Pituitary pathological review in 201 dogs and cats

In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of pituitary changes and the range of its lesions in a general population of 201 dogs and cats. Clinical data, macroscopic and histopathologic data were carefully evaluated and further tests like special stains and immunohistochemical tests were applied and its significance is discussed in the context of the current literature, adding to the current knowledge of pituitary changes in dogs and cats, highlights debatable aspects of the current classification and helps pathologists and veterinarians with the diagnostic process. A wide range of abnormalities can occur within the pituitary gland which can lead to various endocrinological or neurological symptoms. With the exception of classic functional adenomas in dogs and horses, pituitary lesions are infrequently described in the veterinary literature. Given the increasing availability of advanced imaging in the diagnostic approach of both endocrine and neurological disease, a better understanding of the range of abnormalities encountered in the pituitary gland is desirable, especially with the progression in sampling or surgical treatment of the pituitary gland in dogs and cats. Approximately 10% of pituitary glands from asymptomatic humans contain abnormalities but the equivalent proportion in small animals is unknown. Pituitary glands from 136 dogs and 65 cats collected during routine necropsies were examined to determine the prevalence of pituitary lesions and their histopathological diagnosis. Sections were prepared with haematoxylin and eosin (HE), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Gordon and Sweet's reticulin and immunohistochemistry against several secreting hormonal peptides. Pituitary abnormalities were identified in 36/136 (26.4%) dogs and 10/65 (15.3%) cats. Pituitary cysts were the commonest lesion in dogs and cats, occurring in 18 (13.2%) dogs and 8 (12.3%) cats. Pituitary neoplasia was detected in 14.1% (12/85) of middle/old aged dogs; 1 (1.5%) cat had pituitary nodular hyperplasia. PAS proved useful for staining secretory granules in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-positive adenomas and reticulin stain helped differentiate them from hyperplasia. These tumours were uniformly PAS positive with a loss of the normal reticulin network. One dog had a pituitary carcinoma with marked infiltration into the dorsal thalamus. Other pituitary abnormalities included: secondary metastatic neoplasia (2 dogs), hypophysitis (4 dogs, 1 cat). In the majority of cases the lesion was subclinical and could be considered incidental; of those dogs and cats with pituitary lesions, only 4 dogs (2.9%) and no cats demonstrated clinical manifestations of their pituitary disease ante mortem. Pituitary abnormalities are common in dogs and cats and their wider clinical relevance requires further investigation. Derived from this work and in collaboration with clinicians from Pride Veterinary Hospital, a unique case report of a dog presenting with inflammatory hypophysitis and hypothalamitis of suspected autoimmune origin with detailed clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), histology and immunohistochemistry findings which to our knowledge was reported. The case was initially misdiagnosed as a tumour by MRI; the correct diagnosis was made at post-mortem. We feel the value of this case report is in alerting clinicians that inflammatory conditions of the pituitary gland should be considered as potential differential diagnoses of suprasellar masses. Lymphocytic hypophysitis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of pituitary mass lesions, because it warrants very different management and treatment. In addition to the new information relevant to MRI interpretation, the report contains important clinical and pathological information on this previously unreported lesion. The study of the case has been thorough, including the integration of several specialities and has the potential to improve the diagnosis of future cases

Glosario de Covid-19 (EN-ES) abreviado.

La coronavirosis de 2019 (covid-19), declarada pandemia por la Organización Mundial de la Salud el 11 de marzo de 2020, además de producir unos efectos devastadores en las sociedades de todo el mundo, trajo aparejadas no solo la creación espontánea de muchos neologismos en las redes sociales, sino también la utilización profusa de una gran cantidad de tecnicismos en textos de todo tipo. Muchos de esos términos, en el par inglés-español, se han venido recogiendo en línea en el Glosario de covid-19 (en-es), que se actualiza periódicamente en el cibersitio de Tremédica con el apoyo de la plataforma Cosnautas. El «Glosario de covid-19 (en-es) abreviado» que se publica ahora en Panace@ es un extracto de aquel. Agrupa 810 lemas sobre la biología molecular de los coronavirus, las manifestaciones clínicas de la covid-19, las pruebas de detección del virus y de diagnóstico por imagen de la enfermedad, los equipos de protección y las vacunas anticovídicas en desarrollo, además de curiosos neologismos, y hace especial hincapié en los términos que presentan dificultades de traducción.Coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March 2020. As well as having a devastating impact on societies worldwide, covid-19 brought with it not only the spontaneous creation of many neologisms on social media, but also the widespread use of technical terms in all sorts of texts. Many of these terms have been compiled online in the English-Spanish language pair in the Glossary of covid-19 terms (en-es), which is regularly updated on the Tremédica website with support from the Cosnautas platform. The “Abridged glossary of covid-19 terms (enes)” published in this issue of Panace@ is an excerpt from it, and includes 810 entries covering the molecular biology of coronaviruses, clinical features of covid-19, coronavirus detection tests, diagnostic imaging tests, protective equipment, and the covid-19 vaccines being developed, as well as unusual neologisms, with particular emphasis on terms that are difficult to translate

