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The article presents a case of congenital nutritional myodegeneration in a Cypriot mouflon lamb. Results of the necropsy revealed generalized pale discoloration of skeletal muscles and to a lesser extent of the myocardium. Histology showed extensive and severe muscular degeneration and necrosis. The lamb was diagnosed with white muscle disease. It is concluded that congenital white muscle disease can cause sudden death in neonatal Cypriot mouflon lambs.

Human studies and clues from animal models have provided important links between gastrointestinal (GI) tract bacteria and colon cancer. Gut microbiota antigenic stimuli play an important role in shaping the intestinal immune responses. Therefore, especially in the case of inflammation-associated colon cancer, gut bacteria antigens may affect tumorigenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the oral administration of a bacterial product with known immunomodulatory properties on inflammation-driven colorectal neoplasmatogenesis. For that, we used cholera-toxin and a well-established mouse model of colon cancer in which neoplasia is initiated by a single dose of the genotoxic agent azoxymethane (AOM) and subsequently promoted by inflammation caused by the colitogenic substance dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). We found that a single, low, non-pathogenic dose of CT, given orally at the beginning of each DSS treatment cycle downregulated neutrophils and upregulated regulatory T-cells and IL-10 in the colonic mucosa. The CT-induced disruption of the tumor-promoting character of DSS-induced inflammation led to the reduction of the AOM-initiated colonic polypoidogenesis. This result adds value to the emerging notion that certain GI tract bacteria or their products affect the immune system and render the microenvironment of preneoplastic lesions less favorable for promoting their evolution to cancer., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Excess reactive oxygen species due to oxidative stress and the ensuing lipid peroxidation are believed to be involved in mammary gland tumor (MGT) pathogenesis., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of lipid peroxidation as evidenced by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation, and the concentration of α-tocopherol as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, in blood and neoplastic tissue of dogs with malignant MGT. The correlation between inflammatory cell infiltration score and TBARS or α-tocopherol in MGT was also evaluated., Methods: Sixteen intact female dogs with malignant MGT and 12 clinically healthy and age/weight-matched controls were included in the study. In all dogs, serum TBARS, α-tocopherol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured. Tissue TBARS and α-tocopherol levels were determined in 1 cm(3) sized tissue samples collected from MGT and adjacent, ipsilateral, normal mammary gland tissue from the 16 affected dogs. The degree of inflammatory cell tumor infiltration was evaluated histologically., Results: There were no statistically significant differences in serum levels of TBARS, α-tocopherol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides between dogs with and without malignant MGT. TBARS were significantly higher, whereas α-tocopherol was lower in neoplastic tissue when compared with normal mammary gland tissue. There was no correlation between TBARS or α-tocopherol concentration and the inflammatory cell infiltration score in neoplastic tissue., Conclusion: The increased level of TBARS suggests oxidative stress induction in canine malignant MGT. The origin of this phenomenon is not clear, as a potential oxidative burst could not be attributed to inflammatory cells infiltrating the tumors., (© 2013 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

The enantiomeric naphthoquinones alkannins and shikonins (A/S) have been established as potent wound healing agents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an A/S based ointment for humans on second intention wound healing in the dog, as compared to wound flushing with Lactated Ringer's solution (LRS). Ten mixed breed dogs, aged 2 to 5 y, were used. One 2.5 × 2.5 cm full-thickness skin defect was created on the lateral aspect of each arm for subjective evaluation, laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF), and planimetry. Additionally, 3 matching 2 × 2 cm wounds were created on opposite sides of the dorsal midline for histologic evaluation. Wounds were treated once daily with the A/S based ointment on the right side and by flushing with LRS on the left until healed (about 20 d). During the healing process, tissue perfusion (mean LDF value) was found to be significantly higher on the side treated with the A/S based ointment compared with the LRS-treated side. Histologically, angiogenesis (on days 4 and 11), collagen production score (on days 4, 11, and 20), and epithelial thickness score (on day 11) were significantly higher in the wounds treated with the A/S based ointment. Wound size, as evaluated by planimetry, decreased significantly from day 0 to day 20 on both sides, but no significant differences were found between the A/S based ointment and LRS-treated wounds.

