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We characterized the immunohistochemical expression profiles of dysgerminomas from a 16-y-old maned wolf and 13 domestic dogs using the following biomarkers: Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4), octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (OCT3/4), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), c-kit, and vimentin. The maned wolf had nonspecific and long-standing clinical signs of lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss, and was euthanized because of poor prognosis. At autopsy, the left ovary was effaced by a 12 × 8 × 6 cm mass, comprised of anaplastic cells with a mitotic count of 20 mitoses in 10 high power fields. Dysgerminomas from 7 of 13 domestic dogs had nuclear expression of SALL4. Dysgerminomas from the maned wolf and 2 domestic dogs had both nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of SALL4. Cytoplasmic expression of PLAP and OCT3/4 was present in dysgerminomas from the maned wolf and 3 (PLAP) or 4 (OCT3/4) domestic dogs. All dysgerminomas expressed vimentin. Membranous c-kit expression was rare in the dysgerminoma from the maned wolf, and variable in dysgerminomas from 4 domestic dogs. A dysgerminoma from a domestic dog had cytoplasmic expression of c-kit. SALL4 is a useful marker to confirm germ cell origin of dysgerminoma in canids.

We determined the prevalence of diseases and pathogens associated with mortality in beef cattle in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, based on pathology laboratory submissions. Postmortem examinations were conducted on 1,277 beef cattle that died between 2008 and 2018. Information regarding age, time of the year, breed, and regional location were analyzed statistically. Most cattle were from the surrounding region of Porto Alegre, and 78.7% of the analyzed cases had diagnostic value. The diagnostic category with most cases was infectious and/or parasitic diseases (60%), followed by toxic and toxicoinfectious (25%). Most cases occurred in the fall. Major disease conditions identified included hemoprotozoal infection (18.2%), rabies (8.2%), and plant intoxications by Senecio spp. (8.5%) and Pteridium arachnoideum (4.6%). Hemoprotozoal infection occurred at a higher frequency in young cattle, mainly in animals up to 1 y old. Intoxication by Senecio spp. was more frequent in cattle 2–3 y old.

Acute hepatotoxicity caused by plants poisoning is responsible for economic losses in farm animals in Brazil. Reports of Cestrum intermedium natural poisoning in cattle are not commonly described in Rio Grande do Sul (RS). This study aimed to document an outbreak of spontaneous C. intermedium poisoning in dairy cattle in the Central-Eastern Mesoregion of RS. Three nine-month-old Holstein and Jersey heifers were affected after they were placed in a small paddock with shortage forage. In this area, specimens of C. intermedium Sendtn with signs of consumption were observed. Morbidity and lethality rates were 100% and clinical courses ranged from 9 to 12 hours. At post mortem examination of the three heifers, there was predominance of acute liver lesions. The liver was moderately enlarged and on the cut surface there was a marked accentuation of the lobular pattern and hemorrhage. Inside the rumen, partially digested C. intermedium Sendtn leaves were observed. The histological aspects of the liver were mostly centrilobular coagulative necrosis and hemorrhage, frequently extended to the midzonal region. The immunohistochemistry technique was performed, in which the polyclonal antibody caspase 3 was used in liver fragments. Moderate to marked immunolabeling was observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of hepatocytes, predominantly on the periphery of areas of hepatic necrosis indicating cell apoptosis. The diagnosis of C. intermedium Sendtn poisoning in dairy cattle in this study was based on epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological findings. Since the C. intermedium poisoning is uncommon in dairy cattle, we are describing it for the first time in the Central-Eastern Mesoregion of RS, and represents a differential diagnosis of other acute toxic liver diseases in cattle. RESUMO: Intoxicações por plantas que causam hepatotoxicidade aguda são responsáveis por prejuízos econômicos em animais de produção no Brasil. Relatos de intoxicações naturais por Cestrum intermedium em bovinos não são comumente descritos no Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Este trabalho teve como objetivo documentar um surto de intoxicação espontânea por C. intermedium em bovinos leiteiros ocorrido na região Centro-Oriental do RS. Três bovinos com nove meses de idade, das raças Holandês e Jersey, foram acometidos depois de serem introduzidos em um pequeno piquete com escassez de forragem. Nessa área foram observados exemplares de Cestrum intermedium Sendtn com sinais de consumo. As taxas de morbidade e letalidade foram de 100% e os cursos clínicos variaram de 9 a 12 horas. Na necropsia dos três bovinos, observou-se predomínio de lesões hepáticas agudas. O fígado dos animais acometidos estava moderadamente aumentado de tamanho e na superfície de corte havia marcada acentuação do padrão lobular e hemorragia. Na abertura do rúmen, foram observadas folhas de Cestrum intermedium Sendtn parcialmente digeridas. Histologicamente, o fígado apresentava necrose coagulativa centrolobular e hemorragia. Frequentemente, essas alterações se estendiam para a região mediozonal. Foi realizada a técnica de imuno-histoquímica, na qual utilizou-se o anticorpo policlonal caspase 3 em fragmentos de fígado. Notou-se marcação moderada a acentuada em citoplasma e núcleo de hepatócitos, predominantemente na periferia das áreas de necrose hepática indicando apoptose celular. O diagnóstico de intoxicação por Cestrum intermedium Sendtn nos bovinos leiteiros desse estudo, foi realizado com base nos achados epidemiológicos, clínicos e anatomopatológicos. A intoxicação por C. intermedium é incomum em bovinos leiteiros, sendo descrita pela primeira vez na região centro oriental do RS e representa um diagnóstico diferencial de outras hepatopatias tóxicas agudas.

