Infestations by ectoparasites are one of the greatest problems in the veterinary practice, due to a large drop in performance in cattle herds and other farm animals, generating great economical losses; for pets, besides the low quality of life and disruption of homeostasis, ectoparasites represent a risk for transmission of zoonotic diseases. The formamidines emerge as a very large group of ectoparasiticides, which its main representative, amitraz, is the only one approved for animal use. Amitraz is indicated for animal use against mites, lice, and ticks for cattle, swine, and sheep. For dogs, it is used against ticks and mites. However, due to a lack of proper orientation and information, reports of accidental intoxications by amitraz, in both animals and humans, are not unusual in the literature. Amitraz intoxication has been reported in dogs, and the clinical signs are evidenced in the nervous, digestive, cardiovascular, and urinary systems and include sedation, bradycardia, bradyarrhythmias, hypotension, bradypnea, transitory hyperglycemia, mydryasis, and hypothermia, cats being more sensitive than dogs regarding these last signs. To detect amitraz and its main metabolites, there are many standardized methodologies. This review describes the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodinamics, indications, toxicological and pathological effects of amitraz, as well as the intoxication treatment and the aspects related to its detection in biological matrices.Keywords: Formamidines; poisoning; dog; pathology. ResumoAs infestações por ectoparasitas representam um dos maiores problemas na rotina da clínica médica veterinária, com impactos relacionados à queda no rendimento de animais de produção, gerando graves perdas econômicas; para os animais de companhia, além da baixa qualidade de vida e do desequilíbrio da homeostase, ectoparasitas representam um risco para a transmissão de zoonoses. As formamidinas surgem como um grupo de ectoparasiticidas cujo representante principal, o amitraz, é o único aprovado para uso animal. O amitraz é indicado para uso animal contra ácaros, piolhos e carrapatos de bovinos, suínos e ovinos. Para cães, preconizase seu uso contra carrapatos e ácaros. Entretanto, devido à ausência de orientação adequada, os casos de intoxicações acidentais por amitraz, tanto em animais como em humanos, são frequentemente relatados. A intoxicação por amitraz tem sido relatada em cães, e os sinais clínicos são evidenciados em sistemas nervoso, digestivo, cardiovascular e urinário e incluem sedação, bradicardia, bradiarritmias, hipotensão, bradpneia, hiperglicemia transitória, midríase e hipotermia, sendo os gatos mais sensíveis do que os cães em relação a estes últimos sinais. Para detectar amitraz e seus principais metabólitos, existem muitas metodologias padronizadas. Esta revisão descreve a farmacocinética, farmacodinâmica, indicações de uso, efeitos toxicológicos e patológicos, além do tratamento da intoxicação e dos aspectos analíticos relacionados à sua detecção em matrizes biológicas.

Background: Cryptococcosis is an important zoonotic disease that occurs worldwide. The disease is caused by a soilborne opportunistic fungus of the genus Cryptococcus, which can also be found in the feces of birds, especially pigeons. In Brazil, the geographical distribution of the agent is fairly defined, with the species C. gattii predominantly found in thenorth-eastern states. Diagnosis is based on the clinical history, physical examination findings, and results of complementary testing, such as cytopathological and histopathological examinations. This report aims to describe the clinical and anatomopathological findings in a case of systemic cryptococcosis in a dog.Case: A 4-year-old female Miniature Schnauzer was referred for necropsy. For 3 months prior to death, the dog had displayed generalized alopecia, pruritus, and severe weight loss, Initially, a private veterinarian had suspected leishmaniasis. Gross examination was performed and samples for cytopathology, histopathology, and fungal culture were obtained. Themacroscopic examination revealed generalized alopecia, congested mucosa, cachexia, hyperemia of the brain, and multiple white nodules measuring 0.5 cm to 4 cm in the lungs and the kidneys. None of the other organs showed significant lesions. Cytopathological examination of the nodules revealed a highly cellular sample, with a severe chronic inflammatory response, characterized by multinucleated giant cells and round-to-elliptical, yeast-shaped structures (5-10 μm), suggestive ofCryptococcus organisms. Histopathological examination of the lungs, kidneys, and brain revealed a severe diffuse chronic inflammatory process, with lymphocytic infiltration and multinucleated giant cells; countless yeast-shaped, round-to-ovoid structures (similar in appearance to “soap bubbles”) that were negative in hematoxylin-eosin stain were also present.Grocott’s methenamine silver stain was then applied, which positively stained the organism capsules black, confirming Cryptococcus. For mycological diagnosis, samples from the lungs nodules were cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol 0.4% and incubated for 7 days at 25-30ºC. Abundant small, smooth, irregular-sized,cream-colored colonies were obtained, and a mycological smear, stained by India ink, was performed.Discussion: Considered an uncommon disease, canine cryptococcosis can be misdiagnosed. Clinical findings, such as alopecia, lymphadenopathy, and cutaneous nodules that may be ulcerated, are commonly seen in these patients due to the hematogenous spread of the organism. In the case described, the dog’s owner was contacted and asked to provide epidemiological information. The owner reported that the dog had lived in an apartment, with little access to the street; however, pigeons were frequently observed on the balcony, along with pigeon feces in the dog feeder. The presence of pigeon feces is a risk factor for the development and spread of the fungus, which may be problematic to public health. Cytopathological examination is a simple, quick diagnostic tool with good sensitivity for some infectious agents. Mycological culture can provide results due to the characteristic of the Cryptococcus sp., since the encapsulated yeast produces a mucous-like colony. Cryptococcosis has a relevant role in public health, so a precise diagnosis is imperative. Its diagnosis is based upon culture, cytology and serological tools. When the animal does not survive to the ilness, the association between necropsyfindings and histopathological examinations is essencial.Keywords: canine, diagnostic, yeast, anatomopathology.

