Pale Areas Research Articles

Aborto em bovinos devido à intoxicação por Tetrapterys acutifolia (Malpighiaceae)

Esse estudo teve por objetivo demonstrar experimentalmente que Tetrapterys acutifolia Cav. (fam. Malpighiaceae) é capaz de provocar aborto em bovinos e caracterizar as alterações clínico-patológicas nas vacas e nos fetos. Estas plantas são responsáveis por significativo número de mortes em bovinos com mais de um ano de idade, especialmente nos Estados de Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo, mas até agora não havia sido comprovado experimentalmente seu efeito abortivo em bovinos. Os experimentos foram realizados no município de Barra do Piraí, RJ. Quatro vacas de descarte receberam brotos e folhas novas frescas de T. acutifolia, coletadas em propriedades vizinhas, nas doses de 2,5g/kg/dia, 5,0g/kg/dia (2 vacas) e 10g/kg/dia, até ocorrer o abortamento. O quadro clínico nas vacas caracterizou-se por arritmia cardíaca, tremores musculares, anorexia, ascite, jugular ingurgitada, edema de peito e barbela e aborto (23-76 dias após o início da ingestão da planta); todas as vacas abortaram. Das quatro vacas apenas uma (a que recebeu 10g/kg/dia) morreu 36 dias após o abortamento, com sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca. O exame necroscópico dos fetos/natimortos revelou hidrotórax, hidropericárdio, hidroperitônio e congestão hepática; ao corte do miocárdio, verificaram-se áreas pálidas. No exame histológico havia edema intersticial com fibrose incipiente. Na vaca que recebeu a maior dose e foi a óbito, bem como em outra intoxicada naturalmente, os achados de necropsia foram similares aos observados nos fetos, exceto pela dilatação dos vasos da base do coração e mais acentuada palidez do miocárdio. Observaram-se ainda edema subcutâneo nas regiões cervical e esternal, bem como veias jugulares ingurgitadas. Os achados histopatológicos foram necrose e edema intersticial com acentuada fibrose no miocárdio, espongiose da substância branca do encéfalo e, no fígado, congestão e leve fibrose. Adicionalmente, observou-se na vaca intoxicada espontaneamente, 17 dias após o aborto, arritmia cardíaca, jugular ingurgitada, edema de peito e barbela, anorexia com morte 43 dias após o aborto. Este estudo demonstra que Tetrapterys acutifolia é capaz de induzir aborto e, dependendo da dose, ainda causar a morte das vacas que abortarem.

Diagnostic Exercise: Equine Rhabdomyolysis

A 1.5-year-old Quarter Horse gelding with a history of chronic nasal discharge and leukocytosis presented with signs of increased lethargy and muscular pain. The horse quickly became recumbent and unable to rise and was euthanized due to a poor prognosis. At necropsy, severe bilateral guttural pouch empyema was observed, as well as numerous well-demarcated areas of pallor within the skeletal muscles of all major muscle groups. Polymerase chain reaction testing of the guttural pouch exudate confirmed an infection with Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, and an S. equi–associated immune-mediated rhabdomyolysis was initially considered to be the most likely diagnosis. This report briefly discusses the various etiologies that should be considered in cases of equine myopathy, and it demonstrates the complexity of these poorly understood muscular disorders.

Trimodal imaging to identify microscopic foci of signet ring cells in hereditary diffuse gastric cancer

IntroductionPatients fulfilling the criteria for Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) may undergo endoscopic surveillance to help detect microscopic foci of signet ring cells and guide decisions about prophylactic gastrectomy. Current...

