Background:The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant neoplasm of hepatocytes of rare occurrence in farm animals, with ruminants being the most affected species. This neoplasm is characterized by nonspecific symptoms and it is etiology in animals has not yet been fully elucidated, although aflatoxin has been shown to be a risk factor in the development this neoplasia. Since hepatic tumors in cattle are commonly incidental findings found in postmortem examination, the objective of this paper is to describe the clinical, laboratory and pathological findings in a cow with this neoplasm. Case: A 5-year-old, adult, Girolando cow weighing 350 kg was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Brazil, with a history of decreased appetite and weakness for one month. The animal was raised in a semi-intensive system, with a corn-based diet, and regular vaccination. Futhermore, was not treated at the farm of origin and three days before being admitted to the hospital, began to present edema of the dewlap. On examination at our center, the cow was in lean, active, with mucupurulent secretion in nostrils; ocular conjunctiva edema; and edema of the dewlap. The cow had neutrophilia, hypofibrinogemia, hypoproteinemia, and trombocytopenia. It also had tachycardia, tense abdomen, engorgement of the vessels of the face and jugular veins, stasis test and bilaterally positive jugular pulse. Although evidence of pain in reticulum was negative in the examination, the initial diagnostic suspicion established was of traumatic reticular pericarditis. The therapeutic protocol instituted was daily monitoring, flunixin meglumine and flofernicol. The examination of rectal palpation revealed in the right flank an irregular-sized parenchymal structure with enlarged and palpacion in pain. Thus, by location and texture, it was suspected that the structure in question was a liver or kidney. However, the dosage of creatinine ruled out renal damage, and persistent hypoproteinemia reinforced the suspicion of hepatic impairment. In view the deterioration of the clinical condition and the suspicion of hepatic impairment, such as hepatic insufficiency, hepatitis or hepatic abscess, we opted for a right exploratory laparotomy. The surgery confirmed the presence of various granulomas throughout the liver, a non-luster organ, bulging edges with erosions and deposition of fibrin on the surface, confirming liver dysfunction. However, the animal died during the surgical procedure, and necropsy was performed, evidencing a focally extensive mass and multiple nodules of various sizes in the liver, lymph nodes and lung. In the microscopy of these nodules, cells similar to hepatocytes were observed, arranged in the form of strands or in agglomerates. Thus, similar to the reports in the literature, the diagnosis of HCC was carried out postmortem by necropsy and histopathology. Discussion: The diagnosis of HCC was based on clinical, laboratory and anatomopathological findings. The hypoproteinemia and persistent hypofib...
Background: Although the etiology of hepatogenous photosensitization has not yet been fully elucidated, it is known that hepatotoxic substances (saponins) present in grasses of the genus Brachiaria spp. are responsible for intoxication of several species, causing great economic losses in the whole world. Since this grass is the source of food for the herd in Brazil, and other countries of the world, the aim of this paper is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and anatomopathological aspects of a steer with this disease.Case: A 3-year-old Nellore steer was referred to veterinary care at a property in Bahia, with a 3-week history of swelling, loss of cutaneous tissue in the ear and scrotum region, and dry faeces. The animal was raised in pasture with Brachiaria decumbens along with five animals of different age and sex; however, it was the only one to present symptoms. Although the animal had been treated at the farm, there was no clinical improvement. On clinical examination, the steer was apathetic with jaundiced mucous membranes, nasal and ocular discharge, epiphora, and ulcers on the labial and gum commissure. The steer had leukocytosis with neutrophilia, anemia, and hyperfibrinogemia. The body condition score (BCS) was 3 (BCS ranges from 1 to 9), and the skin lesions observed were bedsores, necrosis and scabs in several regions. The increase in liver enzymes (GGT, AST) indicated hepatic impairment, suggesting a case of hepatogenous photosensitization. The therapeutic protocol instituted was enteral hydration, electrolyte replacement, topical application of ointment in the injured areas. In addition, it was recommended to maintain the animal in the shade, supply of good quality grass, and a new clinical evaluation in seven days. On new examination, it was observed that there was no satisfactory clinical improvement of the animal, and persistence of laboratory changes. Despite the poor prognosis, treatment was continued for another month with the same recommendations. However, in view of the severe clinical condition and unfavorable prognosis, the animal was submitted euthanasia. Necropsy revealed extensive areas of bedsores, erythema, severe jaundice in the mucous membranes, eyeballs and opaque corneas. The liver had an enlarged volume with bulging edges and a greenish color. The kidneys had a pale brownish color, with an irregular and mottled subcapsular surface, with blackened and depressed spots. Histologically, the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes was finely vacuolated, sometimes refringent and with an abundant presence of bile pigment. It was also observed in the middle of the liver parenchyma, multiple foci of accumulation of macrophages filled with vacuoles of different sizes containing saponins and crystals of saponins inside bile ducts. Furthermore, it was possible to observe hypertrophy and hyperplasia of Kupffer cells, disarrangement of hepatocytes with individual necrosis of hepatocytes.Discussion: The diagnosis of hepatogenous photosensitization was based on history, clinical, laboratory and anatomopathological findings. Serum biochemistry was important to measure hepatic impairment and possible secondary lesions, which were confirmed by the necropsy. Although hepatogenous photosensitization is less common in adult cattle, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions, reduced appetite, and jaundice. Since it was a sporadic case, individual predisposition is probably a preponderant factor. Keywords: cattle, photodermatitis, intoxication, liver injury, skin lesions.
Knowledge of the deleterious effects of passive smoking in dogs is inconclusive and scarce. The present study investigated pulmonary radiographic aspects of dogs exposed to cigarette smoke daily. Thirty dogs were used (15 from households where smoking was reported and 15 dogs from households where there was no smoking), older than two years, regardless of sex, race, skull composition and clinical signs from september 2014 and june 2015. Chest X-rays were taken in all dogs to characterize possible lung lesions with analysis performed in a double-blind study and a questionnaire was applied to the tutors. The analysis of these data provided that 33.33% of passive smoking dogs showed clinical signs like those observed in passive smokers, although there was no significant association between the risk factors. Lung injuries were observed in all passive smoking dogs. The link between dogs, their smoking guardians and respiratory diseases is difficult. This study demonstrates pulmonary radiographic alterations suggestive of bronchial pulmonary disease were observed in 100% of passive smoking dogs. Thus, we can conclude that, regardless of the time of exposure to smoke, living with smokers' guardians is a risk to the health of animals. Our results suggest the harmful action of exposure to cigarette smoke as a risk factor for lung health in dogs.
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