PATH.

411
Systemic Veterinary Pathology
4 (3-1)

Demonstrated by:
Dr. Farhan Anwar Khan
Assistant Professor
 Books Recommended
• Veterinary Pathology by Jones et al., 2007.
7th Ed.
• Veterinary Pathology by Ganti A. Sastry.,
7th Ed.
• A text book of veterinary systemic
pathology by Vegad and Katiyar, 2007.
Respiratory System
 Anatomy of the Respiratory
System
• The organs of the respiratory system extend
from the nasal opening (nose) to the lungs.
• They are divided into two parts –
– the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
• The upper respiratory tract consists of
the
– nostrils, nasal cavity, and pharynx,
• whereas the lower respiratory tract
contains the larynx, trachea, bronchial
tubes, and lungs
 Anatomy of the Respiratory
System
• The muzzle of most domesticated
animals is made up of the nose and lips.
• It holds the nostrils, the external
openings of the respiratory tract that
lead into the nasal cavity.
• The shape and size of the nostrils vary
in most animals
• The soft expandable nostrils and
muzzle of the horse allow it to inhale
and exhale large quantities of air when
needed and is quite sensitive to the
touch
• It contains many oil glands as well as
sweat glands
• The snout of swine is much more rigid
and does not contain any oil glands.
• The muzzle of cattle and sheep also do
not contain oil glands, however, they do
contain many sweat glands. If cattle
have dry muzzles, they are often
feverish.
 Anatomy of the Respiratory
System
• The nasal cavity is
separated from the
mouth by a hard and soft
palate. It is divided into
two halves by a central
structure of cartilage.
• The front of the nasal
cavity is an extension of
the nostrils. The rear
portion of the nasal
cavity is connected to the
pharynx.
 Anatomy of the Respiratory
System
• The sinuses are air-filled cavities in the
bones of the animal’s forehead. They are
connected to the nasal cavities.
• The sinuses in domestic animals include
the
– maxillary,
– frontal,
– sphenoidal, and
– palatine sinuses
Anatomy of the Respiratory
System

Collateral Ventilation- Pores of Kohn

Physiology of the Respiratory
System
Physiology of the Respiratory
System
 Cuboidal
Granular pneumocytes

-Surfactant; Phospholipid;
Phosphatidylcholine (lecithin)
-Protect alveolar wall and
-promote phagocytosis

Membranous pneumocytes
 Anomalies
• Palatoschisis or Cleft
Palate:
– is one of the most
common and
important defects in
cattle and dogs (new-
born).
– Abnormal connection
b/w mouth and nasal
cavity
– When the young
animal nurses, it may
aspirate milk into the
nasal passage and
cause aspiration
 Anomalies
• Agenesis or hypoplasia
– of both lungs, one lung, or single lobes
– Pulmonary hypoplasia (in utero compression)
• Tracheal and bronchial anomalies
– (atresia, stenosis, tracheoesophageal fistula)
• Congenital lobar over inflation
– (emphysema)
 Pathology of the Nasal Cavity
• Congestion: (blockage)
or Stuffed Nose-
– Occurs when animals get
exposed to sudden cold
air, allergens, bacterial
or viral infections
– Usually blood vessels in
nasal cavity dilates and
cause congestion
• Bad breathing (Halitosis)
• Mouth open-wide
breathing (dogs)
 Epistaxis
• Bleeding from the nasal cavity (uni or bi-
lateral )
• It can be originated from the upper or
the lower respiratory tract
• Causes:
– Truama
– Parasitic- Oestrus ovis
– Mechanical compression by tight
collars on the Jugular vein (working
animals)
– Infectious diseases- e.g. Glanders,
Anthrax, IBR, MCF etc
– Nitrate poisoning
– Guttural pouch mycosis (Aspergillus
spp, Candida spp) often damages the
internal or external carotid artery or
maxillary artery (Horses)
– Exercise induced pulmonary
hemorrhage (Horses)
– hematoma (Horses)
 RHINITIS
 Inflammation of the mucous membrane of nasal cavity
– Acute or chronic
– Causes:
– 1- Irritant:
• Physical: dust, foreign body such as chaff, allergens etc.
• Chemical: gases, smoke etc.
– 2- Parasites- like Oestrus ovis in sheep, Myiasis (larvae infestation), schistosoma
nasalis
– 3- Fungi- Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans
– 4- excessive dryness of the weather
– 5- Immunodeficiency
– 6- Viruses,
– 7- bacteria,
 Rhinitis associated with Specific diseases:
• Strangles-Streptococcus equi- lymph node of neck
• Glanders -Burkholderia mallei
• Melioidosis –Pseudomonas pseudomallei
• Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)– acute contagious disease of cattle
caused bybovine herpesvirus-1.
Example of Purulent Rhinitis
• Strangles (Streptococcus
equi) is an important
equine disease that may
occur as an outbreak
with high morbidity (90%)
but low mortality (5% >
foals).
• Strangles causes
purulent (suppurative)
rhinitis and
lymphadenitis with
formation of abscesses.
Example of mucopurulent
rhinitis in a dog
 Viruses causing canine upper
respiratory infection includes;
 Canine Distemper
(Morbillivirus),
 Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2),
 Canine Parainfluenza virus
(CPI-1).

