachycardia and tachypnea was presented for necropsy at the Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil. Postmortem examination revealed numerous 2.0–6.0xa0cm diameter yellow gelatinous pulmonary masses. Tissues were evaluated by a combination of pathological, mycological, and molecular diagnostic techniques. Microscopically, pneumonia granulomatous, multifocal to coalescing, moderate, with many intralesional carminophilic yeasts was observed. The immunohistochemistry and mycological culture confirmed Cryptococcus spp. Internal transcribed spacers and orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase nucleotide differentiation demonstrated that the isolate corresponds to the C. gattii VGII molecular subtype.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of a pulmonary infection in a goat linked to C. gattii molecular type VGII in Southeastern Brazil. Our findings emphasize the need for an active surveillance program for human and animal new infections to improve the current public health policies due to expansion of the epidemiological niche of this important microorganism.

Evidence of natural Zika virus infection in neotropical non-human primates in Brazil

In Africa, Old World Primates are involved in the maintenance of sylvatic circulation of ZIKV. However, in Brazil, the hosts for the sylvatic cycle remain unknown. We hypothesized that free-living NHPs might play a role in urban/periurban ZIKV dynamics, thus we undertook an NHP ZIKV investigation in two cities in Brazil. We identified ZIKV-positive NHPs and sequences obtained were phylogenetically related to the American lineage of ZIKV. Additionally, we inoculated four C. penicillata with ZIKV and our results demonstrated that marmosets had a sustained viremia. The natural and experimental infection of NHPs with ZIKV, support the hypothesis that NHPs may be a vertebrate host in the maintainance of ZIKV transmission/circulation in urban tropical settings. Further studies are needed to understand the role they may play in maintaining the urban cycle of the ZIKV and how they may be a conduit in establishing an enzootic transmission cycle in tropical Latin America.

Age-based ultrasonographic criteria for diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats:

Objectives The aim of this study was to establish ultrasound criteria for the diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in Persian cats. Methods Eighty-two Persian cats were assessed using renal ultrasound and genotyped for the C→A transversion in exon 29 of PKD1. The animals were also submitted to hematological characterization, serum biochemistry analyses and urinalysis. Results Age, sex and neutering status did not differ between ADPKD (n = 12) and non-ADPKD (n = 70) cats. After integrated molecular genetics/ultrasonographic analysis, the presence of at least one renal cyst was sufficient to establish a diagnosis of ADPKD in animals up to 15 months of age. Two or more cysts were required for diagnosis in cats aged 16–32 months, and at least three cysts warranted diagnosis of ADPKD in animals aged 33–49 months. Finally, four or more cysts led to diagnosis in cats aged 50–66 months. Although cats with ADPKD exhibited higher serum calcium levels than non-affected cats, hematological, urinalysis and other biochemical parameters did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions and relevance Integrated analyses of imaging and molecular genetics data enabled, for the first time, the establishment of age-based ultrasonographic criteria for the diagnosis of ADPKD in Persian cats. The development of imaging criteria is particularly relevant and useful in the clinical setting given the current limitations to access and the cost of molecular genetics-based diagnostic tests.

Sensibilidade e especificidade do exame eletrocardiográfico na detecção de sobrecargas atriais e/ou ventriculares em gatos da raça Persa com cardiomiopatia hipertrófica

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common feline heart disease and is characterized by increased cardiac mass with a hypertrophied and not dilated left ventricle. The echocardiography is the best noninvasive diagnostic tool for the differentiation of cardiomyopathies and is considered the gold standard for detection of ventricular hypertrophy present in HCM. Electrocardiographic changes are also common in animals with HCM and the electrocardiogram (ECG) is quick, easy and highly available screening test for the detection of ventricular hypertrophy in humans. In cats, few studies have been conducted regarding the sensitivity and specificity of ECG in detecting ventricular hypertrophy. With the intention of evaluating the use of ECG as a screening tool for diagnosis of HCM in cats, Persian cats (n=82) were evaluated by echocardiographic and electrocardiographic examinations. Animals with blocks and/or conduction disturbances were excluded from statistical analysis (n=22). Subsequently the animals included were classified as normal (n=38), suspicious (n=6) and affected by HCM (n=16). Statistical differences were observed in the P-wave amplitude in DII and R-wave amplitude in DII, CV6LL and CV6LU, with higher values in animals with HCM. Velocities and pressure gradient of aortic flow, left atrial diameter (LA) and LA/Ao ratio were higher in cats with HCM. Among the animals with ECG changes suggestive of left atrial enlargement (n=7), only two actually had LA enlargement on echocardiography, and among animals with left atrial enlargement on echocardiogram (n=7), only two had ECG changes suggestive of overload AE (40,4% of sensibility and 90,9% of specificity). Among the animals with ECG changes suggestive of left ventricular hypertrophy (n=6), five actually had ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiography, and among animals with HCM by echocardiography (n=16), only five showed electrocardiographic abnormalities suggestive of LV hypertrophy (31,25% of sensibility and 97,72% of specificity). We observed a positive correlation between diastolic thickness of the interventricular septum and/or left ventricular free wall and R-wave amplitude in DII and CV6LU. The electrocardiogram is quick and easy to perform, has good specificity in detecting ventricular hypertrophy in cats, however, has low sensitivity, with large numbers of false negative animals. Thus, the ECG assists in the diagnosis, but does not replace echocardiography in confirming ventricular hypertrophy.

Congenital hepatic fibrosis and polycystic kidney disease not linked to C >A mutation in exon 29 of PKD1 in a Persian cat

Case summary We describe the case of a 1-year-old male Persian cat diagnosed with congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) associated with renal polycystic disease and, for the first time, we have shown that there was no C >A mutation in exon 29 of PKD1 (polycystic kidney disease 1). The cat presented with a history of chronic weight loss, anorexia, vomiting, depression and lethargy, with profuse salivation and ascites on clinical examination. A mild elevation in liver-associated plasma enzymes suggested a hepatic disease. Owing to the cat’s deteriorating condition, it was euthanized. During necropsy, the liver was found to be enlarged, firm and reddish, and the kidney had multiple small cortical cysts. Immunohistochemistry revealed that bile duct cells and epithelial cells of renal cysts showed positive immunoreactivity to keratin 19. Collagen fibers surrounding bile ducts within portal areas demonstrated reactivity to type IV collagen antibody, confirming the congenital nature of the process. A diagnosis of ductal plate malformation consistent with CHF associated with polycystic kidney in a young Persian cat was made. Interestingly, genetic testing revealed a wild-type sequence at position 3284 in exon 29 of PKD1. Relevance and novel information The absence of the classic genetic mutation associated with the particular clinical presentation supports the hypothesis of a distinct etiopathogenesis among fibropolycystic diseases in domestic cats. Moreover, congenital hepatic fibrosis is a rare but important differential diagnosis for young Persian cats and their crosses with clinical signs of chronic end-stage liver disease.