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Background: Mammary tumors are common in dogs and cats. They are models for investigating carcinogenesis and designing treatment protocols that benefit human beings. Senescence, sex, and reproductive status affect the development of such neoplasms. Objectives: In Iran’s absence of a national animal tumor registry, the present study determined clinicopathological and epidemiological aspects of canine and feline mammary tumors in referral cases of four veterinary practices across Tehran from 2020 to 2022. Here, the incidence and types of canine and feline mammary tumors are described, in addition to sex, reproductive status, age, breed, the affected mammary gland(s), grades, lymphatic invasion, and lymph node metastases. Methods: All canine and feline patients with masses in the mammary gland region were considered in this study. The resected tumors and occasional lymph nodes were macroscopically scrutinized. Hematoxylin-Eosin slides were reviewed by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry was utilized when necessary. Results: Of the 76 dogs and eight cats, 100% were females, and the majority were intact. Most patients were 10-11 years old. Purebreds were the most frequent referrals. In some patients, more than one mammary gland had developed neoplasm, i.e. 141 affected glands in 76 bitches and nine affected glands in eight queens. Tumors were presented in both chains and even on the ventral midline, with an increased preponderance of caudally located glands. Thus, the caudal-most glands, i.e. inguinal and caudal abdominal glands, constituted 31.2% and 66.7% of the affected glands in bitches and queens, respectively. Intraductal papillary carcinoma (17%) and complex carcinoma (16.3%) had the highest incidence in dogs. The most commonly observed lesions in cats were lobular hyperplasia with atypia, and duct ectasia, each encompassing 22.3% of the affected glands. Most canine neoplasms were grade I (90.3%), while grade II neoplasms had the highest incidence in cats (50%). Lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastases were seen in canine anaplastic carcinoma, solid carcinoma, and complex carcinoma, as well as feline comedocarcinoma and tubular carcinoma. Conclusion: The risk of developing malignant tumors increases as the individual ages, and generally, caudally located mammary glands in intact purebred females are at increased risk. Moreover, anaplastic carcinomas must be precisely examined, both clinically and histopathologically, for lymph node metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: To achieve delivery of a drug to tumors, folic acid (FA) was used as a targeting ligand to change nanocarriers. Since the folate receptor has more expression in several tumor types such as breast cancer. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Doxorubicine-G2-FA (Dox- G2-FA) with in vitro assays. The abbreviation of G2 represents the second generation of dendrimer synthesis. METHODS: For this purpose, Dox-G2-FA was synthesized and mass spectroscopy was used to confirm the synthesized component. Also, MTT assay, flow cytometry, and gene expression assay by real-time PCR were used to evaluate cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis. RESULTS: In this study, the effect of Dox and Dox-G2-FA on the expression of Bax, Bcl2 genes showed that there was a significant decrease in the expression of the Bcl2 gene in the Dox-G2-FA group compared to Dox and control groups(P<0.05). Also, the results of flow-cytometry showed that apoptosis in the presence of Dox-G2-FA was greater than in the Dox group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it seems that the effect of Dox-G2-FA on apoptosis is better than the effect of Dox usage alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), in particular the gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP- 9, generally considered as tumor markers for clinical applications. A longitudinal 2-years followup survey was performed on dogs with cutaneous tumor. Serum samples were obtained from 22 dogs with different cutaneous tumors and 22 health dogs at the time of surgery and one month, three months and one year after surgery. Gelatin zymography, hematological and biochemical assessment were performed for all serum samples. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity in dogs with malignant tumors was significantly higher than that in dogs with benign tumors and control cases. Latent forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected in all of the tumor cases. Gelatin zymography showed active form of MMP-9 in 12 cases (three benign and nine malignant tumors) and active form of MMP-2 in one fibrosarcoma case. Serum activity of active-MMP-9 and total MMP-9 was significantly higher in dogs with cutaneous tumors than those in controls. Tumor cases had higher serum activity of active-MMP-9 rather than controls. MMPs and alkaline phosphatase activities in serum were decreased significantly after surgery. Only one case with perianal gland adenoma showed recurrence of tumor four months after