Sertoli cell tumour in a neonate calf: an unusual congenital tumour. A case report.

Congenital testicular tumours are seldom reported in bovine species. This case report describes the clinical, sonographical, haematological, pathomorphological and immunohistological features of a Sertoli cell tumour in a neonatal German Holstein calf. Microscopically, the enlarged testicle was composed of neoplastic cells, which were packed in well-formed tubules. The mostly polygonal shaped cells had round to elongated nuclei and a scanty eosinophilic cytoplasm. Some cells were arranged perpendicularly to the light PAS-positive basement membrane. These cells were packed in broad sheets separated by dense fibrous stroma. Mitotic figures were present. The features described above are indicative of a Sertoli cell tumour. The contralateral testicle showed a well formed rete testis, fusiform cells and a dense central capillary convolute and haemorrhagic foci. The features are indicative of an extensive fibrosis and older haemorrhage. The neoplasia was immunopositive for vimentin, α-oestrogen receptor, α-inhibin and S-100 protein, but immunonegative for cytokeratine, CD30, progesterone receptor, α-fetoprotein, SALL4, OCT4 and glypican-3. The mycotoxicological investigations revealed the presence of residues of zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin, HT2 toxin and their metabolites in feeds and urine of heavily pregnant cows of the herd. Furthermore, information is provided about oestrogen and testosterone levels of the affected and healthy neonatal calves. A possible influence of mycotoxins on the cancerogenesis is discussed.

A RARE CASE OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN THE ARABIAN SAND CAT (FELIS MARGARITA HARRISONI).

Primary liver cancer is uncommon and is generally classified as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), bile duct carcinoma, neuroendocrine (or carcinoid) tumor, and mesenchymal tumor (sarcoma). Here we describe the gross and histopathology characteristics of a rare HCC in a captive Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni) held at Al Ain Zoo, United Arab Emirates. The description of this case in the Arabian sand cat adds to the current knowledge of hepatocellular carcinoma in captive nondomestic felids.

Efficacy of influenza vaccination and tamiflu® treatment--comparative studies with Eurasian Swine influenza viruses in pigs.

Recent epidemiological developments demonstrated that gene segments of swine influenza A viruses can account for antigenic changes as well as reduced drug susceptibility of pandemic influenza A viruses. This raises questions about the efficacy of preventive measures against swine influenza A viruses. Here, the protective effect of vaccination was compared with that of prophylactic Tamiflu® treatment against two Eurasian swine influenza A viruses. 11-week-old pigs were infected by aerosol nebulisation with high doses of influenza virus A/swine/Potsdam/15/1981 (H1N1/1981, heterologous challenge to H1N1 vaccine strain) and A/swine/Bakum/1832/2000 (H1N2/2000, homologous challenge to H1N2 vaccine strain) in two independent trials. In each trial (i) 10 pigs were vaccinated twice with a trivalent vaccine (RESPIPORC® FLU3; 28 and 7 days before infection), (ii) another 10 pigs received 150 mg/day of Tamiflu® for 5 days starting 12 h before infection, and (iii) 12 virus-infected pigs were left unvaccinated and untreated and served as controls. Both viruses replicated efficiently in porcine respiratory organs causing influenza with fever, dyspnoea, and pneumonia. Tamiflu® treatment as well as vaccination prevented clinical signs and significantly reduced virus shedding. Whereas after homologous challenge with H1N2/2000 no infectious virus in lung and hardly any lung inflammation were detected, the virus titre was not and the lung pathology was only partially reduced in H1N1/1981, heterologous challenged pigs. Tamiflu® application did not affect these study parameters. In conclusion, all tested preventive measures provided protection against disease. Vaccination additionally prevented virus replication and histopathological changes in the lung of homologous challenged pigs.