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Background: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an opportunistic pathogen, belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. The methicillin-resistant Staphylococci have the mecA-gene, which confers them with the ability of becoming resistant to methicillin and multiple classes of antimicrobials, which makes the treatment of the affections caused by these specimens difficult. This work describes a case of systemic infection and death by methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius, in a canine. Case: A crossbred bitch (Canis lupus familiaris), was admitted to the University Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Western Bahia (HVU-UFOB). The main complaint reported by the owner was the presence of mammary nodules and constant nasal secretion. During the clinical examination was observed reactivity in the popliteal and left submandibular lymph nodes, pale mucous membranes, stomatitis, bilateral mucopurulent nasal secretion, abdominal pustules, serous secretion in the inguinal mammary gland and focal alopecia on the dorsum. On auscultation, was identified only arrhythmia and the other physiological parameters of the animal were within normality for the species. Samples of the nasal secretion and of the secretion from the abdominal pustules were collected, and sent to the Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory of the same institution. The samples collected were sown in 5% Blood Agar (BA), Sabouraud Agar (SAB) and MacConkey Agar (MCK), after 24 h was observed in BA the growth of macroscopically white colonies, with a humid aspect, creamy consistency, with presence of catalase and a-hemolysis. Microscopically, was observed the presence of Gram-positive cocci, suggestive of Staphylococcus sp. Microscopically, was observed the presence of Gram-positive cocci, suggestive of Staphylococcus sp. In the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, was identified S. pseudintermedius. Enrofloxacin [Enrotrat tab® 25 mg, 5 mg/kg, SID, PO, 5 days] was prescribed and a follow-up consultation was requested. Two weeks after leaving the University Veterinary Hospital, the animal was admitted in emergency and was submitted to the support protocol and died during the procedure. After the owner's authorization, the anatomopathological examination was carried out, and fragments of the liver, lung and kidney were collected, in addition to sample of the liquid of the abdominal cavity for microbiological examination, and was evidenced the growth of S. pseudintermedius in all the specimens. The bacterium's susceptibility to 19 antibiotics was tested, and a high degree of resistance was found, with sensitivity only to amoxicillin+ clavulanate (20-10 µg), chloramphenicol (30 µg) and vancomycin (30 µg). Given the detection of MRSP in Chromogenic Agar and in cefoxitin disks, all the specimens were MRSP positive. Discussion: The diagnosis based on the bacteriological culture and anatomopathological findings were essential for the confirmation of the clinical presentation of septicemia. The isolation of S. pseudintermedius in all the analyzed samples, associated to the identification by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry confirmed the clinical suspicion of systemic infection. Based on the result of Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and phenotypic tests, it was evidenced that all the isolates were MRSP positive, presenting multiple resistance to antibiotics, which may have interfered in the efficiency of the treatment. The results obtained in this report are worrying and signal the need for the implementation of phenotypical researches associated to anti-microbial susceptibility tests in bacteria isolated from animals attended in veterinary clinics and hospitals, in order to monitor and avoid the dissemination of pathogens with a multi-resistant profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Babesiosis is a hemolytic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia spp. responsible for causing anemia, fever and splenomegaly in several animal species. The cerebral involvement of babesiosis in dogs manifests itself in a hyperacute manner with neurological disorders such as motor incoordination, nystagmus, anisocoria and convulsions. In Brazil there still are no studies which describe the pathological aspects of cerebral babesiosis in dogs together with information relating to its clinical aspects and epidemiology. Therefore, this work had as an objective to describe seven cases of canine cerebral babesiosis, emphasizing its epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects. Materials, Methods & Results: All the records of the necropsies performed in dogs at Animal Pathology Laboratory (LPA/HV) of the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Patos Campus, Paraíba, Northeast of Brazil were identified. In The period from January 2003 to December 2017. Later, were selected all the cases of cerebral babesiosis. Were included in the study the cases in which was possible to detect structures that were morphologically compatible with Babesia spp. trophozoites, intra-erythrocyte in vessels, associated to the presence of lesions in the CNS. For the microscopical description all the histological slides of the cases were revised, in addition to new slides were made with the fragments stored in parafin blocks or with the material fixed in a 10% formalin solution. The clinical course of the animals studied was hyperacute. In 4 cases, there was sudden death within 24 h, from the appearance of the first symptoms and case 7 presented an evolution of approximately 12 h. The main clinical symptoms described were vocalization, anorexia/hyporexia, jaundice