We investigated the fear of COVID-19 infection after proper translation and cultural adaptation of the “Fear of COVID-19 Scale” to the Brazilian Portuguese language. A sample of 1,743 Brazilian participants were included. The scale showed excellent psychometric characteristics. Women showed higher anxiety levels. Fear of COVID-19 scores were lower in males with occupational risk of contamination. On the other hand, women and younger individuals showed higher fear of COVID-19 infection scores. The Brazilian Fear of COVID-19 Scale proved to be a reliable tool with excellent psychometric properties for identifying fear of COVID-19 infection in the Brazilian population.

The high incidence of mammary tumors in small animals is concerning. Patient history, clinical examination, physical evaluation, and imaging studies are important for clinical staging. Ultrasonography is commonly applied to investigate the presence of abdominal metastasis. However, it has been shown to provide important information regarding mammary tumors’ architecture and advanced sonographic techniques can provide information regarding neovascularization, stiffness, and perfusion. Different techniques have been investigated to determine accuracy to predict the lesions’ histological classification. This paper reviews the information regarding each sonographic technique in the evaluation of mammary tumors, describing the most common findings and their potential to accurately assess and predict malignancy. Even though the gold standard for the diagnosis of mammary lesions is the histopathological examination, some ultrasonographic features described can predict the potential of a lesion being malignant. Among the different sonographic techniques, elastography can be considered the most reliable modality to accurately differentiate benign from malignant tumors when malignant lesions present increased stiffness. However, the combination of all sonographic techniques can provide important information that can lead to a better therapeutic approach and clinical staging. Furthermore, the potential of the sonographic study, especially CEUS to monitor therapeutic progression, demonstrate the need of further studies.

The thyroid of dogs has not been extensively studied in 2D shear-wave elastography, making it challenging to apply this technique in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases in a non-invasive manner. The aim of this study is to evaluate the thyroid glands of healthy dogs using 2D shear-wave elastography in order to establish qualitative and quantitative parameters of tissue stiffness in dogs in different age groups. A total of 31 dogs of various breeds, sexes, and sizes were evaluated. Animals with clinical signs or ultrasound findings indicative of endocrine disease or thyroid lesions were excluded from the study. The shear-wave velocity data in meters per second (m/s) and color elastograms were evaluated and calculated using QelaXto™ 2D software. A healthy thyroid exhibits a blue-color elastogram, indicative of low stiffness. The reference range for the shear-wave velocity of thyroid tissue assessed by 2D shear-wave elastography can be between 1.6 and 2.0 m/s, with a variation of ±0.889 in adult and senior dogs.

Bladder tumors in dogs represent approximately 2% of all malignant lesions recorded, with urothelial carcinoma being the most common and aggressive form. This study aimed to characterize the elastographic properties of canine urothelial carcinoma using ARFI (Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse) elastography and to evaluate its diagnostic capacity. Seven dogs with urothelial carcinoma and nine healthy dogs were evaluated, comparing shear wave velocity (SWV) and bladder wall thickness between the groups. The results showed that SWV was significantly higher in dogs with urothelial carcinoma (median of 2.53 m/s) compared with healthy dogs (median of 1.41 m/s) (p = 0.0045). Bladder wall thickness was also greater in dogs with carcinoma (0.28 ± 0.05 cm) compared to healthy dogs (0.14 ± 0.26 cm) (p = 0.0003). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (88.9%) for SWV in differentiating healthy and neoplastic tissues. These findings suggest that ARFI elastography is a promising tool for diagnosing urothelial carcinoma in dogs, offering a noninvasive and quantitative approach that can complement traditional diagnostic methods. ARFI elastography may aid in early diagnosis and clinical management, improving the prognosis of patients with bladder neoplasia.

