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Lambl’s excrescences (LE) are fibrous strands typically occurring at coaptation lines of cardiac valves. Although they have been widely reported in human medicine, information on LE occurrence in veterinary medicine is still scarce. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of LE in different freshwater fish and in swordfish. A total of 185 hearts were collected from different fish species, and samples of different cardiac areas (sinus venosus, atrial wall with sinoatrial valves, ventricular wall with atrioventricular valves and bulb with bulboventricular valves) were submitted to histopathological evaluation. LE were detected in 6 of 103 freshwater fish (5.8%) and 19 of 82 swordfish (23.2%). LE developed in atrioventricular, sinoatrial and bulboventricular valves. All affected valves also showed endocardiosis. Based on the results of the present work, teleost fish, specifically swordfish, could be proposed as a novel spontaneous model for the study of LE pathogenesis.

Simple Summary Copepods of the genus Pennella are parasites of marine aquatic organisms (e.g., cephalopods, pelagic fish, cetaceans). They can infest fish of economic interest, including tuna and swordfish. The infestation of Pennella sp. in fish creates problems of food safety and fish marketing. Generally, these copepods penetrate the host’s muscle, without damaging internal organs. Here, we report on Pennella sp. infestation in swordfish heart muscle. The severity of the cardiac lesions we observed suggests that parasites of the genus Pennella pose a concern for food safety as well as animal health. Abstract The genus Pennella comprises hematophagous parasites of marine aquatic species, including cephalopods, marine mammals, and pelagic fish. Nine species have been officially included in the genus Pennella plus another six species inquirendae. They are most often found in the host’s musculature, without penetrating internal organs. For the present study, 83 hearts from swordfish (Xiphias gladius) caught in the Mediterranean Sea were sampled and immediately fixed in formalin for histopathological analysis. In total, 10 (12.05%) hearts were found to be parasitized by copepods of the genus Pennella. Macroscopically, there was mild-to-severe fibrinous pericarditis with atrial wall thickening and multiple parasitic nodules. Histologically, the parasitic nodules were surrounded by an inflammatory-necrotizing reaction. Parasitic infestation by Pennella spp. is common in pelagic fish and in swordfish, in particular. Here, however, we report atypical cardiac localization. A future area of focus is the evaluation of cardiac Pennella spp. infestation by histopathology and genetic identification of the parasites.

The aim of this study was to evaluate how different rearing systems (intensive or semi-extensive) and sexual hormones could affect stress parameters and the development of stress-related intramural coronary arteriosclerosis in Lidia bulls (n = 18) and Piemontese oxen (n = 17). At slaughter, hearts were sampled and submitted to histological investigations in order to evaluate coronary arteriosclerosis. Blood and hair samples were also collected to measure d-ROMS and 20β-dihydrocortisol levels, respectively. No significant differences were recorded for serum levels of d-ROMS between Piemontese oxen and Lidia bulls. On the contrary, Lidia bulls presented higher levels of hair 20β-dihydrocortisol compared to Piemontese oxen (p = .007). Arteriosclerosis was recorded in both the groups. In Lidia bulls, mild to moderate coronary arteriosclerosis was recorded in all the evaluated regions of the heart (right and left papillary muscle; interventricular septum; right and left ventricle free wall; right and left atrium). In Piemontese oxen, mild to severe coronary arteriosclerosis was observed, especially in the left papillary muscle. These results suggest that both cattle breed experienced stress during their rearing cycle. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of housing system and sexual hormones in the development of these subclinical vascular pathology.Highlights Rearing systems can affect animal welfare. Coronary arteriosclerosis, d-ROMS and hair 20β-dihydrocortisol levels can be affected by stress. Lidia bulls and Piemontese oxen experienced different levels of stress during their rearing cycle.

