Canine mast cell tumours: a review of the pathogenesis, clinical features, pathology and treatment

Mast cells (MCs) are well known for their neoplastic transformation in solitary and multiple cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs), as well as visceral and systemic mastocytosis. Dogs have an unique risk of developing cutaneous MCTs, and they account for 7% to 21% of all canine skin tumours. The aetiology of canine MCTs is unknown but is probably multi-factorial. This article reviews uptodate knowledge on the pathogenesis, the clinical presentation, the clinical prognostic factors, the diagnostic workup including clinical staging, cytological findings, histological findings and the various grading systems which have been evaluated based on morphology, the assessment of proliferation markers and other factors such as vessel density. Furthermore detailed information about current treatment protocols for canine cutaneous MCTs are provided

Sugar beet yellow net complex contains a luteovirus component

Yellow net virus of sugar beet has, until now, been listed as a tentative member of the luteovirus genus, but this is the first study to show that the yellow net symptom (YN) is always associated with a luteovirus. This virus is related to beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and when transmitted alone causes a mild yellowing symptom similar to that caused by BMYV in beet. Plants with YN have been found to contain, in addition to the luteovirus, two prominent, low molecular weight double-stranded (ds)RNA species. This dsRNA is indicative of an extra component in a complex with the luteovirus, which gives rise to the conspicuous symptom. The range of experimental hosts for this virus has been extended to include Capsella bursa-pastoris and Physalis floridana