Fowl Typhoid Outbreak on a Commercial Turkey Farm in Croatia.

Fowl typhoid is a septicemic disease caused by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum. It is a host-specific disease primarily affecting chickens and turkeys, although it has been reported in various animal species and sporadically in humans. Here, we present a case of a fowl typhoid outbreak on a turkey poult farm where the source of infection was the hatchery. The birds started showing symptoms of growth retardation at 21 days of age, after which the mortality rates gradually started to increase. Post mortem examination revealed that the main lesions were granulomatous proliferations in the small intestines. The results of the histopathological examination indicate that the severity of the infection was alleviated by the application of phytogenic mixtures and probiotics as a supportive treatment, even though the affected flock was eventually culled at 60 days of age. The farmer was advised to apply more strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the disease on the farm and try to eradicate the pathogen from the barn. Since the outbreak, there have been no recurrent infections.

Cancer morbidity in Croatian cats: Retrospective study on spontaneously arising tumors (2009-2019).

One of the current leading causes of death in pet cats is neoplasia. The scarcity of data on tumor prevalence in cats from south-eastern Europe led to this retrospective study which reports an abundant collection of tumors diagnosed in cats living in Croatia. Archived histopathology findings (diagnosis, cell origin, and biological behavior), and epidemiological data (breed, sex, age, and anatomical site of the tumor) of the cats diagnosed with at least one tumor were collected and statistically analyzed. For the research, 2338 archived feline samples, obtained from 2009-2019, have been reviewed. In 659 samples (28.1%) one or more tumors were diagnosed. Tumors have most often affected non-pedigree cats, cats between 7 and 15 years of age, and female cats. Most tumors showed malignant behavior (85.7%). The most frequent diagnoses were mammary adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Regarding origin, most samples were epithelial (46.9%), but mesenchymal (28.7%) and lymphoid tumors (17.0%) were also frequently found. Tumors most often occurred in the skin and subcutis, mammary gland (in females), digestive system, and hemolymphatic system (in males). Statistical analysis did not reveal breed, sex, and age predisposition, but female animals and non-pedigree cats were significantly more likely to develop malignant tumors. This detailed study gives insight into the most frequent tumors that occur in cats from Croatia, and the data reported here is likely applicable to other countries. This data will contribute to clinical veterinary oncology, as it presents the most extensive tumor index of cats in south-eastern Europe.

Canine testicular tumors: two types of seminomas can be differentiated by immunohistochemistry.

BACKGROUND: Testicular tumors are the most common genital neoplasms in male dogs, with Leydig cell tumors (LCT), seminomas (SEM), and Sertoli cell tumors (SCT) the most common forms. Human SEM are classified as classical (CSEM) or spermatocytic (SSEM). Intratubular germ cell neoplasia of undifferentiated origin (IGCNU) is another form of human testicular tumor. The aim of this study was to verify that CSEM/SSEM classification is valid in dogs and confirm the existence of canine IGCNU. RESULTS: Testicular tumors were found in 46% of dogs at necropsy and accounted for 7% of tumors biopsied. The median age of dogs with tumors at necropsy was 10.16 years; median age at positive biopsy was 10.24 years. The most common tumors, in decreasing order, were LCT, mixed tumors, SEM and SCT at necropsy, and SEM, SCT, mixed tumors, LCT, peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and teratoma in the biopsy group. IGCNU was found in 3% of testicles at necropsy and in 3% of biopsy samples. Two dogs had testicular tumor metastasis. Expression of c-KIT was most common in SEM and seminomatous components of mixed tumors. PLAP was mostly expressed in IGCNU, SEM, teratoma, and some mixed tumors. Cytokeratin was mainly expressed in SCT. CD30 expression was low in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The high tumor incidence at necropsy can be attributed to older age. Tumor incidence in biopsy samples, dog age, and histological classification were consistent with previous studies. The higher incidence of SEM and SCT in the biopsy group probably resulted from the obvious clinical expression of these tumor types. The low incidence of metastasis confirmed the predominance of benign tumors. Low CD30 expression confirmed the low incidence of testicular embryonal carcinoma. Cytokeratin helps differentiate stromal tumors, especially SCT, from germ cell tumors. Histology and c-KIT and PLAP expression indicate that IGCNU exists in dogs. Expression of c-KIT and PLAP confirmed that CSEM and SSEM classification is valid in dogs.

Eccrine carcinoma in the foot of an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

A case of eccrine carcinoma of the interdigital foot glands in a 39-yr-old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) from Zagreb Zoo is described. The tumor between the toenails of the right forefoot was surgically removed 3 yr before postmortem examination (2003), and the histopathologic diagnosis was compound eccrine carcinoma characterized with glandular tubular and papillary proliferations, mild cellular pleomorphism, proliferation of the myoepithelial cells with mucoid secretions, and necrosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong immunoreactivity to S-100 protein, estrogen, and high-molecular weight cytokeratin. This elephant also had chronic renal fibrosis with uremia.

