Mariana Teixeira Tillmann

Disease progression of dermatophytic pseudomycetoma in a Persian cat

BACKGROUND Dermatophytic pseudomycetoma is a subcutaneous fungal infection by Microsporum canis. AIMS This work describes a case of dermatophytic pseudomycetoma in a Persian cat. PATIENT AND METHODS A 3-year old female Persian cat showing alopecia, scaling and ulcerated nodules throughout the body, with presence of ulcerated nodules with yellow granular discharges on the dorsum, close to the tail. Mycological and histopathological examinations were realized. RESULTS Diagnosis of dermatophytic pseudomycetoma was established. The cat was treated with griseofulvin, and surgical excision was carried out. Response to therapy was effective during the first months, during which a reduction in nodule frequency was observed. However, despite maintaining the therapy levels, the lesions relapsed and progressed to the point of causing the animals death. CONCLUSION The clinic evolution showed the progressive and recurrent character of dermatophytic pseudomycetoma.

Potencial cicatricial da Bixa orellana L. em feridas cutâneas: estudo em modelo experimental

Phytotherapies are a low cost, easily accessible alternative to traditional medicines in wound healing management. The purpose of this study was to assess the oil extract of Bixa orellana L. as a healing agent in the rat model of open wound healing. Initially, the oil was obtained and characterized through gas chromatography. Furthermore, the cytotoxic potential of the oil was verified in cell cultures to determine the doses used in animal experiments. Wounds were surgically produced in Wistar rats, these were treated with the oil extract at 0.1% (U 0.1%), 0.01% (U 0.01%), petrol jelly (V) and saline (SF) for up to 21 days. At four, seven and 14 days of treatment the wounds were assessed clinically regarding the presence of exudate, crust and epithelialization. The wound area was also determined and skin, kidney and liver tissues were harvested for histopathology. At 21 days of treatment the skins were also harvested for tension resistance assessment. Clinically, all groups evolved similarly, however, those treated with U 0.1% and U 0.01% had a greater amount of epithelialized wounds by day seven, and grater shrinkage by day four. Histopathologicaly, the skin samples of oil treated wounds had more lesions in the inflammatory phase at seven days, when compared to the controls, which were majorly in the proliferation phase. By 14 days no difference was observed among groups, which were all in the transition from the proliferation to the maturation phase. By day 21, all wounds were in the maturation phase. Oil treated wounds also had more fibrin in the first two assessment dates, when compared to the controls. Tension resistance of the oil treated wounds was, however, inferior to that of the controls. This study shows that B. orellana L. oil will hasten the onset of the healing process and its initial phases, but will ultimately produce a scar of poorer quality.

Use of Triticum aestivum in open wound healing: a clinical, pathological, and tensiometric assessment in the rabbit model

O extrato de trigo (Triticum sp.) vem sendo usado na cicatrizacao de feridas por estimular a sintese de fibroblastos, entretanto a sua aplicabilidade in vivo em apresentacoes comercialmente viaveis ainda tem de ser demonstrada. Neste estudo, avaliaram-se feridas cutâneas de coelhos tratadas com extrato aquoso de T. aestivum quanto a presenca de tecido de granulacao e epitelizacao, estruturas histologicas, qualidade cicatricial, alem de ensaio tensiometrico. As feridas foram tratadas diariamente, por 21 dias, com diferentes concentracoes do extrato (grupo I = 2mg/mL; grupo II = 10mg/mL) ou apenas o veiculo (grupo controle = creme nao ionico), e avaliadas nos dias sete, 14 e 21. A formacao de tecido de granulacao nao diferiu entre os tratamentos. A epitelizacao aconteceu em menor tempo em feridas do grupo II, mas aos 14 dias ja nao havia diferenca neste parâmetro. Na avaliacao histopatologica, a qualidade cicatricial e a forca de ruptura nao diferiram no periodo estudado, entretanto a resistencia tensiometrica das feridas do grupo I foi maior que a dos demais tratamentos. Dessa forma, conclui-se que, mesmo nao havendo diferenca na evolucao cicatricial de feridas tratadas ou nao com extrato aquoso de T. aestivum, o uso desse composto, a 2mg/mL, resultou em tecidos cicatriciais mais resistentes a tracao.

