Defence reaction in dental pulp after pulp capping and partial pulpectomy in dogs

The dental pulp was capped indirectly or directly, or partial vital pulpectomy was performed on the 12 functionally most important teeth of 24 beagle dogs. For pulp capping, calcium hydroxide was used, followed by zinc phosphate as a lining, and the preparation was restored with amalgam or composite material. Histological sections were prepared and examined for degree and type of pulp inflammation (hyperaemia, pulpitis, necrosis or gangrene). Degenerative changes of dental pulp (vacuolation, calcification, amyloid or hyaline changes) were also determined. For indirect pulp capping the width of predentine in crown and root dental pulp was measured, and for direct pulp capping and partial pulpectomy (vital pulpotomy) the width and quality of the dentinal bridge were graded. The radical method of partial vital pulpectomy of the coronal part of the dental pulp in dogs produced better quality and continuity of the dentinal bridge than the less radical method of direct pulp capping. This was particularly obvious in small single root teeth such as incisors

Influence of conjugated linoleic acid on the porcine immune response and morbidity: a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has diverse influences on the immune response in different experimental models. In the present study we investigated the effect of CLA feeding on inflammatory and immune responses in a piglet model. We studied the duration of this effect and possible detrimental effects of CLA feeding. After 12 weeks of CLA and control supplementation and washout, animals were sacrificed and parenchymal organs were histologically examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In activated peripheral mononuclear cells interferon-γ was significantly (p = 0.008) lower in the CLA group by the end of the feeding period. This effect disappeared as soon as supplementation was stopped. No differences were found in the tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10 production, serum immunoglobulin-G levels and fat infiltration of the liver, except that fat storage cell infiltration was significantly (p < 0.04) higher in the CLA-fed group. The effect of time for interferon-γ, interleukin-10 and immunoglobulin-G levels was statistically significant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>At the end of the feeding period the interferon-γ response was depressed. However, the maturation of the piglet immune system in our young pig model probably outweighs the impact of CLA feeding on the immune response, even though liver fat storage cell infiltration, which plays an important role in liver regeneration, increased during CLA feeding of the piglets.</p

Histopathological characteristics and expression of cdv-np antigen in the brain of serologically positive spontaneously infected red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in western Serbia

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a worldwide distributed RNA virus that can cause severe disease in carnivore and non-carnivore species. Red foxes are highly susceptible and may act as a reservoir of the virus. As in other wild species, distemper in red foxes can manifest as acute, systemic and chronic nervous form. In the present study, we detected antibodies against CDV among red foxes in Western Serbia, and analyzed histopathologically and immunohistochemically for CDV nuclear protein antigen (CDV-NP) brain samples derived from seropositive animals. Seroprevalence of CDV antibodies was 36.8%. Histopathological changes included gliosis, neuronal degeneration, satellitosis, mononuclear inflammation, demyelination and presence of inclusion bodies. Immunostaining showed a diffuse presence of CDV-NP antigen, mainly in the cytoplasm of astrocytes and neurons. Results of this work contribute to the opinion that red foxes act as a potential reservoir of CDV and underline the importance of routine vaccination of dogs that could come in close contact with these animals. Potential active surveillance program would give a better insight in the degree of CDV infection in wildlife

Enzymatic Degradation of PrPSc by a Protease Secreted from Aeropyrum pernix K1

BACKGROUND: An R30 fraction from the growth medium of Aeropyrum pernix was analyzed for the protease that can digest the pathological prion protein isoform (PrP(Sc)) from different species (human, bovine, deer and mouse). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Degradation of the PrP(Sc) isoform by the R30 fraction and the purified protease was evaluated using the 6H4 anti-PrP monoclonal antibody. Fragments from the N-terminal and C-terminal of PrP(Sc) were also monitored by Western blotting using the EB8 anti-PrP monoclonal antibody, and by dot blotting using the C7/5 anti-PrP monoclonal antibody, respectively. For detection of smaller peptides from incomplete digestion of PrP(Sc), the EB8 monoclonal antibody was used after precipitation with sodium phosphotungstate. Characterization of the purified active protease from the R30 fraction was achieved, through purification by fast protein liquid chromatography, and identification by tandem mass spectrometry the serine metalloprotease pernisine. SDS-PAGE and zymography show the purified pernisine plus its proregion with a molecular weight of ca. 45 kDa, and the mature purified pernisine as ca. 23 kDa. The purified pernisine was active between 58 °C and 99 °C, and between pH 3.5 and 8.0. The temperature and pH optima of the enzymatic activity of the purified pernisine in the presence of 1 mM CaCl(2) were 105 °C ± 0.5 °C and pH 6.5 ± 0.2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study has identified and characterized pernisine as a thermostable serine metalloprotease that is secreted from A. pernix and that can digest the pathological prion protein PrP(Sc)

