1,721,013 research outputs found
Conjunctival myxoma in a dog: clinical and histopathological features
No full textCase report: A 9-year-old male Bull Terrier was presented for a 3-month history of a progressive, non-painful conjunctival mass of the right eye. The mass was exophytic and located in the temporal bulbar conjunctiva. No adhesion to the sclera was detected. A presumptive clinical diagnosis of a conjunctival neoplasia was made. Complete physical and ophthalmological examinations of the dog, as well as complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, urinalysis, thoracic radiography, echocardiography and abdominal ultrasonography, were performed. The mass was surgically removed and a double freeze–thaw cycle of cryotherapy was performed locally. Histological examination of the removed tissue showed a well-delineated, non-encapsulated mass composed of spindle cells in loose myxomatous stroma. No nuclear atypia was observed in the tumour cells. A positive Alcian blue stain confirmed the mucin origin of the stroma. Tumour cells stained positive on immunohistochemistry for vimentin and negative for cytokeratins. A diagnosis was made of conjunctival myxoma. No evidence of local recurrence or distant metastases was identified during the 24-month follow-up period. Conclusion: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report on a conjunctival myxoma in dogs
Occurrence of anti Toxoplasma antibodies in owned dogs from Italy: a retrospective study
Full text linkoxoplasma infection in human patients is still an important problem in Italy. Dogs seem to have a role in the epidemiology of human toxoplasmosis, being their presence associated with increased seroprevalence to Toxoplasma gondii in humans. Dogs can act as intermediate hosts of this parasite being able to harbor tissue cysts, but this way their reservoir importance for human infection is negligible. Their impact on human health could be due to their role in contaminating the household environment, so permitting the exposure to T. gondii the inhabitants. Serum samples of N. 1811 owned dogs randomly collected were examined by IFAT for antibodies against T. gondii. One hundred ninety two sera out of 1811 (10.6%) scored positive, with titers ranging from 1/20 to 1/640. Seroprevalence was significantly (P< 0.01) higher in adult than in juvenile dogs. On the contrary, it not significantly differed with regards to gender and feeding habits. This is the first report of occurrence of antibodies in an extensive specimen of dogs in Italy. The results of the present survey would indicate a relatively high occurrence of antibodies against T. gondii among owned dogs in the investigated area, confirming that attention should be paid in the management of this domestic species
Correlation Between Cyclo-oxygenase-2 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression in Canine and Feline Squamous Cell Carcinomas
No full textOverexpression of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 is involved in tumour growth and spread by modulating the production of angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Expression of COX-2 and VEGF was investigated immunohistochemically in 51 canine and feline cutaneous and non-cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and the correlation between expression of these molecules and clinicopathological variables was evaluated. COX-2 and VEGF expression was not observed in normal skin keratinocytes. COX-2 overexpression occurred in 53% and 61% of the canine and feline SCCs, respectively. The expression of both markers was higher in cutaneous compared with non-cutaneous SCCs. In both species COX-2 and VEGF expression was correlated with the progression of the disease, but not with the presence of lymphatic invasion, tumour grading or tumour classification in the cutaneous tumours. Further study will be required to understand the role of the COX-2 pathway in angiogenesis in SCC
Cutaneous lesions due to Trichosporon jiroveci in a tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
Full text linkCutaneous mycoses have been rarely reported in Chelonians. A Testudo hermanni adult male showed a thick
erosion of the dorsal neck covered by necrotic material. Trichosporon sp. was cultivated, while arthrospores and
hyphae were observed in histological sections. The causative agent was identified as Trichosporon jirovecii by
PCR. After a surgical intervention povidone iodine and Iruxol® ointment were daily administered through the
drainage for 2 weeks, along with enrofloxacin 5 mg diluted in saline 0.5 ml via the intracelomatic route. After
treatment the ulcer healed with residual scars. No relapse was registered after 12 months. T. jirovecii is considered
as a rare yeast pathogen and the presented case is the first report of a dermatomycosis in tortoises caused
by this yeast species
Tick-borne infections in horses from Tuscany, Italy
