ERBB2 in Cat Mammary Neoplasias Disclosed a Positive Correlation between RNA and Protein Low Expression Levels: A Model for erbB-2 Negative Human Breast Cancer

Human ERBB2 is a proto-oncogene that codes for the erbB-2 epithelial growth factor receptor. In human breast cancer (HBC), erbB-2 protein overexpression has been repeatedly correlated with poor prognosis. In more recent works, underexpression of this gene has been described in HBC. Moreover, it is also recognised that oncogenes that are commonly amplified or deleted encompass point mutations, and some of these are associated with HBC. In cat mammary lesions (CMLs), the overexpression of ERBB2 (27%–59.6%) has also been described, mostly at the protein level and although cat mammary neoplasias are considered to be a natural model of HBC, molecular information is still scarce. In the present work, a cat ERBB2 fragment, comprising exons 10 to 15 (ERBB2_10–15) was achieved for the first time. Allelic variants and genomic haplotype analyses were also performed, and differences between normal and CML populations were observed. Three amino acid changes, corresponding to 3 non-synonymous genomic sequence variants that were only detected in CMLs, were proposed to damage the 3D structure of the protein. We analysed the cat ERBB2 gene at the DNA (copy number determination), mRNA (expression levels assessment) and protein levels (in extra- and intra protein domains) in CML samples and correlated the last two evaluations with clinicopathological features. We found a positive correlation between the expression levels of the ERBB2 RNA and erbB-2 protein, corresponding to the intracellular region. Additionally, we detected a positive correlation between higher mRNA expression and better clinical outcome. Our results suggest that the ERBB2 gene is post-transcriptionally regulated and that proteins with truncations and single point mutations are present in cat mammary neoplastic lesions. We would like to emphasise that the recurrent occurrence of low erbB-2 expression levels in cat mammary tumours, suggests the cat mammary neoplasias as a valuable model for erbB-2 negative HBC.POCI/CVT/62940/2004 and by the PhD grants (SFRH/BD/23406/2005 and SFRH/BD/31754/2006, of the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) from Portugal

Comparative review of human and canine osteosarcoma: morphology, epidemiology, prognosis, treatment and genetics

Osteosarcoma (OSA) is a rare cancer in people. However OSA incidence rates in dogs are 27 times higher than in people. Prognosis in both species is poor, with five year osteosarcoma survival rates in people not having improved in decades. For dogs, one year survival rates are only around ~45%. Improved and novel treatment regimens are urgently required to improve survival in both humans and dogs with OSA. Utilising information from genetic studies could assist in this in both species, with the higher incidence rates in dogs contributing to the dog population being a good model of human disease. This review compares the clinical characteristics, gross morphology and histopathology, aetiology, epidemiology, and genetics of canine and human osteosarcoma. Finally, the current position of canine osteosarcoma genetic research is discussed and areas for additional work within the canine population are identified

Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Upper Eyelid in a Dog

A 12-year-old, male mongrel dog was presented for a 6-month history of a progressive eyelid mass of the right upper eyelid. The dog's medical history reported long-term bilateral topical application of 0.03% tacrolimus ophthalmic ointment for third eyelid plasmoma and treatment cycles with systemic corticosteroids for a long-standing atopic dermatitis. Complete physical and ophthalmologic examination of the dog as well as complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, urinalysis, thoracic radiographs, and abdominal ultrasonography were performed. The mass involved the skin and the margin of the upper eyelid, which was ulcerated. Conjunctival hyperemia, and the thickening and partial depigmentation of the third eyelid due to plasmoma were present. The plasmoma was observed bilaterally. Histological examination of the eyelid mass showed an invasive proliferation of malignant epithelial cells with intermixing of both adenocarcinomatous and malignant squamous cell components. An eyelid adenosquamous carcinoma was diagnosed. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report on an adenosquamous carcinoma of the eyelid in a dog. Immunosuppression has been found to be a significant clinical risk factor for cutaneous adenosquamous carcinoma in humans and was considered a possible risk factor for this dog

In vitro sensitivity of two different inocula of Microsporum canis versus terbinafine

Purpose. Terbinafine is an allylamine derivative: it is the first antifungal agent with a primarily fungicidal action against dermatophytes. its good efficacy in treating dermatophythosis has already been demonstrated both in humans and animals. In this study, the authors checked two type of inocula, non sporulating and sporulating mycelia of Microsporum canis, to evaluate the in vitro activity of terbinafine using a microdilution test. Materials and methods. Twenty-nine unsporulated isolates and 18 sporulated samples of M canis were tested to terbinafine. All the isolates were obtained from the coats of cats by brushing technique and seeded onto Mycobiotic agar. The strains were successively seeded into Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) or onto Potato Carrot Agar (PCA) to obtain the inocula to assay the susceptibility of both mycelium or macroconidia. The assays were carried out by microdilution. All tests were performed in quadruplicate. Results. All samples of unsporulated mycelia grew at concentrations of 0.005 mug/ml, 58 samples grew at concentrations of 0.025 mug/ml, 18 at 0.05 mug/ml. Growth at 0.5 mug/ml and higher concentrations was not observed. All samples of sporulating mycelia grew at 0.005 mug/ml, 24 grew at concentrations of 0.025 mug/ml, 20 at 0.05 mug/ml. No sample grew at concentrations of 0.5 mug/ml. When testing mycelia, a DE50 of 0.03 mug/ml has been recorded, while 0.02 mug/ml was the DE50 for the macroconidia. Conclusions. Basing upon the statistical analysis of the data, no difference between the behavior of the two different types of inocula towards terbinafine was observed. The strong fungicidal character of terbinafine against ill. canis has also been evidenced

Urinary capillariosis in six dogs from Italy

Canine urinary capillariosis is caused by the nematode Pearsonema plica. P. plica infection is seldomly detected in clinical practice mainly due to diagnostic limitations. This report describes six cases of urinary capillariosis in dogs from Italy. Recurrent cystitis was observed in one dog, whereas another patient was affected by glomerular amyloidosis. In the remaining animals, the infection was considered an incidental finding. Immature eggs of the parasite were observed with urine sediment examination in 3/6 patients. Increased awareness of the potential pathogenic role of P. plica. and clinical disease presentation could help identify infected animals