scholarly journals Plant Poisoning Containing Hydrocyanic Acid in Cattle in Southern Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson Gris ◽  
Lucas Henrique Bavaresco ◽  
Fernanda Felicetti Perosa ◽  
Teane Milagres Augusto Gomes ◽  
Nei Fronza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Defense Mechanism ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Hydrocyanic Acid ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Pathology Laboratory ◽  
Post Mortem Examination ◽  
Veterinary Pathology

Background: Cyanogenic plants accumulate cyanogenic glycosides and release hydrocyanic acid (HCN). In Brazil, there have been reports of several plants that cause HCN poisoning in animals and lead to a fast death with few clinical signs and lesions on post-mortem examination. Some cultivars of Cynodon spp. grasses cause HCN poisoning in cattle in Brazil. The objectives of this work were to report the occurrence of deaths by HCN poisoning in cattle as diagnosed by the veterinary pathology laboratory, describe the quantity of HCN in some cultivars of Cynodon spp., as well as, to describe one cultivar of genus Cynodonnever reported as poisonous.Materials, Methods & Results: The archives of the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory (LPV) at the Concórdia Campus of the Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC) were reviewed, seeking cases with a diagnosis of hydrocyanic acid poisoning in cattle after post mortem examination. The amount of HCN present in some cultivars of the Cynodon genus was quantified due to the high frequency of poisoning cases. From the 1,235 post mortem examinations of cattle 28 (2.27%) were diagnosed with spontaneous hydrocyanic acid poisoning, 17 cases (60.7%) due to ingestion of Prunus sp. or Manihot sp., and 11 cases (39.3%) of Cynodon dactylon ingestion. Most animals were found dead, normally having presented no clinical signs. Macroscopic evaluation mainly showed a severe amount of unchewed and undigested leaves or grass mixed in the ruminal content presenting a bitter almond odor. It was possible to infer that, among cultivars of the Cynodon genus, Florakirk showed the highest levels of HCN compared (P < 0.05) with Star of Puerto Rico, Tifton 68, Tifton 44, and Coast-Cross. Furthermore, Tifton 85 and Jiggs showed undetected levels of HCN. Leaves showed the highest HCN levels when comparing different parts of the plant. Regarding conservation methods, hay showed undetectable levels of HCN.Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first description of HCN poisoning in cattle due to ingestion of Cynodon dactylon cultivar Florakirk. This condition is described with a fast-clinical course, with animals found dead with no premonitory clinical signs. Poisoned animals did not develop macroscopic or microscopic specific lesions. Poisoning can be suspected when animals die suddenly, with absence of lesions under necropsy, and large amounts of unchewed and undigested leaves or grass inside their forestomaches. The diagnosis can be established performing the Picrosodic paper test, either in the pasture, or in the ruminal content. Occasionally however, HCN can go undetected when this chemical compound volatilizes between death and necropsy after several hours. Of all the Cynodon cultivars evaluated, Florakirk was the most dangerous for animals. In contrast, Tifton 85 and Jiggs released no HCN. Leaves were the part of the plant presenting the highest concentration of HCN. This is a defense mechanism that the plant develops against the ingestion by animals. This condition can cause great economic losses to farmers with the loss of animals and the need for prevention by using cultivars without HCN or hay, as 2.27% (28) of deaths diagnosed by the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory in the west of Santa Catarina, Brazil, were due to HCN poisoning. Notably, Florakirk cultivar was identified as the most dangerous cultivar tested, with higher levels compared with Tifton 68. The Star of Puerto Rico cultivar showed similar levels of HCN as Tifton 68. Both cultivars are commonly cultivated in many farms in the south of Brazil.

Morphometric and Radiographic Characteristics of the Skull in Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) and Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
O.P. Choudhary ◽  
Priyanka . ◽  
P.C. Kalita ◽  
R.S. Arya ◽  
T.K. Rajkhowa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Centre ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Morphological Features ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Cephalic Index ◽  
Post Mortem Examination ◽  
Veterinary Pathology ◽  
Zoological Park ◽  
Skull Bones

The previously reported information on the morphology of crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl skeleton is meager as compared to the fowl, thus, the present study was designed to provide the morphological features of the skull of both species. The specimens were procured from four crested serpent eagle and brown wood owls, brought from the Zoological Park, Aizawl for the post mortem examination conducted at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Aizawl, Mizoram. After the post-mortem examination, the collected specimens were macerated by the standard maceration technique and radiographs were taken at the Mizoram Health Centre, Aizawl. The skull of both the species consisted of neurocranium and viscerocranium which were separated by two large orbital cavities. The neurocranium was composed of single (occipital, sphenoid, ethmoidal) and paired (temporal, parietal and frontal) bones in both the species. The viscerocranium consisted of single bones (mandible, vomer and hyoid) and paired (quadrate, lacrimal, nasal, premaxilla, maxilla, zygomatic, palatine and pterygoid) bones. The skull of both the species was dolichocephalic as per the cephalic index, which was 52.63±0.04 and 68.56±0.03 in crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl, respectively. The results showed that there were variations in shape and components of crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl skull bones in comparison with other birds.

