PANVASCULITE SEPTICÊMICA EM BOVINO JOVEM: ACHADOS IMAGIOLÓGICOS, CLÍNICO-PATOLÓGICOS E MICROBIOLÓGICOS – RELATO DE CASO Amabile

Abstract

Umbilical disorders affect young calves varying from 28% to 42.2% in Brazilian livestock properties. This paper describes the imagiological, clinicopathological, and microbiological aspects presented by a calf affected by septicemic panvasculitis. A 2-month-old calf conceived by natural means was attended at the Veterinary Hospital (HV) of the Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), presenting pelvic limb joints swelling. Physical examination revealed tarsus and stifle joint swelling with presence of a fistulated wound. Bimanual palpation of abdomen revealed umbilical region swelling, with purulent discharge, pain sensitivity and thickening of veins and umbilical arteries. The patient was hospitalized and a conservative treatment was preconized. Complementary examinations were made. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdominal cavity revealed alterations in the umbilical vein: hyperechoic lumen and a thickened, hypoechoic with hyperechoic sites in vessel wall. Liver showed multifocal hyperechoic structures. Hemogram showed no significant alterations and the microbiological culture did not grow. Due to sonographic alterations in the liver and umbilical vein, in addition to the presence of polyarthritis, euthanasia was chosen after 11 days of treatment. Necropsy showed thickening and presence of exudate in allantoic duct and umbilical vein; bladder with granulomatous exudate; abscesses in liver, pleura, bone marrow, omentum, spleen and joints. Histopathological findings revealed mixed infiltrates in mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, pleura, intestine, esophagus, liver, bladder, kidneys, bone and nervous system. Microbiological isolation identified P. mirabilis as the cause of the infection, which showed multiple resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin clavulanate, gentamicin, sulfazotrim, cephalothin, and tetracycline in the In vitro bacterial susceptibility test. It was concluded that ultrasonographic examination was indispensable to reach the prognosis of the clinical case, besides showing more information related to the involvement of the umbilical vessels, allowing visualization and measurement of lumen and vascular wall.