RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the prevalence of subclinical infectious agents considered core pathogens for worldwide screening in healthy, client-owned, indoor cats eligible to become blood donors in Spain and Portugal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples of healthy, indoor, domestic cats selected to be potential blood donors were tested for feline leukaemia virus antigens, feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies and polymerase chain reactions for Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, feline leukaemia virus provirus, Leishmania spp. and Bartonella spp. Not all donors were tested for all agents. RESULTS: Overall, 5105 healthy indoor cats were tested and 8.1% (414/5105) had at least one subclinical infectious agent that is transmissible through blood product transfusion. 1.5% (77/5105) were positive for feline leukaemia virus antigens and 2.9% (148/5105) were positive for feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, therefore they were excluded as donors. The overall prevalence of haemoplasmas in feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus SNAP-negative feline blood donors was 3.7% (181/4880) [1.3% (63/4880) were positive for Mycoplasma haemofelis; 2.3% (112/4880) to Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 0.12% (6/4880) to Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis]. The prevalence of feline leukaemia provirus was 5.2% (9/173) and of Bartonella spp. was 0.2% (2/1122). None of the 173 cats were positive for Leishmania spp. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The prevalence of many transfusion transmissible pathogens was relatively high in this healthy, client-owned, indoor cats eligible to become blood donors. Performing an extended screening panel that includes at least polymerase chain reactions for Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, feline leukaemia virus provirus, and Bartonella spp., in addition to feline leukaemia virus antigens and feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, is recommended in pet blood banks from analogous regions.
Asunto(s)
Bartonella , Enfermedades de los Gatos , Infecciones por Mycoplasma , Mycoplasma , Animales , Donantes de Sangre , Gatos , Humanos , Infecciones por Mycoplasma/epidemiología , Infecciones por Mycoplasma/veterinariaRESUMEN
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is the main receptor activated by vascular endothelial growth factor -A (VEGF-A) to promote tumour angiogenesis. Its clinical prognostic value has not been studied in canine mammary tumours (CMTs). Dogs with mammary cancer were enrolled in a survival study and the immunohistochemical expressions of VEGFR-2 and VEGF-A were analysed and associated with clinicopathological features. VEGFR-2 expression was associated with VEGF immunoreactivity in cancer cells, supporting the presence of an autocrine loop that may be involved in CMTs growth and survival. VEGFR-2 was also expressed by endothelial cells from tumour vasculature and positively associated with stromal matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), suggesting the existence of a link between endothelial cells activation and up-regulation of matrix degrading proteins. Carcinosarcomas exhibited high VEGFR-2 expression suggesting that it may be one of the activated molecular pathways in this aggressive histological type and that VEGFR-2 inhibitors may constitute a potential treatment to improve the prognosis of these patients. Both VEGF and VEGFR-2 immunoreactivities were independent of patients' overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Perros/metabolismo , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/fisiología , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/metabolismo , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismo , Receptor 2 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismo , Animales , Carcinoma/metabolismo , Carcinoma/veterinaria , Carcinosarcoma/metabolismo , Carcinosarcoma/veterinaria , Perros , Femenino , Inmunohistoquímica/veterinaria , Análisis de Supervivencia , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/genética , Receptor 2 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/genéticaRESUMEN
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) exhibited by enterococci isolated from faeces of pets and its underlying risk factors. From September 2009 to May 2012, rectal swabs were collected from 74 dogs and 17 cats, selected from the population of animals visiting the Veterinary Hospital of University of Porto, UPVet, through a systematic random procedure. Animal owners answered a questionnaire about the risk factors that could influence the presence of AMR in faecal enterococci. Enterococci isolation, identification and antimicrobial (AM) susceptibility testing were performed. Data analyses of multilevel, univariable and multivariable generalised linear mixed models were conducted. From all enterococci isolated (n=315), 61 per cent were considered multidrug-resistant, whereas only 9.2 per cent were susceptible to all AMs tested. Highest resistance was found to tetracycline (67.0 per cent), rifampicin (60.3 per cent), azithromycin (58.4 per cent), quinupristin/dalfopristin (54.0 per cent) and erythromycin (53.0 per cent). Previous fluoroquinolone treatments and coprophagic habits were the features more consistently associated with the presence of AMR for three (chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and azithromycin) and seven (tetracycline, rifampicin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and azithromycin), respectively, out of nine AMs assessed. Evaluating risk factors that determine the presence of drug-resistant bacteria in pets, a possible source of resistance determinants to human beings, is crucial for the selection of appropriate treatment guidelines by veterinary practitioners.