The present study aims to evaluate beef cattle welfare with an integrated approach as housing conditions and management practices change and to investigate the relationship between the adopted parameters and their applicability. A total of 15 Piemontese breed bulls reared in a tied stall housing system and 15 Piemontese, 15 Blonde d’Aquitaine and 15 cross-breed from Ireland reared in group-pen were considered. A welfare protocol including a checklist and the ‘RIBECA’ scoring system was prepared for the assessment of animal-based measures and resource-based measures. Blood parameters and hair 20β-dihydrocortisol were also analysed. The animal-based score was not significantly different among the farms, while the total welfare score was ‘poor’ for the animals in the tied stall system, ‘fair’ for Piemontese cattle in the in pen and Irish cross-breed, and ‘very good’ for the Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle. Irish cross-breed were the most fearful, with the blood findings also suggesting that these animals showed the worst adaptation, whereas Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle were well adapted. Furthermore, 20β-dihydrocortisol was lower (p

Anitschkow cells (AC) are a peculiar type of stromal cells observed in myocardium, cardiac valves and coronary vessels wall whose origin, characterization and role remain controversial. In human heart, they represent a histological hallmark of Aschoff nodules in rheumatic fever, but they have also been observed in other myocardial pathologies. Firstly, they have been considered a myocyte-derived cells, but light microscopy, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies pointed out that a macrophagic/histiocytic origin cannot be excluded. Many authors also reported extracardiac AC or an Anitschkow nuclear pattern, thus suggesting that these cells may represent a chromatin pattern rather than a specific cell type. In veterinary medicine, AC were described in myocarditis, myocardial necrosis, degenerative and inflammatory endocardial diseases of several species. Recently, AC have been observed in intramural coronary arteries of different animals (including cattle and fish) affected by arteriosclerotic processes. Stress related to the intensive livestock farming could represent a mechanotransduction promoting factor of arteriosclerotic changes allowing the development of Anitschkow chromatin pattern. Further studies both in human and veterinary medicine are needed to confirm the origin and role of these peculiar cells.

In this study we examined macroscopic and microscopic lesions in the mitral valves of 50 regularly slaughtered horses in Italy. Macroscopically the results were minor. Microscopic lesions to the valve were found in both young and elderly subjects, confirming that there is no correlation between age and onset of lesions. We set out to evaluate whether the lesions correspond to valve disorder during the life of the animal.

Objectives Intramural coronary arteriosclerosis has been reported in several species, but no systematic studies are currently available in bovine. The present study aimed to describe the arteriosclerotic changes in regularly slaughtered veal calves and beef cattle. Animals Twenty-five veal calves (6–9 months old) and 17 beef cattle (10–24 months old) housed in intensive livestock farming and regularly slaughtered were included in the present study. Methods Selected heart samples were submitted for histopathological and ultrastructural examination and the following parameters were evaluated: intimal hyperplasia, degenerative changes of the tunica media, medial hypertrophy/hyperplasia, myocardial fibrosis, and myocarditis. Pathological intramural coronary arteries with and without lumen narrowing were manually counted in every sample. Results Intramural coronary arteriosclerosis was observed in all the calves and cattle, with similar prevalence of fibromuscular/muscular intimal hyperplasia (92% vs 88%), degenerative changes of the tunica media (76% vs 71%), and medial hypertrophy/hyperplasia (44% vs 59%). The posterior papillary muscle of the left ventricle was the myocardial localization significantly more affected in both calves (p = 0.0007) and cattle (p = 0.0339). Anitschkow cells were detected in the coronary walls of both calves (60%) and cattle (76%). Conclusions This is the first study that systematically describes spontaneously occurring intramural coronary arteriosclerosis in bovine species. Anitschkow cells, whose ultrastructural characteristics and localization suggest their potential origin from the smooth muscle cells of the tunica media of the arteriosclerotic coronary vessels, were also identified.

A 2-months-old male German shepherd puppy was referred for regurgitation and delayed growth. Radiographic and endoscopic investigations revealed a precardiac megaoesophagus and oesophageal constriction at the level of the heart base. At post-mortem examination, a specific form of persistent right aortic arch characterized by an aberrant left subclavian artery in combination with a ligamentum arteriosum originating at the aberrant left subclavian artery (PRAA-SA-LA) was detected. A complete-type persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC) was also observed. This is the first report describing the association between PRAA-SA-LA and PLCVC in a dog with megaoesophagus.

