An adult beagle dog was presented with a cervical mass detected by palpation and computed tomography. Fine needle aspirates revealed numerous epithelial cells with plasmacytoid appearance and frequent naked nuclei. Histologically, the mass consists of multiple packets of neoplastic cells and extensive areas of necrosis and fibrosis. Neoplastic cells were also found in submandibular lymph nodes. Immunohistochemistry showed that neoplastic cells were positive for calcitonin and negative for thyroglobulin. Based on these findings, the cervical mass was diagnosed as thyroid C-cell carcinoma. Almost one year after the surgical excision, the dog remains healthy without any symptom of recurrence or metastasis.

This study was focusing on evaluating the protection of polyphosphate kinase (ppk) deleted and/or temperature-sensitive (ts) Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) as an attenuated vaccine in chickens. We constructed SEppk, SEts and SEppk::ts mutants and screened those mutants by growth capability in vitro, protection study in mice model and antibody response in chickens. Among the mutants, SEppk::ts-3 was selected because it showed higher growth capability, good protection against highly virulent SE in mice model, and good antibody response in chickens. SEppk::ts-3 also showed good protection against highly virulent SE isolate because it decreased colonization of virulent SE challenge strain in spleen, liver and cecum compared with the non-vaccinated control. The SEppk::ts-3 mutant showed crossprotection against S. Gallinarum (SG) challenge although the its cross-protection rate was a little lower than that of SG9R, a commercial vaccine against SG infection. To use for live attenuated vaccine in chickens, it should further be characterized.

Tigers are one of the most endangered species over the world and protected internationally or locally. However, they are still traded illegally for the Traditional East Asia Medicine or souvenirs / mementos as well as fake products. In the present study, to identify the species of the specimen known as the tiger’s genitalia that was sold for mementos in China, two approaches of genetic tools and morphological comparisons were applied. On the basis of the entire sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1,140 bp), the result of nucleotide comparisons showed that the specimen examined here is matched with banteng, Bos javanicus (Identities = 1,138/1,140; 99%). In addition, the examination of external morphological characters revealed that the genitalia of the specimen is much more similar to the one of cows, not to tigers. The outcomes highlighted that there are still some fake products of tigers traded in market and molecular genetic tools could help identifying species of wildlife products.

This study evaluated two different surgical techniques for the treatment of palmar annular ligament desmitis (PAL) in horses. The group 1 (G1) consisted of 11 Thoroughbred submitted to desmotomy, and G2 of 22 horses that underwent PAL desmectomy. There was no statistically significant difference between mean palmar annular ligament thickness in both groups evaluated (p = 0.800). In this study, the horses of G1 had 12 times more chance to return to physical activity, when compared to animals of G2 (p = 0.033; O.R. = 12.0; C.I.95% = 1,142-126,122). Desmectomy was more efficient in promoting the resolution of the injury and the return to sports activity.

In aerobiology, dose-response studies are used to estimate the risk of infection to a susceptible host presented by exposure to a specific dose of an airborne pathogen. In the research setting, host- and pathogen-specific factors that affect the dose-response continuum can be accounted for by experimental design, but the requirement to precisely determine the dose of infectious pathogen to which the host was exposed is often challenging. By definition, quantification of viable airborne pathogens is based on the culture of micro-organisms, but some airborne pathogens are transmissible at concentrations below the threshold of quantification by culture. In this paper we present an approach to the calculation of exposure dose at microbiologically unquantifiable levels using an application of the “continuous-stirred tank reactor (CSTR) model” and the validation of this approach using rhodamine B dye as a surrogate for aerosolized microbial pathogens in a dynamic aerosol toroid (DAT).

Abundant lymphocyte infiltration is frequently found in canine malignant mammary tumors, but the pathological features and immunophenotypes associated with the infiltration remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between lymphocyte infiltration, histopathological features, and molecular phenotype in canine mammary carcinoma (MC). The study was done with archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples (n = 47) by histologic and immunohistochemical methods. The degree of lymphocyte infiltration was evaluated by morphologic analysis, and the T- and B-cell populations as well as the T/B-cell ratio were evaluated by morphometric analysis; results were compared with the histologic features and molecular phenotypes. The degree of lymphocyte infiltration was significantly higher in MCs with lymphatic invasion than in those without lymphatic invasion (P < 0.0001) and in tumors of high histologic grade compared with those of lower histologic grade (P = 0.045). Morphometric analysis showed a larger amount of T-cells and B-cells in MCs with a higher histologic grade and lymphatic invasion, but the T/B ratio did not change. Lymphocyte infiltration was not associated with histologic type or molecular phenotype, as assessed from the immunohistochemical expression of epidermal growth factor receptor 2, estrogen receptor, cytokeratin 14, and p63. Since intense lymphocyte infiltration was associated with aggressive histologic features, lymphocytes may be important for tumor aggressiveness and greater malignant behavior in the tumor microenvironment.