Asunto(s)
Antiinfecciosos/farmacología , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Enterococcus/efectos de los fármacos , Heces/microbiología , Mascotas/microbiología , Animales , Gatos , Perros , Enterococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Prevalencia , Factores de Riesgo , Medicina VeterinariaRESUMEN
Significant advances have been made recently in the understanding of the molecular events and critical pathways associated with and driving cancer of the mammary gland in humans and dogs. The study of canine mammary tumour biology, particularly the interactions of neoplastic cells with stromal and immune cells, is crucial for the development of novel effective therapeutic agents and strategies. This second part of a two-part review discusses some of the latest advances in the understanding of the clinically relevant genetic and molecular pathways involved in metastasis and in the interactions between tumour and stromal cells, including inflammatory and immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Recent experimental data on the role of matrix-degrading proteases and angiogenic factors are also discussed. Finally, the clinical utility of different non-surgical therapeutic modalities is reviewed.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Perros/patología , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/genética , Invasividad Neoplásica/patología , Metástasis de la Neoplasia/patología , Neovascularización Patológica/veterinaria , Animales , Enfermedades de los Perros/terapia , Perros , Femenino , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/terapiaRESUMEN
There have been significant recent advances in the understanding of the molecular events and critical pathways associated with and driving cancer of the mammary gland in humans and dogs. The study of canine mammary tumour biology, particularly of the molecular events associated with proliferation, cell survival, invasion and metastasis, is crucial for the development of effective therapeutic agents and strategies. In this first part of a two-part review, recent advances in the understanding of the clinically relevant genetic and molecular pathways driving cell proliferation, apoptosis and DNA repair in canine mammary gland tumours are described.
Asunto(s)
Apoptosis/genética , Proliferación Celular , Reparación del ADN/genética , Enfermedades de los Perros/genética , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/genética , Animales , Perros , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión GénicaRESUMEN
Overexpression of mucins is known to decrease cell-to-cell adhesion and thus to facilitate the invasion of cancer cells through the extracellular matrix. Mucin 6 (MUC6) is overexpressed and aberrantly O-glycosylated in human breast cancer, serving as a carrier for one of the most specific cancer-associated antigens, Tn antigen. Despite its relevance in breast cancer, MUC6 expression has not yet been characterized in canine mammary tumours (CMTs). The aims of this study were to assess the expression of MUC6 and Tn antigen in 55 benign and 77 malignant CMTs of different histological types and to investigate possible correlations with pathological features. MUC6 and Tn antigen were found to be significantly overexpressed in malignant compared with benign CMTs. MUC6 was significantly overexpressed in simple and complex carcinomas compared with simple and complex adenomas, respectively. When considering only the epithelial population, significant MUC6 overexpression was observed in carcinosarcomas when compared with benign mixed tumours. In addition, MUC6 was significantly overexpressed in simple compared with complex carcinomas. Finally, double-labelling immunofluorescence performed on seven malignant CMTs showed MUC6 and Tn co-expression. Therefore, MUC6 and Tn antigen overexpression is associated with malignant phenotypes of CMTs.