Nine striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba and 1 bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus stranded along the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy were necropsied between February 2011 and April 2012. Macroscopic and histological findings were observed in the hearts of all animals and included saccular aneurysms of the pulmonary trunk (n = 3), cirsoid aneurysms (n = 1), right ventricular dilation (n = 1) associated with hypoplasia of the tricuspid chordae (n = 1), valvular fibrosis (n = 3), mitral leaflet thickening (n = 1), left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 1), lymphocytic myocarditis (n =1), and Lambl's excrescences (n = 4). To our best knowledge Lambl's excrescences, aneurysm of the pulmonary trunk, and cirsoid aneurysms have not previously been described in marine mammals, and some of these findings should be taken into account as possible causes of dolphin morbidity, mortality, and stranding.

Many age-related changes are described in the nervous system of different species, but detailed studies of brain lesions in ageing horses are lacking. The aim of the present study was to systematically characterize lesions in the brains of 60 horses aged from 7 to 23 years. No gross changes were present in any brain. Microscopically, spongiform changes, lipofuscin storage, corpora amylacea, gliosis and satellitosis were common, together with axonal and neuronal swellings. The most important findings were the presence of pseudocalcium-calcium (pCa-Ca) deposits and arterial wall degeneration. Scanning electron microscopical examination of two cases with vascular mineralization revealed marked deposition of an amorphous substance in the vessel walls that was probably formed by a polyanionic protein matrix and a mineral component. Immunohistochemically, numerous axonal spheroids were positively labelled for ubiquitin. No PrPsc was detected in sections with neuronal vacuolation. Neuronal swelling, corpora amylacea, hippocampal Tau-positive neurons and methenamine-positive diffuse (preamyloid) plaques were also detected. Congo red staining failed to detect amyloid deposition. The characterization of age-related lesions in the brains of these horses will allow these changes to be discriminated from pathological processes in future studies. Some lesions described here, including some vascular changes, the presence of diffuse plaques and tau accumulation in hippocampal neurons, have not been described previously in the horse.

The aim of this study was to evaluate by PCR the presence of Helicobacter spp. in gastric mucus from the fundic region of the stomach and to investigate its role in oesophagogastric ulcers in swine bred and regularly slaughtered in Piedmont (Northern Italy). Stomachs from 595 regularly slaughtered swine were subjected to gross pathological examination in order to evaluate the presence of gastric ulcers (revealed in 75 cases, 12.6%). Histopathological examination was performed to better characterise erosions and ulcers. DNA extracted from gastric mucus collected from all the ulcer-affected and from 25 normal stomachs was submitted to PCR using Helicobacter spp. 16S rRNA gene target primers. Sixty-three percent (47/75) of the affected stomachs was positive as well as 24% (6/25) of the non-affected ones. Sequence analysis from 5 positive samples showed 99% homology with Helicobacter candidatus suis 16S ribosomal RNA gene.

Summary A survey based on clinical, pathological and microbiological investigations was performed on 11 Brown Swiss cattle affected with depression, anorexia, agalaxia, ruminal hypomotility, abdominal pain and melaena. In eight animals, macroscopical lesions consisted in haemorrhagic enteritis in the small intestine. Seven of eight isolates from tissue samples were identified as Clostridum perfringens type A, and four were identified as C. perfringens type A with the β2 toxin gene. Based on these observations, animals were considered affected with haemorrhagic bowel syndrome.

Maedi-visna is a systemic disease of sheep caused by a lentivirus, maedi-visna virus (MVV), which mainly affects the lungs and central nervous system but may also affect the mammary glands, joints and other tissues. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the third eyelid was affected in cases of systemic infection. Third eyelid and lung samples from sheep naturally infected with maedi were used. Total DNA was extracted from paraffin-wax-embedded tissues, and a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify MVV proviral DNA. The samples were also tested by in-situ PCR and immunohistochemical methods specific for the detection of MVV proviral DNA and p25, respectively. All sheep showed moderate to severe chronic lymphoproliferative inflammation in the third eyelids. Products of the expected size were obtained by PCR from both lung and third eyelid tissue. In the nictitating membrane, MVV proviral DNA was detected in situ within macrophages, and glandular, ductal and surface epithelia. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the infection was productive. Taken together, these results indicate that the third eyelid may represent a target for natural MVV infection and may play a role in disease transmission.