Este estudo analisou laudos de necropsia e registros fotográficos de primatas não humanos da Divisão de Patologia do Departamento de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Brasil. Os dados patológicos de 60 primatas não humanos (PNH) necropsiados entre janeiro de 2017 e dezembro de 2018 foram analisados com base nos seguintes critérios: cidade e zona (urbana, periurbana e rural), origem (livre e cativeiro), história e suspeita de diagnóstico clínico, sexo, espécie, idade, estado de conservação do cadáver e achados anatomopatológicos macroscópicos. Os achados anatomopatológicos dos animais viáveis necropsiados (53,33%) foram analisados estatisticamente para valores absolutos e relativos. As principais causas de morte foram traumatismo (42%), parasitismo (5%), pneumonia (3%) e distocia fetal (3%). O trauma, possivelmente causado pela antropização, foi a causa mais prevalente da morte dos primatas. Esta conclusão apresenta um importante diagnóstico diferencial na evolução da morte de primatas durante o período epizoótico.

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) refers to a rare neoplasm of round cells frequently presented in a disseminated form, affecting bones, joints, skin, and subcutaneous tissue. The objective of this study was to report a case of disseminated HS in a canine attended at HOVET-UFRPE, Recife, Brazil. Physical examination and complementary tests were performed; complete blood count and serum biochemistry were normal, but at thoracic radiography exam a neoformation was detected in the right lung. Cytopathological evaluation was suggestive of malignant epithelial neoplasia. At necropsy, there were disseminated nodules in the lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, meninges and eye. The histopathological examination revealed proliferation of pleomorphic round cells, suggesting HS, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. From the obtained results, it becomes evident the importance of complementary exams to properly diagnose histiocytic diseases. This is one of the few reports of canine disseminated HS in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the main nonconformities that result in cytopathological samples inappropriate for diagnosis in veterinary medicine. All cytopathological samples, obtained from different canine and feline tissues/lesions, included in the study were received and classified as inconclusive by a single public laboratory of veterinary pathology, located in Pernambuco State, Brazil, between 2012 and 2016. Nonconformities regarding the smear quality, cellularity, presence or absence of hemorrhage, cellular overlapping, desiccation, and presence or absence of necrotic debris and/or artifacts were evaluated. Data were tabulated using Microsoft Excel 2007; absolute and relative frequencies were calculated using EPIINFO 3.5.2. From the 3268 cases received between 2012 and 2016, 190 cases were selected and comprised 514 inconclusive slides. The most frequent nonconformities detected were insufficient/absence of cellularity in 100% (514/514), inadequate submacroscopic presentation in 87% (446/514), and hemorrhage in 69% (356/514) of samples. Other features identified were cellular overlapping in 34% (175/514), inadequate staining in 31% (175/514), artifacts in 30% (154/514), desiccation in 28% (145/514), and necrotic debris in 26% (133/514) of samples. The implementation of laboratory standard operational procedures aimed at maintaining quality is essential. It is necessary to initially identify the main errors occurring in the processing stages as a way to guide and design strategies to avoid them.