Wild canids in Brazil are increasingly affected by habitat fragmentation and emerging infectious diseases, some of which are zoonotic. This study aimed to investigate the pathological findings and causes of death of wild canids admitted to the Mata Ciliar Association (Jundia & iacute;/ SP) from 2021 to 2023, including 28 crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), six maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), and one hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus). Tissue samples collected during necropsies were subjected to histopathological and molecular examination. The causes of death were road mortality (11/35, 31.4%), euthanasia (8/35, 22.9%), respiratory disorders (7/35, 20.0%), cachexia/malnutrition (4/35, 11.4%), sepsis (2/35, 5.7%), gastrointestinal disease (2/35, 5.7%), and hypovolemic shock associated with severe flea infestation (1/35, 2.8%). Notable pathological findings included granulomatous pneumonia associated with Angiostrongylus spp. (5/28, 17.85%) in crab-eating foxes, canine distemper virus infection (5/35, 14.3%), sarcoptic mange (2/35, 5.7%), renal parasitism by Dioctophyme renale in maned wolves (3/6, 50%),and an oral squamous cell carcinoma in the hoary fox. These findings highlight the importance of post mortem examinations for wildlife disease surveillance and emphasize the role of health monitoring in biodiversity conservation and the prevention of zoonotic risks.
ABSTRACT: Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a hereditary and multifactorial disease caused by an immediate hypersensitivity response to one or more allergens, leading to a specific and chronic immune response. Pruritus and inflammatory conditions are frequently observed, ranging from moderate to severe. Clinically relevant allergens include house dust mites and grass pollens. Currently, the skin prick test is used as a method to identify immune-specific allergic reactions mediated by immunoglobulin E. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the incidence of sensitization to environmental allergens by skin prick test in 200 dogs with atopic dermatitis in Ourinhos (SP, Brazil) and the region. The study had a retrospective character and analyzed data collected from 2022 to 2024, selecting atopic dogs that lived exclusively indoors and underwent the skin prick test. Of these, 53% (106/200) were sensitized for Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), 53.50% (107/200) for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), 54% (108/200) for Blomia tropicalis (Bt), 31.50% (63/200) for Cynodon dactylon (Cd), 26.50% (53/200) for Lolium perenne (Lp), and 27.50% (55/200) for Paspalum notatum (Pn). Regarding mosquitoes (Culex sp. and Aedes aegypti), 45% (90/200) showed sensitization, and 55% (110/200) showed absence of sensitization. The results demonstrated a higher frequency of sensitization to house dust mites, suggesting relevance in the sensitization profile of dogs in this region. However, these findings reflect sensitization and do not indicate a clinically relevant allergic condition. Environmental control measures to reduce exposure to house dust mites may be considered in clinical management, although further studies are required to determine the impact on disease expression.
ABSTRACT: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with frequent metastasis and limited therapeutic options. MicroRNAs are important regulators of tumor progression, but the role and downstream mechanism of miR-144-3p in HCC remain incompletely defined. In this study, we investigated the antitumor activity of miR-144-3p and its relationship with the NFE2L2/Nrf2 pathway. In vitro, miR-144-3p overexpression reduced Hep3B cell viability, inhibited cell-cycle progression, promoted apoptosis, and suppressed migration and invasion. Target prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assays supported NFE2L2, which encodes Nrf2, as a direct target of miR-144-3p. Consistently, miR-144-3p reduced Nrf2 expression and downregulated downstream Nrf2-related proteins, including NQO1 and HMOX1, with effects similar to Nrf2 knockdown. Reanalysis of a publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing dataset identified an Nfe2l2-positive hepatocyte progenitor cell subpopulation enriched in HCC and associated with invasion-, metastasis-, and stemness-related activity. In vivo, intratumoral administration of miR-144-3p agomir inhibited Hep3B-derived xenograft growth, increased apoptosis, and reduced Ki67 expression. These findings suggest that miR-144-3p suppresses HCC progression, at least in part, by targeting the NFE2L2/Nrf2 pathway, providing preliminary evidence of its biological relevance in comparative oncology and veterinary biomedical research.
ABSTRACT: The enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) virus is the etiological agent of a permanent and incurable infection in cattle. The virus integrates into the host’s DNA and replicates continuously, primarily infecting B lymphocytes and negatively affecting the immune response of infected cattle. With oncogenic potential, the virus is responsible for the development of lymphomas in adult cattle; however, neoplasia is uncommon, occurring in approximately 2-5% of infected animals. Most seropositive cattle remain subclinical, which may lead to decreased immunity, particularly when associated with other diseases. This study aimed to estimate herd-level and within-herd seroprevalence of antibodies against EBL in confined dairy cow herds in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Four commercial farms using Free Stall or Compost Barn systems were selected by convenience, and all cows older than six months of age were sampled, totaling 750 animals. Serum samples were tested using a commercial blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies against EBL virus. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate herd-level and within-herd seroprevalences and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). All herds had at least one seropositive animal (herd-level prevalence: 100%). Within-herd seroprevalence varied across the four herds, ranging from 51% in the São Luiz Gonzaga herd to 65.2% in the Salvador das Missões herd, and the overall seroprevalence among all sampled cows was 55.1% (95% CI: 51.2-58.9). These results demonstrate a high level of EBL seropositivity among dairy cows in the four confined herds evaluated in this study in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul and indicate similarities in management practices and seroprevalence across these farms.
ABSTRACT: Cavity effusions are common in cats, and differentiating between transudates and exudates is essential for management. This study aimed to evaluate biomarkers in cats’ effusions to support differentiation. A total of 44 cats were included, and effusions were classified as transudate (TG) and exudate (EG). The following biomarkers were analyzed: matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total protein (TP), glutathione S-transferase (GST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin and globulin. For further analysis, effusions were classified as protein-rich transudate (PRT) and EG, and as neoplastic (NEO) or non-neoplastic (nNEO) for MMP-9 and GST evaluation. Non-neoplastic effusions were subdivided into exudates (nnEG) and transudates (nnTG) to assess MPO. MMP-9 was higher in EG (p= 0.022), as were MPO (p= 0.002), LDH (p= 0.030), TP (p< 0.0001), albumin (p= 0.004), globulin (p= 0.015), and cellularity (p< 0.0001). GST was higher in TG (0.048). ROC showed discrimination for cellularity (area under the curve - AUC = 0.98, p< 0.0001), MPO (AUC = 0.86, p< 0.0001), MMP-9 (AUC = 0.73, p= 0.036), and LDH (AUC = 0.72, p= 0.030). In EG, correlations occurred between MPO and TP (r= 0.619, p= 0.002), MPO and LDH (r= 0.624, p= 0.012), and LDH and TP (r= 0.546, p= 0.037). MPO was higher in PRT (p= 0.0258). No differences were observed for MMP-9 and GST between NEO and nNEO, whereas MPO was higher in nnEG (p= 0.0317). In conclusion, MPO emerged as a promising biomarker for classifying cats’ effusions, particularly in challenging scenarios.
