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Simple Summary: Avian malaria, caused by Plasmodium, is considered to be a major vector-borne disease in raptors. Most infected raptors present no clinical manifestations, which are from subclinical to various morbidity. There are occasional reports of Plasmodium infected in raptors in Thailand. However, the information of parasite impact on infected raptors is limited. The objectives of this study are to investigate the prevalence in wild raptor populations by using active surveillance in several localities of Thailand and evaluate the impact of avian malaria in raptors' health. The authors found that Southern Thailand has higher prevalence of avian malaria than the other country's regions. This suggested that the raptors in Southern Thailand, which has humid environment, are more vulnerable to the malarial infection. Additionally, most tested raptors could tolerate the infection. The results from this study can be used for development of strategies for management of endangered raptor species, especially in rehabilitation institutes. Raptors (Accipitriformes, Falconiformes and Strigiformes) are important for ecological niches as bioindicators and an apex predator; however, their global populations have continuously decreased due to human activities, habitat loss and contagious diseases. Avian malaria that may cause the negative impact on raptors' health may also contribute to the declining of raptor populations. This study reported malaria's molecular prevalence and genetic diversity in wild-caught and rehabilitated raptors in the Kasetsart University Raptor Rehabilitation Unit. In total, 109 raptors from 18 provinces of Thailand were classified into two groups, which included 78 diurnal raptors (DIRs) in Accipitriformes and 31 nocturnal raptors (NORs) in Strigiformes. Each ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) blood sample (0.5–1 mL) was tested through haematological analyses and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection to assess parasites' health impacts. Amplicons of PCR positive samples were analysed for a nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic relationships. The overall prevalence of avian malaria was low at 3.67% (4/109) (95% CI: 1.44–9.06%), with a prevalence of 3.86% (3/78) (95% CI: 1.32–10.70%) in DIRs and 3.23% (1/31) (95% CI: 1.32–10.70%) in NORs. Most of the infected samples were from southern Thailand. This suggested that the raptors in humid habitats are more vulnerable to the malarial infection, which was likely associated with vector and parasite abundance. Clinical appearances and haematological examinations demonstrated that raptors could tolerate the infection and only became asymptomatic and subclinically infected. This study is the first report of the infection of avian malaria in Cinerous Vulture, Himalayan Vulture and Barred Eagle Owl in Thailand, providing baseline information in preparedness for the disease diagnostic and further study of avian malaria in some endangered raptor species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-nine canine intraocular transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) tissue samples from 21 dogs diagnosed between 2008 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. The following clinical data were compared: patient signalment; onset of clinical signs; ophthalmic signs; location of intraocular lesion; duration of unilateral intraocular TVT to bilateral intraocular TVT during the two-year follow-up period; and treatment. Thirty-eight percent (8/21) of the dogs with intraocular TVT eventually had bilateral intraocular TVT within two years. Seventy-five percent (6/8) of the dogs with bilateral intraocular TVT had initially presented with a unilateral lesion. Two dogs that presented with intraocular TVT had no history of genital or extragenital TVT. Chemotherapy did not lead to complete remission of intraocular TVT in contrast to genital and extragenital TVT. Enucleation was performed for all affected eyes. The spread of genital/extragenital TVT to unilateral or bilateral intraocular TVT should be considered and monitored for at least 24 months or longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammary gland tumors are by far the most commonly found tumors in domestic dogs. Effective therapeutic procedures with prompt accurate diagnoses are of prime importance for this life threatening neoplasm. Although immunohistochemical methods provide valuable information such as the location and semi-quantitative data of the interested antigens in particular tumors, conventional methods like histopathological diagnosis remain useful and necessary for identification and classification of tumors. In the present study, we combined histopathology with immunohistochemical staining of estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) in canine mammary gland tumors. Fifty dogs with primary mammary tumors underwent surgery at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Mahidol University during 2005 to 2007. Three of them were diagnosed with precancerous lesions and negatively stained for ER or PR antibody. Twenty-one were diagnosed with benign tumors classified as adenomas and benign mixed mammary gland tumors. Nearly 60% of thelesions were negatively stained for ER or PR. PR positively stained, both PR and ER stained and ER stained tumors accounted for 19%, 19% and 5%, respectively. Of the malignant tumors, eighty-six percent were adenocarcinomas and 14% were malignant mixed mammary gland tumors. Nearly 70% were negatively stained for ER or PR, 14% were PR positively stained, 14% were both PR and ER stained and 5% were ER stained. Four dogs had unidentified lesions. In summary, more than half of of our benign and malignant canine mammary tumors were negatively stained for ER and PR. This indicates a lack of correlation with estrogen and/or progesterone receptor expression.

To determine the effect of swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection on pregnant gilts, their fetuses, and offspring, 12 gilts were intravenously inoculated with swine HEV. Six gilts, who were not inoculated, served as controls. All inoculated gilts became actively infected and shed HEV in feces, but vertical transmission was not detected in the fetuses. There was no evidence of clinical disease in the gilts or their offspring. Mild multifocal lymphohistiocytic hepatitis was observed in 4 of 12 inoculated gilts. There was no significant effect of swine HEV on fetal size, fetal viability, or offspring birth weight or weight gain. The offspring acquired anti-HEV colostral antibodies but remained seronegative after the antibodies waned by 71 days of age. Swine HEV infection induced subclinical hepatitis in pregnant gilts, but had no effect on the gilts' reproductive performance, or the fetuses or offspring. Fulminant hepatitis associated with HEV infection was not reproduced in gilts.