Retroviral coinfection (Jaagsiekte and Maedi-Visna viruses) in sheep with pulmonary tumors in Transylvania (Romania): retrospective study on 82 cases.

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is an important viral-induced neoplasia in sheep caused by exogenous Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (exJSRV). Coinfection of exJSRV and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) is reported in OPA cases, but its worldwide distribution and significance on lung pathology is not yet completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the MVV coinfection rate in 82 exJSRV-related OPA cases, and their pathological effects on lung parenchyma in slaughtered sheep in Transylvania (Romania). On gross examination, classical form of OPA was identified in 92.7%; no changes consisting with MVV interstitial pneumonia were identified in the included cases. The most common histological type of OPA was acinar (58.5%) and the myxoid growths were found in 18 cases. The exJSRV and MMV coinfection rate in examined sheep was 47.6% (39/82). The assessment of perineoplastic areas from coinfected animals, revealed interstitial lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates in all cases, lymphoid hyperplasia in 60.6% cases (20/33) and fibromuscular hyperplasia in 63.7% (21/33). This is the first report providing new data on distribution of OPA coexisting with MVV infection in slaughtered sheep in Romania. We consider that the OPA and MVV coinfection may play an important role on the severity of ovine chronic pulmonary diseases and further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Effective treatment with afoxolaner (NexGard) of Trixacarus caviae in a pet guinea pig.

Trixacarus caviae is a sarcoptic mange mite infesting guinea pigs. Infestation in immunosuppressed animals produces severe dermatological problems, including alopecia, intense pruritus, hyperkeratosis and non-dermatological issues (e.g., seizures). Treatment options are limited and include topical application of macrocyclic lactones or amitraz or injectable administration of ivermectin or doramectin. Considering the severity of the disease and the challenging treatment, the present paper aimed to determine the efficacy of oral afoxolaner in a severe case of infestation with T. caviae in a pet guinea pig. One female guinea pig was referred to the New Companion Animal Clinic due to severe dermatological problems. A clinical evaluation was done, and skin scrapings were collected and examined under the microscope. Small mites were detected and morphologically identified as T. caviae. The animal was treated with a single oral dose of 2.50 mg/kg afoxolaner, and the lesions, presence/absence of mites and intensity of pruritus were evaluated periodically until 2 months post-treatment. A week after the medication, the lesions were milder, but pruritus was still present and was attributed to the healing process. Further examinations showed significant improvement with the complete remission of clinical signs and no mites at the microscopic examination after 4 weeks. Afoxolaner was safe and effective in this guinea pig for the treatment of T. caviae mange with no repetition needed.

The Potential of Composite Cements for Wound Healing in Rats.

Recent developments in biomaterials have resulted in the creation of cement composites with potential wound treatment properties, even though they are currently mainly employed for bone regeneration. Their ability to improve skin restoration after surgery is worth noting. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the ability of composite cement to promote wound healing in a rat experimental model. Full-thickness 5 mm skin defects were created, and the biomaterials were applied as wound dressings. The hybrid light-cured cement composites possess an organic matrix (Bis-GMA, TEGDMA, UDMA, and HEMA) and an inorganic phase (bioglasses, silica, and hydroxyapatite). The organic phase also contains γ-methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, which is produced by distributing bioactive silanized inorganic filler particles. The repair of the defect is assessed using a selection of macroscopic and microscopic protocols, including wound closure rate, histopathological analysis, cytotoxicity, and biocompatibility. Both composites exerted a favorable influence on cells, although the C1 product demonstrated a more extensive healing mechanism. Histological examination of the kidney and liver tissues revealed no evidence of toxicity. There were no notable negative outcomes in the treated groups, demonstrating the biocompatibility and efficacy of these bioproducts. By day 15, the skin of both groups had healed completely. This research introduces a pioneering strategy by utilizing composite cements, traditionally used in dentistry, in the context of skin wound healing.

Assessing Biocompatibility of Composite Cements by Peri/Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Implantation in Rats.

This study's goal was to evaluate the biocompatibility of two composite cements over a 90-day period by analyzing the individuals' behavior as well as conducting macroscopic and histological examinations and Computed Tomography (CT) scans. We conducted the cytotoxicity test by placing the materials subcutaneously and peri/intramuscularly. Days 30 and 90 were crucial for our research. On those days, we harvested the implants, kidneys and liver to search for any toxic deposits. The biomaterial's uniformity, color and texture remained unaltered despite being in intimate contact with the tissue. Although a slight inflammatory response was observed in the placement location, we observed an improved outcome of the interaction between the material and its insertion area. There were no notable discoveries in the liver and kidneys. According to the obtained results, the biomaterials did not produce any clinical changes nor specific irritation during the research, demonstrating that they are biocompatible with biological tissues.

