Isabel Cristina Pires

• University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro

Introduction Peripheral nerve injuries remain a significant clinical challenge, particularly in severe neurotmesis injuries requiring complex therapeutic interventions to restore functionality. This study aimed to evaluate the pro-regenerative potential of combining neural guide conduits with conditioned medium from olfactory mucosa mesenchymal ste...

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) and FoxP3 regulatory T cells (Treg) are involved in human breast carcinogenesis. This topic is not well documented in canine mammary tumors (CMT). In this work, the tumoral TGFβ expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 67 malignant CMT and its correlation to previously determined FoxP3, VEGF, and CD31 m...

Wasting disease in small ruminants is frequently detected at slaughterhouses. The wasting disorder is manifested by the deterioration of the nutritional and physiological state of the animal indicated by thinness, emaciation, and cachexia. Evidence of emaciation and cachexia, alone, are pathological conditions leading to carcass condemnation during...

This study was focused to gather the data available concerning the mortality of 440 wild animals admitted in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Parque Biológico de Gaia from 2008-2017. Only the species with unfavorable conservation status according to the Portuguese Red Book of Vertebrates were included. The animals belonged to the classes Mamma...

Blood leukocyte counts and respective derived ratios have been described as potential prognostic markers in several tumours in veterinary oncology. This study aimed to evaluate peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations and NLR as prognostic factors for Feline Mammary Carcinomas (FMC). Medical records from cats diagnosed with FMC between 2017‐2019 w...

Background Aspergillus species are found worldwide in a large variety of species, in particular in birds. Aspergillosis stands out, an opportunist mycosis caused by the Aspergillus genus, which affects mainly the respiratory system (lungs and air sacs) and is considered one of the most important causes of mortality in captive birds (1,2). The aim o...

Peripheral nerve injury remains a clinical challenge with severe physiological and functional consequences. Despite the existence of multiple possible therapeutic approaches, until now, there is no consensus regarding the advantages of each option or the best methodology in promoting nerve regeneration. Regenerative medicine is a promise to overcom...

Background and Aim: Wild mammals are among the most threatened species of the world in large part due to human activity. In this work, we used the method of partial least squares-path modeling associated with a geographic information system to analyze the impact of anthropogenic pressures on the mortality of wild mammals. Materials and Methods: We...

In this paper, the authors report a case of a swim bladder torsion at the ductus communicans in a 15-year-old goldfish (Carassius auratus, Linnaeus 1758). The lesion was observed at post-mortem exam. Its aetiology is not yet well understood, and in the presented case could have resulted of the conjugation of different factors: previously traumas, p...

In December 2019 emerged in Wuhan (China), an outbreak of fatal pneumonia, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, that rapidly became a pandemic infecting million worldwide. This virus had its origin on wild animals, although its transmission and mutations are still not very clear. Questions are rising with the development of the pandemic: if a reverse zoonosis...

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of low dose cyclophosphamide chemotherapy plus meloxicam as an adjuvant treatment, compared with high dose doxorubicin or surgery alone in cats with mammary carcinoma. Medical records of 228 female cats treated for mammary carcinoma between 2008 and 2018, were reviewed in eight veterinary in...

Background/aim: Canine Cutaneous Histiocytoma (CCH) is a Langerhans' cells benign tumour that undergoes spontaneous regression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of angiogenesis, a key step for tumour development, in CCH regression. Materials and methods: 50 CCH samples were classified into 4 histological groups according...

A free-living European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) adult female was admitted to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Parque Biológico de Gaia (Portugal), with severe breathing distress and poor body condition. Its neck was displaced 60 degrees caudally. During the post- mortem exam, an abscess in the cervical vertebras was observed. The agent w...

A volvulus is a twisting of the intestine on its mesenteric axis that could result in bowel obstruction and ischemic injury. Here the authors report a case of intestinal volvulus in a 20 years old captive hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius, Linnaeus, 1758), the first well described case in this specie. The animal died suddenly after a previous hi...

There has been an increasing awareness on the impact of the Human activity on the Wildlife over the recent years in the field of veterinary, particularly pathology, forensic medicine and medicine of wildlife. In this chapter a review is made on the main causes of unnatural death of wild animals by accidental or intentional action of man and the mai...

There has been an increasing awareness on the impact of the Human activity on the Wildlife over the recent years. In this chapter a review is made on the main causes of unnatural death of wild animals associated to urbanization and human activity, with a description of the main injuries observed in post-mortem examination.

