Genital tract involvements in a bull affected by bovine besnoitiosis

Objective To describe the gross and histopathological testicular lesions observed in a 14-months.old Limousine bull, imported from France and referred for thickening of the skin and enlargement of the testis and finally diagnosed as affected by Besnoitiosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological investigation of skin sampled via biopsy. Materials and Methods Gross examination and histological investigation were carried out on the reproductive tract of the bull sampled during slaughtering. The considered parts were skin of the scrotum, testis, testicular coverings, epididymis, penis, and penis retractor muscle. These tissue were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin wax, and processed for histological investigation. Results Gross examination showed: thickening and lichenification of the scrotal skin (a), visible cysts at the level of the testicular coverings (b), preputial mucosa (c), hyperemia of the right testis (d). The main microscopical finding was the presence of several Besnoitia. spp cysts in the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the scrotum, in the testicular coverings as well as in the testicular tubules (e), and epididymis. (f) The Besnoitia spp. cysts ranged in size from 250 to 300 μm in diameter. They had a 10-20 μm thick wall with three layers: an outer hyaline layer, a middle layer with host cells cytoplasm and nuclei, and an inner membrane with the parasitophorous vacuole containing typical 7.0×2.0 μm basophilic banana-shaped Besnoitia spp. Bradyzoites. Plasmocytic and histiocytic inflammatory reaction, with sparse eosinophilic granulocytes infiltration were observed around some broken cysts. Numerous Besnoitia spp. cysts were also observed in the cross section of the penis (g) and the penis retractor muscle (h). A moderate inflammatory response, composed by macrophages, eosinophils and scattered lymphocytes, was seen near and around the cysts. Discussion and conclusions The presence of cysts and its secondary inflammatory reactions may explain the impaired fertility that has been already described in the case of Besnoitiosis. Potential explanations may be: • interference with normal spermatogenesis by the cysts in the interstitial spaces and under the epithelial cells in the seminiferous tubules; • direct pressure on the germinal epithelial cells by the cysts that can cause pressure atrophy of epididymal and/or testicular tissues; • reduction of the blood flow, local testicular necrosis and development of fibrotic foci due to the inflammation caused by the cysts in the blood vessel walls of the testis and pampiniform plexus, with repercussion on the seminiferous tubule health; • abnormal thermoregulation of the testis due to the thickened scrotum; • abnormal thermoregulation of the testis due to vascular lesions in pampiniform plexus provokiong testicular degeneration; • tissutal fibrosis due to the inflammatory reaction to the presence of the cysts

Hospitalizations in Pediatric and Adult Patients for All Cancer Type in Italy: The EPIKIT Study under the EU COHEIRS Project on Environment and Health

The EPIKIT (Epidemiology of Cancer in Italy) Study Group is a result of the COHEIRS project (Civic Observers for Health and Environment: Initiative of Responsibility and Sustainibility), funded by the Europe for Citizens Program 2013–2014 to address the issue of Precautionary Principle applicatio

Tamoxifen in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomised controlled trial

Background Results from small randomised trials on tamoxifen in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are conflicting, We studied whether the addition of tamoxifen to best supportive care prolongs survival of patients with HCC. Methods Patients with any stage of HCC were eligible, irrespective of locoregional treatment. Randomisation was centralised, with a minimisation procedure accounting for centre, evidence of disease, and time from diagnosis. Patients were randomly allocated best supportive care alone or in addition to tamoxifen, Tamoxifen was given orally, 40 mg per day, from randomisation until death. Results 496 patients from 30 institutions were randomly allocated treatment from January, 1995, to January, 1997. Information was available for 477 patients. By Sept 15, 1997, 119 (50%) of 240 and 130 (55%) of 237 patients had died in the control and tamoxifen arms, respectively. Median survival was 16 months and 15 months (p=0.54), respectively, No differences were found within subgroups defined by prognostic variables. Relative hazard of death for patients receiving tamoxifen was 1.07 (95% CI 0.83-1.39). Interpretation Our findings show that tamoxifen is not effective in prolonging survival of patients with HCC

Retroperitoneal pulmonary choristoma in a newborn calf

A newborn male Romagnola calf, who had died a few hours after birth, was submitted for postmortem examination. Necropsy revealed a 23 cm x 22 cm x 5 cm, pale pink, lobulated, elastic, partially fluctuant mass that protruded from the dorsal retroperitoneal space into the abdominal cavity, extending from the diaphragm to the left kidney. The mass consisted of mature pulmonary tissue and was consistent with a pulmonary choristoma. The gross and microscopic appearance of this rare tumor-like congenital lesion and the possible pathogenesis are discussed

