RESUMO O desenvolvimento de novas ferramentas, como a ecocardiografia bidimensional feature tracking (2D-FTI), permite diagnosticar, de forma precoce, se há disfunção miocárdica em doenças cardíacas, inclusive as congênitas. O defeito septal ventricular (DSV) é a alteração congênita mais observada em felinos, no entanto pouco se sabe sobre a disfunção cardíaca nessa cardiopatia, especialmente em animais assintomáticos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, por meio do 2D-FTI, a deformação miocárdica ventricular esquerda pela mensuração dos índices ecocardiográficos strain (St) e strain rate (StR) radial, circunferencial e longitudinal, em gatos saudáveis e com DSV. Foram avaliados 12 gatos saudáveis e seis gatos com DSV para obtenção de St e StR em diversos segmentos miocárdicos. No sentido longitudinal, houve diferença estatística (P<0,05) para os segmentos septal basal, mediano e apical epicárdicos (P=0,0017; P<0,0001; P=0,0288), lateral mediano epicárdico (P=0,0327), septal mediano endocárdico (P=0,0035), lateral mediano endocárdico (P=0,0461), St epicárdico (P=0,0250) e St global (P=0,0382). Também houve diferença no segmento lateral mediano circunferencial endocárdico (P=0,0248), lateral mediano radial (St: P=0,0409; StR: P=0,0166) e posterior mediano radial (P=0,0369). O estudo evidenciou que, mesmo em animais assintomáticos com DSV, há redução na deformação miocárdica ventricular principalmente no sentido longitudinal, demonstrando maior vulnerabilidade dessas fibras.

This study aimed to evaluate the aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) ratio in healthy dogs and dogs with hepatic and extrahepatic diseases. Twelve different groups of animals were considered in the study: Control, patients with Acute hepatopathy, and Chronic hepatopathy and patients with extrahepatic diseases such as Pyometra, Fractures/trauma, Intoxication/poisoning, Leishmaniosis, Hemoparasitosis, Oncologic, Gastrointestinal, Skin problems and Nephropathy. A retrospective study was made with 509 exams. Hematological and serum biochemical results correlated to the ratio at time zero (M0) and 48 hours (M48) after the first care, allowing for the prediction of the outcome. Animals with Acute hepatopathy showed AST/ALT ratios 84% above the upper limit of the ranges obtained from Control animals. Animals with Chronic hepatopathy showed higher averages than acute. Animals from Pyometra, Fractures/trauma, and Intoxication/poisoning groups showed higher averages of the AST/ALT ratio (2.67, 2.54, 2.21) than those from other groups. The correlation between the AST/ALT ratio in serial assessments showed that when animals double the value of the ratio in 48 hours, they tend to have a 2.5 greater probability of dying.

Rangeliosis is a severe, emerging hemoparasitic disease affecting dogs in South America, caused by the protozoan Rangelia vitalii and transmitted by Amblyomma aureolatum, an ixodid tick found in the Atlantic Forest biome. Although cases are commonly reported in southern Brazil and in southeastern states such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, reports from the state of Minas Gerais remain scarce. This study describes a natural infection by R. vitalii in a dog from the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Peripheral blood smears revealed intra- and extra-erythrocytic piroplasms. Molecular testing detected DNA from the order Piroplasmida (18S rRNA and hsp70 genes). Genetic sequencing of the amplified piroplasmid fragments revealed 99.83% similarity with R. vitalii. This is the first study to report the ante-mortem molecular diagnosis of R. vitalii in a dog, along with clinical treatment and recovery, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Lazy heart is a condition reported in elderly cats, characterized by a more horizontal orientation of the cardiac silhouette relative to the sternum. This study aimed to demonstrate and quantify this horizontalization of the cardiac silhouette and the consequent increase in sternal contact associated with age. Radiographs from 45 cats were evaluated by two observers with different levels of experience, with measurements taken for: the angle between the cardiac silhouette axis and the sternum (ANG), the extent of cardiac silhouette contact with the sternum (CON), the length of the penultimate sternebra (STERN), and the ratio between sternal contact and sternebra length (CON/STERN). Animals were divided into groups: Group 1 (6-12 months), Group 2 (12 months-6 years), and Group 3 (≥7 years). Cats older than seven years exhibited lower ANG and higher CON, whereas younger cats showed shorter STERN. Comparisons between the two observers demonstrated high consistency across all variables and age ranges analyzed. ANG proved to be a useful tool, providing a quantitative approach that can assist in the evaluation of “lazy heart.” The results of this study suggest that aging is associated with changes in cardiac positioning. These findings should be considered in radiographic assessments to avoid misinterpretations that could be mistaken for pathological conditions.

Background: Bacteria of the genus Providencia are emerging pathogens associated with a wide range of infections, particularly in healthcare settings. In veterinary medicine, infections caused by these organisms are uncommon, and, to date, there have been no reports of carbapenem-resistant Providencia spp. causing infection in companion animals. Methods and Results: This study describes a comprehensive investigation of bacterial endocarditis caused by carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri in a cat, including clinical, imaging, pathological, microbiological, and genomic findings. A 1.5-year-old mixed-breed female cat was admitted to a referral veterinary hospital with an extensive pelvic limb wound and a recent history of laparotomy. During hospitalization, a heart murmur was detected, and echocardiographic examination revealed vegetation-like lesion on the mitral valve. Despite intensive treatment, the patient’s clinical condition progressively deteriorated over a 15-day period, ultimately leading to euthanasia. Necropsy confirmed bacterial endocarditis with evidence of systemic septic embolization. P. rettgeri was isolated from blood collected from both heart ventricles and from an endocardial swab and its identity was confirmed by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated resistance to meropenem. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed the species identification and revealed a Col3M plasmid carrying multiple antimicrobial resistance genes, including the carbapenemase gene bla_NDM-1. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of carbapenem-resistant Providencia spp. causing infection in a companion animal. This case highlights the emergence of Providencia spp. as potential veterinary pathogens capable of causing severe, invasive and fatal infections.