• Viral infections can predispose

dogs to secondary bacterial
rhinitis. Most common organisms
Bordetella bronchiseptica, E.
are
coli, Streptococci, Staphylococci.
Rhinitis and Conjunctivitis in
cats  Rhinitis and conjunctivitis are
frequently seen in cats. The
most common differential
diagnoses are:
 Viral:
• Feline Calicivirus
• Feline Infectious
Rhinotracheitis
 Bacterial:
•Bordetella bronchiseptica
•Escherichia coli
•Streptococcus
•Staphylococcus
 Mycotic:
•Cryptococcus neoformans
Example of granulomatous
rhinitis in a calf
 Atrophic Rhinitis
• Atrophic Rhinitis is a widely
distributed disease of pigs and
it’s etiology is still controversial.
– Bacterial? (Pasteurella
multocida, Bordetella
bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma
spp.), Viral?. nutritional
– (Vitamin D, Ca, P), Genetic? ,
Environmental? (Humidity,
temperature, etc.).
• Current literature suggests a
combined (co-infection) with
toxigenicPasteurella multocida
and Bordetella bronchiseptica
• In spite of the name, inflammation
in atrophic rhinitis is minimal.
However, as you may expect there
is notable resorption of bone.
Atrophic Rhinitis
 Sequels to Rhinitis
• There are several nasty sequels to
nasal infection and rhinitis.
Infection can spread:
• To sinuses causing sinusitis (S).
• To brain through the “lamina
cribrosa” (small arrow) causing
meningitis and encephalitis.
• To middle ear through the
Eustachian tube causing otitis.
• To guttural pouches (gp) through
the Eustachian tube causing
guttural pouch empyema.
• To retropharyngeal lymph nodes via
lymphatic vessels (ln) causing
lymphadenitis
 Guttural Pouch Empyema
• severe swelling and distention
in the parotid region (red arrow),
and muco-purulent discharge from
the nostrils (blue arrow).
• Empyema of guttural pouches can
be uni- or bilateral and it is often a
sequel of upper respiratory
infection withS. equi (Strangles )
or other pyogenic bacteria.
 Sinusitis and Sinus Empyema
• Accumulation of pus is referred
to as empyema, while
accumulation of mucus is known
as mucocele.
• Remember that drainage in
sinuses (and guttural pouches in
horses) is poor, therefore mucus
and pus can easily accumulate.
• Sinusitis in cattle can be caused
by improper dehorning.
• Note accumulation of
inspissated pus in paranasal
sinuses (asterisk).
 Benign tumors in the Nasal
Cavity
• Nasal polyps – a tumor located
in the lining of the nasal
passage
• Inverted papilloma – a wart-like
growth on the nose
• Hemangioma – a collection of
blood vessels
• Osteoma – a tumor of the bony
tissue in the nose
• Fibrous dysplasia – an abnormal
growth of the bony tissue in the
nose
• Angiofibroma – a growth
comprised of fibrous tissues and
blood vessels
 Common Malignant tumors in
Nasal Cavity of animals
• Osteosarcoma
• Chondrosarcoma
• Myxosarcoma
• Adenocarcinoma
• Squamous cell
carcinoma
 Congenital anomalies of Larynx
and Trachea
• Brachycephalic airway
syndrome
– Respiratory impairment
caused by stenotic nares,
and long soft palate
– Common in Brachycephalic
breeds of dogs e.g. bulldogs
and boxers
• Nasal and laryngeal
oedema (forceful
inspiration)
• Severe obstruction of
URT
• Respiratory distress
• Hypoplastic Epiglottis: • Subepiglottic and pharyngeal
– undersized (small sized) cysts:
epiglottis, trapped under – Common in horses
aryteno-epiglottic fold – Cysts usually occur at
– Common in horses (rare in subepiglottic region and
pigs) rarely at pharynx
Complications; – Cysts are lined by
– Causing respiratory noise epithelium and contain
– Obstruction of airways thick mucus
– Exercise intolerance
– cough
• Tracheal Hypoplasia: • Tracheal collapse:
– Reported in bulldogs – Common in small breeds of dogs,
– Narrowing of tracheal horses, cattle and dogs
lumen – Also called tracheo-bronchial
• Scabbard trachea: collapse or central airway
collapse
– Horses
– Involve all or cervical portion of
– Lateral flattening of trachea
trachea
– Characterized by:
• Tracheo- oesophageal • Dorso-ventral flattening of
fistula: trachea
– Dogs and cats • Widening of dorsal membrane of
trachea
 Larynx

