No abstract

This study aimed to assess the histomorphometry of the intestinal portions (duodenum and jejunum) in broilers supplemented with probiotic, and histological parameters of their immune system components. Rhizomucor spp. originated from samples of the intestinal content in Cobb 500 chickens was evaluated; these fungi were submitted to performance assay and selected based on in vitro probiotic characteristics. Complete randomized design was used (3 treatments × 7 replicates; 18 birds per experimental unit). One bird at 21 and 42 days of age was sacrificed in each unit and the organs were sampled. In all samples, fixation was conducted followed in order by dehydration and diaphanization; analyses were conducted by light microscopy and histomorphometry, and search was performed for spots indicating the lesion's presence. At 21 days, the duodenum villus height was higher in the group receiving Rhizomucor spp. probiotic, and the jejunum villus height was significantly increased in both the control and Rhizomucor spp. probiotic groups. At 42 days, difference of the duodenum crypt depth was observed in the group receiving commercial probiotic. With regard to the tissue changes of the intestines, spleen, and bursa, no histological alterations were observed at 21 days in all birds (100%) receiving Rhizomucor spp. probiotic, while alteration of the bursa was observed at 42 days in two animals. Inclusion of probiotic Rhizomucor spp. in the diet of broilers promoted an increase in the height of the villi after 21 days, and any influence of the probiotic was resolved after 42 days of age.

Gross and histological lesions caused by an intestinal parasite were described in three capybaras. The parasites presented a mean length of 14 mm and width of 7 mm, were round to oval or piriform, reddish and pedunculated, and adhered strongly to the mucosa of the large intestine. The intestinal mucosa at the parasite attachment site presented loss of surface epithelium and most glands, with replacement by fibrovascular proliferation that protruded from the mucosa and was involuted by the ventral sucker of the parasite. The lamina propria presented cellular debris, eosinophils, macrophages and plasma cells. The morphological characteristics, observed using serial histological sections, made it possible to classify the parasite as a trematode (Paramphistomatidae), compatible with Taxorchis schistocotyle. One capybara also harbored many ciliated protozoa in the large intestine (at the site of attachment of the parasite) and inside the caeca of the trematodes. In conclusion, this study described a multifocal necrotizing colitis associated with T. schistocotyle parasitism in capybaras.Keywords: Wild animals, Taxorchis, capybara, trematode. ResumoLesões macroscópicas e histológicas causadas por um parasita intestinal foram descritas em três capivaras. Os parasitas apresentaram média de 14 mm de comprimento e 7 mm de largura, eram de circulares a ovais ou piriformes, avermelhados, pedunculados e estavam fortemente aderidos à mucosa do intestino grosso. A mucosa intestinal, em que os parasitas estavam aderidos, apresentou perda do epitélio e da maioria das glândulas, sendo substituídos por proliferação fibrovascular que se projetava a partir da mucosa e era envolvida pela ventosa ventral do parasita. A lâmina própria apresentou restos celulares, eosinófilos, macrófagos e plasmócitos. As características morfológicas, utilizando cortes histológicos seriados, proporcionaram a classificação do parasita como um trematoda Paramphistomatidae, compatível com Taxorchis schistocotyle. Uma capivara continha também numerosos protozoários ciliados no intestino grosso (no local de fixação do parasita) e no lúmen do ceco desses parasitos. Em síntese, este estudo demonstrou a ocorrência de colite necrótica associada ao parasitismo por T. schistocotyle em capivaras.

This report described a case of necrotizing placentitis caused by Bacillus cereus in a cow associated with abortion and maternal lethality. The etiological diagnosis of placentitis by B. cereus was based on histopathology of placenta, cytology and bacterial isolation from intrauterine aminiotic fluid in retained placenta and further characterization of the pathogen by the MALDI-TOF. Although, B. cereus abortions are sporadic, the bacterium has the ability to release necrotizing toxins that can lead to placentitis, fetal death and abortion.