This study evaluated the relationship between severity of fatty liver and macromineral status in downer dairy cows and determined the usefulness of selected biochemical analytes for assessing prognosis. Blood and liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 36 Holstein downer cows shortly after the cows became recumbent and before they were treated. Liver tissue was examined histologically and serum activity of liver-derived enzymes and concentration of total lipids, triglycerides, bile acids, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetic acid, total bilirubin, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), cholesterol and macrominerals (Ca, Mg, K, Na, P) were determined. Fatty liver infiltration was severe in 44% of the cows and moderate in 44%. Serum activities of ornithine carbamoyltransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase, and NEFA/cholesterol ratio were good indicators of fatty liver. Cows with severe fatty liver had the lowest mean K values. The prognosis is guarded for downer cows with moderate and severe fatty liver and when total bilirubin concentration is high.

Background: The healing efficacy of isohexenylnaphthazarins (IHN) has been well proved on chronic or contaminated wounds., Objective: To evaluate the wound healing activity of an experimental ointment containing IHN on acute and noncontaminated wounds in dogs., Methods: In each of six beagle dogs, four full-thickness skin defects were created bilaterally: one 2 x 2 cm defect on the lateral aspect of each arm for subjective evaluation, laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), and planimetry and three 1.5 x 1.5 cm defects on opposite sides of the dorsal midline for histologic evaluation. Wounds on the left were treated with an ointment based on IHN and on the right with another based on petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and beeswax., Results: Wound size decreased significantly in both sides. The significantly increased percentage of epithelialization was higher (p = .0274) in the petroleum jelly-treated wounds on day 20. Tissue perfusion (LDF) increased significantly bilaterally in the center of the wound but only in the IHN-treated side cranial to the wound. Histologically, angiogenesis was significantly higher (p = .0431) on day 5 in the IHN-treated wounds compared with the petroleum jelly-treated wounds. Collagen production increased significantly bilaterally., Conclusion: The IHN-based ointment promoted some of the proliferative processes, but it did not enhance the overall wound healing of acute, surgically created wounds in dogs.

In transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting many species, the key event in disease pathogenesis is the accumulation of an abnormal conformational isoform (PrP(Sc)) of the host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrP(C)). While the precise mechanism of the PrP(C) to PrP(Sc) conversion is not understood, it is clear that host PrP(C) expression is a prerequisite for effective infectious prion propagation. Although there have been many studies on TSEs in mammalian species, little is known about TSE pathogenesis in fish. Here we show that while gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) orally challenged with brain homogenates prepared either from a BSE infected cow or from scrapie infected sheep developed no clinical prion disease, the brains of TSE-fed fish sampled two years after challenge did show signs of neurodegeneration and accumulation of deposits that reacted positively with antibodies raised against sea bream PrP. The control groups, fed with brains from uninfected animals, showed no such signs. Remarkably, the deposits developed much more rapidly and extensively in fish inoculated with BSE-infected material than in the ones challenged with the scrapie-infected brain homogenate, with numerous deposits being proteinase K-resistant. These plaque-like aggregates exhibited congophilia and birefringence in polarized light, consistent with an amyloid-like component. The neurodegeneration and abnormal deposition in the brains of fish challenged with prion, especially BSE, raises concerns about the potential risk to public health. As fish aquaculture is an economically important industry providing high protein nutrition for humans and other mammalian species, the prospect of farmed fish being contaminated with infectious mammalian PrP(Sc), or of a prion disease developing in farmed fish is alarming and requires further evaluation.

Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) activating signal transduction and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) administration in inhibition of apoptosis by attenuating the expression of NF-kB, c-Jun and caspace-3 in intestinal I/R. Thirty male wistar rats were used. Group A sham operation, B I/R, C I/R-EGCG 50 mg/kg ip. Intestinal ischemia was induced for 60 min by clamping the superior mesenteric artery. Malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), light histology, Fragment End Labelling of DNA (TUNEL), immunocytochemistry for NF-kB, c-Jun and caspace-3 analysis in intestinal specimens were performed 120 min after reperfusion. Apoptosis as indicated by TUNEL and Caspace-3, NF-kB and c-Jun was widely expressed in I/R group but only slightly expressed in EGCG treated groups. MDA and MPO showed a marked increase in the I/R group and a significant decrease in the EGCG treated group. Light histology showed preservation of architecture in the EGCG treated group. In conclusion, EGCG pre-treatment is likely to inhibit intestinal I/R-induced apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of NF-kB, c-Jun and caspase-3.

