Screening of bacterial DNA in bile sampled from healthy dogs and dogs suffering from liver- or gallbladder-associated disease

Although the biliary system is generally aseptic, gallbladder microbiota has been reported in humans and some animals apart from dogs. We screened and analyzed the bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid in canine gallbladders using bile sampled from 7 healthy dogs and 52 dogs with liver- or gallbladder-associated disease. PCR screening detected bacteria in 17.3% of diseased dogs (9/52) and none in healthy dogs. Microbiota analysis of PCR-positive samples showed that the microbial diversity differed between liver- and gallbladder-associated disease groups. Thus, a specific bacterial community appears to occur at a certain frequency in the bile of diseased dogs

Ultrasonographic evaluation of depth–width ratio (D/W) of benign and malignant mammary tumors in dogs

Depth-width ratio (D/W) is the only quantitative item in the criteria recommended by the Japanese Ultrasound Society for the evaluation of breast tumors in humans. However, the usefulness of the D/W has not been evaluated in dogs. Eighty-six mammary masses in 34 female dogs underwent ultrasonographic examination to determine the D/W and other characteristics. Results of ultrasonographic and histopathologic examinations were compared. The D/W of malignant tumors was significantly greater than that of benign tumors, and it had a sensitivity of 56.3% and a specificity of 92.9% for the diagnosis of malignancy when the threshold of D/W was 0.7. In addition, irregular margin, polymorphous shape and heterogeneous internal echographic characteristics were correlated with malignancy

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Conserved Transcription Factor Binding Site of CD14 Gene in Yorkshire Terrier

In humans, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CD14 promoter region are associated with allergic diseases. There are no reports of canine CD14 gene cloning, nor any reports studying the pathogenesis of CD14 polymorphism in dogs. In this study, canine CD14 gene was cloned by 5\u27 and 3\u27 RACE method and its SNPs were analyzed. The presence of two SNPs were identified. SNP1 was located at predicted AP-1 binding site of CD14 promoter region (-187C>T) in the Yorkshire terrier. SNP2 (c.930G>A), silent mutation of Glu, identified in 5 dog breeds. The relative transcriptional activity of a general breed type CD14 promoter (-187C/luc) did not differ from those of Yorkshire terrier type (-187T/luc); however, the relative activity was diminished when the AP-1 site was mutated. In conclusion, CD14 gene structure was highly conserved in dog breeds and its expression could be regulated by the transcription factor AP-1