scholarly journals Evaluation of new generation macrolides for the treatment and metaphylaxis of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in cattle experimentally infected with Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Muuka ◽  
Beatrice Otina ◽  
Hezron Wesonga ◽  
Benson Bowa ◽  
Nimmo Gicheru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Lung Lesion ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia ◽  
Lesion Type ◽  
Mycoplasma Mycoides ◽  
New Generation

Abstract Background Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (Mmm) is an important disease of cattle that causes serious economic losses. With the known effectiveness of new generation macrolides, tulathromycin and gamithromycin were assessed in comparison with oxytetracycline as a positive control and saline as a negative control for effectiveness in inhibiting lung lesion development, promoting resolution, preventing spread and bacteriological clearance in susceptible local cattle breeds in two separate studies in Kenya and Zambia. Animals were monitored for clinical signs, sero-conversion as well as detailed post-mortem examination for CBPP lesions. Results Using the Hudson and Turner score for lesion type and size, tulathromycin protected 90%, gamithromycin 80%, and oxytetracycline 88% of treated animals in Kenya. In Zambia, all animals (100%) treated with macrolides were free of lung lesions, while oxytetracycline protected 77.5%. Using the mean adapted Hudson and Turner score, which includes clinical signs, post-mortem findings and serology, tulathromycin protected 82%, gamithromycin 56% and oxytetracycline 80% of the animals in Kenya whereas in Zambia, tulathromycin protected 98%, gamithromycin 94% and oxytetracycline 80%. The saline-treated groups had 93 and 92% lesions in Kenya and Zambia respectively, with Mmm recovered from 5/14 in Kenya and 10/13 animals in Zambia. Whereas the groups treated with macrolides were free from lesions in Zambia, in Kenya 5/15 tulathromycin-treated animals and 6/15 gamithromycin-treated animals showed lesions. Oxytetracycline-treated animals showed similarities with 3/14 and 4/15 showing lesions in Zambia and Kenya respectively and Mmm recovery from one animal in Kenya and six in Zambia. In both studies, lesion scores of saline-treated groups were significantly higher than those of the antibiotic treated groups (p < 0.001). In sentinel animals, CBPP lesions were detected and Mmm recovered from one and two animals mixed with the saline-treated groups in Kenya and Zambia respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrated that tulathromycin, a mycoplasmacidal, can achieve metaphylactic protection of up to 80%, while non-recovery of Mmm from sentinels suggests macrolides effectiveness in preventing spread of Mmm. It is recommended that further studies are conducted to evaluate strategies comparing vaccination alone or combining vaccination and antibiotics to control or eradicate CBPP.

scholarly journals The effect of dexamethasone and promethazine in combination with buparvaquone in the management of East Coast fever

2004 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gwamaka ◽  
J.A. Matovelo ◽  
M.M.A. Mtambo ◽  
G.K. Mbassa ◽  
R.M. Maselle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Coast ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
East Coast Fever ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Febrile Reaction ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Post Mortem Examination ◽  
Group I

The effects of dexamethasone and promethazine on the amelioration of pulmonary oedema in East Coast fever were investigated. The clinical effects of these drugs were further investigated when used in conjunction with the antitheilerial drug, buparvaquone. In the first experiment, 15 crossbred (Friesian x Zebu) steers were divided into four groups. With the exception of the animals in group IV, that served as a control group all the others were infected with Theileria parva sporozoites. On the second day of the febrile reaction, the steers in groups I and II were treated with dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg) and promethazine (1 mg/kg), respectively. Group III steers served as the infected untreated controls. On the fifth day of the febrile reaction the animals in groups I, II and III were infused intravenously with tattoo ink suspension and 1 h later sacrificed for post-mortem examination and tissue sampling. The clinical picture indicated that both drugs significantly mitigated dyspnoea and the post mortem examination revealed a significant reduction in morphological changes. Tattoo ink particle count reflected a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in vascular leakage in the treated animals, with promethazine being significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than dexamethasone in this respect. In the second experiment, 18 steers were infected with T. parva sporozoites, and then were randomly allotted into three groups each of which contained six animals. After the onset of ECF clinical signs, the animals in the first two groups were treated with buparvaquone in combination with either dexamethasone (group I) or promethazine (group II), and the third group was treated with buparvaquone alone. The results indicated that all the animals in groups I, II and III recovered well and no significant differences were observed in clinical disposition between the groups. Two months later, serum samples were collected from the refractory animals and demonstrated the presence of antibodies against T. parva. When the animals were subsequently artificially challenged with T. parva, none of them succumbed to clinical disease. The same T. parva stabilate stock was used in both experiments and it proved to be infective in a separate batch of steers.