Background: Fatty change of the liver (FCL) is very common in dairy cattle periparturiently. Many laboratory methods have been implicated in order to assist the diagnosis., Hypothesis: To investigate whether FCL in dairy cattle could be evaluated by assessment of ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) by means of an assay modified for bovine serum, other enzyme activity, serum bile acids (SBA) concentration, or other biochemical constituents., Animals: A total of 187 dairy cattle were included: 106 were suspected to have liver dysfunction and were examined after referral by veterinarians; 70 were clinically healthy with mild FCL; and 11 were clinically healthy without FCL., Methods: Blood and liver biopsy samples were obtained after clinical examination. Histologic examination by light microscopy and classification of samples according to the severity of FCL was done, and total lipid and triglyceride concentration was measured. In serum, OCT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) activity as well as SBA, glucose, ketones, total bilirubin (tBIL), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration were measured., Results: OCT and AST activity and tBIL concentration correlate well with the degree of FCL. SBA concentration does not contribute well to FCL diagnosis. The majority of FCL cases appeared within the first 21 days-in-milk (DIM). The majority of moderate-to-severe and severe FCL cases arose in the first 7 DIM., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Except for OCT, AST, and tBIL, none of the biochemical tests used, including SBA, had sufficient discriminatory power to differentiate reliably between mild and severe FCL because of poor sensitivity. A weak correlation between clinical signs and the extent of FCL was evident.

Objective: To evaluate postsurgical outcome in dairy cows with left-displaced abomasum (LDA) with regard to severity of fatty liver and assess the usefulness of preoperative determination of serum ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) activity, bile acids concentration, and other variables for evaluating liver function during the postsurgical convalescence period., Design: Prospective study., Animals: 68 Holstein cows., Procedures: Blood and liver biopsy specimens were obtained during standing LDA surgery. Liver tissue was examined histologically and classified by severity of fatty change. Serum activities of liver-derived enzymes and concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides, bile acids, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, bilirubin, and nonesterified fatty acids were determined., Results: Most cows with LDA and cows with severe fatty liver were detected within the first month after calving. Postsurgical outcome was related to severity of fatty liver. All cows that died had severe fatty liver. Serum activities of OCT, aspartate aminotransferase, and glutamate dehydrogenase and serum total bilirubin concentration were sensitive indicators of fatty liver. Serum bile acids concentration was not an accurate indicator of fatty liver., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Postsurgical outcome of cows undergoing surgery to correct LDA was related to fatty liver severity. Assessment of serum activities of OCT, aspartate aminotransferase, and glutamate dehydrogenase and serum total bilirubin concentration is recommended for diagnosis of fatty liver in dairy cows with LDA, whereas determination of bile acids concentration is not. The strong correlation between OCT activity and degree of hepatocellular damage supports use of this enzyme for assessing severity of fatty liver and predicting postsurgical outcome in cows with LDA.

In the present study, we describe a series of 23 cases of ocular subconjunctival parasitic granulomas in dogs, admitted to the Clinic of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, between 1997 and 2000. The ophthalmic manifestations in all animals were periorbital swelling, discomfort, photophobia, conjunctival congestion, and discharge. A more detailed examination revealed the presence of periocular masses (nodules) on the subconjunctival bulbar space. Granulomatous or cyst-like formations were extracted surgically, and were found to contain thread-like nematode parasites. A histologic and parasitologic examination of tissues and parasites was carried out. Diagnosis of parasitic granulomas was made and the parasite was identified as Onchocerca sp. This is the largest series of cases reported of aberrant Onchocerca infections in dogs coming from one geographic location.

Brain tumors were induced in inbred Fischer rats (F344) by administration of methylnitrosourea in the drinking water. One of the induced tumors, a pleomorphic glioma (78-219), was established in vitro and propagated as 78FR-G-219 permanent cell line. The tumorigenicity of the established line was investigated by intracerebral or subcutaneous inoculation of 1X10 (6) - 10X10(6) cells. Lymphocytes infiltrating secondary tumors (TIL) were enriched by a single step centrifugation on different discontinuous Percoll density gradients, while blood lymphocytes (PBL) and lymphocytes from spleen and lymph node (SL and LNL) were enriched by Ficoll - Isopaque flotation. The reactivity spectrum of the isolated lymphocytes raised against cultured 78FR-G-219 cells was monitored by means of two different assays: Lymphocyte microcytotoxicity test (LMC) and colony inhibition assay (CIA). Reactivity of PBL, SL and LNL of glioma-bearing animals was clearly reduced, while TIL showed no natural killer (NK) activity, no cytotoxicity against syngeneic 78FR-G-219 pleomorphic glioma cells and no colony inhibition in mixed lymphocyte/target cell cocultivation. NK activity of TIL was only slightly reduced against target cells of a non-cross-reacting syngeneic astrocytoma line (78FR-G-299).