Asunto(s)
Adenocarcinoma/veterinaria , Adenoma/veterinaria , Antígenos de Carbohidratos Asociados a Tumores/metabolismo , Carcinosarcoma/veterinaria , Enfermedades de los Perros/patología , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/patología , Mucina 6/metabolismo , Adenocarcinoma/metabolismo , Adenocarcinoma/patología , Adenoma/metabolismo , Adenoma/patología , Animales , Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , Carcinosarcoma/metabolismo , Carcinosarcoma/patología , Enfermedades de los Perros/metabolismo , Perros , Femenino , Inmunohistoquímica/veterinaria , Glándulas Mamarias Animales/metabolismo , Glándulas Mamarias Animales/patología , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/metabolismo , Microscopía Fluorescente/veterinariaRESUMEN
For several years, veterinary oncologists have been struggling with the prognosis of mammary tumours in dogs and cats. Translation of tumour characteristics into prognostic information is an invaluable tool for the use of the most appropriate therapies, as well as for planning innovative therapeutic trials. Moreover, canine and feline spontaneous mammary gland tumours are good models for the study of human breast cancer. Collecting and interpreting information regarding the prognosis of canine and feline mammary tumours is difficult due to the fact that different methods have been applied to study various components and characteristics. This review identifies some of the challenges of prognostic studies of spontaneous canine and feline mammary tumours and suggests standardized procedures to overcome these challenges and facilitate reproducibility and assessment of results.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Gatos/diagnóstico , Enfermedades de los Perros/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/diagnóstico , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Medicina Veterinaria/métodos , Medicina Veterinaria/normas , Animales , Enfermedades de los Gatos/patología , Gatos , Enfermedades de los Perros/patología , Perros , Femenino , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/patología , Pronóstico , Reproducibilidad de los ResultadosRESUMEN
The histopathological and clinical aspects of canine mammary tumours (CMTs) have been widely studied, but the variation in the biological behaviour of these neoplasms hampers the identification of prognostic factors. Sustained angiogenesis has been suggested to be one of the most important factors underlying tumour growth and invasion. This process involves the action of several growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The present study characterizes the relationship between immunohistochemical expression of VEGF and gross (e.g. size and tissue fixation) and microscopical (e.g. type, growth, necrosis, lymphoid infiltration, lymph node metastasis, histological grade and proliferation index) features of CMTs. Forty-eight benign and 64 malignant CMTs were evaluated. Statistical analysis failed to show a significant relationship between VEGF expression and the pathological features, suggesting that VEGF expression occurs in both benign and malignant tumours and is independent of histological type, proliferation, tissue invasion or local metastatic capacity.
Asunto(s)
Adenoma/metabolismo , Carcinoma/metabolismo , Enfermedades de los Perros/metabolismo , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/metabolismo , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismo , Adenoma/patología , Animales , Western Blotting , Carcinoma/patología , Enfermedades de los Perros/patología , Perros , Femenino , Inmunohistoquímica , Metástasis Linfática/patología , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/patología , Neovascularización Patológica/metabolismo , Neovascularización Patológica/patologíaRESUMEN
Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a major structural protein of caveolae, plasma membrane invaginations related to several cellular processes including regulation of signal transduction. In recent years there has been some controversy regarding the distribution of Cav-1 in normal and neoplastic mammary cell types, which may be attributed to different scoring systems adopted in different studies. The present study compares Cav-1 immunoexpression in normal (n=17) and neoplastic (n=79) canine mammary tissues assessed by two different scoring methods (previously reported by others with conflicting results) and associates Cav-1 expression with metastasis and overall survival (OS). Results obtained with both scoring methods were similar, revealing absence of immunoreactivity in normal luminal epithelium and in benign neoplasms and clearly associating Cav-1 expression with malignant transformation. The data suggest that Cav-1 expression is associated with highly malignant subtypes of mammary tumours (i.e. basal-like carcinoma), invasion and metastasis, thus supporting the hypothesis that it may play a major role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Furthermore, one of the scoring systems employed associated Cav-1 expression with unfavourable prognosis in canine mammary carcinomas, showing a strong correlation between Cav-1-positive carcinomas and shorter OS.