surgery in which active form of MMP-9 had identified one month before recurrence. According to the findings, it will be useful to measure ALP, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in the serum of dogs with cutaneous tumor for determination of tumor behavior before surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study was carried out to investigate the accurate status of ovine Theileria infection in sheep from Ahvaz and surrounding region, a tropical area southwest Iran. Methods:A PCR-RFLP method based on 18S ribosomal RNA gene was designed which could detect and differentiate Theileria and Babesia spp. and also differentiate main Theileria species in sheep at the same time. 119 sheep blood samples were collected from Ahvaz and surroundings. Results: Microscopic examination of blood smears revealed 69.7% (83/119) infection with Theileria spp. Of the total samples subjected to PCR, 89% (106/119) were found to be positive, all of which were identified as Theileria by RFLP analysis using enzyme Hind II. In enzymatic digestion of PCR products by Vsp I, 91.5% (97/106) of Theileria positive samples were identified as T. ovis while mixed Theileria infections were found in 9 samples. The samples with mixed infections were analyzed with an additional nested PCR-RFLP method, by HpaII enzyme digestion. 3 samples with T. lestoquardi infection, 1 sample with T. ovis and T. annulata, 1 sample with T. lestoquardi and T. annulata, and 4 samples with T. ovis, T. lestoquardi and T. annulata mixed infections were detected. Conclusion: Ovine theileriosis caused by T. ovis is highly prevalent in southwest Iran while T. lestoquardi and T. annulata infection can be detected in a lesser proportion of sheep in this region. The new PCR-RFLP method that was designed in this study, can serve as a beneficial diagnostic tool, especially in T. ovis prevalent regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunochromatography (ICGA), reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and hematological assays were performed on blood samples of 90 cats (45 healthy or control ones and 45 sick or case ones) in Tehran, Iran, as a case-control study from June 2009 through February 2010. Prevalence of FeLV in this population was 1.1% and 2. 2% as determined by immunochromatography and RT-PCR assays, respectively. Factors that were significantly associated with positive results in RT-PCR method were pale mucous membrane (P=0.026) and rhinitis (P= 0.002), which were more prevalent in FeLV-positive cats. The size of population of the household was found to be a predictor for FeLV infection, and the relative risk of FeLV infection in cats kept in multicat households is 6.6 times higher in comparison with single housed cats. The most common clinical findings in control group were gingivitis and/or stomatitis (37.8%), skin lesions (8.9%), lymphadenopathy and pale mucous membrane (6.7%), and the most frequent hematological findings were decreased PCV (24.4%), lymphopenia and decreased hemoglobin level (20%), leukocytosis and neutrophilia (13.3%). In the case group, the most common clinical findings were gingivitis and/or stomatitis (77.8%), pale mucous membrane (53.3%) and skin lesions (37.8%), and the most frequent hematological findings were lymphopenia (37.8%), anemia (26.7%), decreased Hb (24.4%) and leukopenia (1 5.6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a selective inhibitor of Inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase. Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances in immature ones are reported for MMF-induced compilations, which in the case of occurrence dose reduction is required. Thus, in the present study, the fructooligosaccharide raftilose(®) (RFT) was co-administrated with MMF to estimate the protective effect of RFT against MMF-induced GI complications. Thirty six immature male Wistar rats were divided into six groups including: Control (normal saline), RFT-treated (100 mg kg(-1)), MMF-treated (20 mg kg(-1)), MMF + LRFT (50 mg kg(-1)), MMF + MRFT (100 mg kg(-1)) and MMF + HRFT (200 mg kg(-1)) groups. The hematocrit (Hct), lymphocyte/total WBC, feces water content and pH were analyzed. Moreover, the hepatic functional tests, kidney-related biomarkers, lipid and protein profiles, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) contents were assessed. Co-administration of RFT stabilized the MMF-reduced body weight. The MMF significantly diminished Hct and lymph/total WBC (p < 0.05). Only MRFT enhanced the lymphocyte/total WBC. Increased water content, no changes in feces pH, increased serum ALT and AST, no alteration in urea and mild enhancement in creatinine were demonstrated in MMF-received animals. However, RFT at low dose ameliorated the feces parameters and reduced ALT. No significant changes were demonstrated for serum lipid and protein profiles in MMF- and RFT + MMF-treated groups. The RFT enhanced the serum TAC, reduced MDA and NO contents. In conclusion, our data suggested that RFT could be considered as an effective agent to subsidize the MMF-induced clinical, hematological and biochemical disorders.