and decubitus. Additionally, the most consistente macroscopical findings observed during the necropsy were a diffuse orange-coloured liver and splenomegaly. The most consistent alterations in the canine cerebral babesiosis were hypertrophy of the endothelial cells, monocytic leukostasis, non-supurative meningitis, in addition to congestion, thrombosis, hemorrhage, vasculitis and perivascular cuffs. Discussion: In all the dogs of the present study, it was possible the detection of structures morphologically compatible with Babesia spp. trophozoites, as well as structural alterations and layout of the parasited erythrocytes, and the reduction of the eosinophilia, sweeling and formation of clusters in contact with the endothelium. The high parasite load in the sections of the brain was not a very precise criterium to explain the death of the animals, since only 1 case presented high concentrations of parasited erythrocytes. The other cases with discreet and moderate parasitic infestation were fatal probably due to the antigens liberated by the agent which culminate in systemic responses, suggesting a high pathogenicity of the hemoparasite. It's necessary to include hyperacute diseases in the differential diagnosis, mainly in puppies, as infectious canine hepatitis, however jaundice in these cases is rarely observed, additionally, at necropsy, there is a predominance of petechiae and ecchymosis in the mucous membranes of the intestine and stomach. More extensive hemorrhage is observed in the subcutaneous tissue, kidneys, lungs, heart, and histopathological visualization of liver necrosis with intranuclear basophilic or amphophilic body inclusions in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells or endothelial cells. Futhermore, distemper and leptospirosis should also be considered in the differential diagnosis. It is concluded that the encephalic babesiosis is a hyperacute disease and an important cause of sudden death in puppies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Candida spp. are pleomorphic fungi that are commensal inhabitants of the oral, gastrointestinal, upper respiratory and urogenital mucosa of mammals. Candida albicans is described as the most important species. This opportunistic pathogen may produce local or systemic infections in dogs. Local infections have been reported in several tissues and systemic infection is rare in dogs with few reports in the literature describing this presentation. The aim of the present study was to report two cases of cerebral Candida albicans infection in dogs in Brazil. Case: Two cases of cerebral Candida albicans infection in dogs that showed nervous signs are described. In both cases, the brain showed marked asymmetry of the telencephalic hemispheres with multifocal to coalescing yellowish or reddish areas and a partial loss of distinction between gray and white matter. In Case 1, the mediastinal, tracheobronchial and mesenteric lymph nodes, as well as the right kidney and adrenal gland, showed altered architecture due to numerous whitish gray nodules. Histological lesions were characterized by granulomatous (case 1) or pyogranulomatous (case 2) necrotizing meningoencephalitis with intralesional fungal organisms. In case 1, similar granulomatous infiltrate with intralesional fungal organisms was also seen in the lymph nodes, kidney and adrenal gland. In case 2, there was evidence consistent with an underlying infection of canine distemper virus. Were observed lymphoplasmocytic interstitial pneumonia, lymphoid rarefaction in lymph nodes, and viral intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the epithelial cells of the stomach and vesical urothelium. In these two cases, the fungal organisms displayed three different morphological patterns. The first pattern was characterized by delicate tubular structures with thin parallel walls that were rarely septate and tended to undulate slightly, and measured approximately 4-20 µm (true hyphae). The second pattern was characterized by chains of elongated yeast, separated by constrictions at septal sites, and measured approximately 4-10 µm (pseudohyphae). The other morphological pattern, which was rarely observed, was characterized by round budding yeast cells that measured 3-4 µm in diameter and were often elongated by the germ tube. Sections were also stained using immunohistochemical antibodies against Candida albicans. The fungi revealed strong immunolabelling of the cytoplasm and wall for Candida albicans. Discussion: The diagnosis was based on the histomorphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the agent, which were consistent with Candida albicans. In these two cases, immunocompromise appeared to have been an important factor in the progression of the infection. In case 1, the dog was senile and treated with corticosteroids, conditions that could effectively limit innate, humoral and cell-mediated immune response to infection. In case 2, the dog displayed cachexia and was infected by canine distemper virus, evidenced by the presence of viral inclusion bodies. The inflammatory reactions in both cases were characteristic of fungal infections, but were distinct due to differences in the infectious process. In case 1, there was a subacute to chronic progression; while in case 2 neutrophilic infiltrate predominated, suggesting an acute progression. The different morphological patterns of the fungi suggested a pleomorphic fungi and the immunohistochemistry allowed us to identify the infectious agent. In conclusion, opportunistic infections caused by Candida albicans should be considered when diagnosing diseases that affect the central nervous system of dogs, particularly in immunosuppressed animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]