Testicular tumors in commercial boars with infertility: A gross, histologic, and immunohistochemical study.

Tumors in boars are uncommon, and testicular tumors even rarer. This study describes the pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of a case series of testicular tumors in commercial boars with fertility problems. Tumors were detected in 19 of 333 animals (19/333, 5.9%). Macroscopically, tumors were observed in 13 (13/19, 68%) boars, while 6 cases (6/19, 32%) were only detected by microscopic examination. Testicular enlargement was observed in 1 boar, while in the others, tumors were only observed after removal of the scrotal skin or after sectioning of the testis. Histologically, tumors were classified as seminomas (16/19, 84%), mixed germ cell-stromal tumors (2/19, 11%), and B-cell lymphoma (1/19, 5%). Seminomas had 3 different growth patterns: intratubular (6/16, 38%), diffuse (4/16, 25%), and intratubular/diffuse (6/16, 38%). All tumors that were not evident on macroscopic examination were intratubular seminomas. Intratesticular metastases were observed in 2 cases and extratesticular metastases, located in the pampiniform plexus, were observed in 1 case. In 1 seminoma, the rete testis was also involved. By immunohistochemistry, all intratubular seminomas were negative for c-kit, cytokeratin, and vimentin. In diffuse seminomas, c-kit and cytokeratin were also negative, while vimentin showed granular or perinuclear cytoplasmic labeling in some areas. PAX-5 and CD-3 antibodies classified the lymphoma as a B-cell lymphoma. This study suggests that testicular tumors in boars may be more common than previously reported, especially when microscopic examination is performed. It also shows that testicular tumors in pigs are predominantly seminomas.

Factors Involved in the Immunological Protection against Rabies Virus in Dogs in Spain.

Rabies, a viral disease spread by infected animal bites that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals, is a neglected infectious disease present on all continents except Antarctica. Spain has been free of terrestrial rabies since 1978. However, due to its geographical situation, it represents a bridge for imported cases from an endemic continent such as Africa to Europe. Rabies vaccination in dogs is an essential preventive tool against this zoonosis. The aim of this study was to determine the state of the immune response against rabies virus in dogs in Spain and to demonstrate whether several factors that have been previously related to the influence of the seroprevalence of this species are involved here. The seroconversion level of this zoonotic virus was assessed in a total of 1060 animals. Indirect ELISA was used to obtain data for statistical analysis to evaluate the studied variables. Working under the concept of One Health, this study provides relevant information to be taken into consideration not only to prevent re-emergence in countries free of this disease but also for prevention and control in endemic countries.