Immune Response in Young Thoroughbred Racehorses under Training

Training has a great impact on the physiology of an athlete and, like all stressful stimuli, can trigger an innate immune response and inflammation, which is part of a wider coping strategy of the host to restore homeostasis. The Thoroughbred racehorse is a valid animal model to investigate these changes thanks to its homogeneous training and highly selected genetic background. The aim of this study was to investigate modifications of the innate immune response and inflammation in young untrained Thoroughbred racehorses during the first training season through haematological and molecular investigations. Twenty-nine Thoroughbred racehorses were followed during their incremental 3-month sprint exercise schedule. Blood collection was performed at time 0 (T0; before starting the intense training period), 30 days after T0 (T30), and 90 days after T0 (T90). Haematological parameters (red and white blood cells, haemoglobin, and platelets) were evaluated and haematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red cells width distribution + standard deviation (RDW-SD) were calculated. Moreover, via RT-qPCR, we investigated the expression of, Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), Interleukin 4 (IL-4) Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 2 (IL-2), Interleukin 3 (IL-3), Interleukin 5 (IL-5) Interleukin 8 (IL-8), Trasformig Growth Factor β and α (TGF-β), Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and Interferon γ (IFN-γ)genes. Main corpuscular volume (MCV) showed a significant (p = 0.008) increase at T90. Main corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values were significantly augmented at both T30 (p < 0.001) and T90 (p < 0.001). Basophils were significant increased at T30 (p = 0.02) and eosinophils were significantly increased at T90 (p = 0.03). Significant differences in gene expression were found for all the genes under study, with the exception of IFN-γ and TNF-α. In particular, IL-2 (T30, p = 0.011; T90, p = 0.015), IL-4 (T30, p = 0.009; T90, p < 0.001), and IL-8 (T30, p < 0.001; T90, p < 0.001) genes were significantly upregulated at both T30 and T90 with respect to T0, TGF-β was intensely downregulated at T30 (p < 0.001), IL-5 gene expression was significantly decreased at T90 (p = 0.001), while IL-1β (p = 0.005) and IL-3 (p = 0.001) expression was strongly augmented at the same time. This study highlighted long-term adjustments of O2 transport capability that can be reasonably traced back to exercise adaptation. Moreover, the observed changes of granulocyte numbers and functions and inflammatory cytokine gene expression confirm a major role of the innate immune system in the response to the complex of stressful stimuli experienced during the training period

Frequency of Blood Types A, B and AB in a Population of Non-Pedigree Domestic Cats from Central Italy

Blood transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis are common events in the feline population due to the presence of natural alloantibodies in the AB blood group system. It is known that the frequency of feline blood types varies according to the geographic region and breed. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of AB blood groups in non-pedigree domestic cats in Central Italy and estimate the risk of a life-threatening transfusion reaction and neonatal isoerythrolysis, caused by mismatched transfusion or incompatible random mating, respectively. The AB blood group was determined on non-pedigree domestic feline patients and potential blood donors submitted at the Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of the Universities of Teramo (Abruzzo Region, Teramo, Italy) and Perugia (Umbria Region, Teramo, Italy), and visited at veterinary practitioners in Rome (Lazio Region, Teramo, Italy) using commercial immunochromatographic cartridges and commercial agglutination cards. There were four hundred and eighty-three cats included in the study. The frequencies of the blood types were: 89.9% type A, 7.0% type B, and 3.1% type AB. The probability of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction or a neonatal isoerythrolysis was 6.5%. Although the frequency of type B in non-pedigree domestic cats living in Central Italy was relatively low, to reduce the risk of fatal transfusion reactions, blood group typing is recommended before each transfusion

Trichinella spp. in ostrich meat: a public health risk?

In the present work the biological behaviour of T. spiralis and T. pseudospiralis in ostriches is reported. Oral infections were performed in eight ostriches with two infective doses (10,000 and 80,000 larvae) for each species of Trichinella. On day 0, 30 and 60 p.i. blood samples were collected to assay the serum changes concerning specific muscle enzyme activities and total proteins. The immunological study, to determine specific IgG in sera, was conducted employing a monoclonal blocking ELISA. From the carcasses of sacrificed animals, samples of various muscle tissues were examined by the digestion method and by standard histopathologic procedures. The study showed a low susceptibility of the ostriches to T. pseudospiralis; preferential sites of larval distribution were muscle tissues of the legs. T. spiralis could be found in muscle tissues only when a high number of larvae were inoculated. Immunological reactivity was found only in animals infected with higher doses of T. pseudospiralis

Experimental trichinellosis in fallow-deer (Dama dama L.).