Necropsy is an important tool not only for the diagnosis of the cause of death, but also in the conservation of wild animals that are so threatened at the moment. In this paper, the authors made a brief summary of the necropsy technique in marine and coastal birds, with emphasis on some of the anatomical characteristics of these birds. They therefo...

In this chapter we present a brief review about some cases of animals that apparently are resistance to the development of tumours, such as amphibians, sharks, elephants, whales and the naked mole rats. We describe some of the mechanisms suggested to be associated to their case resistance, such as the Peto´s paradox. Also, we demystify some of the...

In Necropsy Techniques for Examining Wildlife Samples, the authors provide a practical, easily accessible guide of necropsy techniques for examining wildlife. Chapters introduce the reader to the value of necropsy in studying wildlife in general, sample collection methods, cadaveric phenomena and necropsy techniques for a variety of organisms rangi...

Simple Summary The Western European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most common mammals in urban areas. We collected data over 17 years (2002–2019) regarding outcomes and causes of mortality on this species from two of the main wildlife rehabilitation centers in the north of Portugal. A total of 740 animals were admitted...

The exponential growth of the human population and their activity in the last decades have adverse effects on biodiversity. The main objective of this review was to present a compilation of works on causes of mortality of native wildlife in Europe, in the last decades linked to human activity. Here, a total of 130 peer-reviewed publications were re...

The Bosca's newt (Lissotriton boscai) is a small species of newt from the family Salamandridae, endemic in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. Reproductive disorders in amphibians are not common and are poorly described. The newt, an adult female, originated from the Espiríto Santo creek in Miramar (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal), was admitted...

Capsule: A ten-year study of the causes of mortality in birds brought to a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Portugal, reveals that most deaths were due to trauma. Aims: This study aims to identify the main causes of morbidity and mortality in wild birds admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Northern Portugal, from 2008 to 2017. Methods:...

A Mediterranean turtle, Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812), was admitted to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Parque Biológico de Gaia with renal disease symptomology. In post-mortem examination, the animal presented pale and enlarged kidneys with cystic cavities containing a mucopurulent exudate. The histological examination confirmed the dia...

A pedunculated cauliflower-like mass was detected on the left posterior limb of a subadult male red deer ( Cervus elaphus) after a hunt in Portugal. Histologically the lesion was classified as cutaneous fibropapilloma. The identification of Cervus elaphus papillomavirus (CePV-1 variant) was based on sequencing of the L1 gene. The L2 sequence reveal...

In the last decades, the use and misuse of pesticides in the agriculture have increased, having a severe impact on ecosystems and their fauna. Although the various effects of pesticides on biodiversity have been already documented in several studies, to our knowledge no consistent overview of the impact of pesticides in vertebrates, both terrestria...

The microbiological examination of the mucus present in the kidney confirmed the existence of a bacterial agent-Enterococcus faecalis. Final diagnosis was a chronic bacterial nephritis by E. faecalis. The E. faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen when the conditions are appropriated, and the history of the animal lead us to consider that the turtle...

In this chapter, we present a brief review on neoplasias in wild animals, both in the wild or in captivity. The prevalence of cancer in wildlife is considered low, but it could be under evaluated. In the majority of the cases is not possible to access to the corpse of the animals that die due to many factors, as geographical obstacles and the lack...

Cancer is a common disease in cats, although a little less common that what seems to occur in dogs (Cannon, 2015). It is a multistage process with a multifactorial etiology, such as chemical, oncogenic viruses, genetic, hormonal and others (Graf et al., 2016). Similar to what has been observed in dogs, some pure breeds appear to have a genetic pred...

Cancer is a common disease in dogs and represents one of the major causes of canine mortality. All breeds and crossbred dogs can be affected (Komazawa et al., 2016). Although the aetiology of the majority of the tumours is most likely to be multifactorial, it appears that some breeds of pedigree dogs have an increased risk of certain types of cance...

A severely debilitated, free-living adult female European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was presented for rehabilitation. It died overnight, and postmortem examination revealed a closed pyometra. Histopathology confirmed metritis with endometrial hyperplasia, and Staphylococcus lentus was isolated from the purulent uterine material. Staphylococcus...

In this study we aim to obtain a holistic view over the consequences of human-induced threats to the wild bird populations in the study area, based on data collected from a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (WRC) through the method of Partial Least Squares-Path Modelling (PLS-PM). The study area comprised 76 rural and urban municipalities located in n...

