Rabies transmitted by vampire bats was diagnosed in pigs with paralysis of the pelvic limbs. Diffuse non-suppurative encephalomyelitis, affecting mainly the spinal cord, was observed histologically. Despite the various diagnosis of rabies in pigs this is the first report of clinical signs and pathology of rabies transmitted by vampire bats.

As doenças de asininos e muares na região semiárida do nordeste do Brasil foram avaliadas em um estudo retrospectivo dos 258 atendimentos realizados no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande no período de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2012. Dos prontuários desses animais foram coletados dados referentes a identificação, anamnese, exame clínico, diagnóstico, protocolo de tratamento e evolução dos casos. Durante o período analisado foram atendidos 200 asininos e 58 muares. Os sistemas afetados foram os seguintes em ordem de frequência: tegumentar, 88 casos; musculoesquelético, 78; digestivo, 36; nervoso, 23; reprodutor, 15; e respiratório, 6. Oito animais foram atendidos para avaliação pré-cirúrgica e encaminhados para orquiectomia; três animais tiveram diagnóstico inconclusivo e um animal sofreu acidente por picada de abelha. As principais enfermidades diagnosticadas nos asininos foram feridas traumáticas (33/200), fraturas (27/200) e cólica (14/200). Para os muares os principais diagnósticos foram cólica (8/58) e feridas traumáticas (6/58). Em ambas as espécies as fraturas foram a principal causa para realização de eutanásia (22/200 asininos e 3/58 muares). Conclui-se que a maioria das doenças diagnosticadas estão associadas com maus tratos ou falta de atenção com os animais e devem ser prevenidas mediante campanhas de conscientização e educação dos proprietários e tratadores, esclarecendo sobre a importância das melhorias do manejo e do bem-estar dos animais.

Foram revisados os casos de abdômen agudo de origem gastrintestinal em equídeos atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, em Patos, Paraíba. No período de janeiro de 2001 a dezembro de 2010. Setenta (4,5%) do total de 1542 equídeos atendidos no período apresentaram quadro clínico de cólica, sendo 60 equinos, cinco muares e cinco asininos. A compactação de cólon maior foi a causa mais frequente de cólica, diagnosticada em 37,14% dos casos, seguida por compactação de cólon menor (10%) e corpo estranho de cólon menor (7,14%). Em quatro casos as cólicas foram causadas pela presença de fitobezoares no intestino grosso, sendo dois deles associados ao consumo de vagens de Prosopis juliflora. Em cinco casos foi observada a presença de corpos estranhos no cólon menor e em um caso os corposestranhos foram encontrados no cólon maior, sendo principalmente sacos plásticos. As lesões estrangulantes do intestino delgado foram observadas em quatro casos. Outras causas foram cólica espasmódica (dois casos por parasitose e dois por ingestão de resíduos domiciliares), sobrecarga gástrica (três casos) e deslocamento de cólon maior que foi diagnosticado em dois animais. Laceração de cólon menor, torção de ceco, compactação de ceco e timpanismo por consumo de Manihot esculenta foram diagnosticados em uma única ocasião. O principal fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de cólicas foi o consumo de Pennisetum purpureum, Brachiaria decumbens, Sorghum spp. ou Echinochloa polystachya picados manualmente ou em picotadeira ou triturados em forrageira (OR=4,03; P=0,007). Como resultado da baixa qualidade dos alimentos ingeridos, a frequência dos atendimentos de equídeos portadores de cólica foi significativamente maior no segundo semestre (época da seca na região estudada) (OR=2,61; P<0,01). Concluiu-se que a oferta de volumoso de baixa qualidade na seca contribui para a alta frequência de casos de cólica e que o manejo alimentar tem um papel importante na ocorrência da doença e, por isso, a sua melhoria pode influenciar positivamente na redução do número de casos de cólica em equídeos no semiárido nordestino.

Background: Fungi of the genus Aspergillus are ubiquitous microorganisms of opportunistic character, of which animals and humans are continually exposed. Are described three main forms of aspergillosis in dogs: nasal, disseminated and bronchopulmonary. This form which is restricted to the lung parenchyma is considered rare in dogs. The aim of this paper is to report a case of pulmonary aspergillosis associated to acute myocardial infarction in a dog, focusing on epidemiological, clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Case: A male dog, 4-year-old, Pinscher, clinically presented dyspnea, anorexia, vomiting, concentrated urine and dark and mollifed faeces. On physical examination, there were congested oral and conjunctival mucosas, dehydration and petechiae in the outer ear. The animal died fve days after the clinical attendance and was sent for necropsy. The macroscopic lesions were restricted to the lung, heart and liver. There were multifocal areas of consolidation in the lung parenchyma and yellowish content in the trachea and bronchi lumen. The heart was rounded and with pale areas in the myocardium. Liver was discreet accentuation of the lobular pattern. Histologically the lesion was characterized by pyogranulomatous and necrotizing bronchopneumonia, multifocal to coalescing, moderate, associated with myriads of intralesional hyphae consistente with Aspergillus spp., associated with acute myocardial infarction. The hyphae weakly stained basophilic by hematoxylin and eosin were strongly impregnated by Grocott’s methenamine silver nitrate and showed strong immunolabelling of the cytoplasm, which were evidenced in brown. There were areas of acute myocardial infarction and hepatocellular degeneration and congestion in the liver, although fungal hyphae were not observed in these tissues. Discussion: The diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis was established based on the morphological and tinctorial characteristics of the agent and confrmed by immunohistochemistry. In this case, is not included in the clinical history any conditions that could promote immunosuppression, neither were observed morphological changes in the pathological examination which suggested other intercurrent diseases. It is likely that the dog has been exposed to the inhalation of large amounts of conidia for a long period of time, condition that favors the occurrence of the disease, even in immunocompetent animals. Probably were not evidenced severe respiratory clinical signs, that characterize the pulmonary impairment, due to the shortcourse of the disease. The pyogranulomatous and necrotizing inflammatory reaction is typical of fungal infection and was restricted to the lung parenchyma. The areas of coagulation necrosis observed in the myocardium are probably secondary to vascular injury caused by the fungi, with subsequent thromboembolism, ischemia and infarction. In Brazil, there are few reports of aspergillosis in dogs, have been reported the nasal and systemic forms. In the world literature, there are few reports about this bronchopulmonary form of the disease. Although uncommon, pulmonary aspergillosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of diseases that affect the lower respiratory tract of dogs, as well as it’s systemic complications resulting from angioinvasive characteristic of the fungus, which in this case was determinant to the death of the animal. Keywords: Aspergillus, fungal disease, respiratory tract