Asunto(s)
Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , Carcinoma/veterinaria , Caveolina 1/metabolismo , Enfermedades de los Perros/diagnóstico , Glándulas Mamarias Animales/metabolismo , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/diagnóstico , Animales , Biomarcadores de Tumor/análisis , Carcinoma/diagnóstico , Carcinoma/patología , Caveolas/metabolismo , Caveolina 1/análisis , Enfermedades de los Perros/patología , Perros , Femenino , Inmunohistoquímica , Glándulas Mamarias Animales/patología , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/patología , Invasividad Neoplásica , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Pronóstico , Proyectos de Investigación , Análisis de SupervivenciaRESUMEN
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an important enzyme involved in inactivation of catechol estrogens, which are metabolites with carcinogenic properties. Some investigations in human breast cancer associate a genetic polymorphism in the COMT gene (COMT val158met) with an increased risk and poor clinical progression of the disease. In dogs, there are 2 recognized single nucleotide polymorphisms in the COMT gene (COMTG216A and COMTG482A); however, their influence on the outcome of mammary neoplasms has never been investigated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of COMT in the clinical progression of canine mammary tumors, namely in recurrence, metastasis and survival by testing 2 SNPs (G216A and G482A), and 2 genotypes of the COMT gene. A case series was conducted analyzing genomic DNA samples by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism from 80 bitches with mammary tumors. Animals were submitted to an active follow-up study for a period of 24 months after surgery. We observed that bitches carrying both genetic variations simultaneously are more likely to develop recurrence of mammary lesions. Our results demonstrate a possible role for COMT genotypes in the outcome of mammary neoplasms in the dog. Identifying a genetic factor predictive of recurrence may be useful in selecting the most effective surgical approach for canine mammary neoplasms.
Asunto(s)
Catecol O-Metiltransferasa/genética , Enfermedades de los Perros/genética , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/genética , Animales , Perros , Femenino , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , PronósticoRESUMEN
COX-2 expression was examined immunohistochemically in samples of normal canine mammary tissue (n=22) and benign (n=36) and malignant (n=45) mammary tumours including metastases (n=12). COX-2 was constitutively expressed in normal mammary tissue with membranous apical labelling of glandular epithelium, suggesting a role for this molecule in normal mammary physiology. By contrast, in neoplastic lesions and in adjacent non-neoplastic mammary tissue COX-2 was expressed in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells, suggesting that internalization of the molecule is associated with oncogenesis. Marked expression of COX-2 was observed in 8.3% of benign neoplasms and in 42.2% of malignant neoplasms, mainly in poorly differentiated areas. The majority of metastatic lesions (58.3%) exhibited strong COX-2 labelling and in almost all cases (83.3%) the labelling intensity was similar or stronger to that of the primary neoplasm. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that COX-2 metabolites are important promoters of angiogenesis and invasiveness and therefore contribute to metastatic spread.
Asunto(s)
Ciclooxigenasa 2/metabolismo , Enfermedades de los Perros/enzimología , Glándulas Mamarias Animales/enzimología , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/enzimología , Neoplasias/enzimología , Neoplasias/veterinaria , Animales , Enfermedades de los Perros/patología , Perros , Femenino , Inmunohistoquímica/veterinaria , Glándulas Mamarias Animales/metabolismo , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/metabolismo , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/patología , Metástasis de la Neoplasia/patología , Neoplasias/metabolismoRESUMEN
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an important enzyme participating in inactivation of carcinogenic oestrogen metabolites. In humans there is a single nucleotide polymorphism in COMT gene (COMT val158met) that has been associated with an increased risk for developing breast cancer. In dogs, there is a single nucleotide polymorphism in COMT gene (G482A), but its relation with mammary carcinogenesis has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to focus on the evaluation of such polymorphism as a risk factor for the development of mammary tumors in bitches and on the analysis of its relationship with some clinicopathologic features (dog's age and weight, number and histologic type of the lesions, lymph node metastasis) of canine mammary neoplasms. A case-control study was conducted analyzing 90 bitches with mammary tumors and 84 bitches without evidence of neoplastic disease. The COMT G482A polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP. We found a protective effect of the polymorphism in age of onset of mammary tumors, although we could not establish a significant association between COMT genotype and other clinicopathologic parameters nor with mammary tumor risk overall. Animals carrying the variant allele have a threefold likelihood of developing mammary tumors after 9 years of age in comparison with noncarriers. The Kaplan-Meier method revealed significant differences in the waiting time for onset of malignant disease for A allele carrier (12.46 years) and noncarrier (11.13 years) animals. This investigation constitutes the first case-control study designed to assess the relationship between polymorphic genes and mammary tumor risk in dogs. Our results point to the combined effect of COMT genotype with other genetic and/or environmental risk factors as important key factors for mammary tumor etiopathogenesis.
