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We aimed to assess the usefulness of monitoring inter-alpha trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) and haptoglobin (Hp) in peripheral and local blood in canine pyometra, and evaluation the relationships among acute phase proteins (APPs), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and the presence of bacteria. The material was collected from bitches with pyometra and from healthy ones. Blood was taken from the cephalic and uterine veins. APPs levels were quantified by ELISA. In the peripheral circulation, the Hp was higher in animals with open-cervix pyometra (OCP) than in the closed-cervix pyometra (CCP) and the control group. The Hp concentration was not correlated with age, with the presence of SIRS or with the type of bacteria (Gram-negative, Gram-positive or mixed flora). The ITIH4 concentrations in the peripheral blood did not differ significantly in the cases of pyometra. The Hp concentration in the local circulation increased in the OCP but not in the CCP groups, although the histopathological changes in the endometrium were similar. Peripheral Hp concentrations may be a useful tool in differentiating between the types of pyometra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disorders of the mammary gland are frequently diagnosed in bitches of all breeds and of all ages. They usually appear in the postnatal period, during lactation peak or during false pregnancy. They may also be related to different pathologies of the mammary gland, such as mammary neoplasia. It is frequently underestimated by clinicians or misdiagnosed. A reliable diagnosis is the key to success. Conventional diagnosis consists of a clinical diagnosis together with a standard blood test, while in some cases cytological examination of the mammary gland is performed. In some cases of mastitis, especially its subclinical presentation, those methods may prove unreliable. For this reason, determination of specific inflammatory biomarkers may enable clinicians to produce a precise diagnosis, while it is very useful in treatment monitoring. A wide variety of inflammatory biomarkers have been extensively studied both in human and veterinary medicine. In this article, we will describe the most commonly evaluated inflammatory biomarkers - acute phase proteins, which seem to be promising tools in the diagnostics of canine mastitis. We hope that this paper will provide clinicians with new ideas for precise diagnosis and more specific treatment of canine mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hysterectomy is a rare method of castration in bitches, due to an increased risk of side effects. Ovariohysterectomy is the most recommended method of surgical castration of a bitch. However, leaving the ovaries decreases the risk of obesity and urinary incontinence. This report describes a 9 year old German Shepherd female (hysterectomized 3 years before) which was refferred to the clinic due to purulent vaginal dicharge and changes of 3,4 and 5th right mammary glands (RMG 3,4,5). During ultrasound examination two ovaries with cysts and inflamation of uterocervical stump were observed. The surgery was carried out, both remaining fibrotic ovaries with cyst together with part of inflammated uterocervical stump were removed. Right semi-mastectomy was also performed (RMG 3,4,5 and inguinal lymph node were removed). The histopathological examination of mammary glands revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma papilliferum. Two months later, after left semi-mastectomy of 2,3,4 and 5th mammary gland (LMG 2,3,4,5) hystopathological examination revealved a complex carcinoma in mammary glands and in inguinal lymph node. Two years after the surgery disseminated neoplasia with metastases to the lungs was diagnosed. Described side effects outweight potenctial benefits of the hysterectomy. To authors knowledge this is the first report of severe consequences of deliberately leaving ovaries in a bitch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of elevated temperatures on the development of cattle embryos cocultured with bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) and cultured in a KSOMaa medium. Zygotes obtained in vitro were cocultured with BOECs and cultured in KSOMaa (potassium simplex optimised medium modified by amino acids) at a control temperature (38.5℃), and elevated temperatures (40.5℃ and 41℃) for 168 hours. At 38.5℃ there was no significant difference in embryo development between BOEC and KSOMaa treatments. At 40.5℃ embryos cocultured with BOECs developed significantly better compared to the KSOMaa system, as observed at the cleavage rate (73.45±2.45 vs 66.75±1.34%), minimum 8 cell rate (20.36±1.42 vs 16.78±1.48%) and the blastocyst rate (3.13±3.25 vs 0%), (P<0.001). At 41oC there were significant differences in the cleavage rate (62.25±1.72 vs 56.313.47%) and the minimum 8 cell rate (13.06±1.97 vs 9.64±2.14%) in the BOEC coculture system compared to the KSOMaa system (P<0.001), at no differences in the blastocyst rate. In embryos cocultured with BOECs, the hsp70 mRNA expression was higher than in embryos cultured in KSOMaa: 38.5℃-1.42±0.05 vs 0.77±0.04; 40.5℃-3.82±0.04 vs 1.92±0.24; 41℃-6.74±0.20 vs 2.14±0.13, (P<0.001). Also, the HSP70 protein level was higher in embryos cocultured with BOECs than those cultured in KSOMaa: 38.5℃-0.98±0.01 vs 0.17±0.02; 40.5℃-1.96±0.01 vs 0.82±0.01; 41℃-2.45±0.01 vs 1.30±0.01, (P<0.001). This data indicates that bovine embryos cultured at elevated temperatures in the presence of BOECs develop better than embryos cultured in KSOMaa and also that BOECs stimulate embryos to switch on their defence mechanisms to a significantly higher level than in embryos cultured in KSOMaa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ectopic scrotum and ectopic testis are both rare conditions. This report describes a 9-year-old crossbreed male dog with both abnormalities, which also has T721C transition in the gene of epidermal growth factor receptor resulted in a Tyr241His substitution in the peptide chain and the second silent A111G transition. High level of total estrogens (101.0 pg/ml), normal testosterone level (2.15 ng/ml) in blood, prostatic hyperplasia (46x44 mm) and hyperplastic epididymis were observed. Moreover, both testicles had signs of connective tissue hyperplasia in epididymis, vasodilation of pampiniform plexus and impairment of spermatogenesis in the left testicle. Both scrotums consisted of the same layers. This constellation of anatomical and genetic anomalies has not been previously described. We postulated that T721C polymorphism in the Egfr gene is one of the genetic factors in polygenic etiology of ectopic scrotum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 4-year-old female Russian Blue cat presented with signs of right-sided abdominal distension, anorexia and a mucoid vaginal discharge. On the basis of clinical and ultrasonographical findings a tentative diagnosis of uterine torsion was made. Exploratory coeliotomy revealed a 900º right uterine torsion along the longitudinal axis. Unilateral ovariohysterectomy was performed. Subsequently, the cat had two successful and uneventful pregnancies. To our knowledge this is the first case report of pregnancy in a unilaterally ovariohysterectomised queen. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A case of a stillborn Norwegian Forest kitten characterised in the course of anatomopathological and genetic examination is reported. The hydatidiform mole was diagnosed by delayed development, low birth weight of the kitten and abnormal placental development. Anatomopathological diagnosis was confirmed in genetic tests based on the amplification of highly heterozygous microsatellite sequences located on the X (FCA311) and autosomal chromosomes (FCA506, FCA532 and FCA178), as well as the sex-specific Sry and amelogenin (Amel) genes. The presence of two microsatellite alleles of paternal origin and one allele of maternal origin was observed in all analysed tissues (kidney, liver, brain, heart and spleen) of the stillborn kitten. The kitten’s sex was diagnosed by the presence of the paternal Sry gene, and maternal and paternal products of Amel, as well as one maternal and one paternal X chromosome FCA311 microsatellite allele. The results thus confirmed that the haploid egg was fertilised by two sperm, yielding a triploid karyotype. In summary, the successful application of genetic markers in postnatal diagnosis of this condition in the cat confirms considerable usefulness of these techniques, especially in cases where cytogenetic diagnosis is insufficient or impossible. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]