• Physical Injuries: • Metabolic

– Animal bites disturbances:
– Kicks in throat area – Amyloidosis (horses)
– Pressure from – Melanosis of
restraining laryngeal mucosa
– Bullet wound (dogs, cattle, sheep)
– Calcification of
– Stomach tube
laryngeal mucosa –
– Needles (syringe) uraemia in dogs
 Larynx
• Laryngeal Oedema:
• Circulatory – Caused by
disturbance: • Acute respiratory
infections
– Hyperaemia
• Trauma
– Haemorrhages- • Irritant gases
• acute • Local inflammation
septicaemic • Allergy or
diseases of systemic
URT- petechial anaphylaxis
or ecchymotic in – Larynx wall swollen
size – Thickened and
edematous mucosa
protrude onto
 Larynx
• Laryngitis:
– Common in URT
diseases
• Acute and chronic
• Calf diphtheria
• Glanders
• Catarrhal,
• Tuberculosis • Supporative
• Uraemia in dogs • Fibrinous
• Mechanical injuries • Haemorrhagic
of throat- kicks,
bites, stomach
• Ulcerative
tube • Necrotic
• Excessive use of
larynx (barking of
dogs)
 Larynx
• Necrotic laryngitis
– Calf diphtheria • Lesions observed in organs:
– Larynx
– oral necrobacillosis
– Tongue, gums, cheeks, palate,
– May occur in sheep pharynx
– Pre-disposing causes: • Clinical Signs:
• Trauma • Fever, anorexia, depression,
• IBR halitosis, painful cough,
dysphagia, dyspnoea
• Papular stomatitis
• Gross lesions:
• Contagious ecthyma (sheep) • Dry, yellow-grey, necrotic area bound
by zone of hyperaemia- ulceration
– Caused by:
• Microscopic lesions:
• Fusobacterium necrophorum – foci of necrosis, granuloma, fibrosis
– Endotoxin • Sequelae:
– Toxaemia, septicaemia
– Exotoxin
 LARYNGEAL HEMIPLEGIA
• Normally the arytenoid cartilage is drawn
outwards during inspiration to allow flow of the
air
– Controlled by CRICOARYTENOIDEUS
• Due to injury or degeneration of the nerve
supplying to CRICOARYTENOIDEUS
• Other causes include lead poisoning, pressure
on the nerves due to enlarged lymph nodes,
abscesses , tumors etc
• When the nerve get paralyzed,
– it is replaced by fibrous tissue and the
arytenoid cartilage does not open during
inspiration
• So air may not enter freely into trachea
and produces a Roaring sound
 Bronchi and Bronchioles

BRONCHOSTENOSIS
• Narrowing of bronchial lumen

• Causes
a. Aspiration of foreign bodies
b. Accumulation of exudate
c. Parasite with in the lumen
d. Inflammation of the wall of the bronchi
e. Pressure from outside of the bronchial wall due to
abscess, tumor, enlarged lymph nodes
f. Spasm in the muscle of bronchi as in allergy
 Bronchi and Bronchioles

• Partial closure of the bronchi result in

ballooning of the lung involved as air that
enters during inspiration does not expels
out during expiration

• Complete obstruction of lungs will result

in collapse of lungs
 Bronchi and Bronchioles

• Bronchitis- Acute and chronic

• Bronchiectasis – permanent abnormal
dilation of bronchi and bronchioles
– Due to accumulation of exudate in the lumen
and destruction of the muscle and elastic
tissue
– Secondary to bronchitis- chronic
– Macroscopically: two forms
• Saccular – focal necrotizing bronchitis- small
portion of bronchial wall is involved
• Cylinderical – chronic suppurative bronchitis of
bronchopneumonia in cattle- large portion usually
involed
 Bronchi and Bronchioles

• Microscopically
– Variable destruction of all layers of
bronchial wall- epithelium to cartilage
 Lungs

