Detection of seroconversion to bovine herpesvirus 1 related alphaherpesvirus and bovine viral diarrhea virusin Polish free-living deer.

There are several infectious agents of domestic cattle that can also be present in free-living ruminant populations. These include bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) which are the causative agents of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhea, respectively. The study was conducted on serum samples from 59 red deer, 24 roe deer, and 3 fallow deer (86 in total), originating from two geographically separate areas of Poland. The samples were tested with commercially available ELISA tests for BoHV-1 and BVDV. The overall seroprevalence was 5.8% and 3.5%, respectively. All positive samples originated exclusively from red deer. Because of BoHV-1 ELISA cross reactivity with cervid herpesvirus 1 and 2 (CvHV-1 and -2) the nature of alphaherpesviruses infecting the sampled animals could not be assessed.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) concentrations in erythrocytes of dairy cattle and farm-raised deer by a computer-assisted analysis of microscopic images.

The effectiveness of the immunohistochemical method in determining Cu/Zn SOD concentrations in red blood cells of dairy cattle and farm-raised deer was evaluated by a computer-assisted analysis of microscopic images and scanning technique. Superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) concentrations in erythrocytes were determined in smears of whole blood samples collected from 16 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows and 22 farm-raised deer in spring. Mouse anti-bovine SOD (Cu-Zn) monoclonal antibodies (2F5, Serotec) were used in 1:50 dilution. The degree of immunostaining for SOD in red blood cells was determined with the use of the MIDI 3DHistech Panoramic Scanner (Hungary) and 3DHistech Panoramic Viewer, NuclearQuant and MembraneQuant software. Our findings indicate that the immunohistochemical method is a useful technique for evaluating Cu/Zn SOD concentrations in red blood cells of cattle and deer.

High agreement of routine cytopathology and immunocytochemistry in canine lymphomas.

The aim of this study was to compare the concordance of immunophenotype established with routine cytopathology (slides stained with Giemsa solution) and immunocytochemistry according to CD3 and CD79 alpha immunoreactivity. The study was performed on cytological samples of 70 canine lymphomas subtyped on the basis of the updated Kiel classification system. Additionally, cytologic samples were examined immunocytochemically for the CD3 and CD79 alpha antigens presence and thus immunophenotype of neoplastic growth was confirmed. The cytopathological and immunocytochemical diagnoses were then compared; in order to measure the concordance between immunocytochemistry (IC) result and Giemsa stain result of the same sample the Cohen's kappa coefficient was calculated. On the basis of the results of immunocytochemistry of 70 cases of canine lymphoma examined 42 were recognized as B cell lymphoma and 28 as T cell lymphoma. Full accordance between the results of routine cytopathology and IC was obtained in 63 out of 70 examined dogs (90% of cases). It can be concluded that cytopathological examination of Giemsa stained smears is helpful in determining the lymphoma cells immunophenotype. Additionally, it seems that combination of routine cytopathology and immunocytochemistry in cases of canine lymphomas allows to obtain the precise diagnosis in 90% of cases, and allows to receive most important information that is necessary for planning of appropriate therapy and to determine prognosis. Finally, this routine procedure allowed to eliminate the need of collection of tissue samples during surgery or core-biopsy and thus time, cost and patient discomfort related to more complex and invasive medical procedures can be easily reduced.

Cytopathological diagnosis of visceral histiocytic sarcoma in five dogs.

Histiocytic sarcoma is a malignant neoplastic proliferation of atypical histiocytes with tendency to spread, characterized by fast progression to disseminated form--disseminated histiocytic sarcoma. Cytopathology is a low, invasive, cheap, and quick method of diagnosis commonly used in veterinary oncology. The aim of the presented study was description of cases of visceral histiocytic sarcomas in dogs diagnosed by cytopathology and immunocytochemistry. The study was conducted on 5 dogs which were brought to the veterinary clinic because of unspecific clinical signs and tumoral masses recognized in the thoracic or abdominal cavity. Samples of cells were collected during ultrasonography-assisted fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), smears were stained with Giemsa method and immunocytochemistry (CD3, CD79alpha, cytokeratin, vimentin, desmin) was also performed in all patients. Four of five dogs were Bernese mountain dogs, nonspecific clinical signs of systemic disease were present in all cases. Visceral mass or masses were detected by ultrasonography or radiography. Final diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma was obtained on the basis of routine cytopathological examination and confirmed by immunocytochemistry. On the basis the results obtained it can be stated that in cases of typical clinical and cytopathologic pictures, examination of cellular samples collected during ultrasonography-assisted fine-needle biopsy supported by some immunocytopathological characteristics seems to be sufficient method of diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma in dogs. Visceral histiocytic sarcoma should be included into differential diagnosis in every Bernese mountain dog with nonspecific clinical signs, ambiguous results of hematologic examination and when tumoral mass or masses within a body cavity were detected in imaging techniques.