In this study, we aim to understand the effect of anthropogenic pressures in wild birds’ mortality in the last 10 years (2008-2017) in North of Portugal. A total of 6058 wild birds admitted in Wildlife Recovery Centre of Gaia’s Biological Park, originated from 76 different localities were examined. They belonged to 22 different orders, and the ones...

Every year all around the world new species became threatened with extinction. Only in Portugal at least 181 species of animals have an unfavourable conservation status. In order to monitor the main anthropogenic pressures responsible by the mortality of these animals, a total of 440 wild animals with an unfavourable conservation status admitted to...

Although there are many obstacles to perform post mortem exams in wild animals, important information can be gathered to improve the knowledge of the species and implement good conservation measures. Also, wild animals are excellent bioindicators, that can provide information about the health of the ecosystems and the human impact of Man in those....

Every year all around the world new species are vulnerable or threatened of extinction. Only in Portugal at least 181 species of animals have an unfavourable conservation status. Therefore, is important the identification of the main pressures and mortality causes in order to implement future effective conservation measures and rescue this species...

The Bosca's Newt (Lissotriton boscai) is a small species of newt from the family Salamandridae, endemic from the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. Reproductive disorders in amphibians are not common and poorly described. The newt, an adult female, originated from the Espiríto Santo creek in Miramar (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal), was admitted...

Studies of morbidity/mortality provide critical information for the management of wildlife rehabilitation centers. Post-mortem examination of wild birds contributes, not only to increase pathology knowledge, but can also provide important data in several areas such as microbiology, parasitology, virology, epidemiology and genetics, providing inform...

Abstract: Over the last decade, research on bats has been flourishing in many aspects of their biology. An increasing number of studies focussing on infectious agents in bats are being published, especially regarding zoonotic pathogens. However, there is only limited knowledge regarding the causes of death in these animals. In fact, when bat carcas...

A necrópsia, em animais selvagens, deve ser encarada, não só como o último meio de diagnóstico, mas também como uma oportunidade única de recolher informações sobre a vida destes animais. Permite a colheita de material para exames complementares importantes para a determinação da causa e circunstâncias da morte do animal. A necrópsia em fauna selva...

An adult male yemen chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) from Gaia Biologic Park (Avintes, Portugal) presented, at post mortem examination, a suppurative pericarditis. Additionally, liver was enlarged, pale and soft, kidneys were large, pale with whitish deposits compatible with urate crystals (visceral gout) and the lungs presented an heterogeneous c...

Existe uma preocupação crescente com o bem-estar e conservação da fauna selvagem. Contudo, são cada vez maiores as ameaças do Homem sobre os animais selvagens, assistindo-se a um aumento dos crimes contra os mesmos. São situações alarmantes o comércio ilegal de animais e partes dos mesmos (por exemplo peles, ossos ou outros para utilização em medic...

Infiltrating cells of the immune system are widely accepted to be generic constituents of tumor microenvironment. It has been well established that the development of mammary cancer, both in humans and dogs, is associated with alterations in numbers and functions of immune cells at the sites of tumor progression. These tumor infiltrating immune cel...

Em Portugal existem cerca de 24 espécies de morcegos, sendo o morcego anão (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) uma das espécies mais abundantes. Nestes animais o estudo post mortem, não é efetuado por rotina, uma vez que se tratam de animais que entram facilmente em putrefação devido ao seu pequeno tamanho. Por outro lado, são portadores de diversas zoonos...

COX-2 overexpression is associated with several hallmarks of carcinogenesis such as proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Fifty cases of canine mast cell tumours (MCT) were retrospectively evaluated and submitted to immunohistochemistry for COX-2, CD31, Ki-67, MAC-387 and CD3. Furthermore its relationship with clinicopathological va...

Em Portugal existem cerca de 24 espécies de morcegos, sendo o morcego anão (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) uma das espécies mais abundantes. Nestes animais o estudo post mortem, não é efetuado por rotina, uma vez que se tratam de animais que entram facilmente em putrefação devido ao seu pequeno tamanho. Por outro lado, são portadores de diversas zoonos...

Em Portugal continental existem cerca de 24 espécies de morcegos, sendo o morcego anão (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) uma das espécies mais abundantes. O estudo post mortem, nestes animais, não é efetuado por rotina, uma vez que se tratam de animais bastante pequenos que facilmente entram em putrefação. Por outro lado, são portadores de diversas zoono...