Atelectasis
• Incomplete expansion of lungs-
• particularly of lung alveoli
– Congenital – stillborn animal, minor degree
of incomplete expansion – miconium
miconium
( aspiration syndrome )- atelectasis
neonatorum
– Acquired –
• Obstruction- bronchi, bronchioles
• Compression- hydrothorax, haemothorax, empyema,
neoplasma, and bloat
• Hypostatic – recumbency for long time-
– blood-air imbalance
 Lungs

Emphysema of Lungs
 Abnormal permanent enlargement of the
air-space distal to T-bronchioles
accompanied by destruction of alveolar
wall
 over- inflation (no destruction of alveolar
wall)- aging lungs- senile emphysema
 Primary (human) or secondary
emphysema (animals)
Emphysema in Animals;
 Emphysema in animals
• Always secondary – obstruction of outflow of air
– COPD/heaves/broken wind- horses
– ABPE/fog fever- cattle
Two types in animals-
• Alveolar E. (destruction of alveolar wall)
• interstitial
1- Alveolar E.
– occur in all species
– Characterized by- distension and rupture of alveolar
wall- variable air bubble in lungs parenchyma (e.g.
COPD, ABPE)
 Lungs

Circulatory Disturbances of Lungs

• Pulmonary Edema –
cardiogenic due to
left atrial pressure
or bilateral cardiac
failure
– Haemodynamic
pulmonary edema
• Pulmonary
hemorrhage- EIPH-
siderophage
• Embolism, thrombosis,
infarction
 Lungs

Pneumoconioses
deposition of any foreign particle such as ;
•Carbon - anthracosis,
•Silicon diaoxide , stone dust - silicosis,
•Asbestos - asbestosis,
•Iron – siderosis
•Calcium carbonate- Chalicosis
 Lungs

Pneumonia- pneumon (lung)

Pneumonitis
• Pneumonia/Pneumonitis-
– Inflammation of lungs
– (Acute exudative Inf/Chronic
proliferative Inf)
• Classification of Pneumonia:
– In animals-Based of causative
agent;
• Viral, bacterial, verminious,
chemical, hypersensitivity
Pneumonia
 Classification of Pneumonia
• Based on exudate; suppurative, fibrinous,
pyogranulomatous
• Based on morphological features;
– Gangrenous , proliferative, embolic
• Based on distribution of lesions;
– Focal, diffuse, lobar, cranio-ventral
• Based on epidemiological features;
– Enzootic, contagious, shipping,
• Miscellaneous features;
– Atypical, coughing, progressive, aspiration,
 Pneumonia in domestic animals
Classified in 4 morphologically distinct types;
•Bronchopneumonia
•Interstitial pneumonia
•Embolic pneumonia
•Granulomatous pneumonia
 Bronchopneumonia
• Common in domestic animals
• Characterized by;
– Cranio-ventral (antero-ventral) consolidation of
lungs
– Factors which restrict bronchopneumonia to
Cranio-ventral position are;
• Shortness and branching of airways
• Deposition of infectious organisms
• Inadequate defense mechanism
• Reduce vascular perfusion
• Gravitational sedimentation of exudate
• Regional differences in ventilation
 Bronchopneumonia
• Cattle
– Pasteurella spp., Actinomyces pyogenes
• Horse
– Streptococcus spp., Rhodococcus equi
• Dog
– Bordetella bronchiseptica, Klebsiella spp.,
streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli
• Cat
– P. multocida and other gram-
• Predisposing causes:
– Transport stress, irratant gases, dust, congregation
of animals, immunodeficient states, dehydration,
chilling, viral infections, anesthesia, uremia, acidosis
• Gross appearance
– Cranioventral portions mostly affected
– Consolidation, emphysema, congestion, atelectasis
• Microscopic appearance
– Bronchioalveolar junctions
– Cell debris, mucus, fibrin, macrophages
– Epithelium – necrotic to hyperplastic
– Capillaries engorged
– Chronic suppuration and fibrosis, particularly in
cattle
 Suppurative
Bronchopneumonia-
• Lobular Pneumonia
• Part of the lobes is uniformly affected
• often aggressive form of bronchopneumonia – uniform
appearance
• Characterised by;
– Cranio-ventral (antero-ventral) consolidation of lungs
– Typical purulent or mucopurulent exudate in airways
• Etiology;
– Pasteurella hemolytica, Hemophilus somnus, Acinobacillus
pleuropneumoniae, streptocococci, Rhodophilus equi
• Gross appearance;
– Congestion, Red hepatization, grey hepatization, Resolution
– Pleuritis and pericarditis may be cause of death
• Microscopically;
– Abundant Neutrophils, Macrophages, and cellular debris in
lumen of bronchi, bronchioles
Lung Histology
Lobular Pneumonia
 Fibrinous Bronchopneumonia
• Lobar Pneumonia
• Similar to suppurative pneumonia except
the exudate is fibrinous rather than
neutrophilic
• Whole or part of the lobes is uniformly
affected- lobar pneumonia-
• Gross appearance;
– Congestion, Red hepatization, grey hepatization, Resolution
– Pleuritis and pericarditis may be cause of death