The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of the main pathologies that affect the genital organs of young bulls. We used a database that contained data for 6,408 young Nelore bulls. The data were collected from June to August 2004 and 2005. The bulls were evaluated by andrological examination and semen samples were collected with the aid of an electroejaculation device. The animals were classified in terms of their sexual maturity as animals suitable for reproduction, animals suitable for reproduction in terms of natural service, animals temporarily unfit for reproduction, and animals excluded from reproduction. The reproductive disorders recorded in the excluded animals were classified as penile, testicular, anterior or posterior limb, epididymal, spermatic cord, spermatic, anal sphincter, foreskin, systemic, and seminal vesicle alterations. We used descriptive statistics and analysis of variance to analyze the data. Of the 6,408 bulls evaluated, 309 animals were excluded from reproduction (4.82%). The majority of the excluded bulls (31.7%) suffered from testicular-related pathologies (testicular asymmetry, small scrotal circumference for their age, orchitis, and hydrocele (64.28%, 32.65%, 2.04%, and 1.02%, respectively), seminal vesicle alterations (31.39%), sperm defects (17.15%), and penile alterations (6.79%). Of the 309 animals excluded from reproduction, 21 (6.79% of the excluded and 0.32% of the total animals) suffered from some type of penile alteration, such as persistence of the frenulum (16/21) and total or partial penile adhesion (5/21). Confining the herd for two months and subjecting the animals to their first andrological examination at a younger than usual age, with the objective of selling them, could be why there were high incidences of seminal vesicle pathologies (owing to the homosexual behavior of the males) and of penises with high adhesion rates, which are characteristic of animals that have not yet entered puberty. In general, the low percentage of animals excluded from reproduction in the studied herd indicates the adequacy of the selection program.

Gastric neoplasms are uncommon in dogs and represent less than 1% of all tumors diagnosed in this species. In a survey of gastrointestinal tumors in dogs, it was found that 90% of malignant neoplasms occur in the stomach and epithelial tumors were more frequent than those of mesenchymal origin. The diagnosis of gastric neoplasms is difficult and often occurs late, making the prognosis unfavorable. In mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, immunohistochemical analysis is essential. This study aimed to report a case of gastric leiomyosarcoma in a dog with sudden death. The animal was referred for necropsy at the UNESP-FCAV Veterinary Pathology Service and two nodules were observed in the cardia, each 2.0 cm in diameter, whitish, rounded, and firm. The stomach presented a bloody food bolus, and the fecal content was blackened throughout the intestinal extension. The cause of death was a hypovolemic shock. On histopathological examination, the mass corresponded to a proliferation of mesenchymal cells with mild atypia, the diagnosis of which was suggestive of gastric leiomyosarcoma. A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the principal differential diagnosis, so histological sections of the gastric nodules were subjected to immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. The neoplastic cells were positive for S100, 1A4, Desmin, and HHF35 and did not express DOG1, ruling out the origin of GIST tumor cells. The present report demonstrates the importance of necroscopic examination to conclude the cause of death and the immunohistochemical technique to confirm the diagnosis of mesenchymal neoplasms. Neoplasias gástricas são incomuns em cães e representam menos de 1% de todos os tumores diagnosticados nesta espécie. Em um levantamento de tumores gastrointestinais em cães, constatou-se que 90% das neoplasias malignas ocorrem no estômago, sendo os tumores epiteliais mais frequentes do que os de origem mesenquimal. O diagnóstico de neoplasias gástricas é difícil e muitas vezes ocorre tardiamente, tornando o prognóstico desfavorável. Em tumores mesenquimais do trato gastrointestinal, a análise imuno-histoquímica é essencial. Este estudo teve como objetivo relatar um caso de leiomiossarcoma gástrico em um cão com morte súbita. O animal foi encaminhado para necropsia no Serviço de Patologia Veterinária da Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinária da Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (FCAV – UNESP) e foram observados dois nódulos no cárdia, cada um com 2,0 cm de diâmetro, esbranquiçados, arredondados e firmes. O estômago apresentava um conteúdo alimentar sanguinolento, e em toda a extensão intestinal o conteúdo era enegrecido. A causa da morte foi choque hipovolêmico. No exame histopatológico, a massa correspondia a uma proliferação de células mesenquimais com leve atipia, cujo diagnóstico foi sugestivo de leiomiossarcoma gástrico. Um tumor estromal gastrointestinal (GIST) é o principal diagnóstico diferencial, então secções histológicas dos nódulos gástricos foram submetidas à análise imuno-histoquímica (IHC). As células neoplásicas foram positivas para S100, 1A4, Desmina e HHF35 e não expressaram DOG1, excluindo a origem das células tumorais de GIST. Este relato demonstra a importância do exame necroscópico para determinar a causa da morte e a técnica imuno-histoquímica para confirmar o diagnóstico de neoplasias mesenquimais.