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Generalized and fatal felid alphaherpesvirus-1 (FeHV-1) natural infection with liver involvement is rarely reported in cats, and the occurrence of herpesvirus viraemia with internal organ histologic lesions in adult cats is unknown. A 1.5-year-old cat, female, mixed breed, positive for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) presented in a veterinary teaching hospital with sneezing, nasal discharge, anorexia, and diarrhoea after two weeks, evolving to inspiratory dyspnoea. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry analysis showed marked leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. After clinical worsening and lack of treatment response, the cat was euthanized. Pathological findings included hepatic necrosis, fibrinonecrotic tracheitis, and bronchointerstitial pneumonia. Marked amounts of coccobacillary bacteria were observed covering the necrotic tracheal and bronchial mucosa, at the cytoplasm of alveolar macrophages, and free in alveoli lumen, mimicking a primary bacterial tracheitis and pneumonia. Both lung and tracheal bacteria exhibited marked immunolabeling in anti-Escherichia coli immunohistochemistry. In addition, rare epithelial cells of bronchi contained round, eosinophilic, intranuclear viral inclusion bodies (4-7 µm) that marginate the chromatin, characteristic of FeHV-1 infection. Strong multifocal anti-FeHV-1 immunolabeling was observed in necrotic epithelial cells of the liver, trachea, and lungs. Generalized herpesvirus infection with the occurrence of acute hepatic necrosis and severe respiratory illness is a potential differential diagnosis in FeLV-positive cats with respiratory signs. The immunodepression in these cats probably favours a FeHV-1 viraemia in addition to the development of opportunistic bacterial infections, such as Escherichia coli, and it is associated with a poor outcome.

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) has been widely detected worldwide in healthy and sick pigs. Recently its association with clinical disease and reproductive failure has been proven through the detection of intralesional viral mRNA in affected pigs. This study aims to describe the occurrence of PCV3-associated reproductive failure (abortions) in sow herds in southern Brazil. Eleven fetuses from five different litters from two herds were analyzed. These herds reported an increase in the rate of late-gestation abortions, stillbirths, and the percentage of mummified piglets. At gross examination, six of the fetuses had large caudally rotated ears and one fetus was mummified. Microscopically, multisystemic vasculitis, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, myocarditis, and encephalitis were observed. These six fetuses with gross and histological lesions were positive in qPCR analysis for PCV3, and PCV3 transcription was shown through in situ hybridization (ISH-RNA) within the histologic lesions. Samples from all 11 fetuses tested negative in PCR exam for Porcine Circovirus type 1 and 2, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, Porcine Parvovirus, and Atypical Porcine Pestivirus. Furthermore, based on the ORF2 analysis, the PCV3a clade was identified. This is the first report of PCV3a-associated reproductive failure in pig herds in South America.

Background Non-ambulatory pigs, colloquially known as downers or downed pigs, are animals presented with limited to no mobility, usually as a result of pre-existing neurologic or musculoskeletal conditions. Impaired ambulation is a major cause of euthanasia in pigs, leading to economic losses and animal welfare concerns. Additionally, reaching the underlying diagnosis of impaired ambulation in pigs is commonly a challenging task for swine practitioners. The aim of this necropsy-based study was to report the clinical, etiological, and pathological findings of 76 non-ambulatory grower-finisher pigs, and to correlate tail-biting lesions with the causes of death/reason for euthanasia in non-ambulatory pigs. Necropsies of downed pigs were performed during on-site visits to two pig farms in southern Brazil. Results The diagnosis of the conditions was based on the clinical, macroscopic, histopathological, bacteriological, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings. The diseases diagnosed in non-ambulatory pigs in this study were suppurative arthritis (29/76), suppurative spondylitis (10/76), PVC-2 associated diseases (8/76), bone fracture (7/76), non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis (4/76), suppurative meningoencephalitis (6/76), fibrocartilaginous thromboembolism (3/76), epiphysiolysis (3/76), ascending bacterial myelitis (3/76), and other conditions (3/76). The frequency of suppurative arthritis, suppurative spondylitis, and ascending bacterial myelitis/meningitis was higher in pigs with tail biting lesions than controls (P Conclusions Non-ambulatory pigs were observed during the entire rearing period, however, the occurrence of non-ambulatory pigs increased in animals aged ≥ 150 days. Infectious diseases were the most common cause of downed pigs, mainly associated with chronic bacterial infections. Tail biting lesions were an important predisposing factor to suppurative arthritis, suppurative spondylitis, and ascending bacterial myelitis/meningitis.