Ultrastructural and Molecular Characterization of a New Microsporidium Parasite from the Amazonian Fish, Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni (Rhamphichthyidae)

A new species of a microsporidium found in the freshwater teleost Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni, collected on the lower Amazon River, is described based on light, ultrastructural, and phylogenetic studies. This parasite develops in the skeletal muscle of the abdominal cavity, forming whitish cyst-like structures containing numerous spores. Mature spores, lightly pyriform to ellipsoidal with rounded ends and measuring 4.25 ± 0.38 × 2.37 ± 0.42 µm (n = 30), were observed. The spore wall, which measured about 102 nm, was composed of 2 layers with approximately the same thickness. The isofilar polar filament was coiled, with 9-10 (rarely 8) turns. The posterior vacuole appeared as a pale area, occupying about 1/3 of the spore length, and contained a spherical posterosome composed of granular material that was denser at the periphery. The myofibrils located near the spores appeared to be in advanced degradation. Molecular analysis of the rRNA genes, including the ITS region, and phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Baysesian inference were performed. The ultrastructural characteristics of the spores and the phylogenetic data strongly suggested that it is a new species related to Kabatana, Microgemma, Potaspora, Spraguea, and Tetramicra. We named this new microsporidian from Amazonian fauna as Kabatana rondoni n. sp.

Homicidal strangulation by victim’s own artificial hair extensions

A 24-year-old woman was strangulated by her husband using his wife's own 60-cm long artificial head hair integrations. During a domestic conflict, she was strangulated while lying in bed in a prone position. Her husband wrapped her hair around her neck and pulled it with one hand while fixing her head with the other hand. Due to the soft and broad nature of the ligature, the neck skin presented scarcely any ligature marks and showed a horizontal pale area in the middle of the neck above which the neck and face were congested; the skin showed extensive petechial haemorrhages. The autopsy revealed no internal injuries except two small haematomas in the soft tissue on each side of the neck. These were located under the pale area of the skin. The larynx and hyoid bone were intact. No natural disease was found. The toxicological analyses showed negative results. This is the first report of a homicidal strangulation by means of the victim's own artificial hair extensions.

Assessment of protective effect of thymus on cadmium chloride that induced nephropathy and neuropathy in rats

This study included twenty seven rats were allowed to acclimate for 1 week in the animal house of veterinary medicine college. Rats were housed three per cage with dimension of (45*35*20). Rats were divided into three groups; the first group represent cadmium chloride (CaCl) treated group which include nine (9) animals denoted by (group A); second group represent thymus and cadmium chloride treated group which include nine animals (9) denoted by (B) and third group which represent control group which also include nine (9) animals denoted by (C). The CaCl was given by drinking water with dose rate (50 PPM) daily; the aqueous extraction of thymus also was given by drinking after adding of CaCl with dose rate (50 PPM) daily. Tissue samples were taken for histopathological study by killing (3) animals from each group at periods of (17, 24 and 31) days after exposure to CaCl. Routine histological technique ending by staining 5 μm with H&E and then examined by light microscope. The histopathological results of group (A) revealed presence of pale area ( a” softening”) in the brain surrounding by edema. The tissue has vacuolated structure, also a number of astrocytes with small round basophilic nuclei and ill- defined cytoplasmic boundaries are present. Finding of hypertrophic reactive astrocytes and alterations of neurofibrils that clumped and twisted into odd shapes like tennis rackets or skeins of wool. The results of group (B) showed the protective effectiveness of Thymus extract against treatment with CACL and the brain tissue looks like normal regeneration occurs mainly at plaque margin and presence of normal white matter. The histopathological results of kidneys of group (A) showed that the most prominent microscopic changes, in particular evident necrosis, especially in proximal tubules. There is atrophy of most of the tubules and the glomerular tuft shows marked increased in cellularity, with obliterated Bowman’s space . The most marked changes are the loss of tubules, and many of these remaining are small and lined by very atrophic epithelium. The results of Group (B) didn’t revealed any effectiveness of thymus extract against toxicity of kidney tissue with CACL. The conclusion that the cadmium chloride may cause severe damage in brain and kidneys of rats and thymus can used as a protective agent against toxicity with cadmium chloride and this protective effect occur obviously in protection of brain tissue against toxic effect of cadmium chloride.

