The sexual dimorphic inguinal glands of the frog species Ololygon centralis (Anura: Hylidae) at light and transmission electron microscopy

The anuran skin characteristically has different types of glands, most of which are microscopic and are spread throughout the skin. Some species have specialized regions where glands agglomerate, forming macroglands. The description of the external morphology of Ololygoncentralis (Pombal & Bastos, 1996) revealed the presence of an inguinal gland. Ololygoncentralis is the only species of the genus that has a macrogland. The present study found these inguinal macroglands to be present only on male specimens, thus characterizing it as a sexually dimorphic skin gland. Microscopic analysis revealed that these glands are composed of many syncytial units involved by myoepithelial cells. The center of the syncytium is full of a proteinaceous secretion with a basic pH and the absence of sugar residues. Similar glands observed in other anuran species have been associated with pheromone production, suggesting that the inguinal glands described for O.centralis males may have a similar function.

A new species of Physalaemus (Anura, Leptodactylidae) from the Atlantic Forest of Misiones, northeastern Argentina

A new species of Physalaemus from Misiones province, Argentina, in the Atlantic forest domain is described. The new species is a member of the P. gracilis group, based on its phylogenetic position and the occurrence of a putative morphological synapomorphy (occurrence of an unpigmented median stripe on throat, chest, and/or abdomen). Physalaemus sp. nov. is characterized by a long advertisement call composed of non-pulsed notes with slightly descendant modulation, large size (mean SVL = 32.0 mm males, 34.0 mm females), slender body aspect, head longer than wide, supratympanic fold developed, an unpigmented median stripe on venter, medium sized inguinal glands, tarsal tubercle present, and supernumerary tubercles on hands and feet, which are character states that combined distinguish the new species from all the members of the genus. In this study, we provide its formal description based on external morphology, advertisement call, and 16S genetic distance. In addition, the distribution ranges for the new species and P. gracilis are revisited, the advertisement call of P. gracilis is redescribed, and a discussion about the available names which could be applicable to the new species is provided.

Retrospective Study of Mammary Lesions in Bitches - Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

Background: Mammary tumors are a type of neoplasia that are most commonly found in female dogs and are mostly malignant. The aim of this study, performed in the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Uberlândia (LVP-FUU) from 2004 to 2014, was to determine the prevalence of mammary tumors in bitches and to verify the relationship between the epidemiological factors (age and breed) and clinicopathological aspects (ulceration, tumor size, and malignancy) in the occurrence of tumors.Materials, Methods & Results: A retrospective study was carried out using histopathological information retrieved from the LPV-UFU database. We collected the information on age and breed of female dogs, as well as about the location, macroscopic aspects, and histological diagnosis of mammary lesions. Only female dogs were considered for this study; a total of 911 histopathological protocols (with only one diagnosis) were analyzed along with 36 protocols that presented more than one diagnosis of mammary tumor. The age of animals ranged from one to 20 years, and the mean age was 9.99 years. The most affected breeds of dogs were: Cross breed (39.56% - 288/728) and Poodle (20.19% - 147/728). The inguinal glands were most affected by the malignant tumors (P < 0.05). A prevalence of tumors bigger than 5 cm in diameter (T3) was observed in the elderly animals (P = 0.0154) and in the inguinal mammary glands (P = 0.044). Simple carcinoma was the most frequent histological type.Discussion: Research shows that more than 40% of the tumors in bitches are located in the mammary glands, emphasizing the importance of this type of neoplasia in female dogs. Mammary tumors develop more frequently in the middle-aged and elderly bitches, with the highest occurrence being in the age range of 8 and 10 years, corroborating our observation in the present study that the mean age of bitches was 9.99 years. In this survey, a higher incidence was observed in mongrel bitches compared to that in the Poodle breed. Some authors affirm that there is no racial predisposition for the occurrence of this pathology; however, a compilation of data suggests a predisposition of at least 10 breeds, with the involvement of an as yet unidentified genetic component. Of these, six breeds (Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Pointer, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, and Dachshund) were found to be predisposed to mammary tumors in this study. The percentage (49.23%) of malignant tumors found in the inguinal glands is consistent with the findings reported in literature, and might be associated with a greater amount of parenchyma, abundance of hormone receptors in these glands, and vascularization provided by the caudal superficial epigastric artery and vulvar branches of external pudendal artery. Tumor size is considered to be a prognostic factor and tumors ≤ 3 cm in diameter (T1) have a better prognosis. Consequently, the prevalence of tumors ≥ 5 cm in diameter (T3) in elderly animals is probably related to malignancy of the lesions, because tumors usually progress to a worse histological grade with time. The higher occurrence of T3 in inguinal glands might be related to the abundance of parenchyma and/or hormonal receptors in them. As in the present study, data from literature refer to the superiority of malignant histological types, with prevalence varying between 68 and 91%. When prolonged, the time between the onset of tumor and clinical evaluation may be a determinant in the progression from benign to malignant tumors. Among the malignant neoplasms, simple carcinoma was observed to be prevalent, followed by mixed tumors with carcinoma, in agreement with the results of several studies. It is concluded that mammary tumors are more prevalent in older mongrel dogs and Poodle. Attention should be paid to inguinal mammary tumors, because these are mainly malignant.

