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Verminotic pneumonia caused by Parafilaroides spp. nematodes is an underreported disease in beached South American fur seals, with scant literature available on the characteristics of parafilaroidiasis, the nematode itself, as well as its occurrence in pinnipeds in Brazil. The present work aims to identify, describe and detail the histological features of the infection and molecular characteristics of verminotic pneumonia in the South American fur seal. Twenty-six specimens of Arctocephalus australis, found dead on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul in 2021, were analysed. These animals were identified and submitted to necropsy and histology. For the molecular identification of metastrongylids, lung fragments were subjected to DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction targeting the Internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) gene and subsequent sequencing. In total, 12 animals presented with parasites in the lung parenchyma on histological evaluation, and only 1 showed a granulomatous lung lesion at necropsy. Microscopically, the nematodes were found mainly in the alveoli, associated with little or no inflammatory response, and they had morphological characteristics compatible with metastrongylids. Six ITS-2 gene quality sequences were obtained; after comparative analysis via BLAST, they showed similarity with sequences obtained from Parafilaroides sp. Therefore, verminotic pneumonia caused by Parafilaroides represents an important differential diagnosis of lung disease in South American fur seals found on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul.

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.

Diversas espécies de pinípedes são anualmente identificadas no Brasil, principalmente na costa gaúcha. O lobo-marinho-sulamericano (Arctocephalus australis) é a espécie de maior ocorrência na região litorânea Norte do Rio Grande do Sul devido ao seu tráfego para descanso e alimentação. Muitas vezes são encontrados encalhados, debilitados ou mortos e ao exame de necropsia, a pneumonia parasitária é um achado frequente. Dois gêneros são descritos em otarideos incriminados etiologicamente nas pneumonias parasitarias, Parafilaroides spp. e Otostrongylus circumlitus. Dentre eles o nematódeo Parafilaroides spp., é observado tanto de forma incidental, quanto como causa mortis em lobo-marinho-sulamericano. Todavia, pouco se sabe sobre as características da doença, do nematódeo e de sua ocorrência no Brasil. O presente trabalho visa identificar, descrever e detalhar os aspectos morfológicos e moleculares da pnemonia parasitária no lobo-marinho-sulamericano. Para este estudo, foram analisados 26 espécimes de A. australis, encontrados mortos na costa norte do litoral gaúcho, no período de 2019 e 2020. Estes animais foram identificados, analisados macroscopicamente através da técnica de necropsia, e seus tecidos foram processados para análise histopatológica. Foram coletados também, fragmentos pulmonares para análise molecular por PCR convencional para amplificação do gene ITS-2 e COX-1 para a identificação dos metastrongilídeos. No total 12 animais apresentaram parasitos no parênquima pulmonar na análise histopatológica e desses, um exibiu lesão no exame de necropsia, caracterizada por nódulos, esbranquiçados e multfocais em todos os lobos pulmonares. Microscopicamente os nematódeos encontravam-se, sobretudo, nos alvéolos e apresentavam caracterísicas compatíveis com outros metastrongilídeos. O aparelho reprodutor feminino, por vezes continha ovos larvados. Seis sequências de qualidade do gene ITS-2 foram obtidas, e após análise comparativa via BLAST, sequências de Parafilaroides normani foram determinadas. Desta maneira, pneumonia parasitária por Parafilaroides normani é um importante diagnóstico diferencial de doença pulmonar em lobos-marinhos-sulamericanos encontrados no litoral norte do Rio Grande do Sul e seu conhecimento permite que os centros de reabilitação atuem de forma direcionada nos casos de encalhe dessa espécie. Several species of pinnipeds are identified in Brazil, mainly on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul. The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) is a species of greater occurrence in the northern coastal region of Rio Grande do Sul due to its traffic for rest and feeding. They are often found stranded, debilitated or killed and at necropsy, a parasitic pneumonia is a frequent finding. Two genera are identified in otarids etiologically incriminated in verminotic pneumonias, Parafilaroides spp. and Otostrongylus circumlitus. Among them, the nematode Parafilaroides spp., is observed both incidentally and as a cause of death in the South American fur seal. However, little is known about the characteristics of the disease, the nematode and its occurrence in Brazil. The present work aims to identify, and involve the