Primary neuroblastoma in the skin of an adult shih tzu dog

A subcutaneous mass arising in the right gluteal area of an 11-year-old female shih tzu dog was surgically excised. Histologically, the mass was composed of small round or ovoid neoplastic cells that were arranged in nests of various sizes. The neoplastic cells generally had hyperchromatic nuclei and scanty eosinophilic cytoplasm, and were surrounded by a pale pink fibrillar area. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin, S-100 protein, neurone-specific enolase and synaptophysin, but negative for cytokeratin, neurofilament protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein and chromogranin A. On ultrastructural observation, aggregates of thin cytoplasmic processes were frequently seen among the neoplastic cells. Based on these features, the tumour was diagnosed as a neuroblastoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of a neuroblastoma originating from the skin in an adult dog.

Sudden Death Associated with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in an Alpaca (Llama Pacos)

A healthy, 3-year-old, intact male alpaca (Llama pacos) died suddenly and unexpectedly and had an unusual pattern of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that was restricted to the interventricular septal and right ventricular myocardium. Grossly pale areas in the affected myocardium corresponded histologically to thickened and disorganized myofibers with excessive branching and marked nuclear pleomorphism. Mitoses were absent. Inflammation and fibrosis were minimal. A few thickened muscular arteries were scattered in the affected myocardium.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Arising within Focal Nodular Hyperplasia

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Arising within Focal Nodular Hyperplasia

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum에 의한 포도나무 균핵병 발생

경기도 가평과 강원도 영월에서 포도나무 가지가 수침상으로 물러지고 시들어 죽는 증상을 관할하고 병원균을 분리였다. 병원균의 균총은 PDA 배지에서 처음에는 무색이었으나 배양기간이 길어짐에 따라서 흰색을 거쳐 연한 초콜릿색을 나타내었다. 균핵형성 적온은 <TEX>$20^{\circ}C$</TEX>이었으며, 균핵을 멸균한 모래의 1~2 cm 깊이에 매몰하고 <TEX>$20^{\circ}C$</TEX> 항온기에서 90일간 배양하여 자낭반 형성을 유도하였다. 자낭반은 자루가 가늘고 긴 컵 모양의 황갈색이었고 원통형의 수많은 자낭이 존재하였으며 자낭 안에서는 무색, 타원형이며 단세포로 된 8개의 자낭포자를 관찰할 수 있었다. 자낭포자의 크기는 <TEX>$8.2{\sim}24.4{\times}3.6{\sim}7.2{\mu}m$</TEX> 정도였다. 병원성을 확인한 결과, 캠벨얼리와 거봉 품종 모두에서 병원성을 확인할 수 있었으며 상대적으로 캠벨얼리 품종이 감수성을 나타내었다. 이상과 같이 포도나무에 발생한 병징, 병원균의 균학적 특징 및 병원성 검정 결과, 병원균을 Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary으로 동정하였으며, 이 병을 포도나무 균핵병으로 명명할 것을 제안한다. Sclerotinia shoot rot of Grapevine(Vitis labruscana) occurred at Gapyeong and Yeongwol area from 2003 to 2005. Infected plants showed shoot blight at the one-year-old fruit bearing branches. The first visible symptom noticed was wilting and blighting of the branches. The obvious and typical initial symptom is the presence of a cottony, white, dense mat of mycelial growth on the surface of the diseased lesions. The base or stem of the infected young shoots develop a pale brown rotted area, which girdled and killed shoots. In advanced stages of the disease, stems and branches became bleached and eventually died. The isolates collected from diseased grapevine stem were identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum based on the morphological and cultural characteristics. The pathogenicity test revealed that Vitis vinifera(cultivar: Kyoho) was stronger than V. labruscana(cultivar: Campbell early) to the pathogen. This is the first report on sclerotinia shoot rot of grapevine in Korea.