Asunto(s)
Catecol O-Metiltransferasa/metabolismo , Enfermedades de los Perros/metabolismo , Estrógenos de Catecol/metabolismo , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/metabolismo , Edad de Inicio , Alelos , Animales , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Catecol O-Metiltransferasa/genética , ADN/química , ADN/genética , Enfermedades de los Perros/enzimología , Enfermedades de los Perros/genética , Enfermedades de los Perros/patología , Perros , Femenino , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Genotipo , Estimación de Kaplan-Meier , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/enzimología , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/genética , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/patología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido SimpleAsunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Perros/diagnóstico , Hamartoma/veterinaria , Enfermedades del Bazo/veterinaria , Animales , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Enfermedades de los Perros/cirugía , Perros , Femenino , Hamartoma/diagnóstico , Hamartoma/cirugía , Enfermedades del Bazo/diagnóstico , Enfermedades del Bazo/cirugíaRESUMEN
AIMS: To investigate different autochthonous isolates of wood-rotting fungi for the removal of both colour and phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewaters (OMW). METHODS AND RESULTS: The isolates Bjerkandera adusta Ba-100, Fomes fomentarius Ff-106, Ganoderma applanatum Ga-20, Irpex lacteus Il-3, Trametes versicolor Tv-101 and Tv-103 were preliminarily screened for their OMW-decolourizing potential on potato dextrose agar supplemented with different OMW concentrations. A further screening of batch cultures under different agitation speeds, to test the effect of shear stress, resulted in the selection of isolate G. applanatum Ga-20. Batch cultures grown in OMW-based medium exhibited strong laccase induction and significant decrease in the values of phenols, colour and chemical oxygen demand. Concomitant onset of laccase activity and colour removal was observed, and apart from laccase, neither lignin peroxidase nor manganese-dependent peroxidase activities were detected. Moreover, the depletion of aromatic compounds with high and low apparent molecular mass was observed by chromatographic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Isolate G. applanatum Ga-20 exhibited interesting properties for its use in bioremediation of OMW, namely high removal of recalcitrant phenolic compounds and strong colour abatement. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: For the first time, the white-rot fungus G. applanatum proves to be effective for the decolourization and dephenolization of OMW.
Asunto(s)
Ganoderma/enzimología , Microbiología Industrial , Residuos Industriales , Fenol/metabolismo , Aceites de Plantas/química , Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos , Biodegradación Ambiental , Color , Ganoderma/aislamiento & purificación , Lacasa/metabolismo , Aceite de Oliva , Fenol/química , Contaminantes del Agua/metabolismoRESUMEN
A series of 131 local and regional lymph nodes from 40 dogs with malignant mammary tumours were evaluated by staining with haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemically for antibodies to pancytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and cytokeratin 14. The immunohistochemical tests detected occult micrometastases in 9.2 per cent of the lymph nodes that were negative by haematoxylin and eosin staining. Under the modified TNM classification of canine mammary tumours, these results raised the clinical stage of 12.5 per cent of the affected dogs. However, if the latest TNM classification of human breast cancer had been applied, none of the animals would have been reclassified.
Asunto(s)
Biomarcadores de Tumor/análisis , Enfermedades de los Perros/patología , Queratinas/análisis , Metástasis Linfática/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/patología , Animales , Biopsia/veterinaria , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Enfermedades de los Perros/diagnóstico , Perros , Femenino , Inmunohistoquímica/veterinaria , Neoplasias Mamarias Animales/diagnósticoRESUMEN
The relationship between E-cadherin epithelial expression, as detected by immunohistochemical methods, and other clinico-pathological characteristics of canine malignant mammary tumours was studied in 77 tumours surgically removed from 45 female dogs. The immunohistochemical assessment was based on the estimated percentage of epithelial cells with membranous labelling. Reduction of E-cadherin expression was significantly related to size and ulceration of tumours but not to fixation to skin or underlying tissue; it was also related to lymph node metastasis, necrosis and infiltrative growth. Histological type (but not histological grade) was related to E-cadherin expression, with solid tumours more frequently lacking expression and tubulopapillary tumours showing increased expression as compared with the other types. The significant relationship between E-cadherin and other known factors of poor prognosis suggests that the loss of E-cadherin expression may have prognostic value in canine malignant mammary tumours.