Hepatic vascular hamartoma in a cat: a case report with literature review.

Vascular hamartomas represent a focal proliferation of disorganized vascular tissue, which is usually present at birth. An 8-month-old Scottish fold female cat presented with abdominal distention, mild dyspnea, pale mucous membranes, and lethargy. Ultrasound examination revealed a hepatic mass resembling multiple cysts affecting the right medial lobe. Surgical excision was performed, and tissue samples were sent for histopathological evaluation. The mass was composed of multiple, dilated, variably-sized well-differentiated arterioles and venules, consistent with vascular hamartoma. Immunohistochemical investigation of the cells lining the cystic structures showed positive immunolabeling for vimentin and negative immunolabeling for PanCK, supporting the histological diagnosis. Based on existing literature, this represents the first case of hepatic localization of vascular hamartoma in a cat. In addition, a comparative histological study between vascular hamartoma and biliary duct hamartoma and a review on hepatic vascular hamartomas in animals and hepatic cystic masses in cats was made.

Case report: The first description of a thyroglossal duct cyst in a hen (Gallus gallus domesticus).

Thyroglossal duct cyst represents a congenital anomaly of the cervical region, rarely documented in animals. Although previously reported in dogs, cats, horses, goats, pigs, and calves, never in birds. This report describes a rare case of thyroglossal duct cyst in a hen. A necropsy of a Transylvanian Naked Neck hen carried following diphtheroid mucocutaneous lesions. The necropsy revealed a large, cyst-like structure measuring 0.5 cm at the level of the caudal edge of the left thyroid gland. Histologically, the cystic mass, bordered by 1-2 lines of well-differentiated ciliated cuboidal cells, presented nuclear immunoreactivity for Thyroid transcription factor 1. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there are no previous records of thyroglossal duct cysts in avians. Moreover, this is the first case describing a thyroglossal duct cyst in a hen.

A severe case of hyperinfection by Strongyloides stercoralis in a pet dog from Romania.

Strongyloides stercoralis is a zoonotic soil-transmitted nematode affecting mainly humans and dogs but identified also in non-human primates, cats and wild carnivores. It has a cosmopolitan distribution being endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. In Romania, the infection was reported on several occasions in dogs with low prevalence (3.5% -3.8%), assessed by coproscopy and it was confirmed in human patients with no travel history. A 2-year-old male Boston Terrier dog presented to a private clinic due to severe digestive problems, in July 2022. The animal had a long history of health problems. The dog was in a very bad clinical condition with severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss. Coproparasitological examinations using the saline flotation method and the modified Baermann's technique were done, both being negative. In addition, an intestinal biopsy was performed during the second endoscopy. Nematodes were collected and identified morphologically and molecularly confirmed. Histology revealed severe inflammation of the duodenal mucosa with areas of edema, necrosis, and hemorrhage, and in the intestinal glands, there were numerous nematodes suggesting a parasitic infection by Strongyloides spp. PCR followed by sequencing confirmed the infection with S. stercoralis. The dog was treated with a combination of oral fenbendazole and milbemycin oxime for 5 months. No relapse was observed 3 months after negativity was attained. This case describes a severe clinical infection by Strongyloides stercoralis in a domestic dog from Romania and the recovery after long-term treatment.

First Molecular Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses Detected in Romania.

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are a group of retroviruses that cause multisystem chronic diseases in goats and sheep and lead to production losses in these animals, negatively affecting animal health and welfare. Although molecular characterization of SRLV field isolates has been performed in many countries, there is currently no information on SRLV genotypes circulating in sheep and goats in Romania. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to conduct a molecular and phylogenetic analysis of SRLVs from Romania and determine the degree of genetic relatedness of the obtained sequences to other known SRLV reference strains. A total of 81 sheep lung tissue samples and 41 sheep lung lymph node samples were tested using nested real-time PCR, and samples positive for real-time PCR were used to amplify an 800 bp gag-pol fragment and an overlapping 625 bp fragment of the gag gene. Pairwise DNA distance and phylogenetic analysis showed that the Romanian SRLV strains were closely related to the A2 and A3 strains based on gag-pol sequences and to the A3 and A17 subtypes based on gag sequences. No recombination events were found. Our results revealed that the Romanian sequences have similar epitope patterns to other existing subtypes, although E/K and R/K mutations in epitope 3 were found only in the Romanian sequences, which may have potential value in serological diagnosis. This study is the first report on the genetic characterization of SRLV strains circulating in Romania and provides new information on SRLV heterogeneity. Further detailed studies should be conducted to better understand the divergence of SRLV Romanian strains.

