Malignant melanoma in a seagull (Larus fuscus): morphological and immunohistochemical approach

A common seagull (Larus fuscus) was found near the southern coast of Italy by the veterinarians of the local wild animal rescue center. Physical examination of the bird revealed an ulcerated mass involving a majority of the oral cavity; the mass did not allow for normal feeding. After the bird died necropsy was performed and the mass was histologically and immunohistochemically examined. The morphology and the immunoreactivity for Melan-A and S-100 antigens led to a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. This is the first case of malignant melanoma described in a seagull, and herein we compare the characteristics of the present case with malignant melanoma already described in domestic animals.     

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Equine Ocular Diseases: A Retrospective Study of 38 Eyes

Ocular ultrasonography in horses represents a valuable imaging diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of intraocular and periocular diseases, particularly when cornea or lens opacities preclude ophthalmoscopy of deeper structures. The authors studied normal and pathological aspects of the eye. Nineteen horses with opacities of the dioptric structures underwent an ultrasound examination. This technique allowed the diagnosis of a posterior synechia (1), cataracts (8), vitreous opacities (6), retinal detachment (3), and a foreign body (1). Ultrasonography provided helpful information about the structure and vascular pattern when the conventional ophthalmic evaluation was unable to achieve a correct diagnosis.     

Chemical and nutritional characteristics of Cannabis sativa L. co-products

Cannabis sativa L. is an annual herbaceous plant. It was used for centuries to obtain different products. In the last century, hemp cultivation was forbidden due to the psychoactive effects of tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA). In the last years, new strains, characterized by high cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and low THCA level, were developed renewing the interest in hemp cultivation to obtain food or to extract essential oils from flowers. All these processes produce many residues with different chemical–physical characteristics. In order to evaluate their potential use also in animal nutrition, some hemp co-products were evaluated. Two different co-products of seed processes (flour and oil) and two co-products obtained trimming the flowers, differing in granulometry were used. The samples were analysed for chemical composition and evaluated in vitro using the gas production technique with buffaloes' ruminal inoculum. All hemp co-products showed interesting nutritional characteristics, such as crude protein content always higher than 20% on a dry matter basis, and high neutral detergent fibre concentration partially lignified. The in vitro gas production parameters at 120 h of incubation showed quite low fermentability testified by the low organic matter degradability and cumulative gas volume (OMD from 28.09 to 45.64% and OMCV from 110 to 164 ml/g, respectively). Also, the methane produced after 24 h of incubation was particularly low (from 1.78 to 11.73 ml/g dOM). These results could be due to the high lipid and ash amounts or to the CBDA content that probably affected the CH₄ formation processes. According to preliminary results obtained by this study, it is possible to hypothesize that these co-products could be useful to mitigate the methane production into the rumen. Further studies are necessary in order to evaluate the correct inclusion into the diet for ruminants.     

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum in sheep in the state Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with infection due to Neospora caninum in serum samples from 488 sheep originating from 63 farms in 63 municipalities distributed across eight of the twelve mesoregions of the state Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. For detection of N. caninum the sheep serum samples were subjected to the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 50). To identify the risk factors associated with infection due to N. caninum a questionnaire was filled out for each herd by interviewing, the individual responsible for the herd, demanding information on the general characteristics of the property. Sixty-four sheep sera (13.1%; 95% CI=10.3-16.4) presented IgG-specific anti-N. caninum antibodies with the following titers: 50 (49; 76.6%), 100 (7; 10.9%), 200 (4; 6.2%), 400 (3; 4.7%) and 800 (1; 1.6%). The prevalence of infected sheep per mesoregion ranged from 0 to 28.1%. Out of the 63 farms sampled, 31 (49.2%; 95% CI=36.4-62.1) presented at least one seropositive sheep. No significant association was found between the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies and the risk factors evaluated on the farms, except for the mesoregion variable (p=0.004; OR=0.429; CI95%=0.182-1.008). These results indicate that there is a need for additional research to define the epidemiological importance of this parasite as a cause of reproductive problems in sheep herds in Minas Gerais.     

Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic features of 4 cases of canine congenital thoracic vertebral anomalies

Magnetic resonance and computed tomography features of 4 cases of canine congenital vertebral anomalies (CVAs) are discussed. Two of the cases represent unusual presentations for such anomalies that commonly affect screw-tail or toy breeds. Moreover, the combination of CVAs and a congenital peritoneo-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia has never before been imaged.     

Canine fertility: The consequences of selection for special traits

Pedigree dogs and cats are bred aiming to conform breed standards with very poor consideration for breeding stock fertility. At the same time, the genetic asset underlining reproductive traits could be effectively analysed like in other species under selection. The definition of selection targets is very important in breeding protocols determination. The aim of the present work is to present an overview of the different correlations between reproduction and genetics, starting from selection procedure and inbreeding coefficient moving to genomic and the application of SNPs and GWAS on population study and identification of genes involved in phenotypical variation of reproductive traits in dogs. Particular relevance has been given to the concept of inbreeding which effects on canine reproduction have been presented. The use of genomic information in inbreeding coefficient calculation can be considered an improved effective procedure in the evaluation of the genetic variability loss in canine population and its negative effects on reproductive traits.     

Serum concentrations of leptin in pregnant and non-pregnant bitches

Leptin regulates body weight and several physiological processes including reproduction. We evaluated the circulating levels of leptin in pregnant and non-pregnant bitches as well as their correlation with body weight, food intake and number of foetuses. Nineteen healthy German shepherd bitches were used and divided in two groups (pregnant n = 12 and non-pregnant n = 7). Blood samples were collected every 15 days starting from ovulation (Day 0) throughout pregnancy (pregnant group, P) or throughout luteal phase (non-pregnant group, NP) In pregnant bitches, leptin concentrations increased from the day of ovulation (1.32 ± 0.06 ng/ml) up to day 45 (1.51 ± 0.06 ng/ml; p < .01) and returned to baseline values from day 60 post-ovulation. In non-pregnant bitches, leptin concentrations remained constant throughout the whole observation period (estimated marginal mean ± SE=1.33 ± 0.38 ng/ml). Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences between P and NP at day 45 post-ovulation (p < .05). Multivariable models indicated that, controlling for time and litter size, there was a positive relationship between leptin concentration and BW (p < .05) although Pearson coefficients showed that the correlation between BW and leptin was only significant in NP animals at day 45 (r = 0.76, p < .05). The multivariable approach also suggested that, holding BW and time constant, leptin concentrations tend to increase as the number of puppies increased (p = .06). Our study supports indirectly the contribution of the feto-placental unit to the circulating maternal leptin concentration.