The aim of this study was to determine the duration of the resistance after the end of the ingestion of non-toxic doses of

Background:  South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus spp.) envenomation is rarely reported in small animals and livestock in Brazil. Minor swelling at the snakebite site, skeletal muscle, and renal damage, and severe neurological signs characterize the crotalic envenomation. This case report aims to present epidemiological, clinical, and pathological data of two cases of Crotalus durissus spp envenomation in dogs in the Northeast of Brazil.Cases: Envenomation by Crotalus durissus spp. was recorded in two dogs in Patos, State of Paraíba, Brazil. In Case 1, the dog presented flaccid paralysis, hyporeflexia, a deficit of cranial nerves, epistaxis, and gingival hemorrhages. Laboratory assay showed proteinuria, myoglobinuria, regenerative thrombocytopenia, and increased serum activities of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The dog was medicated with crotalic antivenom and wholly recovered from local and systemic clinical signs. In Case 2, the dog died and was detected fang marks at the ventral region of the left mandible (two small parallel perforations spaced 2.0 cm apart) at the snakebite site. Cyanosis of the oral cavity, congestion, and hemorrhages in several organs were observed at necropsy. Tubular nephrosis, muscular necrosis, hepatocytes swelling were observed. The owners witnessed snakebites, and the rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus spp.) identified by the rattle at the end portion of the tail in both cases. Discussion: Natural South American rattlesnake envenomation presents complex clinical signs that makes diagnosis a challenge for veterinary practitioners. The criteria for the correct diagnosis and observed in the two dogs include witness of the snakebite, identification of the snake, detection of fang marks, clinical-pathological findings, and therapeutic response to treatment with specific anti-venom. The dog’s owners did not identify the subspecies of rattlesnakes; however, Crotalus durissus cascavella and Crotalus durissus collilineatus are the only species found in the Northeast region of Brazil. Crotoxin is the primary toxic component of South American rattlesnake, which induces neuromuscular blockage, and neurological signs (skeletal muscle flaccid paralysis, apathy, hyporeflexia, cranial nerve deficits). These clinical signs are similar to those observed in the two dogs. Respiratory distress, cyanosis, pulmonary edema, and hemorrhage are secondary to respiratory muscle paralysis and also detected in a dog (Case 2) with crotalic envenomation. Minor local swelling at the snakebite site,  myotoxicity observed in both dogs (high serum activities of CK and AST - Case 1), degeneration and necrosis of muscle fibers - Case 2), and fang marks observed in Case 2, strengthen the diagnosis of Crotalus durissus envenomation. Nephrotoxicity was also detected in both dogs (increased specific gravity of urine - Case 1 and myoglobin deposition and degeneration of renal epithelial tubular cells - Case 2). Coagulative disorders and hepatotoxicity are infrequently in domestic animals and humans with crotalic envenomation. High serum activities of ALP and ALT in Case 1, and swelling of hepatocytes in Case 2, suggest liver damage associated with the crotalic envenomation. The differential diagnosis of South American rattlesnake envenomation should be included in dogs with acute neuromuscular flaccid paralysis, associated or not with bleeding disorders, myoglobinuria, and acute kidney injury.

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an autoimmune disease of the skin and is the most common form of pemphigus in domestic animals. This work reports a case of pemphigus foliaceus in a Santa Inês hair sheep. The ewe presented with multifocal bilateral crusted alopecic dermatitis affecting the chest, abdomen, and pelvic and thoracic limbs. Parakeratotic hyperkeratosis and acanthosis, in addition to subcorneal pustules, were observed histologically, and acantholytic cells and neutrophils were observed within the pustules. In the superficial and deep dermal tissues, there was intense eosinophilic infiltration and the presence of rare macrophages. These microscopic findings were characteristic of PF, and treatment with dexamethasone was ineffective. This disease is rare in sheep, and this is the first case report to be published in Brazil.

Na natureza os seres vivos apresentam variadas formas de inter-relacionamento, dentre elas o parasitismo. Esta surgiu quando, no decorrer da evolução, um organismo associado se sentiu beneficiado de alguma forma, principalmente por ganho de alimento e de proteção. Com o decorrer de milhares de anos e muitas adaptações, o invasor (parasito) se tornou mais e mais dependente do outro ser vivo, seu hospedeiro, ocasionado algum tipo de impacto ou mesmo prejuízo para este. Assim, os parasitos podem ocasionar desde enfermidade subclínica até doença debilitante e fatal.Devido a grande variedade de parasitos, sua ocorrência cosmopolita e seus inúmeros impactos à saúde animal, humana e ambiental, o estudo a parasitologia veterinária tem ganho cada vez mais importância. Nesse contexto, este E-book reúne textos científicos da área, variando entre revisões sistemáticas da literatura, estudos descritivos e analíticos, abordando vários parasitos de impacto na Medicina Veterinária.