No full textTo estimate the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in horses living in areas of Tuscany (Italy) with high risk of arthropod exposure, blood samples from 160 clinically healthy grazing horses were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Coxiella burnetii, Babesia caballi, and Theileria equi. Tick-borne infections were detected in 70 (43.75%) horses, in particular 43 animals (26.87%) resulted positive for T. equi, 41 (25.62%) for A. phagocytophilum, six (3.75%) for C. burnetii, and five (3.12%) for B. burgdorferi s.l. All horses scored negative for B. caballi. Twenty-five animals were coinfected: four horses (2.5%) were positive for A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l., four (2.5%) for C. burnetii and T. equi, and 17 (10.62%) for A. phagocytophilum and T. equi. Our results show the spread of tick-borne agents in equine population, including those able to infect humans. Detection of C. burnetii is of critical relevance because it is a severe zoonotic agent, that may be transmitted not only by tick bites, but also through feces, urine, and birth products of infected animals
Occurrence of Escherichia coli virulence genes in feces of wild birds from Central Italy
Full text linkObjective: To investigate the potential role of wild birds as fecal spreaders of enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and Shiga-toxins producing Escherichia coli (E. coli), enteropathogenic E. coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains. Methods: Fecal samples collected from 121 wild birds of different orders and species were submitted to molecular analyses. In particular, eaeA encoding intimin, hlyA encoding for hemolysin, stx1 and stx2 genes encoding Shiga-toxins 1 and 2, respectively, were investigated. Results: Overall, 21(17.35%) fecal samples resulted positive for at least one of the investigated genes. In detail, 12(9.91%) samples were positive for eaeA, 10(8.26%) for stx1, 4(3.31%) for hylA and 1(0.83%) for stx2. An owl (Athene noctua) positive for the four investigated genes suggesting that it harbored a STEC strain. However, virulence genes characterizing EPEC, and EHEC strains were mainly found among seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons. Conclusions: Seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons, which frequently reach and contaminate rural, urban and peri-urban areas with their droppings, may be important sources of E. coli infection for other animals and humans
Neospora caninum oocyst shedding in a naturally infected dog from Italy
Full text linkAlthough the seroprevalence of Neospora caninuminfection in dogs can be relatively high, there are fewreports of
dogs naturally shedding N. caninum oocysts. Worldwide, the prevalence of Neospora excretion in canine faeces
ranges from 0.03% to 4.9%.
A mixed-breed male household dog of about 8 years in age living in the district of Pisa (Tuscany, Central Italy)
was referred for dysorexia, weakness and general lymph node enlargement. Clinical pathology demonstrated
mild normocytic and normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypoproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia.
Serology for Leishmania, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum was negative. From lymph node and
bone marrow analysis, T cell lymphoma, high grade, pleomorphic type, clinical stage V, was diagnosed. The
dog was treated with a chemotherapy induction protocol with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone
for 8 weeks. A faecal sample collected from the dog 7 days after the beginning of the treatment and analysed
by flotation test and a McMaster method, revealed the presence of 300 OPG N. caninum-like unsporulated oocysts
of about 10–11 μmin diameter. An aliquot of the same faecal sample analysed by PCRwith species-specific primer
pairs Np6+/Np21+ was positive for N. caninum DNA, while specific serology performed on sera collected at
the first visit and a month later by IFAT, were positive with a titer of 1: 50 and 1:400, respectively. Soon after the
dog died.
Naturally occurring systemic illness or iatrogenic immunosuppression may predispose dogs to proliferation of
the parasite. The dog was receiving chemo-immunosuppressive treatment for T cell lymphoma. For this reason
it is possible to suppose that emission of Neospora oocysts in this dog was caused by reactivation of a latent
infection
Seroprevalence and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in horses slaughtered for human consumption in Italy
No full textThis study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii–specific immunoglobulin G antibodies, to detect T. gondii DNA and to genotype the parasite in horses (N = 153) slaughtered at two plants located in a province of Northern Italy. Blood samples were collected, and sera were examined by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (cutoff titer, ≥1:20). Portions of tongue, masseter muscle, and heart from seropositive horses were used for nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genotyping of T. gondii DNA from nested PCR–positive tissues was performed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism of 13 markers. Seropositivity for T. gondii was detected in 17.6% of slaughtered horses. Prevalence was higher in females than in males and in older (aged >9 years) than in younger horses. Grade horses were statistically more likely to be infected than purebred ones. Three (11.1%) randomly chosen heart samples harbored T. gondii DNA. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis showed type I, mixed II/III, and III genotypes. Our results suggest that consumption of raw or undercooked meat from horses slaughtered in the study area may represent a potential source for human and animal infection with T. gondii in Italy
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