Coccidiosis is a disease of great importance in industrial poultry. The correct diagnosis directs the poultry industry to its best treatment and control. Thus, a survey of Eimeria spp. was carried out in intestines of 64 broiler flocks, with an average age of 29 days. Eight broilers from each flock were randomly removed from the slaughter line, in a total of 512 samples. Macroscopic and histopathological lesions in the intestine were classified into Scores 0 to 4. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to research the oocysts from the seven species of Eimeria spp. in the intestinal content. The macroscopic evaluations showed that 59.4% (38/64) of the flocks were positive for E. acervulina, 32.8% (21/64) for E. maxima, 29.7% (19/64) for E. tenella, and 34.4% (22/64) for E. brunetti. The histopathological evaluation showed that 87.5% (56/64) of the flocks had at least one broiler with parasitic structures compatible with Eimeria spp. in the duodenum, 70.3% (45/64) in the jejunum, 18.8% (12/64) in the ileum, 46.9% (30/64) in the cecum, and 4.7% (3/64) in the colon. In PCR, 21.9% (14/64) of the flocks were positive for E. acervulina, 12.5% (8/64) for E. maxima, 3.1% (2/64) for E. mitis, and 32.8% (21/64) for E. tenella. The Kappa Cohen test between macroscopy, histopathology, and PCR demonstrated concordance ranging from weak to moderate with the exception of histopathology and PCR of the cecum, which was strong. In the comparison between macroscopy and histopathology, there were significative differences between Scores 0 and 1 (apart from the cecum). For Score 3, there were significative differences in duodenum, jejunum and cecum (p<0.05). In conclusion, the macroscopic diagnosis and PCR can generate false-negative results, and the histopathological exam proved to be effective, making it essential to associate different techniques for the correct diagnosis of Eimeria spp. in broiler chickens.

Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) is a genetic disorder or by undetermined cause characterized by the abnormal accumulation of glycogen and polysaccharides in skeletal muscle fibers. The present report describes two Percheron horses, from different properties in the municipality of Pouso Redondo - SC, with locomotor clinical signs that started after work. The clinical signs observed were rigid gait, mainly of the pelvic limbs, muscle weakness, and recumbency. In the first case, the animal was diagnosed with severe multifocal rhabdomyonecrosis, moderate multifocal myoglobin nephrosis and severe diffuse transmural fibrinonecrotic gastritis. PSSM was confirmed by the presence of polysaccharide inclusions in myofiber sarcolemma visualized by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. In the second case, the horse presented two episodes of muscle disorder after work. The therapeutic protocol was based on penicillin, flunixin meglumine and fluid therapy with ringer lactate. An increase in creatine kinase (669.0 UI/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (669.0 UI/L) was observed in the serum biochemical evaluation. Research for mutation in the GYS1 gene was performed, with a positive heterozygote result. After rest and gradual recovery, the horse was only submitted to light work, with no return of the clinical condition since then. Thus, this report describes two cases of PSSM with distinct clinical evolution and diagnostic methods.

Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) is the morphological characterization for softening of brain gray matter, and excess sulfur intake is one of its main causes. This study describes an outbreak of this disease in 1-to-3-month-old calves in a farm located in Santa Catarina state, Brazil. The herd consisted of 27 Jersey male calves whose diet was composed of initial feed, ground whole corn, and mineral salt. From this herd, 10 animals became ill, showing signs of apathy, anorexia and blindness, evolving to generalized weakness and death. Necropsy was performed in three of these animals, which showed flattening of the cerebral convolutions in addition to softened, yellowish areas in the cerebral cortex. Histopathological examination revealed deep laminar necrosis associated with perineuronal and perivascular edema, as well as neurons with wrinkled, eosinophilic, or vacuolated cytoplasm. The following sulfur doses were observed: 8,010mg/kg in corn, 6,385mg/kg in initial feed, 1,060mg/kg in mineral salt and 2.3mg/L in water, reaching dose values far above the accepted, totaling a daily intake of approximately 6,533.5mg sulfur/animal/day. As differential diagnosis, lead was dosed in the kidneys and liver of the three calves, with negative results. Also, the calf that sickened last was treated with 20mg/kg thiamin and 0.2mg/kg dexamethasone (IM; QID) for three days and eventually recovered. According to anatomopathological findings, excess sulfur intake and therapeutic diagnosis, sulfur poisoning was suggested as the cause of PEM in these 1-to-3-month-old calves. Occurrence of PEM is rare in calves at such a young age.