morphological and molecular aspects of parasitic pneumonia in the South American fur seal. For this study, 26 specimens of A. australis were forced, found dead on the north coast of the south brazilian coast, in the period of 2019 and 2020. These animals were identified, displaced macroscopically using the necropsy technique, and their tissues were processed for histopathological analysis. Lung fragments were also collected for molecular analysis by conventional PCR to amplify the ITS-2 and COX-1 gene for the identification of metastrongylids. In total 12 animals presented lungworms in the histological analysis, and one exhibited a lesion in the necropsy exam, characterized by whitish and multifocal nodules in all pulmonary lobes. Microscopically, nematodes were found mainly in the alveoli and had characteristics compatible with other metastrongylids. The female reproductive system sometimes contained larvae. Six quality sequences of ITS-2 gene were avaliable, and after comparative analysis via BLAST, sequences of Parafilaroides normani were determined. Thus, verminotic pneumonia caused by Parafilaroides normani is an important differential diagnosis of lung disease in South American fur seals found on the north coast of Rio Grande do Sul and its knowledge that allows rehabilitation centers in a targeted manner in cases of strandings of this species.

Background : Pituitary pars intermedia (PI) adenoma is a benign adenohypophysis neoplasm, rare in Brazil, which may compress adjacent structures and lead to dysfunctions of the endocrine organs. The most affected species are equines, particularly aged animals. This neoplastic disease is often associated with Cushing's syndrome, when the pituitary-adrenocortical axis is affected. However, this neoplasm is seldom associated with clinical blindness. This paper describes a case of pituitary pars intermedia (PI) adenoma which caused blindness in a mare. Case : An emaciated, blind mare that had difficulty finding water and food was referred to “Hospital Veterinario de Grandes Animais” of “Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro”, in Seropedica, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and later to the “Setor de Anatomia Patologica” (SAP/UFRRJ) for necropsy. During necropsy it was found that the animal’s pituitary gland consisted of a circumscribed globous mass measuring 3.5x2.5x2.5 cm, symmetrical and well delimited at the sella turcica . Several organs were collected, fixed in 10% formalin and then processed for histological examination. The brain was subjected to serial cleavage along the path of the vision organs. All collected tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin; the pituitary was stained with Schiff Periodic Acid (PAS) to differentiate neoplastic cells and with Luxol Fast Blue to evidence demyelination. Histopathology found that the pars intermedia (PI) was thickened and compressed the neurohypophysis and adenohypophysis. Cells were arranged in a disorganized manner or formed follicles or cysts containing eosinophilic material (colloid), with granules strongly positive after staining with PAS. Proliferated cells were large, polyhedral to ovoid, and contained clear basophilic granular material. The nuclei were spherical to ovoid and there were light anisocytosis and anisocariasis. Cysts were frequently found in the pars intermedia (PI) and occasionally in the pars distalis . Mitoses were rare, less than one per field of greatest increase. In some areas of the pars intermedia (PI), cells were arranged in a solid manner forming spherical sub-nodules. An orange yellow pigment was observed in the pericary (lipofuscinosis) in various neurons of several areas of the central nervous system and of the trigeminal ganglion. In the optic tract, there were areas with moderate demyelination, evidenced by Luxol Fast Blue staining, and macrophages characterizing the so-called digestion chambers. In the right and left lateral geniculate nuclei a focal area of neurons with pyknotic and peripheral nuclei, marginal Nissl substance (central chromatolysis) and atypical and reactive astrocytes was observed, with increased volume, evident cytoplasm and nuclei with marginated chromatin which was sometimes reniform. Discussion : This paper presents the pathological findings obtained from a mare with central blindness due to pituitary pars intermedia adenoma. The analysis of the structures affected and correlation of alterations with the respective clinical signs are compared with alterations in other areas of the pituitary which generate clinical signals not observed in this mare, but which occur more often in equines with tumors in that organ. Thus, central and bilateral blindness was associated with compression of the optical tracts by the neoplastic mass and consequent death of neurons of the lateral geniculate nucleus. Pituitary PI adenoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for blindness.