Herbivora can play a very important role in spreading trichinellosis, as showed by the massive epidemics in man, caused by the consumption of horse meat in the last years. In this context, the present study has been undertaken to verify, through an experimental infection, the susceptibility, together with other biological parameters, of fallow-deer to Trichinella infection. The four animals, 8-9 months of age and 18-25 Kg body weight, were orally infected with low doses of Trichinella britovi and T. pseudospiralis (2,000 larvae/animal). After day 30 p.i., the animals were necropsied and, using artificial digestion methods, larval burden of Trichinella in muscle tissues was determined. Histopathological, serological (IgG monoclonal blocking ELISA) and biochemical data were assessed during the experiment. The results showed the susceptibility of fallow-deer to T. britovi and T. pseudospiralis infection; under the same inoculum size, the number of larvae/g was higher in group infected with T. britovi. The animals showed a higher immunological response to T. pseudospiralis infection. The results are discussed

Non Epitheliotropic B-Cell Lymphoma with Plasmablastic Differentiation vs. Cutaneous Plasmacytosis in a 12-Years-Old Beagle: Case Presentation and Clinical Review

Cutaneous lymphoid neoplasms and cutaneous plasmacytosis are rare in the dog; in human and in veterinary medicine, these have many clinical, cytological, histological, and phenotypic similarities, and a diagnosis of certainty is not easy. The aim of this study is to describe a case of cutaneous non epitheliotropic B-cell lymphoma (CNEBL) with plasmablastic differentiation vs. multiple cutaneous plasmacytosis (CP) in a dog, since the scarce bibliographic data on these topics. A 12-year-old male Beagle dog was presented for multiple, nodular, cutaneous, and subcutaneous, indolent masses disseminated on the whole body. Cytological, histological, flow cytometric, and immunohistochemical examinations, as well as complete radiographic evaluation, echocardiography, and abdominal ultrasound were performed. Cytology, histopathology, flow cytometric, and immunohistochemical examination, performed on the skin lesions, revealed a B-cell phenotype with plasmablastic differentiation. Nevertheless, a final diagnosis could not be achieved and it was categorized as a case of borderline CNEBL with plasmablastic differentiation versus CP. The dog was treated with a COP chemotherapeutic protocol. Total remission was obtained and relapse occurred 120 days later. To our knowledge, specific markers are actually unavailable to certainly differentiate CNEBL and CP in the dog and future studies are needed to improve knowledge on these pathologies in veterinary medicine, since prognosis and therapy are different

Third Eyelid T-cell-Rich Large B-cell Lymphoma Positive to EHV-5 in a Mare—a Case Report

Lymphoma is a rare neoplasm in the horse; nevertheless, it is the most frequent hematopoietic neoplasia in this species. It is classified according to the anatomical distribution of the lesion in multicenter, alimentary, mediastinal, cutaneous, and atypical/solitary form. Extraocular lymphoma mainly occurs as secondary lesion in cutaneous or multicentric form, whereas few reports show the presence of primary form of extraocular lymphoma. Ocular adnexa which are reported to be affected by lymphoma include third eyelid, eyelid, and the cornea. To date, no etiological agents are known. In this case report, we describe a case of T-cell-rich large B-cell lymphoma of the third eyelid in a mare never reported in literature, investigated with histology, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Moreover, for the first time, the presence of equine herpesvirus-5 was identified with a biomolecular analysis on the third eyelid tissue affected by lymphoma

Eucoleosi nasale clinicamente manifesta in cani provenienti dal Centro Italia

In the past few years the respiratory nematode Eucoleus boehmi has been increasingly reported in dogs from Europe, including Italy. Nonetheless, knowledge of the clinical importance of this parasitosis in canine practice is still poor. The present work describes 20 clinical cases of canine nasal eucoleosis (CNE) from Central Italy in 2012-2013, to provide new insights into the clinical features of the infection and to promote an appropriate awareness among veterinarians. Twenty dogs, scored positive for E. boehmi eggs at copromicroscopical examination, were selected and history details and clinical data were collected. Most of the infected animals (70%) consisted on hunting dogs which lived in rural or suburban areas of central Italy. All parasitised dogs showed different clinical pictures, being nasal discharge (16/20) the most frequent sign, followed by repeated sneering (11/20) and cough (7/20). Other respiratory signs, i.e. epistaxis, and impairment of scenting ability were observed. These results confirm that E. boehmi has a clinical importance on first airway diseases and demonstrate that veterinarians should be vigilant on its occurrence

Dosaggio della cistatina C sierica in cani con insufficienza renale e suo raffronto con i reperti istologici – risultati preliminari

In the last years the dosage of serum cystatin C (CCs) became an interesting marker of renal function (FR). In the present work we used a particle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay (PENIA – human antibodies) to determine this concentration in healthy dogs and in dogs affected by renal insufficiency (increased serum creatinine, urea nitrogen and phosphate). We have also made kidney biopsies in this subjects and we have then correlated the histologic appearance to CCs and creatinine dosages in order to point out any correlation. Our preliminary data confirm that CCs is a good marker of FR and show that it could also be a prospective indicator helpful to differentiate renal dysfunctions between themselves