Dermoscopic Features of Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome

W E DESCRIBE 3 PATIENTS WITH CONfirmed mutations in the folliculin gene to illustrate the dermoscopic features of Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome. Physical examination revealed that all 3 patients had multiple, firm, pale facial papules on examination (Figure 1 [case 1, 50-year-old woman], Figures 2 and 3 [case 2, 55-year-old woman], and Figure 4 [case 3, 37-year-old man]). Each lesion showed well-demarcated areas of pallor with central follicular opening on dermoscopy (Figures 5 [case 1], 6 [case 2], and 7 [case 3]). Histologic examination showed trabeculae of squamous cells, with horn cysts and clear cells, intervening loose spindle cell stroma, and surrounding fibrosis, in keeping with fibrofolliculoma (Figure 8). InitiallydescribedbyBirt et al, fibrofolliculomasare the hallmarkofBHDsyndrome.Togetherwith trichodiscomas and acrochordons, they form the triad of cutaneous lesions seen in this condition, which is also associated with an increased risk of pulmonary cysts, spontaneous pneumothorax, and renal carcinoma. Onset, typically in adulthood, is characterized by asymptomatic papules that primarily involve the head, neck, chest, back, and arms and often have a central hair. In conclusion, fibrofolliculomas have reproducible dermoscopic features which, if multiple, should prompt consideration of a diagnosis of BHD syndrome as well as monitoring for associated complications.

Intoxicação acidental por monensina em ovinos no Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Descreve-se um surto de intoxicação por monensina em ovinos no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, no qual de 180 animais, oito morreram após serem alimentados com ração contendo o ionóforo. A enfermidade, de evolução variável, caracterizou-se clinicamente por apatia, arritmia cardíaca, mioglobinúria, incoordenação, incapacidade de se levantar, decúbito esternal; uma ovelha abortou. As lesões macroscópicas consistiram de áreas pálidas no miocárdio, hidroperitônio, hidrotórax e edema pulmonar. O exame histopatológico evidenciou alterações degenerativo-necróticas no coração e na musculatura esquelética. No miocárdio, as lesões eram mais marcadas e caracterizavam-se por necrose multifocal com substituição das miofibras por tecido conjuntivo fibroso e inflamação intersticial mononuclear. Adicionalmente, verificaram-se proliferação de células satélite e reação inflamatória mononuclear em músculos esqueléticos. Ao que tudo indica, a adição excessiva de monensina sódica, talvez associada à homogeneização inadequada da droga ao alimento, tenha determinado a ingestão de grande quantidade de monensina por parte dos animais.

Accidental and experimental salinomycin poisoning in rabbits

An outbreak of salinomycin poisoning in rabbits is described. At least 27 out of 2,000 rabbits reared on a farm died after the coccidiostatic drug sulfaquinoxaline was substituted by salinomycin in the feed. An average of 26.9ppm salinomycin was detected in the ration given to the rabbits. Clinical signs included anorexia, apathy and bradykinesia, which progressed to incoordination and recumbency. Gross lesions consisted of pale areas in the skeletal muscles. The histopathological findings showed severe necrotic degenerative myopathy in association with infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages. One rabbit exhibited similar alterations in the myocardium. Mineralization was observed in the affected skeletal muscles in some cases. In order to verify if the poisoning was due to salinomycin, 20 rabbits were divided into five groups and a ration containing the drug at doses of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100ppm was given. The administration of doses higher than 50ppm resulted in manifestation of the clinical signs seen in the outbreak of poisoning. It was concluded, that probably an error related to the mixture of salinomycin in the feed was the cause of deaths in the spontaneous outbreak of poisoning on the rabbit farm.

Experimental Pseudomonas anguilliseptica infection in turbot Psetta maxima (L.): a histopathological and immunohistochemical study.

