Inflammatory mammary carcinoma in dogs: 33 cases (1995-1999).

OBJECTIVE: To determine epidemiologic, clinical, and pathologic characteristics of inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IC) in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 33 dogs with IC and 153 dogs with malignant mammary tumors other than IC. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed, and signalment, history, physical examination findings, and results of thoracic radiography and necropsy were obtained. RESULTS: 33 of 436 (7.6%) dogs examined at a veterinary teaching hospital because of dysplasia or tumors of the mammary glands and 33 of 186 (17.7%) dogs with at least 1 malignant tumor had IC. Thirty-two of the 33 dogs were sexually intact. Dogs with IC were significantly older than were dogs with other malignant mammary tumors, and in dogs with IC, the tumor was initially noticed a mean of 52 days after the beginning of the last observed estrus, whereas in dogs with other mammary tumors, the tumor was initially noticed a mean of 137 days after the beginning of the last observed estrus. Dogs with IC were more likely to be anorectic and to have generalized weakness, weight loss, and thoracic metastases. Dogs with IC survived a mean of 25 days with palliative treatment. Histologically, involvement of dermal lymphatic vessels was identified in 14 of 19 (74%) dogs with IC. Two clinical forms of IC (primary and secondary) were identified. Dogs with primary IC had a worse clinical condition. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that IC is an uncommon but distinct entity in dogs. A histologic finding of dermal lymphatic involvement should be considered a hallmark for the pathologic diagnosis of IC in dogs.     

Incidence of Salmonellae in Captive and Wild Free‐Living Raptorial Birds in Central Spain

A total of 595 faecal samples from raptorial birds, either captive or free‐living, residing in GREFA Wildlife Hospital were bacteriologically examined using various selective media and an Automated Diagnostic Assay System for Salmonella detection. Serotype and phage type of the strains identified as Salmonella was determined. In the captive group, of the 285 samples examined, 21 (7.36%) were positive for Salmonella. Serotyping revealed that most of the individuals were infected by Salmonella serotype Havana. This result suggested that there could be a source of contamination in the Hospital although it could not be established. In the wild free‐living group, over 310 samples examined (4.19%) were positive for Salmonella. The Salmonella isolates showed a major variety of serotypes: Enteritidis, Adelaide, Brandenburg, Newport, Typhimurium, Hadar, Saintpaul and Virchow. Most of them are similar to those commonly described in isolates from human and domestic animals. These results indicate that wild birds could be involved in the dissemination of Salmonella in humans or domestic animals or vice versa.     

Determination of sulfamethazine and trimethoprim in liquid feed premixes by HPLC and diode array detection, with an analysis of the uncertainty of the analytical results.

Sulfamethazine (SMZ) and trimethoprim (TMP) are antibacterials used in veterinary practice. This paper describes a method for their determination in veterinary liquid feed premixes that is based on liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Gradient elution with methanol and ammonium acetate achieved excellent separation of the two analytes within 15 min without any interference from the matrix. Absorbance of the column effluent was monitored at 264 nm for SMZ and at 230 nm for TMP. Detailed analyses of the uncertainties of determinations afford estimated expanded uncertainties of, respectively, 0.2 and 0.1 w/v % for typical SMZ and TMP concentrations of 10.7 and 2.1 w/v %, respectively. At the lower end of the calibrated range of the method, the dominant source of uncertainty is the preparation of standards and the construction of the calibration line.     

Dynamics of chlorinated pesticide residues in long-term storage of canned food

Meat tins denoted as pork in natural juice, beef with bacon, luncheon meat and liver paté, all produced in a food-processing plant, were stored under definite conditions (temperature 21 degrees C, relative humidity 73%) for three years. Before the long-term storage and then in half-year intervals, the contents of the residues of chlorinated pesticides, including HCB (hexachlorobenzene), gamma-HCH (gamma isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane) and pp'DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis/p-chlorofenyl/-ethylene), were determined in the above-mentioned final products by the method of gas chromatography. As suggested by the records of the changes in the pesticide residue contents in the meat tins during their long-term storage, the average contents of all chlorinated carbohydrates gradually decrease with the length of storage and the "reduction" of residues varies with the kind of final product and with the pesticides. In HCB the reduction ranged from 18.4 to 34.4%, in gamma-HCH from 36.2 to 80.4% and in pp'DDE from 23.9 to 48.9%.     