Ações de Prevenção do Câncer em Pequenos Animais pelo Serviço de Oncologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (SOVET- UFPel)

The aim of this work is to report the actions carried out by SOVET-UFPel to raise the awareness of the population about animal cancer. The initiative came from the need to alert people about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in animals.The Veterinary Oncology Service of the Federal University of Pelotas (SOVET-UFPel), together with other institutions in the country, initially built the National Campaign against Breast Cancer in Animals. Therefore, since the year 2014, a final event has been held in the month of October or beginning of November. This action was based on the October Rose campaign of humans.In this action, basic concepts of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in small animals in a playful and interactive way. The invitation to the events that took place was done through pre-screening by the students of the veterinary medicine course, who were previously trained to approach the population, as well as insertions in printed newspapers, television and social networks, conducted by the coordinators of the group. Starting in 2016, the campaign was expanded to raise awareness about skin cancer and the male genital tract, and was conducted in November using the Blue November campaign for humans.During these years, ludic lectures were given in schools for the initial grades and nine technical lectures for veterinary students. SOVET-UFPel also participated in events promoted by different groups, such as pet shops/veterinary clinics, in different parts of the city. The activities carried out by SOVET made the population aware, since the demand for the cancer services provided by the group in the area of clinical and pathological diagnosis increased by 68.85% over the four years.

Pacientes com carcinoma de células escamosas - relação do tratamento com o prognóstico

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant cutaneous neoplasm which occurs frequently in small animals. Histopathology or fine needle aspiration cytology is necessary to confirm diagnosis; macroscopic diagnosis is not possible since the lesions are very similar to others of distinct etiologies. Owing to the fact that it is a neoplasm, diagnosis and treatment are usually not well accepted by owners, especially since it can cause esthetic changes to the animal and adjunct treatments can cause unwanted side effects. The objective of this study was to report clinical cases of SCC with distinct tumor subtypes and relate the recommended treatment with prognosis of patients. Case: Two dogs and one cat with SCC that were subjected to physical and dermatological examination, and tested negative for sporotrichosis, cryptococcosis, and manges. Dog 1 (male, 9-year-old, yellow Labrador retriever) exhibited inspiratory dyspnea for three weeks owing to an ulcerative hemorrhagic lesion on the nose. In view of the site of the lesion, a radiographic exam was requested, and the bony portion of the septum was found to be compromised. Cat 2 (female, 10-year-old, bicolor, mixed-breed cat) exhibited a focal, punctate, ulcerated, hemorrhagic lesion on the nose. Dog 3 (female, 10-year-old, white Dogo Argentino) exhibited several ulcerative lesions, and papulae, plaques and comedones on the ventral region of the abdomen.Treatment for deep pyoderma and comedone syndrome were initially instituted; on follow-up, more ulcerative lesions were present, which prompted the inclusion of neoplasm as a differential diagnosis. In cases 1 and 3, histopathology was performed with diagnosis of undifferentiated and differentiated SCC, respectively. In both cases, surgical margins were compromised after resection of the lesion. In case 2, high malignancy SCC was diagnosed with cytology. Use of sunscreen was recommended in all cases, as well as avoidance of sun exposure during the hours not recommended by the National Cancer Institute. In case 1, a nosectomy with partial resection of the nasal septum was recommended as well as chemotherapy with intra-tumoral administration of carboplatin (1.5 mg/cm3 of lesion) and vincristine sulfate (0.05 mg/ kg/IV/week) every 15 days.However, the owner opted for the nosectomy alone with one month of chemotherapy with vincristine sulfate. In case 2, polychemotherapy was instituted using daunorubicin (4 mg/kg/IV/week) and vincristine sulfate (0.05 mg/kg/IV/week) every 15 days for four weeks, with maintenance for six weeks, with total remission of the lesion at the end of treatment. In case 3, eight intralesional chemotherapy sessions were performed (carboplatin – 1.5 mg/cm3 of lesion) every 15 days; maintenance was kept for two months with biweekly administration. The patient exhibited actinic lesions on the third month after the protocol was suspended, which was treated with isotretinoin (3 mg/kg/day PO) until remission; reduction of solar exposure was recommended. The animal in case 1 exhibited intense dyspnea three months after the end of treatment and the lesion was incompatible with preservation of quality of life and euthanasia was performed. In the other two cases, patients were followed-up annually and remained in remission throughout life. Discussion: Adherence to proposed treatment by the owner is directly related to a better prognosis. On the punctate and focal lesion in the cat, administrations of daunorubicin (4 mg/kg/IV/week) and vincristine sulfate (0.05 mg/kg/IV/week) in a total of 10 cycles resulted in an excellent prognosis. On the dog with multifocal lesions, partial resection and intralesional administration of carboplatin (1.5 mg/lesion/cm3) in a total of eight biweekly applications following maintenance for two months resulted in a good prognosis.