The impact of L-NAME and L-arginine chronic toxicity induced lesions on ascites--pulmonary hypertension syndrome development in broiler chickens.

The impact of L-arginine (LA), a precursor for synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), and N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, LN), a non-selective inhibitor of the enzyme producing nitric oxide (nitric oxide synthase; NOS) chronic toxicity induced lesions on Ascites - Pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) development was investigated in 140 one-day-old male broiler chickens (ROSS) during the first 5 weeks of life. Every second day the animals were treated intraperitoneally (ip) with L-NAME (10 mg/kg of body weight; BW), L-arginine (100 mg/kg BW), L-arginine and L-NAME in combination (100 mg/kg BW and 10 mg/kg BW respectively), and with physiological saline (0.90% w/v of NaCl; 0.5 mL/kg BW). Seven birds from each group were euthanized every week. The histopathological examination of the heart, the liver, the lungs, the blood vessels and the lymphoid organs, was performed. Also the organ index values were determined. At the end of the experiment the pre-ascitic condition or ascites - PHS was confirmed in five dead animals in the L-NAME-treated group. In the same group the edema was the most prominent histopathological change confirmed in the heart and in the lungs of the sacrificed chickens. In L-arginine-treated group the congestion and the haemorrhages were the striking changes in the same organs with the highest degree in the last two weeks of trial. While the focal disruption of myocardiofibriole and hepatocytes were predominant lesions in L-NAME-treated chickens (5th and 4th weeks, respectively), in L-NAME/L-arginine-treated group only the mild focal myocardial degeneration was seen. According to the most of the results of present investigation, it was concluded that the consecutive treatment with L-NAME provoked ascites - PHS, while L-arginine has protective effect in this animal model of disease.

Comparative analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma in men and dogs.

Concerning the important differences in the ethiopathology of hepatocelular carcinomas (HCC) in humans and dogs, our work describes the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), cytokeratine 19 (CK19), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor beta receptor (TGFbeta-r) in tumors arising in both species. Investigation included 25 cases of human and 8 cases of dog tumors. All human cases were noted in cirrhotic livers, while in dogs the tissue adjacent to tumor was not changed. In humans in two cases hepatitis B virus (HBV) and in one case hepatitis C virus (HCV) were determined. Investigation showed lack of TGFbeta-r reaction in six cases of canine HCC, while in humans only one case was negative. In most tumors specific hepatocyte antigen Hepatocyte Paraffin 1 marker (Hep Par 1) was mainly positive with markedly decreased reaction compared to the normal hepatocytes, while cytokeratine 19 for billiary epithelium was negative. The result of our investigation rise the question about the possible role of tumor suppressor gene TGFbeta-r in the development of HCC in dogs and in the same time emphasizes its importance in human diseases.

Mast cell tumor in dogs--incidence and histopathological characterization.

Incidence of mast cell tumors, their distribution according to sex, breed, age and localisation in Croatia is not established yet. Also, the statistical significance of the various histopathological parameters according to Patnaik's scheme, in the diagnostics of the tumor grade was not performed. Investigation analysed mast cell tumors histopathologicaly characterized at the Department of General Pathology and Pathological Morphology of the Veterinary Faculty Zagreb from January 1st 2002 to December 31st 2006. Sex, age, breed, localisation and tumor grade of each animal with tumor was recorded and statisticaly evaluated. Each histopathological variable was scored and compared with tumor grade. In the analyzed period, totally 1630 tumors were recorded, and mast cell tumors were found in 106 animals or in 6.5% of all cases. With statistically significant difference, this tumor was found in more cases in male dogs, and average age was 6.96 years. Boxers and retrievers were most frequent breeds, and localization was mostly on legs. Grade I tumor was found in 15.09%, grade II in 44.34% and grade III in 28.3% of animals. There were no significant correlations between tumor grade and age, breed, sex or localization. Considering the lesion scores compared with grade, statistically significant differences were found in cell shape, number of nucleoli, anisocytosis, anisokariosis, karyomegaly, mitoses, necroses, hemorrhages, cellularity, cell borders and collagenolysis.

Disseminated tuberculosis in hyrax (Procavia capensis) caused by Mycobacterium africanum.

Tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium africanum was diagnosed in an adult female hyrax (Procavia capensis). Pathologic examination revealed disseminated tuberculous lesions. The same pathologic changes were also found in a male hyrax that died a year later. Both animals were imported from the United Arab Emirates and were held in captivity at the Zagreb Zoo in Croatia. The source of infection remains unknown. The acid-fast bacteria isolated from the lungs of the female hyrax were identifyed by polymerase chain reaction as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Geno Type MTBC test confirmed the strain to be M. africanum I.