scholarly journals Epidemiological and pathological aspects of cardiomyopathies in cats in southern Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 389-398
Author(s):  
Fernando F. Argenta ◽  
Lauren S. Mello ◽  
Fernanda G. Cony ◽  
Saulo P. Pavarini ◽  
David Driemeier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sudden Death ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Pathology Laboratory ◽  
Animal Identification ◽  
Veterinary Pathology ◽  
Cardiac Lesions ◽  
Data History ◽  
Gross Lesions ◽  
Myocardial Thickening

ABSTRACT: Cardiomyopathies are considered one of the most important causes of heart failure in cats and are subdivided into three main morphological types: hypertrophic (HCM), dilated (DCM), and restrictive (RCM). This study aimed to determine the frequency and types of cardiomyopathies in cats diagnosed in southern Brazil, with an emphasis on their epidemiological and pathological aspects. Necropsy reports filed in a veterinary pathology laboratory were reviewed, and cats diagnosed with cardiomyopathy were selected for the study. Animal identification data, history and clinical signs, and gross lesions, were reviewed and compiled. During the study period, 1.594 cat necropsies were performed, of which 72 (4.5%) comprised a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. HCM was the most frequent followed by CMR and CMD, representing 77.8%, 12.5% and 9.7%, respectively. Age ranged from three months to 18 years, with a median age of seven years. In relation to sex, 62.5% were males and 37.5% females. In 76.4% of the cases, it affected cats without a breed defined. Restrictive mixed dyspnea and hydrothorax were the main signs or findings of the clinical examination. Sudden death and acute paresis of the pelvic limbs due to aortic thromboembolism have also been described. In HCM, myocardial thickening was observed, with a reduction in the ventricular chamber. Hypertrophy, disarray, and fibrosis of the myofibers were the main histological findings. In RCM, whitish and thickened endocardium was seen in most cases. DCM was characterized by dilated cardiac chambers, and microscopic examination revealed no significant findings. The main extra cardiac lesions revealed pulmonary edema and congestion, hydrothorax and chronic passive congestion of the liver. Cardiomyopathies are important causes of death in cats and should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with cardio respiratory clinical signs and in cases related to sudden death and acute paresis of the pelvic limbs.

scholarly journals Effects of Three Harvest Intervals and Two Fertilizer Rates on the Yield and HCN Content of Ten Cynodon Cultivars

1969 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
J. Vélez-Santiago ◽  
A. Sotomayor-Ríos ◽  
S. Torres-Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Acid Content ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Protein Yield ◽  
Hydrocyanic Acid ◽  
Forage Grasses ◽  
Harvest Intervals ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Ten forage grasses (Cynodon spp.), including recent introductions, and Stargrass (C. nlemfuensis var. nlemfuensis) were grown in the central mountains of Puerto Rico to measure the effect of two fertilizer rates and three harvest intervals on the forage yield, crude protein yield and hydrocyanic acid content (HCN) for a 2-year period. Fertilizer treatments applied after each harvest consisted of 2.24 and 4.48 metric tons/ha/year of a 15-5-10 fertilizer. Significant differences occurred between fertilizer rates as to dry forage and crude protein yields. Number of harvests per year were 6, 8 and 12 for 30-, 45- and 60-day intervals, respectively. Significant differences occurred among cultivars and harvest intervals. Cynodon dactylon (PRPI 11504), C. plectostachyus (PRPI 11487) and C. nlemfuensis var. nlemfuensis (PRPI 2341) occupied most of the top yield positions at the three harvest intervals. HCN within the cultivars ranged from 0 to 333 p/m.

