A case of papillary squamous cell carcinoma in the mandible of a young French bulldog

A 7-month-old castrated French bulldog was presented with a left-sided mandibular tumor. The initial tumor biopsy diagnosis was ameloblastoma. The owner brought this dog the Kitasato University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for more detailed examination and treatment. Computed tomography revealed a tumor on the left lateral mandibular gingiva from the caudal third of the incisor tooth to the right canine tooth, associated with severe amorphous osteolysis of the mandibular bone. The tumor was surgically excised and diagnosed as papillary squamous cell carcinoma. Currently, 2514 d (6.9 y) since the operation, the dog is healthy, without recurrence.Key clinical message:Although papillary squamous cell carcinoma is rare, many cases have been reported in the oral cavity of medium-to large-sized dogs. Based on this report, papillary squamous cell carcinoma can occur in small dogs such as young French bulldogs and a good prognosis can be achieved with proper resection.     

Comparison of prevalence of Felis catus papillomavirus type 2 in squamous cell carcinomas in cats between Taiwan and Japan

Felis catus papillomavirus (FcaPV), especially type 2 (FcaPV2) is considered as one of the causative agents in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cats. However, our previous study detected FcaPV3 and FcaPV4, but not FcaPV2 in feline SCCs collected in Japan, suggesting that the prevalence of FcaPV2 in SCC may vary depending on geographic locations. To evaluate this hypothesis, two conventional PCR reactions targeting E1 and E7 genes were performed to detect FcaPV2 in feline SCC samples collected in Taiwan and Japan. While 46.9% (23/49) of feline SCC cases from Taiwan were PCR positive for FcaPV2, only 8.6% (3/35) cases from Japan were positive. Our result suggests that the prevalence of FcaPV2 in feline SCCs may depend on the region.     

Assessment for nitrogen pollution loads from farmland, Japan, by objective yield and standard fertilizer usage

This research proposes an assessment for nitrogen (N) pollution loads potential from farmland, based on comparison of N in objective crop yields with standard fertilizer usage. N in the objective yield was calculated using the “Standard Table of Food Composition in Japan”. Three findings were made by considering yields removed from farmland. First, paddy rice and beans have a low pollution potential, with rice paddies showing a negative pollution potential for N (around −14 kg/ha). Second, almost all vegetable and orchard crops tested had a high pollution potential for N, although this differed from crop to crop. Third, our outcomes align well with farmland pollution potential and non-absorbed nitrogen (NAN) as defined by Nishio, although the latter and indices rely on a laborious and complicated method. The correlation coefficients were 0.745 (R ² = 0.555). These outcomes show the effectiveness of our proposed assessment for potential environmental pollution loads.     

Chemotactic activity of hemocytes derived from two marine neritid gastropod molluscs, Nerita albicilla and Heminerita japonica, to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains.

Hemocytes of two marine neritid gastropods, Nerita albicilla and Heminerita japonica, were attracted chemotactically to live Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains. Chemotactic attraction of N. albicilla hemocytes was enhanced in the presence of N. albicilla plasma, while that of H. japonica hemocytes was not enhanced in the presence of H. japonica plasma. Chemotactic activity of the hemocytes seems to participate in the rapid elimination of V. parahaemolyticus from these gastropods.     

Bulk cultures of canine peripheral blood lymphocytes with solid phase anti-CD3 antibody and recombinant interleukin-2 for use in immunotherapy

Interleukin (IL)-2 can induce large numbers of lymphokine-activated killer cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), but IL-2 alone cannot induce proliferation of a large number of canine (c) PBL. We used the solid phase anti-CD3 antibody and soluble recombinant (r) IL-2 in order to establish a large scale culture method for cPBL. The number of lymphocytes seeded (3 x 10 (7)) increased to 1 x 10(9) after incubation for 10 days. The phenotype of cultured cPBL cells (after 2 weeks) showed a CD4(+) or CD8(+) predominant cell population. The cultured cell solutions were administered with physiological saline intravenously to each dog. After transfusion of the cultured cells, the cPBL counts, especially the number of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD4(-)CD8 (-)(DN) cells increased significantly in the recipient dogs. Natural killer (NK) cells, gammadeltaT cells and B cells were considered to be present in the DN cell population. The NK cells and gammadeltaT cells showed no adverse reaction to the transfusion of the activated cPBL. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the B cells present in the DN cell population by detecting CD21(+) cells. In conclusion, the bulk culture system of cPBL with rIL-2 and solid phase anti-CD3 antibody may be useful for the development of novel immunotherapy in dogs.     

Melanin biosynthesis as a prerequisite for penetration by appressoria of Colletotrichum lagenarium: Site of inhibition by melanin-inhibiting fungicides and their action on appressoria

Melanin biosynthesis by appressoria was studied in relation to their penetrating ability using tricyclazole [5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo(3,4-b)benzothiazole], pp 389 [4,5-dihydro-4-methyltetra-zolo(1,5-a)quinazolin-5-one], and pyroquilon [1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyrrolo(3,2,1-i,j)quinolin-4-one], and color mutants of Colletotrichum lagenarium. Tricyclazole at 100 μM inhibited melanin biosynthesis by appressoria of C. lagenairum 104-T, and caused accumulation of 3,4-dihydro-4,8-dihydroxy-1(2H)naphthalenone (DDN) in the culture medium. By contrast, DDN was not detected in culture media of tricyclazole-treated mutant 8015, which is defective in the enzyme involved in the conversion of scytalone to 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene (1,3,8-THN). Vermelone restored melanization of appressoria of albino mutant 79215 and of the parent strain 104-T treated with tricyclazole, pp 389, and pyroquilon; however, scytalone restored melanization only in appressoria of albino mutant 79215. These results indicate that tricyclazole, pp 389, and pyroquilon inhibit the conversion of 1,3,8-THN to vermelone in the melanin biosynthetic pathway of appressoria of C. lagenarium. Colorless appressoria formed in the presence of the three melanin-inhibiting chemicals germinated laterally on nitrocellulose membranes and rarely penetrated the membranes. On the other hand, when pigmented appressoria were restored by application of vermelone in the presence of the three chemicals, lateral germination of the appressoria was largely suppressed, and the membranes were effectively penetrated. From these results, it is concluded that the major effect of tricyclazole, pp 389, and pyroquilon on appressoria of C. lagenarium, causing failure of penetration, is the inhibition of melanization. Effects of the chemicals on other metabolic functions can be precluded as significant factors affecting the penetration process.     

Growth response of cabbage plants to lithium,sodium, and rubidium under water culture conditions

Cabbage (B. oleracea L. var. capitata L.) plants wore grown for 79 days in cuture solutions obtaining 4 levels of lithium, 0, 0.1, 1. 10 mel) sodium (0, 0.2. 2, 20, or rubidium , 0, 0.05, 0.5) combined with a low or high supply of potassium(0.2 or 2 mcf/l, and the effects of the cations supplied on the growth and ration composition of the plants were studied.

The total dry weight of the plants decreased at higher levels of the cations, especially Li in the culture solution, concurrent with an increaie in the contents of each cation in the plants. The decrease in the dry weight at higher levels was smaller in the high K supply, than in the low supply, causing a decrease in the contents of the cations. The critical contents of Li, Na, and which resulted in a 50° decrease in the dry weight or inner leaves due to excess injury were estimated to be about 0.07, 2.5, and 3.0% on a dry basis in the outer leaves and 0.05, 2.0, and 3.0% in the roots, respectively, regardless of the K supply.