Prions and animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathies

Background. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases are a unique group of neurodegenerative diseases of animals and humans, which always have a fatal outcome and are transmissible among animals of the same or different species. Scope and Approach. The aim of this work is to review some recent data about animal TSEs, with the emphasis on their causative agents and zoonotic potential, and to discuss why the surveillance and control measures over animal TSEs should remain in force. Key Findings and Conclusions. We still have incomplete knowledge of prions and prion diseases. Scrapie has been present for a very long time and controlled with varied success. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) emerged unnoticed, and spread within a few years to epidemic proportions, entailing enormous economic consequences and public concerns. Currently, the classical BSE epidemic is under control, but atypical cases do, and probably will, persist in bovine populations. The Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) of the cervids has been spreading in North America and has recently been detected in Europe. Preventive measures for the control of classical BSE remain in force, including the feed ban and removal of specified risk materials. However, active BSE surveillance has considerably decreased. In the absence of such preventive and control measures, atypical BSE cases in healthy slaughtered bovines might persist in the human food chain, and BSE prions might resurface. Moreover, other prion strains might emerge and spread undetected if the appropriate preventive and surveillance measures were to cease, leaving behind inestimable consequences

Malignant Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumour in a Ewe

We describe a rare case of malignant granulosa cell tumour in an adult ewe, euthanised due to progressive weight loss. Necropsy examination revealed a neoplastic enlargement of the right ovary, multifocal neoplastic masses in the lung and spleen, and severe enlargement of mediastinal and iliacal lymph nodes. Histopathology of the right ovary revealed a malignant ovarian granulosa cell tumour with metastases to the lung, spleen, and mediastinal and iliacal lymph nodes. Immunohistochemistry confirmed histopathological diagnosis. Neoplastic cells reacted positively for CK MNF 116 and vimentin and were negative for CK 7 and desmin. To our knowledge this is the first report of a malignant granulosa cell tumour in ewe

The first report of Elaphostrongylus cervi infection in two imported wapitis (Cervus canadensis) in Slovenia

This study describes two female wapitis (Cervus canadensis) with neurological signs associated with an Elaphostrongylus cervi (E. cervi) infection. The original host of the nematode parasite is the Eurasian red deer (Cervus elaphus), although other cervids and small ruminants may also be affected. The two wapitis imported from Canada were kept in an enclosure with the Slovenian red deer herd. After developing debilitating neurological signs, the wapitis were euthanized and examined for possible causes. A histopathological examination of the brain of the first wapiti revealed severe diffuse perivascular meningoencephalitis with chronic vasculitis, and some cross-sections of nematodes were found in the leptomeninges. A necropsy of the second wapiti revealed severe pachymeningitis and leptomeningitis, where several adult nematode parasites were found. E. cervi was confirmed by molecular methods. The prevalence of E. cervi in the European red deer population is high, but no study has been conducted to assess its prevalence in Slovenia. This was the first confirmation of E. cervi in Slovenia and the first infection with this parasite described in Europe in a wapiti. Elaphostrongylus cervi should also be considered as a differential diagnosis in Europe for all ruminants grazing on pastures frequented by red deer and showing neurological clinical signs

Detection of sseudorabies in dogs in Slovenia between 2006 and 2020

Pseudorabies (PR) is one of the most economically important diseases in domestic pigs. Since 2010, Slovenia has been free of PR in the domestic pig population, but the disease is endemic in the wild boar population, which can pose a real threat to domestic pigs and other animal species, including dogs. Between 2006 and 2020, infections with the PR virus (PRV) were reported in two pets and three hunting dogs from Slovenia that were found to have a direct contact with the wild boar or raw wild boar or pork meat. Typical clinical signs of PRV infection, including characteristic facial itching, cytopathic effect in cell cultures, positive immunocytochemistry, and positive PCR results confirmed the presence of PRV in all five cases investigated. A phylogenetic comparison of the partial glycoprotein C (gC) genomic region revealed that the Slovenian PRV isolates belong to clade A, with 95.78–100% nucleotide identity with strains isolated from dogs, domestic pigs, and wild boars from Europe. Within phylogenetic comparison of the partial glycoprotein D (gD) and partial glycoprotein E (gE) genomic regions of Slovenian PRV isolates, 100% and 99.12%–100% nucleotide identities were detected, respectively, suggesting low diversity between the PRV strains identified in dogs in Slovenia. This study provides the first molecular characterization of PRV in dogs and suggests that similar PRV strains circulate in the wild boar populations in this geographic area