• Microscopically;
– Massive exudation of fibrinogen in
bronchioles, and alveoli
 Interstitial Pneumonia
• Involves an inflammation of alveolar walls
and alveolar interstitium
• Difficult to diagnose at necropsy
• Causes;
– Viral pneumonia, chemicals, shock, septicemia,
high concentration of oxygen used as
therapeutic agent
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• Great involvement of dorso-caudal region
• Blood born insult in most of the cases
 Embolic pneumonia
• Characterized by Multi-focal lesions
randomly distributed in all lobes-
– septic emboli- dangerous
• Corynebacterium pyogenes, Fusobacterium
necrophorum, S. aureus, S. equi etc
– Followed by abscessation
Grossly:
– small white foci- surrounded by distinct, red
haemorrhagic halo (rim or circle)
 Special forms of pneumonia
• Gangrenous – penetration of foreign
bodies
• Aspiration
• Lipid – inhalation of lipids
• Uremic – edema
• Garnulomatous pneumonia – Actinobacillus,
Actinomyces, or Norcardia spp.,
tuberculosis, fungal (Aspergillus
fumigatus
• Enzootic- calf peumoniae
Exogenous Lipid Pneumonia
Tuberculosis
Aspergillus hyphae
 Pleuritis/pleurisy
• Inflammation of pleura
• Causes;
– Secondary to pneumonia
• infectious agents (commonly bacteria)
extend to pleura by hematogenous
route
– Introduction of infectious agent
from outside (traumatic injury-
caused by nails in reticulum, bullet
wound, knife wound, horn wound,
pins-needle-fish bone penetrate
esophagus)
– Common infectious agents are;
Haemophilus parasuis, Pasturella
multocida, Streptococcus suis,
• Clinically Pleuritis causes;
– Severe pain
– Empyema
– Pleural adhesion and fibrosis in chronic
plueritis interfere with pulmonary expansion.
 Classification of pleuritis
• Based on the type of exudate pleurisy is
classified into;
– Serofibrinous
– Purulent
– pyogranulomatous
 Serofibrinous Pleuritis;
– Characterized by accumulation of Sero-
fibrinous exudate in the pleural cavity.
– Occur as a part of bronchopneumonia
(pleuropneumonia)
– Examples are;
• Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP)
• Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP)
– Pleural surface is covered with fibrin
– Pleural surface lost its shiny appearance and
become rough
– Pleural Adhesion with thoracic wall
 Purulent Pleuritis
• Also called as Suppurative Pleuritis
• Caused by Pyogenic bacteria
• Characterized by accumulation of purulent exudate in the
thoraxic cavity –
– called asPyothorax orThoracic empyema
– Gangrenous pleuritic may occur after the invasion of
saprophytic bacteria
• The amount of exudate varies;
– Up to 20 liters in Horses
– Up to 5 liters in dogs
– Up to 10 liters in pigs
• Exudation may causes Compression Atelectasis
of lungs
 Pyogranulomatous Pleuritis
• Caused by Nocardia, Actinomyces,
Mycobacteria
• Characterized by;
– Accumulation of blood-stained pus (tomato
soup) in the thoracic cavity
– The exudate usually contains yellowish
flacks- calledsulphur granules
 Diseases of Respiratory System
• Cattle: • Sheep and goats:
– Enzootic pneumonia- calf – Ovine pneumonic
pneumonia (BHV, BRSV, Para pasteurellosis
Influenza Virus)
– Chronic Enzootic
– Pneumonic pasteurellosis
(Shipping fever, transit fever)- pneumonia
– Haemorrhagic septicaemia- – Septicaemic pasteurellosis
– CBPP – Maedi
– bTB – Pulmonary adenomatosis
– Respiratory haemophilosis – CCPP
– ABPE (Acute bovine pulmonary – TB
edema and emphysema)
– Caprine arthritis-
– Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
encephalitis (CAE)
– Parasitic pneumonia
– Parasitic pneumonia of
– Hydatid cysts
Sheep and goat