Equine lymphoma: a review

UK-Vet Equine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 206-214
Author(s):  
Lucy Sheard ◽  
Kate McGovern
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Advanced Disease ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Therapeutic Options ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Post Mortem Examination

Lymphoma is the most commonly occurring equine haemopoietic neoplasm, accounting for 1.3–2.8% of all neoplasia identified in horses. The disease broadly takes one of five forms: multicentric, alimentary, cutaneous, mediastinal and solitary extranodal tumours. Lymphoma can be classified by immunophenotype, allowing more accurate prognostication and individualised chemotherapeutic protocols. Clinical signs are usually insidious in onset and clinicopathological changes tend to be broad and non-specific, impeding early antemortem diagnosis. It is not uncommon with internal tumours that a diagnosis is not made until post-mortem examination. Treatment options are limited and often cost-prohibitive, and advanced disease progression at time of diagnosis means that euthanasia is usually opted for, as treatment is very rarely curative. Earlier diagnosis may improve prognosis if therapeutic options are viable to owners, so lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in many cases.

scholarly journals Clinical-epidemiological, anatomic-pathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of renal cystadenocarcinoma-nodular dermatofibrosis syndrome in 11 German Shepherd dogs

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 499-509
Author(s):  
Ruth Pamela M. Thompson ◽  
Eryca C. Lamego ◽  
Stella Maris P. Melo ◽  
Luiz Francisco Irigoyen ◽  
Rafael A. Fighera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Renal Cysts ◽  
Type I ◽  
German Shepherd ◽  
Pathology Laboratory ◽  
Renal Lesions ◽  
Veterinary Pathology ◽  
Santa Maria

ABSTRACT: Eleven cases of renal cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma-nodular dermatofibrosis syndrome (RCND) are described in German Shepherd dogs diagnosed from January 1994 to January 2018 at the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory of the “Universidade Federal de Santa Maria” (LPV-UFSM). The study sample was composed of eight male and three female dogs at a ratio of 2.67:1. Age ranged from six to 12 years (mean=8.7 years). The main clinical signs reported in descending order of frequency were multiple cutaneous nodules (nodular dermatofibrosis), dyspnea, anorexia, weight loss, recurrent hematuria, vomiting, and polydipsia. Results demonstrated that it is not always easy to clinically recognize this syndrome, but its peculiar anatomical-pathological characteristics allow safe diagnosis. Histologically, it was possible to detect all phases (cysts, papillary intratubular hyperplasia, and cystadenomas or cystadenocarcinomas) of a possible pathological continuum of the renal lesions. Uterine leiomyomas were observed in only one of the cases. Through histochemical techniques, it was possible to identify the presence of type I collagen in both cutaneous and renal lesions and consider its possible involvement in the pathogenesis of renal cystadenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed partially satisfactory results in the staining of epithelial cells of renal cysts and neoplasms for pan-cytokeratin.

scholarly journals Gastric disorders of cattle in western Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 417-425
Author(s):  
Inácio M.C. Brandolt ◽  
Ana Paula Maurique ◽  
Pedro A. Damboriarena ◽  
Maria Elisa Trost ◽  
Ricardo Pozzobon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Pathology Laboratory ◽  
Veterinary Pathology ◽  
The Western Region ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
Conclusive Diagnosis

ABSTRACT: A retrospective study of gastric disorders in autopsied cattle in the Western region of Rio Grande do Sul State, was performed. The exam reports of bovine necropsy of the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Unipampa, were analyzed in the period from 2010 to 2018. All cases in which death was primarily caused by disturbance in the gastric chambers were included. During the period evaluated, 141 cattle were necropsied. Of those, 25 had gastric disorders. Of those, 53% had alterations in the rumen, followed by abomasum (17%), involvement of two chambers (13%) and reticulum (9%). Most cases corresponded to beef cattle raised in an extensive system and most them for calf production and fattening with an average age of approximately three years. The cases occurred in farms of four different municipalities. Bullous bloat by excessive Trifolium repens ingestion was the gastric disturbance with the highest number of dead cattle observed in this study, especially in irrigated áreas of livestock farms. Cases such as lactic acidosis, ruminal alkalosis due to excessive urea ingestion and Baccharis coridifolia poisoning were also important gastric disturbances in necropsied cattle, associated especially with poor management and period of scarcity of good quality fodder. Cases of Clostridium perfringens infection were also observed in young cattle suggesting that it is an important infectious agent in the evaluated cattle herds, also showing failures in vaccination of the herds. As observed, gastric disturbances in cattle in the western region of Rio Grande do Sul have several causes. Metabolic/toxic and infectious disturbances were important causes of mortality in the herds, inducing considerable economic losses. Based on this study, it is clear that the majority of outbreaks or isolated cases occurred due to errors in the management of the properties and the vast majority of them could have been avoided with improvements in the technical qualification of the workers and simple adjustments in the farming methods. It is also emphasized the importance of the conclusive diagnosis to control these disorders, once after the orientation to the producers, was observed significant decrease in cattle losses in the farms.

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