Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus-induced apoptosis associated with brain lesions in naturally infected kids.

Acute demyelinating leucoencephalomyelitis was the most conspicuous microscopic change in the brain and spinal cord of kids infected with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV). TUNEL positivity and labelling of anti-bax and anti-caspases-3, -8 and -9 were found in a distinct population of glial cells, mainly at the edges of the demyelinated plaques and perivascular areas and, to a lesser extent, in neurons. Double labelling revealed that most of these apoptotic cells in the demyelinated plaques were astrocytes and a few were oligodendroglia. In contrast, expression of bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, was found mainly in neurons of the brainstem and cerebellum and motor neurons of the spinal cord, but was restricted in glial cells. These results suggest that apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CAE demyelinating encephalitis.

An immunohistochemical study in cases with usual and unusual clinicopathological findings of canine visceral leishmaniosis.

The present study describes pathologic findings and immunohistochemical diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in 22 dogs who died naturally in the Aegean region of Turkey. At necropsy, lymphadenomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, hepatic, and nephrosclerotic lesions were conspicuous. Histopathologically, chronic inflammatory reactions of the spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, and skin were marked findings. Cytological and histological examinations showed macrophages loaded with Leishmania amastigotes in these organs. Immunohistochemistry revealed that immunolabeling of amastigotes and/or parasite antigen, especially in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, liver, and skin, and occasionally, in the kidneys, intestines and lungs. Our laboratory results showed that immunohistochemistry should be included, along with cytological and histological examinations, in the diagnosis of CVL.

Corneal papilloma associated with papillomavirus in a one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius).

A 15-year-old male dromedary camel with a history of chronic severe keratoconjunctivitis and corneal mass in the left eye of 6 months' duration was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Adnan Menderes University. A superficial keratectomy was performed and biopsy material submitted for histopathology. The diagnosis was corneal papilloma. There has been no recurrence of the neoplasm to date (6 months, 1 year). Corneal papilloma has not been reported previously in camels and seems to be associated with papillomavirus.

Avian encephalomyelitis in naturally infected pigeons in Turkey.

The pathological and immunohistochemical findings of avian encephalomyelitis (AE) were described in various tissues of naturally infected pigeons of a flock from a outbreak in Turkey. Clinically, paresis, paralysis, circling movement and torticollis of the head associated with nervous signs were marked symptoms among the diseased pigeons. At necropsy, small or large white-greyish foci were detected in the pancreas, and erosive-ulcerative foci along with petechial hemorrhages in ingluves. Histopathologically, lesions in central nervous system, particularly in the cerebellum molecular layer, consisted of non-suppurative encephalomyelitis. Lesions in the pancreas revealed non-suppurative pancreatitis along with acinar degeneration and necrosis and/or lymphoid aggregations. Immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues was performed using a direct-fluorescein antibody technique with chicken anti-AE virus serum fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate. Viral antigen was strongly stained in cytoplasm of epithelial cells of the exocrine glands, and neurons of the cerebral hemispheres and midbrain. In addition, viral antigen was also marked in the kidneys and tissues of the digestive system. Consequently, this article is, to our knowledge, the first report of natural AE in pigeons.