Experimental infection with Pseudomonas anguilliseptica was performed both by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and bath route on juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima) in order to evaluate the pathology induced. Turbot was found to be sensitive to i.p. challenge (1.7×106 CFU/fish) but no to bath exposure. The i.p. challenge induced septicaemic infection and mortality. Externally, moribund fish showed distended abdomen and pale areas at day 9. The gross pathological internal signs present were abundant ascitic fluid in the peritoneal cavity, pale and enlarged spleen, pale and friable liver, and congestive and dilated gut with yellowish exudates. On histopathological examination, bacterial invasion was common in all the tissues studied but the most prominent pathological changes were observed in gut, spleen and kidney after 7 day with features of necrosis. The immunohistochemical findings support the widespread localization of the bacteria after the i.p. injection since the P. anguilliseptica was detected in spleen from day 1 post injection, in liver, kidney and gut from day 4, in muscle from day 7 and in brain from day 9. The difficulties in infecting healthy fish by bath challenge can be explained by the opportunistic nature of this pathogen.

Experimental Pseudomonas anguilliseptica infection in turbot Psetta maxima (L.): a histopathological and immunohistochemical study

Experimental infection with Pseudomonas anguilliseptica was performed both by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and bath route on juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima) in order to evaluate the pathology induced. Turbot was found to be sensitive to i.p. challenge (1.7x10(6) CFU/fish) but no to bath exposure. The i.p. challenge induced septicaemic infection and mortality. Externally, moribund fish showed distended abdomen and pale areas at day 9. The gross pathological internal signs present were abundant ascitic fluid in the peritoneal cavity, pale and enlarged spleen, pale and friable liver, and congestive and dilated gut with yellowish exudates. On histopathological examination, bacterial invasion was common in all the tissues studied but the most prominent pathological changes were observed in gut, spleen and kidney after 7 day with features of necrosis. The immunohistochemical findings support the widespread localization of the bacteria after the i.p. injection since the P. anguilliseptica was detected in spleen from day 1 post injection, in liver, kidney and gut from day 4, in muscle from day 7 and in brain from day 9. The difficulties in infecting healthy fish by bath challenge can be explained by the opportunistic nature of this pathogen.

Intoxicação natural e experimental por Nerium oleander (Apocynaceae) em bovinos no Rio Grande do Sul

Descreve-se a intoxicação natural e experimental por Nerium oleander em bovinos no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Dois de oito bovinos morreram subitamente após consumirem folhas de galhos de N. oleander que haviam sido podados e jogados no piquete onde os animais eram mantidos. Não foram observados sinais clínicos em uma vaca, mas um terneiro de 4 meses de idade apresentou decúbito lateral, movimentos de pedalagem, vocalização e morte. As alterações macroscópicas mais importantes observadas na vaca morta naturalmente e em duas novilhas intoxicadas experimentalmente ocorreram no coração que apresentava petéquias e equimoses no átrio esquerdo, coágulos e hemorragias no endocárdio do ventrículo esquerdo e áreas levemente pálidas no septo interventricular e em porções do miocárdio dos ventrículos. Na histologia, havia necrose de coagulação de fibras cardíacas individuais e de pequenos agrupamentos, caracterizada por aumento de eosinofilia citoplasmática e núcleos picnóticos. Essas lesões eram mais acentuadas no músculo papilar. O diagnóstico foi fundamentado na presença da planta no potreiro onde estavam os animais, quadro clínico-patológico compatível e reprodução experimental em dois bovinos nas doses de 0,5 e 1,0g/kg de folhas frescas da planta.