Background: Carcinomas are aggressive and invasive malignancies that originate from any type of epithelial cell and are responsible for many deaths in dogs. Carcinoma metastases occur primarily via the lymphatic route; however, they can occur by blood flow, thus reaching bone structures. In dogs, metastasis of mammary and squamous cell carcinomas to the skeletal system is poorly described. The aim of this study was to report two cases of dogs that developed metastases of carcinomas to the vertebral column.Cases: Case 1. A 10 years-old, male, mixed-breed dog with paralysis of the left pelvic limb, subcutaneous mass in the lumbar region, apathy, anorexia and progressive weight loss and with a previous history of amputation of the right pelvic limb resulting from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the integument of the cranial face of the femorotibiopatellar joint. Due to the patient's clinical condition and the negative prognosis associated with the neoplasia, euthanasia was performed. At necropsy, infiltrating the lumbar vertebrae from L5 to L7, a whitish and firm mass of approximately 15 x 8 cm was observed. Histologically, it comprised a malignant epithelial neoplastic development consisting of nests and cords interspersed with fibrovascular stroma, containing multiple keratine pearls. There was moderate to severe anisocytosis, severe anisokariosis, and about 4 mitosis figures for every 10 high power fields (400x). The histological features were consistent with an invasive SCC. Anti-cytokeratin and anti-p63 immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluations were performed, both with immunoreactivity in neoplastic cells. Case 2. An 8 years-old, female, Chihuahua with bilateral paralysis of the pelvic limbs, anorexia, and progressive weight loss, with a history of excision of solid mammary carcinoma. The clinical condition evolved to the absence of deep pain in all limbs and fecal and urinary retention, opting for euthanasia. At necropsy, a nodule between T3 and T4 was observed, yellowish-white and firm, measuring about 5 x 3.8 cm, invading the spinal canal, and compressing the spinal cord. Histologically, it comprised malignant epithelial neoplasia infiltrating intervertebral ligaments, musculature, and vertebrae of the thoracic spine, organized in a dense mantle of polygonal to rounded cells, delimited in lobes by abundant fibrovascular tissue. Moderate anisokaryosis and accentuated anisocytosis were observed and about 6 mitosis figures for every 10 high power fields (400x). The histological characteristics of the tumor were compatible with metastasis due to grade II solid mammary carcinoma. Immunohistochemical evaluations of anti-cytokeratin, anti-c-erbB2, and anti-estrogen and progesterone receptors were performed, with immunoreactivity for cytokeratin and c-erbB2 in neoplastic cells.Discussion: There are no current data indicating which tumors that metastasize most frequently to the vertebral column. In the reported cases, it was found that the clinical signs presented by the animals are directly associated with the compression of specific areas of the spinal cord, as well as bone pain, resulting from tumor expansion and degeneration of the bone matrix, similar to what has been reported previously. The immunohistochemical diagnosis of anti-p63 in case 1 and anti-oncoprotein C-erbB2 in case 2, were essential to determine the neoplastic origin in the absence of the primary tumor. Despite being a place of low incidence of metastases, bones have a physiologically favorable environment for the implantation of neoplastic cells, especially when there is bone marrow involvement. Because of this and despite the rare occurrence, metastasis of carcinomas to the vertebral column should always be considered as differential diagnoses in patients presenting with clinical signs compatible with spinal cord compression and a history of previous neoplasia.