Effect of mucoprotective plant-derived therapies on damage to colonic mucosa caused by carprofen and robenacoxib administered to healthy dogs for 21 days.

BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause gastrointestinal damage in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent to which lansoprazole, liquorice extract, and a herbal solution exhibit protective effects on colonic mucosa when administered to dogs concurrently with the NSAIDs carprofen or robenacoxib. ANIMALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five healthy beagle dogs (15 male and 20 female) aged 13-14 weeks and weighing 4.3-5.5 kg at the beginning of the experiment were included. Endoscopy and biopsy of the caudal gastrointestinal tract were performed pretreatment and on the last day of a 21-day treatment period with (1) oral carprofen; (2) carprofen and the proton-pump inhibitor lansoprazole; (3) carprofen, liquorice extract, and a herbal solution that contained extracts of thyme, icelandic lichen, hyssop, and saponariae root; (4) robenacoxib; (5) robenacoxib and lansoprazole; (6) robenacoxib, liquorice extract, and herbal solution; or (7) an empty gelatin capsule. Statistical analyses were performed with the Kruskal-Wallis, Cochran's Q, and chi-squared test with p < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Both carprofen and robenacoxib tested damaged the colonic mucosa with most severe microscopic lesions following administration of robenacoxib with lansoprazole. The risk of histopathological lesions in the colon increased most rapidly in robenacoxib with lansoprazole (absolute risk increase -0.85) similar to robenacoxib only (-0.75), whereas the best result was recorded following the plant remedies together with carprofen (-0.15) and the plant remedies together with robenacoxib (-0.2). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Concurrent administration of liquorice extract and an herbal solution with robenacoxib was associated with decreased severity of the NSAID-induced mucosal lesions.

Extragonadal teratoma in a domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo domestica).

This is the first report of a primary, spontaneous and, most probably, congenital teratoma in a domestic turkey, localized in front of the left eyeball. The unique localization allowed surgical excision of the tumour. The histopathological examination revealed that the tumour included structures derived from all three germ cell layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm (e.g. cartilaginous, osseous, haematopoietic, fibrous, nervous, glandular, squamous epithelial and smooth muscle tissues). The presence of epithelial cells as well as smooth muscle cells was confirmed using anti-cytokeratin and anti-desmin antibodies, respectively. The proliferative activity of the tumour cells was confirmed using proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining. The other cases of teratoma in wild and domestic birds are reviewed briefly.

Veterinary pathology trends in the light of The European Society of Veterinary Pathology Congresses in 1997-2009.

This paper presents the main trends in the activity of veterinary pathologists in the context of their oral presentations, short speeches and posters during annual congresses of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology (ESVP) in the years 1997-2009. During the thirteen analyzed congresses, 2668 presentations were prepared, including 72 plenary lectures, 946 short oral presentations and 1489 posters. Based on the analysis, organ pathology (779 presentations) was the most popular branch of pathology. Infectious and parasitic diseases (714 presentations) and oncology (563) were also quite popular. This paper analyzes also the role of congresses of the Society in disseminating knowledge on veterinary pathology and training pathologists in Europe as well as the trends in their scientific activity.