Histopathological aspects of Bovine Enzootic Hematuria in Brazil

Abstract

RESUMO.-[Aspectos histopatológicos da Hematúria Enzoótica Bovina no Brasil.] Com o objetivo de descrever alterações neoplásicas e não-neoplásicas ainda não relatadas e, paralelamente, reclassificá-las de acordo com nomenclatura mais completa e atual utilizada em medicina humana, foram estudadas, histologicamente, lesões da bexiga de 59 bovinos com Hematúria Enzoótica (HEB), oriundos dos Estados do Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná e Amazonas.Verificou-se, em termos qualitativos, quase uma perfeita identidade com as lesões de bexiga observadas em seres humanos. Comparações mais exatas com relação à freqüência dessas alterações ficaram prejudicadas, dadas a ocorrência de duas ou mais neoplasias em um mesmo animal e as diferenças da metodologia empregada ou do conceito de classificação. Coexistência entre neoplasias diversas, epiteliais e/ ou mesenquimais, foi vista com freqüência. Neoplasias ou diferenciações raras, ainda não descritas na bexiga de bovinos, como carcinoma trabecular com diferenciação em célu-las de Paneth, adenoma e adenocarcinoma mesonefróides, , were studied histologically. The objective of this study was to describe and reclassify neoplastic and non-neoplastic alterations not yet reported, according to the more complete current nomenclature used in human medicine. There was an almost complete identity with alterations observed in the bladder of man. Due to the occurrence of two or more neoplasms in the same animal, differences in the methodology and in the concept of classification, a more precise comparison was not possible. Coexistence of different types of epithelial and/or mesenchymal tumour growth was frequently seen. Rare neoplasms or differentiations not previously described were found in the bladder of some animals affected by BEH. These were trabecular carcinoma with Paneth cells differentiation, mesonephroid adenoma, mesonephroid adenocarcinoma, "signet ring" cell carcinoma, plasmocytoid carcinoma, chromophobe cell carcinoma and nested type of transitional cell carcinoma. Haemangiosarcomas originating from haemangiomas were also observed. This study also revealed the occurrence of many tumors with anaplasia and pronounced infiltrative features, but which did not metastasize. The elucidation of the cause of this "barrier against metastases" and its relationship with chemical carcinogenesis induced by the ptaquiloside, the active principle of bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), could be of interest to future research on the control of neoplasia in man and animals.INDEX TERMS: Histopathology, Bovine Enzootic Hematuria, bladder tumors, Pteridium aquilinum, Brazil.

Bovine papillomaviruses, papillomas and cancer in cattle

“…The different histological features of the urinary bladder lesions associated with BEH have been extensively studied by different research groups [20,37,98]. The cancer is of both epithelial and mesenchymal origin (mostly haemangioma and its malignant counterpart) with multiple tumours developing in the same bladder.…”

“…a benign tumour with an inverted growth pattern, and of papillary neoplasms of apparently low malignant potential have also been described. Different histological variants or patterns of transitional cell carcinomas have been identified: pagetoid, micropapillary, nested, mycrocystic and lipid cell variant; trabecular carcinoma with Paneth cell differentiation; mesonephroid adenocarcinoma, 'signet ring' cell carcinoma, plasmocytoid and chromophobe cell carcinoma [16,20,37,98]. Mesenchymal tumours are also very frequent and, in addition to haemangiomas and haemangiosarcomas, fibromas and myxomas are often encountered.…”

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Vascular Urinary Bladder Tumors from Cows with Enzootic Hematuria

“…Histologic typing of vascular tumors was based on World Health Organization established criteria for the diagnosis of urinary bladder tumors in domestic animals, recent publications on BEH-associated bladder lesions, 10,28,34 and diagnostic histopathology criteria for human blood vessel tumors. 6 Endothelial tumors were classified as hemangiomas, hemangioendotheliomas, and hemangiosarcomas.…”

Immunomodulatory effects ofPteridium aquilinumon natural killer cell activity and select aspects of the cellular immune response of mice

“…For example, in cattle, ingestion of bracken fern causes an acute hemorrhagic syndrome associated with depression of the bone marrow (a pathology characterized by leukopenia and thrombocytopenia) (Riet-Correa, 2001;Do Nascimento França et al, 2002). Chronic exposure to the fern has also been related in increases in bladder carcinomas characterized by hemorrhages in the organ (termed as bovine enzootic hematuria [BEH]) (Peixoto et al, 2003;Carvalho et al, 2006). Because it has been known for more than four decades that the presence of papillomas (live bovine papilloma virus [BPV] or as formalized vaccine) also gives rise to these same outcomes (Pamukcu et al, 1967), the immunosuppression we hypothesize here that is induced by fern intoxication could give rise to these particular cancers and the associated BEH (specifically, BPV-2: Campo et al, 1992;Campo, 1997;Balcos et al, 2008) as a result of these viruses being able to flourish.…”