Is the Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in domestic dogs underestimated or misdiagnosed? A comprehensive presentation of four lethal cases.

Introduction: Angiostrongylus vasorum (A. vasorum) is a widely distributed gastropod-borne nematode, causing severe cardio-pulmonary disorders in dogs. In Romania, A. vasorum was detected in foxes and serologically confirmed in domestic dogs, but no clinical cases are currently diagnosed. Methods: Four dogs with clinical history of respiratory distress, originating from different geographical regions of Romania, were included in the study. One dog (case 1) was clinically evaluated using thoracic radiology and cardiac ultrasound; examination of feces and PCR were also performed for the etiologic diagnosis. The postmortem exam was performed in the other three cases, followed by parasitological and molecular analyses. Results: In the first case, parasitic pneumonia was suspected based on the radiographic examination of the thorax and the infection with A. vasorum was confirmed by L1 morphological identification and PCR. The main postmortem changes included large, coalescing, dark red areas of pulmonary consolidation (n = 3) and numerous adult nematodes in the pulmonary arteries (n = 2). The histopathological examination of the lungs showed necrotizing and granulomatous pneumonia with severe hemorrhages and chronic pulmonary arterial changes. Intralesional nematodes were seen in all necropsied cases. Additional inflammatory changes related to A. vasorum infection were identified in the brain and tracheobronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes (n = 2). Identification of larvae, histopathology and PCR confirmed the infection with A. vasorum. Conclusions: This study describes the first cases of canine cardiopulmonary angiostrongylosis in domestic dogs in Romania, and focuses on clinical presentation, pathological findings and molecular analysis. Angiostrongylosis should be included on the list of differential diagnoses of canine cardiopulmonary distress and/or haemorrhagic diathesis in Romania and awareness should be raised among clinicians to avoid post-mortem diagnosis in the future.

Helicobacter Pylori-Induced Gastric Infections: From Pathogenesis to Novel Therapeutic Approaches Using Silver Nanoparticles.

Helicobacter pylori is the first formally recognized bacterial carcinogen and the most important single digestive pathogen responsible for the induction of gastroduodenal diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, and, finally, gastric neoplasia. The recently reported high rates of antimicrobial drug resistance hamper the current therapies of H. pylori, with therapeutic failure reaching up to 40% of patients. In this context, new treatment options and strategies are urgently needed, but the successful development of these new therapeutic tools is conditioned by the understanding of the high adaptability of H. pylori to the gastric acidic environment and the complex pathogenic mechanism. Due to several advantages, including good antibacterial efficiency, possible targeted delivery, and long tissular persistence, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) offer the opportunity of exploring new strategies to improve the H. pylori therapy. A new paradigm in the therapy of H. pylori gastric infections using AgNPs has the potential to overcome the current medical limitations imposed by the H. pylori drug resistance, which is reported for most of the current organic antibiotics employed in the classical therapies. This manuscript provides an extensive overview of the pathology of H. pylori-induced gastritis, gastric cancer, and extradigestive diseases and highlights the possible benefits and limitations of employing AgNPs in the therapeutic strategies against H. pylori infections.

Flaxseed Ethanol Extracts' Antitumor, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential.

The antitumoral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of flaxseed ethanol extract was screened. Phytochemical analysis was performed by measuring the total phenolic content and by HPLC-DAD-ESI MS. In vitro antiproliferative activity was appreciated by MMT test of four adenocarcinomas and two normal cell lines. In vitro, antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, FRAP, H2O2, and NO scavenging tests. The in vivo growth inhibitory activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in female BALB/c mice was determined using the trypan blue test. In EAC mice serum and ascites total oxidative status, total antioxidant reactivity, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde, total thiols, total nitrites, 3-nitrotyrosine, and NFkB were measured. The phytochemical analysis found an significant content of phenols, with lignans having the highest concentration. The extract had an significant in vitro antioxidant effect and different inhibitory effects on different cell lines. After treatment of EAC mice with flaxseeds extract, body weight, ascites volume and viable tumour cell count, serum and ascites oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers decreased significantly. The ethanol flaxseeds extract has potential antiproliferative activity against some ovary and endometrial malignant cells and EAC. This effect can be attributed to the phenols content, and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.