Relationship between receptors for insulin-like growth factor- I, steroid hormones and apoptosis-associated proteins in canine mammary tumors.

In the veterinary literature there are few data concerning the expression of insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-IR) in the canine mammary gland tumors. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of IGF-IR expression and its correlation to the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PR), proteins: Bcl-2, Bax, p53 in canine mammary gland tumors, and also a correlation with other features: bitch's age, tumor diameter, histologic type of tumor, degree of histologic malignancy, proliferate activity. The study was done on 112 epithelial neoplasms: 21 (19%) were adenoma, 38 (34%) complex carcinoma (adenocarcinoma), 47 (42%) simple carcinoma (adenocarcinoma) and 6 (5%) solid carcinoma. Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry methods were employed. It was shown that more common and/or higher IGF-IR expression in cells of canine mammary gland tumors was related to the histologic type of cancer of worse prognostic (solid and simple carcinoma), high histologic degree of malignancy (III degrees) but the statistical analysis did not reveal any significant differences. We observed the high degree of IGF-IR expression in tumors which displayed the high ERalpha and PR expression. These results suggest the involvement of IGF-IR in the development of hormonosensitive canine mammary tumors. Additionally, the significant positive correlation between expression of IGF-IR and p53, Bax was found. Our study provides some evidence that interactions exist between the IGF-IR and these apoptosis-associated proteins may contribute to the development and progression of canine mammary gland tumors. These results require further investigations.

The first description of gastric Helicobacter in free-ranging wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Poland.

Specimens of gastric mucosa of 17 free-ranging wild boars (Sus scrofa) shot in the Central Poland during 2007/2008 hunting season were investigated for the presence of Helicobacter species. Histopathology, Helicobacter genus-specific 16S rRNA PCR, and DNA sequence analysis were employed. In PCR analysis the presence of Helicobacter's DNA was detected in one stomach. Obtained sequence analysis showed its relatedness to Helicobacter heilmannii type 2. In histopathology of the PCR-positive sample the presence of tightly coiled spiral bacteria was detected on the surface of the antral mucosa, in gastric pits and lumen of the upper parts of antral glands. Potential pathologic significance of the presence of Helicobacter in the stomach of free-ranging wild boars was obscured by the parasitic invasion-caused gastritis, and remains unknown.

Several cases of dirofilariosis accidentally diagnosed in dogs from Poland, including two PCR positive Dirofilaria repens cases.

The aim of the present study was a description of several microfilaremia cases diagnosed in dogs from Poland. The study was conducted on cytological samples of pathologic masses and peripheral blood smears taken for diagnostic purposes from dogs showing a various clinical findings. The presence of the parasites in tissue samples was observed in 8 dogs, additionally, in 2 of these dogs PCR analysis of blood samples revealed the presence of D. repens DNA.

Effect of Helicobacter sp. infection on the number of antral gastric endocrine cells in swine.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Candidatus Helicobacter suis (CHS) and other Helicobacter sp. different from Candidatus Helicobacter suis (non-Candidatus Helicobacter suis, non-CHS) infection on the number of endocrine G and D cells and G/D cells ratio in antral gastric mucosa in swine. Twenty nine stomachs were obtained from clinical healthy pigs about 6 months old and weighing approximately 100-120 kg after slaughter at abattoir located in central Poland. From each stomach samples of the antral gastric mucosa were taken for histopathology, and PCR examination for presence of Helicobacter genus and Candidatus Helicobacter suis. Samples for histopathology and immunohistochemistry were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. To reveal the expression of gastrin- and somatostatin-producing cells specific antibodies were used. Selected endocrine cells were counted in the midzone of pyloric glands, the results were expressed as a mean of the number of immunoreactive cells in one microscopic field, and as the ratio of gastrin to somatostatin cells (G/D). It can be concluded that some species of swine Helicobacter can alter the number of endocrine cells in gastric antral mucosa. Some of these alterations, for example increase the number of G cells, decrease of the D cells and especially increase of ratio G to D cells can be responsible for development of gastroesophageal ulcers in swine.

Prevalence of the suilysin gene in Streptococcus suis strains isolated from diseased and healthy carrier pigs.

Knowledge of virulence factors of Streptococcus suis is limited. Several virulence factor candidates have been proposed, among them suilysin, which is responsible for a toxic effect on epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to detect the suilysin gene sequence in Streptococcus suis strains of various origin. In total 63 Streptococcus suis isolates were investigated. Forty four of them originated from tissues of streptococcosis affected animals. The remaining 19 strains were isolated from tonsils of healthy carrier pigs. Suilysin gene specific sequence was detected in 79% of the strains tested. In isolates obtained from pigs with signs of streptococcosis this gene sequence was recorded in 85% of cases. In Streptococcus suis strains isolated from healthy carrier pigs the suilysin gene was detected in 63% of the isolates. It seems that suilysin toxic activity is only one of the many steps involved in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis infection and that strain's virulence cannot be stated only on the basis of suilysin gene sequence presence.