Congenital Pauch Calf Syndrome in Romagnola Cattle

In the last decade genetic diseases have become a matter of considerable concern for the Romagnola breeders, with Spastic Paresis being the most commonly referred disorder (estimated prevalence of 0.6%). We describe here a new congenital and possibly inherited defect observed in 12 Romagnola calves (10 were stillborn, two lived only some hours) admitted to our Department. Breeders seem to be finding this problem particularly worrisome. We have decided to call this defect Congenital "Paunch Calf" Syndrome because of the main clinical feature and because this is the name farmers use to describe the affected animals. All the calves showed an enlarged and floating abdomen, denoting a considerable abdominal effusion. Moreover they all had facial deformities characterized by shortened and flattened face and in some cases by enlarged head. A disproportionate shortness of the limbs (rhizomelia) was evident in one case. Cleft palate was evident in four calves. At necropsy all but one animal had marked subcutaneous oedema, especially in the ventral part of the abdominal wall. Different quantities of ascites fluid (in some cases up to 10 liters) were present in the abdominal cavity. The liquid ranged from yellow to red, with different grades of turbidity. The liver presented a moderate to severe diffuse fibrosis. It was moderately tough and enlarged with irregular and enhanced lobular pattern. One or more cysts, with serous or reddish fluid content, were observed on the peritoneal surface of the left lobe and/or of the hepatic hilus. On surface section, the parenchyma was irregularly separated by slight fibrous bands. Diffuse ectasia of the intrahepatic veins was also detected. Representative samples from the liver were collected and processed for histological examination. Five micron sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (HE), Masson-trichrome stain, Gomori and rhodanine techniques. Microscopical examination revealed an extensive distorsion of lobular architecture by widespread fibrosis in periportal areas and around centrolobular veins. In some lobules the fibrosis was extended to perisinusoidal spaces. Capsular fibrotic thickening and cellular degeneration or atrophy were detected in some cases. Cardiac malformations were evident in 10 calves; they were characterized by atrial (one calf) and interventricular septal defect (eight calves), and patent ductus arteriosus (three calves). A genetic cause is strongly suspected

Survey of abomasal lesions in slaughtered veal calves

Abstract: For many years, abomasal lesions have been recognized as one of the most common pathological findings in veal calves. In particular, ulcerations have been associated with the consumption of large volumes of milk replacer and with psychosomatic stressors, such as long lasting transport, confinement in individual pens, limited space allowance, repeated group mixing. In recent decades new European regulations have been adopted to improve the welfare of calves confined for intensive rearing and fattening. With regards to the feeding system, the regulations state that “a minimum daily ration of fibrous food should be provided for each calf over two weeks old the quantity being raised from 50 g to 250 g per day for calves from eight to 20 weeks old”. In relation to roughage supply there have been some concerns that this might induce abomasal lesions. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the incidence of abomasal lesions in veal calves reared and fed in conformity with the new rules. The mucosal surface of the abomasa of 682 veal calves six to eight months of age (85.5% Holstein; 93.5 % male) were examined post mortem at slaughter. The calves originated from farms with a loose housing system. Their diet was based on milk replacer and an adequate amount of fibrous food (mais silage and/or mais grain) in accordance with the aforementioned regulation. Pathological aspects were found in 594 out of the 682 abomasa examined (87.1 %). The following lesions were recorded: generalized edema (41 = 6.0 %), hyperemia (120 = 17.6 %), petecchial hemorrhages (180 = 26.4 %), erosions (241 = 35.3 %) and ulcers (227 = 33.3 %). In another 67 cases, the abomasa showed the presence of small superficial whitish nodules ranging from one to three millimetres, disseminated throughout the gastric mucosal surface. Histologically, this type of lesions was characterized by edematose infiltration of the mucosal lamina propria and submucosal layer, possibly due to a not better clarified immune-reactive process. In all cases, the presence of indigested fibrous particles and hairs was observed. Hairs were often embedded in the mucosa. The results of this study confirmed that abomasal lesions still constitute a common finding in veal calves, with erosion (superficial defect of the mucosa) and ulcers (deep defect with clear loss of mucosa with muscularis mucosae involvement) being the most important. Although it is likely that most of them are innocuous to the animal, they demonstrate that this type of rearing/feeding system cannot as yet be considered completely innocuous to the gastrointestinal tract of calves. Whether or not the mechanical abrasive effect of rough particles as well as hair, rather than some other stress-induced biochemical imbalances at the level of the mucosa, plays the most important role in inducing abomasal lesions should be the object of further investigations

Congenital facial deformities, ascites and hepatic fibrosis in Romagnola calves

none4mixedTestoni S.; Militerno G.; Rossi M.; Gentile A.Testoni S.; Militerno G.; Rossi M.; Gentile A