Background : Verminosis is one of the major health problems in sheep flocks, and is one of the main causes of death in sheep worldwide. Closantel is an antiparasitic drug commonly used in sheep; however, its safety margin is narrow, and this drug may induce intoxication in animals submitted to high doses. Lesions occur mainly in the eyes, and are characterized by edema and compression of the optic nerve, retinopathy, and severe degeneration of ganglia cells. Clinical signs are pupil dilation, which often lead to permanent blindness. This work aims to report an outbreak of sheep mortality due to closantel intoxication, associated with inadequate anthelmintic administration practices. Case : An on-site visit was conducted to a sheep farm, located in the municipality of Osorio, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), in which high mortality was reported. The flock consisted of approximately 300 Texel sheep, managed in an extensive grazing system. Lambs and adult animals were affected. According to the information provided by the farm owner, many animals presented clinical signs of haemonchosis, and a closantel dose of 20 mg / lamb was administered in all sheep, regardless of body weight. Lambs weighted on average 13 kg. After closantel administration, several sheep presented neurologic signs and died. At the clinical examination, sheep presented pallor of ocular mucous membranes, as well as submandibular edema. Also, 20 lambs showed signs of blindness, disorientation and bumping into objects, as well as hypothermia and lack of response to the menace reflex. Three 30 to 45-day-old male lambs that died spontaneously were submitted for necropsy. Grossly, only mild ascites was noted. Histopathological examination of the retina showed degeneration and fragmentation of photoreceptor layer as well as depletion of the inner nuclear layer, associated with pyknosis and karyorrhexis. There was also a reduction in the number of ganglia cells in the ganglion cell layer and atrophy and vacuolization in the outer plexiform layer. In the optic nerve, multifocal mild to moderate vacuolization was observed. Diffuse perineural and perivascular edema were observed in the brain, predominantly in the grey matter. In the encephalon of one of the lambs, multifocal vacuolization was observed, which was also evidenced at the junction of the white and gray matter of the telencephalon, and in the white matter of the cerebellum. In the trigeminal ganglia, moderate multifocal vacuolization was noted in the perikaryon of neurons. Furthermore, the spinal cord had moderate multifocal vacuolization at the junction of white and gray matter. Discussion : The diagnosis of closantel intoxication in sheep was based on the clinical history and histopathological findings. The association of these data is crucial to suspect and confirm the diagnosis of this type of intoxication. Closantel is an anthelmintic drug widely used in sheep, and in correct doses may be very effective, but when used in doses higher than recommended may lead to irreversible lesions. The optical damage is derived from edema which leads to degeneration of ganglia cells and injury to the optic nerve. Another proposed mechanism is related to optic nerve compression causing rupture and edema of retinal structures. Lesions tend to be dose related, and poisoning usually occurs when treating groups of animals based on the weight of the heaviest animal. Clinical signs of blindness and pupil dilatation are usually seen. There is no effective treatment for reversion of this condition; therefore, prevention based on correct calculation of anthelmintic dose is pivotal. The epidemiological examination, clinical signs and anatomopathological examination were extremely important to make the final diagnosis of this intoxication.