Hemangiopericytoma in a female dog with direct invasion of abdominal cavity and pulmonary metastasis

An intact adult female Poodle dog was presented with a history of an increase in volume in the left and right mammary inguinal glands. The histopathological examination revealed a proliferation of spindle cells arranged in bundles with concentric arrangements surrounding blood vessels, occasionally collapsed. Three weeks after the surgery, the animal presented a recurrence of the tumor that extended from the left inguinal mammary gland to the vulva. Necropsy revealed direct invasion of the abdominal cavity by the tumor and pulmonary metastasis. The definitive diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma was made by histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Pulmonary metastasis of CHP (canine hemangiopericytoma) is rare and there is no previous report of direct invasion to the abdominal cavity as observed in the present case.

A new Scinax Wagler belonging to the S. catharinae clade (Anura: Hylidae) from the State of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil

A new species of the Scinax catharinae group, morphologically similar to S. strigilatus, is described from Municipality of Murici (09°12′S, 35°52′W, 509 m a. s. l.), State of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. Scinax muriciensis sp. nov. is characterized by the medium size (adult males SVL 27.0‒28.9 mm), W-shaped interocular spot, green flash color in the inguinal region and hidden areas of thigh and shank, rounded snout in dorsal view, externally distinguished vocal sac, marked canthus rostralis, vomerine teeth in two straight series, non-developed nuptial pad, presence of supernumerary tubercles on feet, lack of externally well developed inguinal glands, foot webbing formula I – II 11/2–3+ III 11/2–21/2 IV 21/2–11/2 V. This is the northernmost distribution in the Scinax catharinae clade.

A new bromeligenous species of the Scinax perpusillus group from the hills of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Anura, Hylidae)

A new species, Scinax insperatus sp. nov., of the S. perpusillus group is described based on specimens collected in the Municipality of Miguel Pereira, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (22 º 13’ 14.6” S and 43 º 26’ 02.1” W). The new species is easily distinguishable from all other species of the S. perpusillus group, except Scinax belloni Faivovich, Gasparini, & Haddad, 2010, by lacking yellow markings in the inguinal region and hidden surfaces of limbs. From Scinax belloni, the new species differs by having dark, metallic-beige colored tubercles on the dorsal surfaces; S. belloni lacks any markings on dorsum, hind limbs, and hidden surfaces, and by lacking inguinal glands. In addition, the tadpoles of the new species are unique among those known for the group in having fins with yellow colored spots in later stages of development.

Redescription of the tadpoles of three species of frogs from Uruguay (Amphibia: Anura: Leiuperidae and Leptodactylidae), with notes on natural history

In this work the tadpoles of the neotropical frogs Leptodactylus latinasus, Physalaemus biligonigerus and Physalaemus riograndensis are redescribed. Relevant features of L. latinasus tadpoles are a medial vent tube, labial tooth row formula (LTRF) 2(2)/3(1), and oral disc with a single row of marginal papillae interrupted by a dorsal gap, similarly to other species within the L. fuscus species group. Tadpoles of P. riograndensis have a medial vent tube, LTRF 2(2)/2(1), oral disc with single row of marginal papillae, interrupted by a dorsal gap and usually two ventrolateral gaps. The tadpole of P. biligonigerus has a dextral vent tube, the oral disc presents a single row of marginal papillae (sometimes double ventrally) with dorsal gap, and LTRF 2(2)/2(1). Although considered relevant for the taxonomy of Physalaemus, character variation of larval external morphology is incongruous with the phenetic species group arrangements proposed up to date. A reproductive mode previously unreported for P. riograndensis and P. henselii was observed: foam nests in the humid ground outside ponds. We also report the display of deimatic behavior in L. latinasus, L. ocellatus, P. henselii, and P. biligonigerus, in the last case with exhibition of the eye-like inguinal glands.