Effect of diet composition and slaughter weight on animal performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acid composition in veal calves

The effect of true milk use in the diet of Spanish Brown Swiss male calves on animal performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acids composition was studied. In experiment 1, the effect of milk intake [ad libitum continuous (ADLIB) feed vs. restricted 0.7 during 75 days followed by ad libitum feed (RESTR)] and slaughter endpoint (225 kg vs. 5 month) were studied. In experiment 2, ad libitum concentrate feeding [grain-fed (GF)] was compared with milk supplementation until slaughter [milk-fed (MF)] in calves slaughtered at 345 kg. As regards to milk intake, carcass weight and degree of fatness were higher in the ADLIB group (P<0.05). The RESTR group revealed a higher percentage of saturated fatty acids (P<0.05). In experiment 2, the MF group exhibited a higher fat percentage (P<0.05), lower press and cooking losses (P<0.05), and higher scores for tenderness and juiciness (P<0.05) than the GF group. The percentage of saturated fatty acids was higher in the MF group (P<0.05). The results suggest that true milk use in veal production could be an advantageous alternative in terms on production costs, animal performance, and carcass and meat quality.     

C-reactive protein measurement in canine saliva.

An established time-resolved immunofluorometric assay designed for measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) in canine blood was evaluated and validated for use in canine saliva. C-reactive protein was measured in saliva specimens from 5 healthy dogs before and after the injection of casein and in 37 dogs with different disease conditions. The analytical and functional limits of detection were 0.000053 microg/ml and 0.0091 microg/ml, respectively, and intra- and interassay coefficients of variation ranged between 6.7-9.9% and 8.5-16.5%, respectively. A recovery experiment showed no significant disagreement between detected values and expected ones, and saliva CRP concentration was measured in a linear and proportional manner. A positive correlation was found between CRP levels obtained in saliva and serum samples in the experimental (R2 = 0.76) and clinical studies (R2 = 0.70). The assay was able to detect significant differences between salivary CRP levels in healthy dogs and dogs with inflammatory processes. These results suggest that saliva can be used for CRP measurement in dogs. The use of saliva presents the advantage of an easier and less stressful sampling method for the animals, which might be performed outside of hospital environments.     

Identification ofTomato Mottle Taino Begomovirus strains in Cuban potato fields

The presence of a begomovirus in potato plants with yellow mottle symptoms was determined for the first time in Cuba. The incidence of typical begomovirus-like symptoms in potato plants in some regions of Havana province (Güira de Melena, San José de las Lajas, Güines and Boyeros) during the growing seasons from 1992 to 1998 was in general low. However, in some cultivars belonging to the National Program for Potato Genetic Improvement, the incidence reached 100%. Yield losses, determined in 1992 and 1994, ranged as high as 19% to 56.33% depending on the cultivar. Characterization of the causal agent was done by light microscopy, host range (graft and mechanical transmission), DNA hybridizations, polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragments revealed the presence ofTomato mottle Taino virus. The virus was transmittedvia tubers and has been detected in mixed infections withPotato virus X and withPotato leaf roll virus. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.     

An inexpensive sedimentation chamber for the preparation of cytologic specimens of cerebrospinal fluid.

An inexpensive sedimentation chamber to obtain cytologic specimens of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is described. The device, which has a total cost of about $5.00 can be built in few minutes. The device permits the cytologic study of specimens of CSF in clinics, where because of economic constraints, a cytocentrifuge is not available. The device permits the study of the CSF cells on either air-dried or wet smears even under field conditions, and the results obtained are consistent. Also, the device permits to retrieve the cell-free fluid for its use in chemical or immunologic procedures.     

Expression of the KIT protein (CD117) in primary cutaneous mast cell tumors of the dog.

Thirty-one canine cutaneous masses, diagnosed as mast cell tumors (MCT) by histopathologic analysis, were used to evaluate the immunohistochemical pattern of expression of KIT protein (CD117), a type III tyrosine kinase protein involved in mast cell growth and differentiation. Lesions were graded as I (well differentiated), II (intermediate differentiation), or III (poorly differentiated) according to the following morphologic features: invasiveness, cellularity and cellular morphology, mitotic index, and stromal reaction. Immunohistochemical KIT expression was compared with histologic grade and some histomorphologic features (cell differentiation and nuclear grade) evaluated separately. A possible predictive role of biologic behavior in MCTs for KIT expression was also investigated. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed three different patterns of KIT expression: a cytoplasmic diffuse pattern, a membranous pattern with immunostaining located on the cell surface, and a cytoplasmic perinuclear pattern, where KIT expression was detected in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic mast cells, close to the nucleus. Statistical analysis showed a close relationship between different KIT immunohistochemical patterns and histologic grade (P < 0.00000), cell differentiation (P < 0.00000), and nuclear grade (P < 0.0024). According to Kaplan-Meier-estimated survival curves compared by survival analysis, KIT expression was significantly associated with survival time (P = 0.037) but not cancer-free interval (P = 0.50). Similar to other well-known histomorphological features, KIT expression is a useful parameter of malignancy in cutaneous MCTs. KIT expression also predicted the biological behavior of the tumors in this study.