Endocardiosis, a degenerative and dystrophic process affecting cardiac valves and described in many mammalian species, is characterized by the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, in particular hyaluronic acid, in the extracellular matrix. The glycoprotein patterns of pig mitral valves in normal animals and animals affected by endocardiosis were investigated. A different N-linked glycosylation pattern of glycoproteins was detected in affected valves compared with normal ones. In either normal or pathological species, the detected N-linked glycans were of the complex type. However, in samples from affected valves, sialic acid showed a prevalence of the α2,6 linkage to the galactosyl residue, whereas in normal samples the most frequent linkage was of the α2,3 type. In normal valves, the majority of complex oligosaccharides presented two outer branches with different degrees of fucosylation and sialylation, whereas in pathological samples we noted an increased number of glycans having up to four outer branches.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of gastric washing for detecting the presence of Helicobacter spp. in feline gastric mucus. Gastric fluids were collected from 11 cats undergoing routine surgical procedures. The fluids were centrifuged and the pellets were subjected to cytological examination by May-Grünwald/Giemsa (MGG) staining and testing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Helicobacter after DNA extraction. Helicobacter spp. were detected in 8 of 11 samples by MGG staining and in 10 of 11 samples by PCR. Gastric washing proved to be a useful sampling technique and a valuable alternative to the gold-standard method of gastric biopsy, which has the risk of missing colonized spots in the case of patchy Helicobacter colonization. Gastric washing, a noninvasive way of sampling, could be applied to cats undergoing general anesthesia for different causes. Detection of Helicobacter in cats could allow epidemiological investigations, and sequencing of samples could assist in assessing the distribution of various Helicobacter species.

To define the characteristics of malignancy we performed routine histology and an immunohistochemical study on seventeen aortic body tumors in dogs. We essayed tumors using a panel of immunohistochemical markers: neuron specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A (CrA) and S-100. Among 17 cases, the neoplastic cells were positive for NSE (17 cases, 100%), S-100 (9 cases, 53%), and CrA (8 cases, 47%), respectively. The sustentacular cells density and chief cell staining intensity were both inversely related to tumor grade. The most relevant data was consistent with a negative staining of S-100 correlated with absence or decreased number of sustentacular cells in tumors grade III. This report indicates that the immunohistochemical panel has utility for the diagnosis of chemodectoma and the negative staining to CrA and S-100 markers in tumors grade III expresses an indication of malignant behaviour of the tumor.

This article reports the clinical signs of scrapie occurring in sheep-goat flocks in Italy. The research, carried out on over 500 goats and 550 sheep, yielded an interesting clinical picture, especially of goat scrapie. The affected animals, aged between 2 and 8 years, showed neurological signs that could be classified into three categories: changes in mental status, abnormalities of movement and changes in sensation. Some general clinical signs were also observed. The clinical suspicion was confirmed by histopathological and biochemical investigations.

The hearts of 235 white sturgeons originating from an intensive farm system were examined in detail. Skin, muscle and abdominal viscera did not show any pathological features, except for the presence of liver and epicardial fat. All sturgeons had high levels of epicardial fat and 70% showed important variations in colouration, which was from grey/brownish to blackish. Histopathological examination revealed lymphocyte infiltrates, around the blood vessels as small focal lesions near the intercellular spaces, or as thin strips along the borders of fat tissue. In severe cases, heavy lymphoid infiltrates and proliferative lesions were evident and fatty tissue was replaced by inflammatory and proliferative tissue. The underlying myocardium was rarely affected. A diagnosis of infiltrative and proliferative steatitis is postulated. Moreover, a high percentage of the livers showed steatosis. Aetiology is still unknown, but the authors envisage a nutritional imbalance linked with oxidised fat intake.

The progressive autolytic changes of atrial specific granules (ASGS) up to 24 hours after death were studied electron microscopically. Tissue samples taken from the left auricular myocardium of four pig hearts at 0, 0.5, 1.5, 3.5, 6, 12 and 24 hours post mortem were fixed for 24 hours by immersion in 2.5 per cent cacodylate buffered glutaraldehyde (pH 7.4). Two pig hearts were kept at 20 degrees C and two at 4 degrees C. Although typical autolytic changes were seen in many organelles, no remarkable modifications in aspect, distribution, content and diameter of ASGS were observed in all samples. The results of this study indicate that ASGS are not morphologically affected by the autolytic processes, at least during the first 24 hours. Hence, the electron microscopic evaluation of ASGS does not need a particular fixation method such as perfusion. This may eliminate technical problems when slaughterhouse material is used.