portuguesMalformacoes congenitas sao alteracoes funcionais e estruturais dos sistemas, tecidos ou orgaos que podem ocorrer na fase embrionaria ou fetal. Malformacoes na medula espinhal, como hipoplasia segmentar da medula espinhal (HSME) e siringomielia, possuem raras descricoes em bovinos. Uma bezerra Girolando, proveniente do Municipio de Valenca, RJ, foi atendida no Hospital Veterinario da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), com quadro de incoordenacao motora. A avaliacao clinica, na coluna vertebral, a linha dorsal da regiao toracica havia uma area com depressao de 5 cm. Ao exame neurologico foi observado propriocepcao reduzida, extensao de membros pelvicos com aumento da atividade nociceptiva e reducao de reflexo anal. Ao exame radiografico, o corpo vertebral T11 apresentou forma trapezoidal em cunha com hemivertebra ventral, provavel agenesia ou hipoplasia dos processos espinhosos T11-T12 e fusao dos processos espinhosos T9-T10. A mielografia indicou compressao medular extradural provocada pelas malformacoes vertebrais. A necropsia nao foram observados os processos espinhosos T11-T12, o canal medular apresentou estenose cranial (T11-T13) e, na medula espinhal toracica (T8-T11) foram observados poros de 1-3 mm na substância branca. A microscopia, os segmentos T9-T11 apresentaram dilatacoes cisticas na substância branca e os segmentos T8-T9, formacoes de areas cisticas de tamanhos variados; nos segmentos T11-T13 denotou-se moderada reducao da substância cinzenta ao redor do canal central da medula. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de apresentar os achados clinicos e patologicos desta bezerra Girolando com HSME e siringomielia, que devem ser diferenciadas de outras sindromes da medula espinhal. As malformacoes congenitas possuem importância economica e sua etiologia e diagnostico sao fundamentais para a conducao de programas de controle de doencas e selecao de progenitores EnglishCongenital malformations are functional and structural changes in organ systems, tissues, or organs that may develop during the embryonic or fetal phase. Spinal cord malformations, such as segmental hypoplasia of the spinal cord (SHSC) and syringomyelia, are rare in bovines. A Girolando calf from Valenca, Rio de Janeiro, was admitted to the Veterinary Hospital of Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro because of motor incoordination. Clinical evaluation revealed a 5-cm depression area in the spine at the dorsal line of the thoracic region. Neurological examination revealed reduced proprioception, pelvic limb extension with increased nociceptive activity, and reduced anal reflex. In radiographic examination, the body of the T11 vertebra had a trapezoidal wedge shape with ventral hemivertebra, probable agenesis or hypoplasia of the T11-T12 spinous processes, and fusion of the T9-T10 spinous processes. Myelography revealed extradural spinal compression caused by vertebral malformations. Necropsy showed no spinous processes (T11-T12), cranial stenosis in the medullary canal (T11-T13), and 1-3-mm pores in the white matter of the thoracic spinal cord (T8-T11). Microscopy revealed cystic dilatations in the white matter (T9-T11), cystic areas of varying sizes (T8-T9), and moderate reduction in the gray matter around the central canal of the medulla (T11-T13). Here, we reported the clinical and pathological findings of SHSC and syringomyelia in a Girolando calf. The features should be differentiated from other spinal cord syndromes. Congenital malformations are of economic importance, and their etiology and diagnosis are fundamental to disease control and progenitor-selection programs

Mucopolysaccharidosis is a rare, multisystemic, progressive disease that has no cure. The objectives ofthis study were to describe the clinical, radiographic and anatomical and pathological findings of a case ofmucopolysaccharidosis in a dog. It reports the case of a male dog of the Fox Paulistinha (Brazilian Terrier)breed, four months of age, derived from cross-breeding with high degree of endogamy. The animal exhibitedapathy, walking difficulty, enlarged joints, opacity of the cornea, and inspiratory dyspnea. On X-ray, bilateralchanges were observed in the physeal lines of vertebrae, radius and ulna, as well as enlarged liver andtracheal hypoplasia. Due to the accentuated respiratory difficulty, the owner decided to euthanize thedog. Necropsy showed the absence of the larynx, cricoid and arytenoid cartilages, a distended heart, andmoderately enlarged liver and spleen. Bone changes included increased cranial perimeter, malformation ofthe sternum, and twisted ribs. Histopathology revealed dysplasia in the cartilage of the epiglottis, tracheaand joints, in which the chondrocytes presented with vacuolated cytoplasm; there was also accentuatedthickening of the aortic intima. The history of cross-breeding with a high degree of endogamy, associatedwith the clinical, radiographic and anatomical and pathological findings, converged to a diagnosis ofmucopolysaccharidosis.

