Chicken dendritic cells and type II pneumocytes express a common intracellular epitope

1. CVI-ChNL 74·3, a dendritic cell-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) also identifies chicken lung granular pneumocytes (type II pneumocytes), which produce surfactant.

2. The 74·3 mAb does not cross-react with any other avian or mammalian granular pneumocyte, and provides a convenient tool for monitoring the status of type II pneumocytes in the chicken lung.     

Hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase and glucocorticoid abuse in meat cattle

Bertarelli, D., Balbo, A., Carletti, M., Cannizzo, T., Girolami, F., Nebbia, C. Hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase and glucocorticoid abuse in meat cattle. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.  35 , 596–603. Besides being extensively applied as therapeutical remedies, glucocorticoids (GCs) – most notably dexamethasone or prednisolone – are also illegally used in livestock for growth‐promoting purposes. This study was designed to assess the suitability of liver tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), a gluconeogenic enzyme known to be induced by GCs, to act as a reliable candidate biomarker to screen for GC abuse in cattle. Enzyme activity was measured spectrophotometrically in liver cytosols or in cell extracts, and TAT gene expression was determined by real‐time PCR. Compared with untreated veal calves, a notable scatter (20‐fold) and much higher median values (3‐fold) characterized TAT specific activity in liver samples from commercially farmed veal calves. A time‐related increase in both enzyme activity and gene expression was detected in rat hepatoma cell lines treated with dexamethasone concentrations (10^?8 or 10^?9 m ) in the range of those recorded in noncompliant samples from EU official controls. In experimental studies in which finishing bulls were administered GCs at growth‐promoting dosages, however, no such changes were recorded in dexamethasone‐treated animals; a statistically significant rise in liver TAT activity (+95%) only occurred in prednisolone‐treated bulls. Although further research is needed to characterize the GC‐mediated response in cattle liver, TAT does not appear to be a specific and sensitive biomarker of GC abuse in the bovine species.     

Successful reduction of a monozygotic equine twin pregnancy via transabdominal ultrasound‐guided cardiac puncture

In horses, twin pregnancy is pathological and represents a potentially life‐threatening condition to the mare and foal. Twinning occurs in approximately 2% of pregnancies. Of these, the majority of cases are dizygotic twins, resulting from 2 ovulations and monozygotic twins are rare. A 12‐year‐old Quarter Horse mare was presented for breeding management with shipped cooled semen and embryo transfer. Seven days post ovulation, a single late morula/early blastocyst was recovered and transferred immediately to a recipient mare. Thirty‐six days after transfer, transrectal ultrasound examination revealed the presence of 2 embryos. A transcutaneous reduction of one of the fetuses was performed successfully at 128 days of gestation. This report is the first to describe a successful reduction of monozygotic twins by transcutaneous ultrasound‐guided cardiac puncture.     

Progesterone production in mares and echographic evaluation of the corpora lutea formed after follicular aspiration

Ultrasound‐guided follicular aspiration was performed in 26 Criollo crossbred mares, followed by the evaluation of ultrasonographic images of the Corpus luteum (CL) that was formed after puncture of follicles of different diameters (Group 25–29 mm; Group 30–35 mm and Group >35 mm). Serum progesterone (P₄) concentrations were measured to determine CL function. The size of the CL was measured and the CL was classified based on the following echoscore: 1– anechoic tissue; 2– poorly defined luteal structure with low echogenicity; 3– echogenicity analogous to a luteal structure. The proportion of aspirated follicles that formed a functional CL (based on P₄ concentration) 8 days after aspiration was 57.1% (4/7; CL size 25–29 mm), 75.0% (6/8; CL size 30–35 mm) and 72.7% (8/11; CL size >35 mm), respectively (p > 0.05). The echographic scores of aspirated follicles (indicating the presence or absence of a CL) were consistent with serum P₄ concentrations (p < 0.0001). Of 26 aspirations, 18 resulted in luteal function confirmed by increased progesterone concentrations ([P₄] > 1.0 ng/ml); 17 of these mares (94.4%) had an echoscore (2–3) compatible with luteinization (p = 0.0372). Eight days after aspiration, serum [P₄] > 2.0 ng/ml was associated with high (p = 0.0056) CL echoscore (3) in 15 of 17 mares (88.2%). The echoscore used in this study was valuable as a screening test to detect the presence of a functional CL after aspiration. An echoscore of 3 served as a practical and efficient method to confirm luteinization.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal planum in 17 dogs

Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal planum was diagnosed in 17 dogs over a period of 11 years. Ulceration, bleeding and sneezing were the most common clinical signs. One dog had cytological evidence of metastasis to the local lymph node. The dogs were treated by surgical resection, fractionated megavoltage irradiation, or a combination of the two. Surgical resection gave the most favourable results; four of six dogs were cured but a recurrence of the tumour was predicted in the other two on the basis of incomplete or marginal resection. Radiotherapy alone was not as effective; one of four dogs was cured, and the tumour recurred in the others within 24 weeks (median eight weeks). Combined surgical resection and radiotherapy did not produce a cure in any of the seven remaining dogs, and the tumour recurred within 12 weeks (median nine weeks). Three dogs had cytological evidence of lymph node metastasis when the tumour recurred. The dogs' prognosis was adversely affected by the interval between their initial examination and treatment, but there was no apparent association between the histological grade of the tumour and the clinical outcome.     

Infection of the subcutis and skin of cats with rapidly growing mycobacteria: a review of microbiological and clinical findings.

Mycobacteria were isolated and characterised from 49 cats with extensive infections of the subcutis and skin. Cats were generally between 3 and 10 years of age, and female cats were markedly over-represented. All isolates were rapid-growers and identified as either Mycobacteria smegmatis (40 strains) or M fortuitum (nine strains). On the basis of Etest for minimum inhibitory concentration and/or disc diffusion susceptibility testing, all strains of M smegmatis were susceptible to trimethoprim while all strains of M fortuitum were resistant. M smegmatis strains were typically susceptible to doxycycline, gentamicin and fluoroquinolones but not clarithromycin. All M fortuitum strains were susceptible to fluoroquinolones, and often also susceptible to gentamicin, doxycycline and clarithromycin. Generally, M smegmatis strains were more susceptible to antimicrobial agents than M fortuitum strains. Treatment of mycobacterial panniculitis involves long courses of antimicrobial agents, typically of 3-6 months, chosen on the basis of in vitro susceptibility testing and often combined with extensive surgical debridement and wound reconstruction. These therapies will result in effective cure of the disease. One or a combination of doxycycline, ciprofloxacin/enrofloxacin or clarithromycin are the drugs of choice for long-term oral therapy.     

Mycobacterial neuritis in a cat

A 2-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was referred for evaluation of rapidly progressive lameness of the right hind limb, which was paralyzed. Histologic examination of biopsy specimens revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation affecting the sciatic, common peroneal, and tibial nerves, and slender, beaded, acid-fast bacilli within macrophages, nerve fibers, and degenerate axons. A diagnosis of mycobacterial neuritis was made and the cat was treated with clofazimine and enrofloxacin for extended periods. Treatment was partially effective; the goal of returning normal function to the limb was not achieved, but disease progression was halted and the cat remained a viable pet.