Meningeal carcinomatosis and spinal cord infiltration caused by a locally invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma in a cat

A 12-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with acute non-painful hindlimb proprioceptive ataxia localising to T3–L3 spinal cord segments. MRI revealed paravertebral muscular hyperintensity on T2-weighted images at the level of T7–T8 vertebrae. The cat improved on conservative management but deteriorated 3 months later. Repeated MRI showed meningeal enhancement at the same level and hyperintensity of the paravertebral musculature extending to the right thoracic wall and pleural space on short tau inversion recovery images. Thoracic CT showed mineralised lesions of the right lung, restricted pleural effusion and expansile bone lesions affecting multiple ribs. The cat had been treated for pyothorax 5 years earlier but manifested no current respiratory signs. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed lymphocytic pleocytosis but no neoplastic cells. Biopsy of the affected muscles and cytology of the lung and pleural lesions suggested a malignant epithelial cell tumour. Post-mortem examination confirmed a pulmonary adenocarcinoma locally infiltrating the thoracic wall, T7–T8 vertebrae and the spinal cord white matter. Meningeal carcinomatosis was detected with neoplastic cells invading the ventral median fissure of the spinal cord. No metastases were observed in other organs, indicating that neoplastic cells reached the spinal cord by direct extension

Anencephaly and Severe Myelodysplasia in a Stillborn Brown Bear (Ursus arctos arctos)

[EN] Malformations in the development of the neural tube have been described to be associated with different aetiologies, such as genetic factors, toxic plants, chemical products, viral agents, or hyperthermia. A twenty-four-year-old female Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos), permanently in captivity and kept under food and management control, gave birth to a stillborn cub at the end of gestation. Several malformations resulting from the anomalous development of the neural tube, not previously reported in bears, were observed, such as anencephaly, hypoplasia, micromyelia, severe myelodysplasia, syringomyelia, and spina bifida. Multiple canal defects (e.g., absence) were also observed in the spinal cord. In some regions, the intradural nerve roots surrounded the spinal cord in a diffuse and continuous way. The aetiology remains unidentified, although the advanced age of the mother and/or folic acid deficit might have been the possible causes of this disorder. Supplements of folate given to the mother before and during early pregnancy may have reduced the incidence of neural tube defects. That supplementation should be considered when the reproduction of bears is to occur in captivity, in order to prevent the loss of future generations of this endangered speciesSIThis work was partially funded by the Principality of Asturias (PCTI 2021–2023, GRUPIN: IDI-2021-000102) and the European Regional Development Fun

Genetic Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses Detected in Spanish Assaf Sheep with Different Mammary Lesions

[EN]Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) are widespread in many countries and cause economically relevant, slow, and persistent diseases in sheep and goats. Monitoring the genetic diversity of SRLVs is useful to improve the diagnostic tools used in the eradication programs. In this study, SRLVs detected in Spanish Assaf sheep with different grades of lymphoproliferative mastitis were sequenced. Genetic characterization showed that most samples belonged to type A and were closer to Spanish SRLV isolates previously classified as A2/A3. Four samples belonged to subtype B2 and showed higher homology with Italian B2 strains than with Spanish B2 isolates. Amino acid sequences of immuno-dominant epitopes in the gag region were very conserved while more alterations were found in the LTR sequences. No significant correlations were found between grades of mastitis and alterations in the sequences although samples with similar histological features were phylogenetically closer to each other. Broader genetic characterization surveys in samples with different grades of SRLV-lesions are required for evaluating potential correlations between SRLV sequences and the severity of diseases.SIThis work has been partially supported by the Spanish government (LE361A12-1 project and FPU13/01081 grant) and by the University of Camerino (FAR-Preziuso)

Presencia de infección y lesiones mínimas en mama y otros tejidos en ovinos afectados de Maedi-Visna

5 páginas, 2 tablas.--Trabajo presentado al: XL Congreso Nacional y el XVI Congreso Internacional de la Sociedad Española de Ovinotecnia y Caprinotecnia. (Castellón de la Plana, España, 16-18 septiembre 2015).Este trabajo ha sido subvencionado por los proyectos LE361A12-1 y LE314U14 de la Junta de Castilla y León y por una beca FPU del Ministerio de Educación.Peer Reviewe

Goats Naturally Infected with the Spanish Goat Encephalitis Virus (SGEV): Pathological Features and An Outbreak