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an infectious, pansystemic and highly fatal disease with wide geographic distribution. The species that are clinically prone to it include cattle, deer and bison. In Brazil, the disease in ruminants and deer is associated with the contact with sheep, especially during labor, when the fetal remains that are eliminated contain the ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2). The outbreak took place in a conservationist property in the city of Casimiro de Abreu/RJ, which hosted 23 Sambar deer, and, of these, 19 died, showing neurological signs. The deer lived in a location together with 15 male and female meat sheep. A female specimen of the Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), aged approximately three years, which had presented with neurological clinical signs was referred to necropsy in the Setor de Anatomia Patológica at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (SAP/UFRRJ). During necropsy, cerebrospinal fluid was sampled for analysis; fragments of several organs were fixated in 10% buffered formalin and processed for histopathological analysis. Fragments of occipital lobe, cerebellum and bulb were collected to perform the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The diagnosis of this outbreak was based on epidemiological, clinical and pathological findings, and on the amplification of the OvHV-2 DNA through PCR. The histological changes were the base to confirm the MCF case and were characterized by degeneration of vascular endothelial cells, fibrinoid vasculitis, hyperplasia and necrosis of lymphoid organs. However, PCR was an important tool to confirm the diagnosis. MCF as an important disease with nervous symptomatology in deer.

Oliveira M.C., Faleiro R.D., Santos C.C.A., Oliveira G.F., Daoualibi Y., Sonne L., Brito M.F. & Ubiali D.G. [Ocular and multicentric T-cell lymphoma in horse.] Linfoma de células T multicêntrico e ocular em equino. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 38(Supl.2):147-151, 2016. Setor de Anatomia Patológica, Departamento Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465 Km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brasil. E-mail: danielubiali@hotmail.com A 10-year-old gelding, mixed breed had body score condition 3 (1-10), with reluctance to move due to the loss of visual acuity in both eyes, right eye swelling and marked dyspnea. The ophthalmic examination showed no response to threat of reflection, objects test or direct reflection and consensus of both eyes. Examination with visor magnifier and Finoff transilluminator revealed buftalmia, hyphema, aqueous flare, corneal neovascularization and posterior synechiae with irregular bulging of the iris in the right eye and aqueous flare, central anterior synechiae and mature cataract in the left eye. It was found corneal integrity in both eyes with the fluorescein test. Urine sample submitted for PCR to Leptospira sp. resulted negative. Euthanasia was performed after unsuccessful treatment attempts. At necropsy there was a mass in the right eyeball, the pleural surface of the diaphragm and the mesentery. There was multifocal to coalescing whitish nodules between 1 and 4 cm in diameter in the lung, filling about 80% of the lungs’ surface, mainly in the ventral region. Morphology of masses was histopathologically compatible with lymphoma. Anti-CD3 antibody resulted positive in all samples analyzed characterizing immunophenotypic T-cell lymphoma. Descreve-se linfoma em um equino com emagrecimento, relutância em se movimentar devido à perda da acuidade visual em ambos os olhos, aumento de volume do olho direito e marcada dispneia. No exame oftalmológico revelou-se ausência de resposta no reflexo de ameaça, teste de objetos e no reflexo direto e consensual de ambos os olhos. O exame com lupa de pala e transiluminador de Finoff revelou buftalmia, hifema, flare aquoso, neovascularização da córnea e sinéquias posteriores com abaulamento irregular da íris no olho direito e flare aquoso, sinéquias anterior central e catarata madura no olho esquerdo. Verificou- -se a integridade da córnea em ambos os olhos noteste de fluoresceína. Amostra de urina submetida à PCR para Leptospira sp. resultou negativa. A eutanásia foi realizada após tentativas mal sucedidas de tratamento. À necropsia havia uma massa no globo ocular direito, na superfície pleural do diafragma e no mesentério. Nódulos multifocais a coalescentes, esbranquiçados, entre 1 e 4cm de diâmetro, ocupavam cerca de 80% dos pulmões, principalmente nas regiões ventrais. A morfologia das massas foi compatível com linfoma. O imunofenótipo T foi detectado através da positividade do anticorpo anti-CD3.