This study aimed to evaluate the hematological profile, hepatic function, and histopathology of mixed-sex broilers fed rations supplemented with microencapsulated essential oils from Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemon grass) and Lippia rotundifolia (chá-de-pedestre). One hundred and fifty Cobb chicks were housed in cages from 1 to 42 days of age in a completely randomized design, with six replicates with five chickens in each of five treatments (150 total chicks): basal diet without antibiotic growth promoter (negative control), diet with enramicina and salinomycin (positive control), diet with lemon grass essential oil, diet with L. rotundifolia essential oil, and diet with a mixture of lemon grass and L. rotundifolia essential oils. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were significantly lower in untreated broilers (negative control group). Gender was not associated with erythrogram values, but aspartate aminotransferase activity (AST) was higher in females. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was higher in chicks in the group that received rations with lemon grass oil. Broilers that received L. rotundifolia oil developed more hepatic lesions, although no effect of sex was observed related to the lesion score. Biliary hyperplasia and fibroplasias were observed in all groups, with higher histopathology scores in broilers that received diets containing L. rotundifolia oil. Mixed-sex broilers fed rations supplemented with lemon grass and L. rotundifolia essential oils have normal complete blood counts and unspecific hepatic lesions and are characterized by lipidosis, hyperplasia of the bile ducts, and fibroplasia.

Brucella spp. are Gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacteria that cause brucellosis in humans and animals. Currently available live attenuated vaccines against brucellosis still have drawbacks. Therefore, subunit vaccines, produced using epitope-based antigens, have the advantage of being safe, cost-effective and efficacious. Here, we identified B. abortus small RNAs expressed during early infection with bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and an apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase (Int) was identified as the putative target of the greatest expressed small RNA. Decreased expression of Int was observed during BMDM infection and the protein sequence was evaluated to rationally select a putative immunogenic epitope by immunoinformatic, which was explored as a vaccinal candidate. C57BL/6 mice were immunized and challenged with B. abortus, showing lower recovery in the number of viable bacteria in the liver, spleen, and axillary lymph node and greater production of IgG and fractions when compared to non-vaccinated mice. The vaccinated and infected mice showed the increased expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 following expression of the anti-inflammatory genes IL-10 and TGF-β in the liver, justifying the reduction in the number and size of the observed granulomas. BMDMs stimulated with splenocyte supernatants from vaccinated and infected mice increase the CD86+ marker, as well as expressing greater amounts of iNOS and the consequent increase in NO production, suggesting an increase in the phagocytic and microbicidal capacity of these cells to eliminate the bacteria.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an important malignancy in dogs, due to its incidence and clinical presentation, which can be of locally aggressive single or multiple lesions with a metastatic potential. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate SCC response to treatment, anatomopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics, disease‐free interval and overall survival time. 54 dogs with histopathologically diagnosed SCC were included in this study. Their mean age was 9.16 years with a range of 1–14 years. Of the 54 animals in the study, 34 (65.4%) had white skin and white fur coats. There was a significant correlation between fur coat colour and the development of tumours in areas of sun exposure (p = .001). Animals with tumours in areas of the body exposed to the sun had longer overall survival time than animals with tumours in areas not associated with sun exposure (p = .001). Surgery combined with electrochemotherapy (ECT) yielded a survival rate 32% higher than using a surgical approach alone (HR = 0.32, p = .038, IC = 0.11–0.94). ECT, with or without surgery, had an objective response rate of 90.9%. Local lymph node and/or distant site metastasis at diagnosis, or at some point during follow‐up, occurred in 34.6% (18/52) of animals. Animals with tumours in sun exposed locations had more aggressive histopathological characteristics but had longer overall survival time. This is probably due to individualised therapeutic treatment with both surgery and ECT.

A 6-year-old Fuzzy Lop rabbit was referred to a veterinary hospital with a complaint of lameness. In addition to a vertebral subluxation, two radiopaque and well-defined structures were revealed by radiographic evaluation. Ultrasonographically, the masses were characterized as parenchymal structures with diffuse mineralization and formation of reverberation artifacts, suggesting presence of gas. These two structures were excised during a laparotomy and Clostridium tertium was isolated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. tertium infection in a pet animal.