OBJECTIVE To assess differences in skin shrinkage between grossly visible tumor and grossly normal marginal skin of dogs for cutaneous mast cell tumors (MCTs) excised with curative intent and to determine an equation to estimate postexcisional gross tumor margins from preexcisional measurements and vice versa. SAMPLE 19 cytologically confirmed and surgically excised cutaneous MCTs obtained from dogs. PROCEDURES Tumors were measured in craniocaudal and dorsoventral directions before excision, immediately after excision, and after fixation in formalin. Both grossly visible tumor and surrounding grossly normal skin that comprised the surgical margin were measured at each time point. Percentage of shrinkage was compared among time points and between the tumor and surrounding grossly normal skin. Patient and histopathologic variables were correlated to skin shrinkage. RESULTS Overall shrinkage was 17.70%. The amount of shrinkage within the grossly visible tumor (4.45%) was less than that within the surrounding grossly normal skin (24.42%). Most of the shrinkage occurred immediately after excision. There was no effect of age, sex, completeness of excision, or degree of edema. Accuracy of an equation to estimate postexcisional margins from preexcisional measurements was only 18.4%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Grossly evident MCTs of dogs shrunk less than did the grossly normal surrounding skin. Although an equation to estimate postexcisional margins from preexcisional measurements could be derived, it likely would need to contain additional variables not included in the study reported here. Until such an equation exists, care must be used when extrapolating surgical margins from histologic margins and vice versa.

OBJECTIVE To determine the pharmacokinetics and sedative effects of 2 doses of a concentrated buprenorphine formulation after SC administration to red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis). ANIMALS 6 adult red-tailed hawks. PROCEDURES Concentrated buprenorphine (0.3 mg/kg, SC) was administered to all birds. Blood samples were collected at 10 time points over 24 hours after drug administration to determine plasma buprenorphine concentrations. After a 4-week washout period, the same birds received the same formulation at a higher dose (1.8 mg/kg, SC), and blood samples were collected at 13 time points over 96 hours. Hawks were monitored for adverse effects and assigned agitation-sedation scores at each sample collection time. Plasma buprenorphine concentrations were quantified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS Mean time to maximum plasma buprenorphine concentration was 7.2 minutes and 26.1 minutes after administration of the 0.3-mg/kg and 1.8-mg/kg doses, respectively. Plasma buprenorphine concentrations were > 1 ng/mL for mean durations of 24 and 48 hours after low- and high-dose administration, respectively. Mean elimination half-life was 6.23 hours for the low dose and 7.84 hours for the high dose. Mean agitation-sedation scores were higher (indicating some degree of sedation) than the baseline values for 24 hours at both doses. No clinically important adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Concentrated buprenorphine was rapidly absorbed, and plasma drug concentrations considered to have analgesic effects in other raptor species were maintained for extended periods. Most birds had mild to moderate sedation. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the pharmacodynamics of these doses of concentrated buprenorphine in red-tailed hawks.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prognostic value of CD44 variant isoform expression in dogs with multicentric high-grade B-cell lymphoma (BCL). ANIMALS 45 dogs with multicentric BCL and 10 healthy control Beagles. PROCEDURES The medical record database of a veterinary teaching hospital was searched to identify dogs with BCL that were treated between November 2005 and April 2015. Information regarding overall response to chemotherapy, progression-free survival (PFS) time, and overall survival time was extracted from each record. Archived lymph node aspirate specimens from dogs with BCL and lymph node aspirate specimens from the 10 control dogs underwent real-time PCR analysis to determine mRNA expression of CD44 variant isoforms of exons 3, 6, and 7 and the CD44 whole isoform. For each isoform, mRNA expression was compared between dogs with BCL and control dogs. The mean relative expression of each isoform was used to classify dogs with BCL into either a high- or low-expression group, and overall response rate, PFS time, and overall survival time (ie, indices of prognosis) were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS For all isoforms evaluated, mean relative mRNA expression for dogs with BCL was numerically lower than that for control dogs. Dogs with BCL and high CD44 isoform expression had a lower overall response rate, median PFS time, and median overall survival time, compared with dogs with BCL and low CD44 isoform expression. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that, for dogs with BCL, high expression of exons 3, 6, and 7 was associated with a poor prognosis.

