Herpesviruses are significant pathogens of ruminants. In water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), however, herpesviruses have not been thoroughly studied. Although bubaline alphaherpesvirus 1 (BuAHV1) and bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV1) have already been recovered from water buffaloes, to date, no reports on the occurrence of bovine alphaherpesvirus 5 (BoAHV5) in these animals have been published. Therefore, the aim of this study was to search for BuAHV1, BoAHV1, and BoAHV5 in palatine tonsils of apparently healthy water buffaloes from the Pará state, Northern Brazil. Tissue samples of tonsils (n = 293) were screened by a nested PCR (nPCR) targeting a region of UL44 (gC coding gene), followed by sequencing, to detect and differentiate between the viral types. Viral genome segments were detected in 18 out of 293 (6.1%) of the palatine tonsil samples. Two animals carried genomes of BoAHV1 only, eleven animals carried BoAHV5 genomes only, and four animals carried BuAHV1 only. Another animal had both BoAHV1 and BoAHV5 genomes in its tonsils. No infectious virus could be recovered from any of the samples. The BuAHV1 sequences identified here were more closely related to BuAHV1 genomes identified in India. Phylogenetic analyses suggested a closer relationship between the recovered BoAHV5 and BuAHV1 genomes. Therefore, evidence is provided here to confirm that not only BoAHV1 and BuAHV1, but also BoAHV5, can infect water buffaloes. This report highlights (i) the first detection of BoAHV5 in water buffaloes and (ii) the occurrence of coinfections with BoAHV1 and BoAHV5 in that species. Such findings and the similarity of BoAHV5 to Indian herpesvirus genomes suggest that the origin of type 5 may be linked to recombinations between bovine and bubaline herpesviruses within bubalines, since the scenario for generation of recombinants in buffaloes is potentially present.

This study evaluated palatine tonsils from 327 water buffaloes collected in a slaughterhouse located in the city of Belém, Pará State, Brazil, over four months (nine sample collecting visits). The overwhelming majority (84.71%) of these buffaloes came from Marajó Island, Pará State, Brazil. The main pathological findings were crypt dilatations/keratin cysts (96.0%, 314 cases), mild to moderate follicular lymphoid hyperplasia (93.0%, 304 cases), crypt abscesses (79.8%, 261 cases), tonsillar corpuscles (31.2%, 102 cases) and tuberculoid granulomas (1.53%, 5 cases). Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were observed in 20% (1 out of 5 cases) of these granulomas. The study indicates that pathological evaluation of tonsils in buffaloes can provide details of structural features of the organ in the species and information on subclinical or asymptomatic tonsillitis.

The aim of this study is to determine the causes of mortality in broilers reared in an intensive commercial facility in the northeast region of Pará. A batch of 34 thousand birds was followed, in a 42-day production cycle, during which necropsies and histological analysis of samples of birds that died spontaneously were performed. During the period, a mortality of 1,508 birds was recorded, representing 4.4%, of which 450 birds (29.8%) were culled. A total of 237 birds were necropsied, and 344 diagnoses were established, of which 192 (55.8%) were classified as non-infectious and 152 (44.2%) infectious. The main non-infectious changes diagnosed were ascitic syndrome (40/11.6%), femoral head degeneration (37/10.8%), tracheitis (34/9.9%) cachexia/starvation (23/6.7%) and pododermatitis (20/5.8%). The main infectious changes observed were airsacculitis (28/8.1%), polyserositis (23/6.7%), pneumonia (22/6.4%), omphalitis/yolk sac infection (21/5.8%), necrotic hepatitis (17/4.9%), vegetative endocarditis (14/4.1%) and fibrinous pericarditis (10/2.9%). Although the mortality rate was not considered high, the infectious alterations were registered as important causes of mortality, different from what it is expected in modern poultry industry. This demonstrates the need to identify the epidemiological and etiological factors responsible for these changes, to implement adequate control and prophylaxis measures.

Gas gangrene refers to severe necrotizing syndromes in soft tissues of animals caused by Clos-tridium. Five species of histotoxic clostridia are responsible for myonecroses. These agents require a port of entry, such as skin punctures with needles contaminated with bacterial spores. The present case report describes the clinicopathological findings of gas gangrene in a male Quarter horse living in the Brazilian Amazon biome. Clinical examination revealed clinical signs of toxemia and an enlarged left limb. The anamnesis found the administration of medication to this limb. The animal died five hours after its arrival at the veterinary hospital. At necropsy, histopathological lesions characterized by intense muscle necrosis, liquefaction, and gas formation were observed, suggestive of Clostridium lesions, which were confirmed by multiplex PCR. C. septicum was the etiological agent identified.

O tumor ósseo multilobular é uma neoplasia primária rara em cães que acomete ossos chatos do crânio, potencialmente maligna, localmente invasiva e de crescimento lento. Normalmente atinge cães de raças de médio a grande porte e de meia idade a idosos. As alterações clínicas irão depender do comportamento biológico do tumor e estão associadas às estruturas que sofrem compressão pela massa. O objetivo deste trabalho foi relatar o caso de tumor ósseo multilobular craniano em uma cadela, sem raça definida, de nove anos de idade. A paciente apresentou o desenvolvimento progressivo de uma massa firme na região dorsal dos ossos frontais e parietais do crânio, que resultou em ceratoconjuntivite devido à tensão excessiva da pele na região palpebral. A radiografia craniana demonstrou a presença de uma massa de grande radiopacidade e aspecto granular. O exame citopatológico evidenciou achados sugestivos de tumor ósseo multilobular, optando-se pela excisão cirúrgica da massa. Foi realizada a excisão da neoplasia por meio da divulsão dos tecidos adjacentes e secção da neoplasia na base do crânio. Devido ao grau de invasividade do tumor não foi possível o estabelecimento de margem cirúrgica. O diagnóstico foi confirmado por meio do exame histopatológico. A paciente apresentou boa recuperação após a cirurgia, inclusive da lesão ocular, porém após cinco meses houve recidiva local da neoplasia. Uma segunda intervenção cirúrgica não foi possível, pois a paciente veio a óbito por intoxicação por bufotoxina. A remoção cirúrgica da neoplasia, mesmo com margens comprometidas, melhorou significativamente a qualidade de vida da paciente.

Manatees are semi-social animals, with the mother–calf relationship being considered long-lasting for the species. However, some events lead to the separation of this pair. Orphaned manatee calves can be adopted by other females of the same species. However, if this does not happen and a healthy calf strand is rescued, immediate release represents the best option for the individual. But when immediate release becomes unviable, the animals are taken to rehabilitation centers and can die from various causes. A newborn Antillean manatee was rescued in the north of Brazil, and the attempt at immediate release was unsuccessful; three months later, the animal died. At necropsy, it was observed that the brain was soft and friable, collapsing when placed on a surface, with the corpus callosum region able to be ruptured easily and the cerebral hemispheres lying flaccid. The analysis of serial sections of the brain showed dilated lateral ventricles and a reduction in white matter, making it possible to affirm the presence of congenital hydrocephalus, the main factor that may have led to the abandonment of the offspring.