Background: Emphysematous rumenitis is a condition characterized by gas filled bubbles or cysts in the ruminal mucosa. Although a similar pathology is reported from swine and humans, the incidence of this disease in cattle seems to be scarce. The etiology of emphysematous rumenitis is uncertain once many factors can be involved in its pathogeny, a single cause is difficult to ascertain. This lesion usually fails to display specific clinical signs; however, some degree of malabsorption and weight loss is expected. We described a case of emphysematous granulomatous submucosal rumenitis in a 2.5-yearold feedlot Nellore steer that presented reduction on daily weight gain.Case: Rumen fragments of a 2.5-year-old Nellore steer were submitted for histopathological evaluation at the Sector of Pathological Anatomy (SAP) of the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The specimens were part of an experimental trial to evaluate the effect of phosphorus (P) supplementation on nutrient intake, performance and P balance in fifty feedlot Nellore steers. Following a short adaptation period, in which behavioral observations were made twice daily to assess possible adverse factors, all steers were fed with balanced diet for one hundred and sixteen days. The steers were then slaughtered in order to evaluate macroscopic changes in the gastrointestinal system. Rumen and abomasum of each steer was emptied, washed with tap water and grossly examined. One steer presented ruminal lesion, while the other forty-nine did not show any ruminal injury. Throughout the experiment the affected steer showed reduction of daily weight gain; but during clinical examination no additional clinical sign was seen. At gross inspection, a reduction in the amount of muscular and adipose tissue was seen. Multiple coalescent bullous elevated structures measuring three to ten mm diameter were covering about 40% of the ruminal surface. The affected ruminal mucosa showed irregular and atrophic papillae. Rumen samples were processed routinely and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Period Acid Schiff (PAS), Grocott’s Methenamine Silver (GMS), Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN), Brown-Hopps (Gram), Giemsa and Toluidine Blue (TB) stains. Additionally formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded sections were stained with a primary polyclonal rabbit antibody for Escherichia coli. Histologically the submucosa was largely replaced by cyst-like enlarged lymphatic vessels filled with gaseous content and the ruminal submucosa was infiltrated by macrophages, multinucleated giant cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Special stains were negative for granules within the mast cells, fungi, acid-fast bacilli, bacteria and protozoa. E. coli was immuno-labeled only at the ruminal epithelial surface.Discussion: This paper provided a description of a rare and possible underdiagnosed condition in cattle to highlight the necessity of recognizing ruminal changes during slaughterhouse inspection. The spontaneous and extensive emphysematous rumenitis described in this paper showed histological similarities with the analogous condition documented in the small and large intestine, mesentery and mesenteric lymph node of swine. The etiology and pathogenesis of emphysematous submucosal rumenitis remain unknown. We believe that the lesion described was the reason for the decrease of weight gain of the steer; therefore it should be considered as a differential diagnosis for conditions that affect weight gain and performance of cattle.Keywords: cattle, veterinary pathology, feedlot, emphysema, rumen.