Studies in humans have shown that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and the insulin-like growth factor axis are involved in carcinogenesis, thus, components of these systems might be useful as prognostic markers and constitute potential therapeutic targets. In veterinary medicine, only a few studies exist on this topic. Here, serum concentrations of 26S proteasome (26SP) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured by canine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 43 dogs suffering from malignant tumors and 21 clinically normal dogs (control group). Relationships with tumor size, survival time, body condition score (BCS), and tumor entity were assessed. The median 26SP concentration in the tumor group was non-significantly higher than in the control group. However, dogs with mammary carcinomas displayed significantly increased 26SP levels compared to the control group and dogs with tumor size less than 5 cm showed significantly increased 26SP concentrations compared to dogs with larger tumors and control dogs. 26SP concentrations were not correlated to survival time or BCS. No significant difference in IGF-1 levels was found between the tumor group and the control group; however, IGF-1 concentrations displayed a larger range of values in the tumor group. Dogs with tumors greater than 5 cm showed significantly higher IGF-1 levels than dogs with smaller tumors. The IGF-1 concentrations were positively correlated to survival time, but no correlation with BCS was found. Consequently, serum 26SP concentrations seem to be increased in some dogs suffering from malignant tumors, especially in dogs with mammary carcinoma and smaller tumors. Increased serum IGF-1 concentrations could be an indication of large tumors and a poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a bovine albumin–derivatized glutaraldehyde (BA-DG) biopolymer sealant on leakage pressures of intestinal anastomoses in jejunal tissue collected from fresh canine cadavers and to evaluate changes in circumference and cross-sectional area of the anastomotic site resulting from sealant application. SAMPLE 24 jejunal anastomoses from 4 fresh canine cadavers. PROCEDURES Jejunal tissue specimens were collected, and adjacent segment anastomoses were created within 12 hours after euthanasia of each dog. The tissue constructs were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups in which sealant was or was not applied. The outer circumference of all anastomoses in the sealant group was measured before and after application of the sealant; the cross-sectional area at the anastomotic site was then calculated at each time point. Tissue constructs were pressure tested, and leakage pressure and site were recorded. All testing was completed within 24 hours after tissue collection. RESULTS Compared with preapplication findings, there were no significant changes in outer circumference or cross-sectional area at the anastomotic site after sealant application. Leakage pressures in the sealant group were significantly higher than those in the no-sealant group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The use of surgical sealant on fresh canine cadaver jejunal anastomoses resulted in significantly higher leakage pressure at the anastomotic site; no immediate tissue deformation of the outer circumference or cross-sectional area occurred after sealant application. Future in vivo investigations are warranted to evaluate the effects of this sealant and potential benefits for clinical patients undergoing enterectomy.

A total of (120) sample of ready to eat (RTE) meat;(20) each of cooked luncheon, frankfurter, hot dog, pasterma, shawrma and smoked luncheon were collected from different shops and grocery stores in Beni-Suef City. To be examined for their microbial load for aerobic plate count (APC), most probable number (MPN) of coliforms, fecal coliforms and E.coli as well as Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci were enumerated. Additionally E.coli, salmonella and Listeria were isolated and identified biochemically. Aerobic plate count (APC) had the highest mean value in shawerma (1×107 ± 5×106CFU/g), shawerma also showed the highest most probable number (MPN) of coliforms and fecal coliforms (11 and 6 CFU/g) mean while pasterma was the highest contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (3×104 CFU/g) and the highest count of enterococci was detected in hot dog (3×105 CFU/g). On the other hand each of E.coli, Salmonella and Listeria species were failed to be detected in any of the examined samples. The public health significance as well as the recommendations to produce safe and high quality ready to eat (RTE) meat products were mentioned.

The efficacy of four infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccines including intermediate (D78) and intermediate plus (228E, IBD-Blen and Bursa-Vac+) were compared in priming vaccination of 10 days commercial old male layer chicks. There were different parameters were measured for testing these vaccines including; the immunogenic efficacy, the effect on performance, organ (bursa, spleen, and proventriculus) body weight index as well as histopathological examination of bursa, spleen, proventriculus and thymus. Chick was received a dose of 102 EID50 from one IBDV vaccine out of 228E, IBD-Blen or Bursa-Vac+, while D78 dose was 104 EID50. The results cleared out that all the tested vaccines passed through the maternal derived antibodies 2480.133 + 156.3. All vaccines stimulate antibody formation as measured by ELISA test. The used vaccines not affect markedly body weight and feed intake, as there were no significant differences between the control group and the vaccinated ones in the mean body weight and the feed conversion rate. Furthermore, the bursa: body weight index of vaccinated groups were generally less than those of control one at all intervals, while the spleen and proventriculus: spleen: body weight index of vaccinated groups was higher than control on at the end of the observation period. The used vaccines induced histopathological changes in bursa, spleen , proventriculus and thymus glands. These results indicated that all tested vaccine are of value in vaccination of commercial chicks from vaccinated breeders