Visceral leishmaniasis with cardiac involvement in a dog: a case report

A dog presented with cutaneous nodules, enlarged lymph nodes and oedema in limbs, face and abdomen. The diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis was established by identification of Leishmania amastigotes within macrophages from skin and popliteal lymph node biopsies. At necropsy, lesions were found in different organs, but it was particularly striking to observe large areas of pallor in the myocardium. Histological examination revealed an intense chronic inflammatory reaction in many organs, and numerous macrophages were found to contain amastigote forms of Leishmania. The inflammatory reaction was especially severe in the heart, where large areas of the myocardium appeared infiltrated with huge numbers of mononuclear immune cells, causing cardiac muscle atrophy and degeneration. Despite the severe inflammation, the number of parasitized macrophages was low in the myocardium, as revealed by immunohistochemical staining of Leishmania amastigotes. Because cardiac involvement is not usually described in this condition, this dog represents a very rare case of canine visceral leishmaniasis with affection of the myocardium.

Simple non‐staining method to demonstrate urate crystals in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded skin biopsies

Gouty tophi classically occur as nodules over joints and the helix. The ideal fixative for preservation of gout crystals has traditionally been alcohol because the crystals are formalin and water soluble. However, most biopsies are submitted in formalin fixative, which results in dissolution of urate crystals leaving behind a non-specific pale amorphous area. Although complex staining methods to show urate crystals in tissue have been described, the present study elucidates a simple non-staining method utilizing a thick unstained coverslipped microscopy slide that allows detection and confirmation of birefringence of urate crystals in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Twenty-nine cases of cutaneous gouty tophi were evaluated using a hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained section, a 10-microm unstained coverslipped section and a 4-microm unstained coverslipped section. In all cases, the specimen was received and submitted in formalin. Polarizable crystals were not identified in any of the H&E sections. The use of the thicker unstained coverslipped section was more sensitive than the standard 4 microm section by recognizing the characteristic urate crystals in 48% and 38% of the cases, respectively. This inexpensive adjunctive tool can be used to document gout crystals in almost half of skin biopsies.

Miocardite chagásica em caninos no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

Neste trabalho, são relatados dois casos de morte súbita por doença de Chagas aguda em caninos da zona rural de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os cães, um macho Pit Bull com nove meses (canino 1) e uma fêmea Labrador Retriever com dois anos (canino 2), morreram em janeiro de 2005 e maio de 2008, respectivamente. As necropsias revelaram aumento cardíaco em ambos os casos. O coração do canino 2 apresentou formato globoso com múltiplas áreas pálidas na musculatura cardíaca, mais evidentes no ventrículo direito e câmaras cardíacas dilatadas, principalmente as da direita. Ao exame histológico, ambos os casos apresentaram alterações semelhantes caracterizadas por infiltrado inflamatório difuso não-purulento acentuado, predominantemente linfocitário intersticial. Nas fibras miocárdicas, havia grande número de pseudocistos, repletos de formas amastigotas do Trypanosoma cruzi. Ao teste sorológico TESA-blot, amostra do canino 2 foi positiva para anticorpos IgM e IgG anti-T.cruzi, achado característico da fase aguda da miocardite chagásica. Os resultados indicam que a doença de Chagas deve ser investigada em casos de morte súbita em cães na região Sul do Brasil e que a espécie pode servir como reservatório e sentinela da doença em humanos.

Images of Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis hybrids – a photo documentation of some crosses with different Anser species

This article presents full-body and close-up photographs of hybrids between Barnacle Goose and some Anser goose species. The second parent was in one case a Snow Goose, in five cases a Greylag Goose, in one case a domestic Swan Goose and in one case a Bar-headed Goose. Parentage is considered proven in the Snow Goose and the Greylag Goose hybrids. These hybrids are all rare. The number of individuals is in the magnitude of the estimated total Swedish populations and this is apparently the first report of a Barnacle Goose x domestic Swan Goose hybrid in Sweden. The bill colour pattern varied markedly between the five Greylag Goose hybrid siblings but little from one year to another. In the autumn, Greylag Goose hybrids and to some degree also the Swan Goose hybrid developed a transient white area of the front head next to the bill but a darker and browner colour of the pale cheek area. The various expressions of features inherited from the two parent species are exemplified in the Greylag Goose hybrids.