[EN] In autumn 2011, a disease outbreak caused by Spanish goat encephalitis virus (SGEV) was reported in a herd of goats from Asturias (north-western Spain), expanding the known geographic distribution of tick-borne encephalitis in Europe. The virus was classified as a new subtype (subspecies) within the Louping-ill virus species of the mammalian tick-borne flavivirus group. The aims of the present study were to describe the pathology in goats naturally infected with SGEV, as well as discuss the pathogenesis of the disease in that outbreak. A total of 22/85 (25.88%) goats (20 adults and 2 kids) died between October 2011 and June 2012, showing neurological clinical signs. Over three years, the mortality rate in the herd reached 100%. Neuropathological lesions caused by SGEV were severe and widespread throughout the central nervous system but were more severe and numerous in the proximal cervical spinal cord, medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellar cortex. They consisted of neuron necrosis, neuronophagia, mononuclear inflammatory cell perivascular cuffs (lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages) and gliosis. The distribution of viral antigens was restricted to the cytoplasm of neurons in several brain areas but not associated with inflammatory foci nor inflammatory cells. SGEV should be considered a significant pathogen of goats that results in severe neurological clinical disease and high mortality.SIThis work was partially funded by the Principality of Asturias (PCTI 2021–2023, GRUPIN: IDI-2021-000102) and European Regional Development Fun

Immunohistochemical detection of p53 and pp53 Ser392 in canine hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas located in the skin

[EN] Background: p53 protein is essential for the regulation of cell proliferation. Aberrant accumulation of it usually occurs in cutaneous malignancies. Mutant p53 is detected by immunohistochemistry because it is more stable than the wild-type p53. However, post-translational modifications of p53 in response to ultraviolet radiation are important mechanisms of wild-type p53 stabilization, leading to positive staining in the absence of mutation. The aims were: 1) to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and phospho-p53 Serine392 in canine skin endothelial tumours; and 2) to determine if any relationship exists between p53 and phospho-p53 Serine392 overexpression and cell proliferation. Results: p53 and phospho-p53 Serine392 immunolabeling was examined in 40 canine cutaneous endothelial tumours (13 hemangiomas and 27 hemangiosarcomas). Their expression was associated with tumour size, hemangiosarcoma stage (dermal versus hypodermal), histological diagnosis and proliferative activity (mitotic count and Ki-67 index). Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase of p53 immunoreactivity in hemangiosarcomas (median, 74.61%; interquartile range [IQR], 66.97-82.98%) versus hemangiomas (median, 0%; IQR, 0-20.91%) (p <.001) and in well-differentiated hemangiosarcomas (median, 82.40%; IQR, 66.49-83.17%) versus hemangiomas (p =.002). Phospho-p53 Serine392 immunoreactivity was significantly higher in hemangiosarcomas (median, 53.80%; IQR, 0-69.50%) than in hemangiomas (median, 0%; IQR, 0.0%) (p <.001). Positive correlation of the overexpression of p53 and phospho-p53 Serine392 with mitotic count and Ki-67 index was found in the cutaneous vascular tumours (p <.001). The Ki-67 index of the hemangiomas (median, 0.50%; IQR, 0-2.80%) was significantly lower than that of the hemangiosarcomas (median, 34.85%; IQR, 23.88-42.33%) (p <.001), and that specifically of well-differentiated hemangiosarcomas (median, 24.60%; IQR, 15.45-39.35%) (p =.001). Immunolabeling of 18 visceral hemangiosarcomas showed that the p53 (median, 41.59%; IQR, 26.89-64.87%) and phospho-p53 Serine392 (median, 0%; IQR, 0-22.53%) indexes were significantly lower than those of skin (p =.001; p =.006, respectively). Conclusions: The p53 and phospho-p53 Serine392overexpression together with high proliferative activity in hemangiosarcomas versus hemangiomas indicated that p53 might play a role in the acquisition of malignant phenotypes in cutaneous endothelial neoplasms in dogs. The Ki-67 index may be useful in distinguishing canine well-differentiated hemangiosarcomas from hemangiomasS

Mannose receptor may be involved in small ruminant lentivirus pathogenesis

Thirty-one sheep naturally infected with small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) of known genotype (A or B), and clinically affected with neurological disease, pneumonia or arthritis were used to analyse mannose receptor (MR) expression (transcript levels) and proviral load in virus target tissues (lung, mammary gland, CNS and carpal joints). Control sheep were SRLV-seropositive asymptomatic (n = 3), seronegative (n = 3) or with chronic listeriosis, pseudotuberculosis or parasitic cysts (n = 1 in each case). MR expression and proviral load increased with the severity of lesions in most analyzed organs of the SRLV infected sheep and was detected in the affected tissue involved in the corresponding clinical disease (CNS, lung and carpal joint in neurological disease, pneumonia and arthritis animal groups, respectively). The increased MR expression appeared to be SRLV specific and may have a role in lentiviral pathogenesis.Funded by grants from CICYT AGL2010-22341-C04-01 and Gobierno de Navarra IIQ14064.RI1. We acknowledge the Public University of Navarra and CSIC for fellowships and the JAE-contract (HC and RR)