A piómetra, inflamação aguda ou crónica do útero, com acumulação de material purulento no lumen, está descrita em várias espécies animais, como equinos, bovinos e canídeos. No entanto, segundo o nosso conhecimento não é uma patologia frequentemente diagnosticada em javalis. Neste trabalho, descrevemos um caso de piómetra fechada, detetada no exame...

O fibropapiloma é uma proliferação epidérmica exofítica, benigna, com intensa proliferação de fibroblastos subjacente, que pode estar associada à infeção por papilomavírus. Neste trabalho, os autores descrevem um caso de papiloma observado no ato de inspeção das carcaças durante uma montaria em Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal. O animal, macho, subadulto, p...

Background Thelazia callipaeda is a zoonotic nematode that affects the eyes of domestic and wild animals, including dogs, cats and red foxes. This parasitic eye worm is transmitted by Phortica variegata, which is a zoophilic fruit fly spread in Europe. Two wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) found dead in north-eastern Portugal were submi...

The assessment of tumor proliferation has been considered a determining prognostic factor in canine mammary tumors (CMTs). However, no studies have assessed the prognostic importance of proliferation in adjacent nonneoplastic mammary glands. We included 64 CMTs (21 benign and 43 malignant) and studied the proliferation index (PI) of Ki-67 and proli...

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is known to be involved in tumour progression and has been suggested as a therapeutic target in many human and animal malignancies. A number of different pathways subjacent to cancer hallmarks are considered to be involved in COX-2-mediated tumour progression, although these are still largely undefined. Our aim is to invest...

In order to contribute to the histological classification of vascular tumors arising in cattle urinary bladder, 48 tumors were studied. Histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies were performed and 3 histological patterns were identified: hemangiomas (30), hemangioendotheliomas (11) and hemangiosarcomas (7). Hemangiomas were circ...

Unlabelled: Fifty canine mammary gland tumours (CMGT) (18 benign and 32 malignant) were studied by immunohistochemical detection of active caspase-3 and Ki-67 antigens in order to determine their association with several clinicopathological parameters. The percentage of caspase-3 positive cells was significantly higher in benign tumours as compare...

Since the identification of cyclo-oxygenase-2 as a potentially important therapeutic target in veterinary oncology, numerous studies on its expression have been conducted. Unfortunately, results have been heterogeneous and conclusions are difficult to draw. We tested the ability of a defined positive control to guarantee reproducibility of results...

COX-2 expression affects mammary tumourigenesis by promoting angiogenesis and cell proliferation, encouraging metastatic spread and tumour-associated inflammation. Samples of canine mammary tumours (n = 109) were submitted to immunohistochemistry to detect COX-2, CD31, VEGF, Ki-67, CD3 and MAC387 expression. Concurrent high expression of COX-2/CD31...

Human inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and canine inflammatory mammary cancer (CIMC) are the most aggressive forms of mammary cancer. Current research aims to identify new therapeutic targets. Here, we investigated gene expression levels of biomarkers associated with the inflammatory microenvironment. A total of 32 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded...

Background: Canine inflammatory mammary cancer (IMC) and its human counterpart, inflammatory breast cancer, are extremely aggressive types of cancer. Our aim was to characterize immunohistochemical expression of C-C chemokine receptor 2, colony stimulating factor 1 receptor and metalloproteinase-9 in canine IMC versus non-IMC and to analyze associa...

Foi destinado para abate imediato, em matadouro, um ovino adulto. Na inspeção ante mortem, verificou-se que o animal apresentava um estado de magreza acentuado, 8 temperatura corporal normal, prostração intensa, dispneia e palidez das mucosas. A inspeção post mortem revelou para além da magreza excessiva, a presença de múltiplos quistos esbranquiça...

The post-mortem examination of wild animals is very important because it allows the study of the characteristics of normal anatomic structures in different species. Additionally, it allows knowing the different agents (parasites, bacteria, and viruses) of each species causing or not a disease and its pathogenesis. In our work, the main lesions were...

The importance of necropsy in wildlife, main techniques of necropsy in the different animal classes.

Sarcocystis species are worldwide spread cyst-forming protozoa that can infect wild boar but little is known about the prevalence of these parasites. In this study we assessed the prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. infections in wild boars from northeastern Portugal, for which novel PCR testing assays targeting Sarcocystis genus, S. miescheriana and S....