Objective—To determine the effects of dexamethasone or synthetic ACTH administration on endogenous ACTH concentrations in healthy dogs. Animals—10 healthy neutered dogs. Procedures—Each dog received dexamethasone (0.01 mg/kg), synthetic ACTH (5 μg/kg), or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.5 mL) IV at intervals of ≥ 30 days. Plasma endogenous ACTH concentrations were measured before (baseline; time 0) and 1, 8, 12, and 24 hours after drug administration; serum cortisol concentrations were measured before and 1 hour after synthetic ACTH and saline solution administration and 8 hours after dexamethasone administration. Results—Analysis of serum cortisol concentrations confirmed effects of drug administration. Dexamethasone significantly decreased the endogenous ACTH concentration from the baseline value at both 8 and 12 hours. Synthetic ACTH administration significantly decreased the endogenous ACTH concentration from the baseline value at 8 hours. Saline solution administration had no significant effect on endogenous ACTH concentration. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Dexamethasone and synthetic ACTH administered IV at doses used routinely during testing for hyperadrenocorticism caused significant but transient reductions of endogenous ACTH concentrations in healthy dogs. Thus, a 2-hour washout period following ACTH stimulation testing before collection of samples for measurement of the endogenous ACTH concentration may be insufficient. Although this effect has not been verified in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, these data suggested that samples for measurement of endogenous ACTH concentrations should be obtained before or > 8 hours after initiation of an ACTH stimulation test or before or > 12 hours after the start of a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test.

The objective of this study was to determine rates of estrus and conception in lactating multiparous Holstein cows given 500 μg of cloprostenol intramuscularly after detection of the following ≥ 60 d after parturition: a solid corpus luteum (CL), a CL with a nonechodense cavity ≤ 20 mm in diameter (CLcav), a luteal cyst (cavity > 20 mm in diameter and a luteinized wall > 3 mm in diameter), or a follicular cyst (cavity > 20 mm and a luteinized wall ≤ 3 mm in diameter). The estrus rates were 335/419 (80.0%), 183/223 (82.1%), 170/182 (93.4%), and 44/87 (50.6%), respectively (P < 0.0001), and the conception rates 30 to 36 d after insemination among the estrous cows with an apparently normal mucus discharge were 130/285 (45.6%), 44/141 (31.2%), 39/79 (49.4%), and 19/30 (63.3%), respectively (P < 0.002). Compared with a solid CL, a CLcav did not affect the estrus rate but significantly reduced the conception rate (P < 0.05), and the estrus rates were significantly higher and lower in cows with a luteal or follicular cyst, respectively (P < 0.05).

Objective—To evaluate the effects of perioperative oral administration of carprofen and meloxicam on concentrations of 3 acute-phase proteins in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Animals—18 healthy adult anestrous female dogs undergoing elective OVH. Procedures—Dogs were allocated to 3 groups (6 dogs/group). A placebo treatment, carprofen (2.0 mg/kg), or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was orally administered to the dogs of the respective groups. The initial doses were administered 30 minutes before premedication prior to OVH; additional doses were administered once daily for 4 days after surgery. Blood samples were collected 45 minutes before premedication and 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after the end of OVH; samples were used for measurement of total WBC and neutrophil counts and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen. Results—Values did not differ significantly among groups for WBC and neutrophil counts, serum concentrations of CRP and ceruloplasmin, and plasma concentrations of fibrinogen. Concentrations of all inflammatory markers, except serum ceruloplasmin, increased significantly following OVH, but in a similar manner for each group. No significant changes were detected in serum ceruloplasmin concentrations over time. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Perioperative administration of both carprofen and meloxicam did not significantly affect the concentrations of CRP, ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen in dogs undergoing OVH. Thus, use of carprofen or meloxicam should not affect clinical interpretation of results for these 3 acute-phase proteins.

There is evidence that vitamin E (VE) has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in human osteoarthritis (OA). This double-blinded and randomized pilot study used a broad spectrum of clinical and laboratory parameters to investigate whether such beneficial effects could be detected in a canine experimental OA model. Dogs were divided into 2 groups: control (n = 8), which received a placebo, and test group (n = 7), which received 400 IU/animal per day of VE for 55 d, starting the day after transection of the cranial cruciate ligament. Lameness and pain were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS), numerical rating scale (NRS), and electrodermal activity (EDA) at day 0, day 28, and day 55. Cartilage and synovial inflammation lesions were assessed. One-side comparison was conducted at an alpha-threshold of 10%. At day 56, dogs were euthanized and concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) were measured in synovial fluid. Concentrations of NOx and PGE2 in synovial fluid were lower in the test group (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Values of VAS, NRS, and EDA showed a consistent trend to be lower in the test group than in the control, while statistical significance was reached for VAS at day 55 and for EDA at day 28 (adjusted P = 0.07 in both cases). Histological analyses of cartilage showed a significant reduction in the scores of lesions in the test group. This is the first time that a study in dogs with OA using a supplement with a high dose of vitamin E showed a reduction in inflammation joint markers and histological expression, as well as a trend to improving signs of pain.