Stability study of biological products especially living bacterial vaccines plays an important role for determination of product changes in maintenance period and ensures safety, efficacy and maintenance of biological properties of the vaccines. So, the objective of this study was to establish stability and keeping quality of the local Brucella melitensis Rev-1 vaccine using different types of stabilizers in lyophilization process. A long-term stability study was carried out for four batches of reduced-dose Brucella melitensis Rev-1 vaccine manufactured by veterinary serum and vaccine research institute using four different stabilizers. These stabilizers were (A) sucrose and skimmed milk, (B and C) different concentrations of sucrose, sodium glutamate and gelatin, and (D) casein, sucrose and sodium glutamate. The quality control tests including colony forming unit, purity, dissociation and physicochemical tests on all batches until 12 months post- production were performed. The obtained results indicated that, in spite of collapse (shrinkage) of lyophilized cake in a number of bottles in batches prepared using stabilizer A, the brucella vaccine batches were stable and met the specification recommended by OIE 2012 for 12 months post-production in vaccine batches with stabilizers A and D.

The objective of this work was to estimate the lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) levels in drinking water, layer feed and muscle samples were collected during winter season from two layer farms which present at two different areas, non industrial area (Integrated poultry project in El-Azab) and industrial area (Kom Oshim) in Tamia district in El-Fayoum province, Egypt. All samples will be analyzed to determine the translocations of heavy metals from water and feed to the bird's muscle. The results explained that the mean metal concentrations in the different samples of selected poultry farms are Pb (1.1034±0.097, 1.173±0.129), (2.891±0.194, 3.182±0.28) and (0.071±0.03, 0.099±0.0396 ppm). Cd (0.419±0.004, 0.389±0.017), (0.508±0.017, 0.5854±0.003) and (0.005±0.0013, 0.0125±0.003 ppm). Cu (5.9±2.1, 0.8596±0.054), (9.15±1.202, 14.75±0.417) and (0.0442±0.0075, 0.03032±0.004 ppm). Zn (14.50±1.285, 13.628±1.053), (57.605±3.06, 58.319±0.73) and (0.0668±0.018, 0.016±0.00498 ppm). Fe (171.011±79.6, 186.74±72.65), (153.58±15.3, 124.12±3.26) and (0.013±0.008 ppm, ND). And Mn (3.187±1.539, 1.398±0.768), (84.98±5.676, 85.884±1.07) and (0.0056±0.0037ppm, ND) for muscle, layer feeds and drinking water which were collected from non industrial area and industrial area in ElFayoum province, Egypt, respectively. These data indicated that Pb and Cd in muscle, layer feeds and drinking water collected from industrial area were higher than that collected from non industrial area. Also these metals residual concentrations particularly in layer muscle and drinking water were more than the permissible limits.

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of three natural food supplements (water hyacinth [Eichhorniacrassipes, ''EC''], Yeast [Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ''S. cerevisiae''] and date seeds) on the reproductive and productive activities in male rats. Thus, 40 male albino rats were used and divided equally into 4 groups; Control group (fed normal basal diet), EC supplemented group (400 mg EC / kg body weight), S. cerevisiae supplemented group (120 mg / kg body weight) and date seed supplemented group (0.2 mg / kg body weight). Two months later, all rats were sacrificed and all samples were collected. Results revealed that date seeds supplementation increased significantly the body weight gain. Moreover, date seeds and S. cerevisiae supplementation increased significantly gonadosomatic index, serum levels of total antioxidant capacity TAC and all studied reproductive parameters P 0.05 as well as it decreased serum level of malondialdehyde ''MDA''. On the other side, EC supplementation reduced significantly the studied reproductive parameters as well as it decreased the serum level of TAC and increased the level of MDA. Histopathologicaly, seminiferous tubules appeared with huge amount of spermatids in date seeds group and with moderate number of spermatids in S. cerevisiae group and with few number of spermatids in EC group. Therefore, the present study highly recommends the usage of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as date seeds to minimize the ration costs, get the optimal benefit from the natural components of both supplements as well as to induce a higher productive and reproductive performance among animals.