In this study 80 malignant CMT were submitted to immunohistochemical detection of CD3, c-kit, VEGF, and CD31, together with clinicopathological parameters of tumor aggressiveness. CD3+ T-cells and c-kit overexpression revealed a positive correlation with VEGF (r = 0.503, P < 0.0001; r = 0.284, P = 0.023 for CD3 and c-kit, resp.) and CD31 (r = 0.654...

To study the therapeutic effect of three tube-guides with electrical conductivity associated to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on neuro-muscular regeneration after neurotmesis. Rats with 10-mm gap nerve injury were tested using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), PVA-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and MSCs, and PVA-polypyrrole (PPy). The regenerated nerves and tibial...

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The ability of tumors to evade the immune system is one of cancer hallmarks. In breast cancer, it has been demonstrated that the cyclooxygenase-2(+)/ epidermal growth factor receptor(+) (COX-2(+)/EGFR(+)) status might influence tumor microenvironment allowing escape of cancer cells to the immune system. This topic is unknown in canine mammary tumor...

Several markers are used to evaluate the presence of proteins normally found in melanocytes or in cells of neuroectoderm origin. The most common antibodies used are S-100 protein, melanoma-associated antigen (Melan-A)/MART-1, HMB-45, MEL-1, vimentin, Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE), microphthalmia transcription factor (MiTF), PNL2, tyrosinase, and ty...

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common neoplasm in dogs, with an incidence rate of around 5.4%. The disease appears in low pigmented areas such as the abdominal area, and can be the result of the development of pre-malignant actinic injury associated with sun exposure. The behavior of this disease varies depending on the location, varyin...

Contents Synchronic occurrence of tuberculosis mastitis and mammary cancer is rare in humans and, to the best of our knowledge, not reported in domestic animals. Here, we present a case of a female adult goat of Serrana breed with simultaneous occurrence of a granulomatous mastitis, due to M ycobacterium caprae, and a mammary carcinoma. Both pathol...

Chronic inflammation in the tumor microenvironment has a prominent role in carcinogenesis and benefits the proliferation and survival of malignant cells, promoting angiogenesis and metastasis. Mammary tumors are frequently infiltrated by a heterogeneous population of immune cells where T-lymphocytes have a great importance. Interestingly, similar i...

Neoplastic diseases are the most frequent clinical occurrence in the mammary gland of the female dogs. Clinically, canine mammary tumors (CMT) appear spontaneously and are more frequent in older dogs. The etiology is predominantly hormonal but also of genetic and immunologic origin. At clinical examination, an abnormal growth is detected in the abd...

Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been implicated in carcinogenesis including an important role in angiogenesis. In this study, we describe the relationship between TAMs and angiogenesis in canine mammary tumours (CMT). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded CMT samples [(n = 128: malignant (n = 97) and benign (n = 31)] were submitted to immunohi...

Canine mammary tumours (CMTs) are reported to express cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); however, no studies have evaluated concurrent expression of these proteins. In this study, 43 malignant CMTs were evaluated immunohistochemically for concurrent expression of COX-2 and EGFR and expression was correlated with ma...

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor which has been shown to have an important role in human breast cancer. Its role appears to be associated with increased angiogenesis and metastasis. In order to clarify its role in canine mammary tumours (CMT), 61 malignant neoplasms were studied by using immuno...

Introduction: In this project, it is proposed that the clinical application of a monoclonal antibody against the receptor of the Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MAb anti-CCR2), would hinder cancer progression, inhibiting macrophages recruitment. Canine mammary tumour (CMT) will be used as a model of human breast cancer, in face of molecular, histol...

The main objective of the present study was to know the rate of occurrence of melanocytic lesions (melanosis, melanocytoma and melanoma) in pigs slaughtered for consumption and to identify possible patterns of differentiation and a macroscopic classification of these lesions. To this end, we proceeded to the collection of melanocytic lesions in a s...

Background/Aim: Canine cutaneous histiocytoma (CCH) is a tumour that undergoes spontaneous regression. The aim of this study was to establish a possible relationship between regression of CCH and tumoural cell proliferation and apoptosis. Immunostaining with Ki-67 antigen and the terminal deoxytransferase (TdT) deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphated (dUTP)...

In order to investigate the immune mechanisms involved in regression of canine cutaneous histicytoma (CCH), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II immuno-expression and the number of T- and B-lymphocytes and macrophages were analyzed in 93 cases of CCH. MHC class-II was also studied in 16 cases of CCH by immunoelectron microscopy. All tumo...