Sarcoptic mange and other ectoparasitic infections in a red fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) population from central Italy.

Fifty red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the district of Pisa (central Italy) were examined for ectoparasites. Sarcoptic mange was diagnosed on the presence of clearly visible skin lesions with confirmatory demonstration of Sarcoptes scabiei at parasitological and histopathological analysis. Ticks and fleas were collected directly from the carcases during post mortem examination, fixed and identified by morphological examination. For the detection of ear Malassezia and mite infections, cytological and parasitological examinations of ear wax samples were performed. All data were statistically analysed using a χ2 test with the Yates correction. An overall prevalence of 84% for ectoparasitic infections was found in examined subjects. In regard to isolated ectoparasites, 38%, 8%, 82%, 6% and 8% of foxes resulted positive for S. scabiei, Otodectes cynotis, Malassezia spp., fleas (Archaeopsylla erinacei, Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides canis) and ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus), respectively. Malassezia ear infection was significantly more prevalent in animals older than 1 year (P Sarcoptes-infected animals indicate that sarcoptic mange should be considered the most important ectoparasitic infection of red foxes in the examined area

An unusual presentation of actinomycosis in a dairy cow

A first lactation dairy cow (in late gestation) presented with a hard round swelling of the right olecranon and slight lameness. A lateromedial radiograph of the right olecranon had a mottled appearance with indistinct borders. Bone biopsy was performed post calving. Histology showed fibrosis and reactive changes, however this sample was considered too superficial and not representative of the whole lesion. Based on the differential diagnoses treatment was not possible and the cow was culled at the end of her lactation. At slaughter the forelimb was retained for further analysis. Grossly, the olecranon was severely enlarged, irregular with multiple yellow granulomas in the cortex and medulla of the bone. Histology showed multifocal pyogranulomas containing bacteria, Splendore-Hoeppli material and surrounded by remodelled bone and fibrosis. Despite displaying biochemical properties characteristic of Actinomycesspecies this could not be confirmed by partial 16s rRNA sequencing and the organism could not be definitively speciated

Giardia and Cryptosporidium in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes): Screening for coproantigens in a population of central Italy and mini-review of the literature

© 2019 Papini R.A. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are common protozoan parasites affecting several animal species and humans. The aim of this survey was to investigate, for the first time, their prevalence in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) faecal samples in central Italy. Seventy-one red foxes of different ages and sexes were examined for antigenic detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in fecal samples by means of a commercial rapid immunochromatographic test. The sample was randomly selected from foxes culled during a population control program. They were divided into groups based on sex and age (≤1-year-old and >1-year-old). Five (7%) and one (1.4%) out of 71 fecal samples were positive for the Giardia or Cryptosporidium antigens by immunochromatographic assay, respectively, and no coinfections were observed. The present prevalence rates of Giardia and Cryptosporidium antigens in faeces from V. vulpes suggest that this host species is likely to play only a limited role in the spread of the two protozoa in the study area. A concise review of the literature related to Giardia and Cryptosporidium in V. vulpes is presented

Advanced imaging of a histologically confirmed bone infarction of the distal tibia in a Warmblood mare

An 8‐year‐old Warmblood‐cross mare presented for investigation of acute onset left hindlimb lameness. Nuclear scintigraphy identified a marked, focal, increase in radiopharmaceutical uptake in the distal aspect of the left tibia. Radiography revealed a large, oval, multi‐loculated radiolucent area within the medulla of the distal metaphysis of the left tibia. The mare was treated conservatively for 6 months but showed little improvement in the lameness so the owner elected for euthanasia. Post‐mortem computed tomographic imaging revealed a large, oval, hypoattenuating area within the distal tibia, surrounded by a thick, irregular, sclerotic border. The lesion occupied the majority of the medullary cavity but the cortical bone was unaffected. Gross and histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of a bone infarction in the medullary cavity of the distal tibia

Novel sequence variants of viral hexon and fibre genes in two dogs with canine adenovirus type 1-associated disease

There is little information on sequence variation of canine adenovirus type 1 (CAdV-1), the aetiological agent of infectious canine hepatitis (ICH). This study reports hexon and fibre gene sequence variants of CAdV-1 in a dog with systemic ICH and a dog with the ocular form of the disease (\ue2\u80\u98blue eye\ue2\u80\u99) in Northern Italy in 2013. One of the sequence variants matched a CAdV-1 fox sequence previously detected in Italy

Biological aspects of radiation and drug-eluting stents for the prevention of restenosis

Based on recent advances, this article aims to review the biological basis for the use of either radiation or drug-eluting stents for the prevention of restenosis, and to elucidate the complementary role that they may play in the future. Vascular restenosis is a multifactorial process primarily driven by the remodeling of the arterial wall, as well as by the hyperproliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMC). These pathophysiological features are the target of therapeutic strategies aimed at inhibiting constrictive remodeling as well as inhibiting SMC proliferation. The success of radiation as well as anti-proliferative drugs such as paclitaxel and sirolimus lies in the primary and/or multifactorial inhibition of cell proliferation. Radiation has the additional feature of preventing constrictive remodeling while sirolimus has the potential property of being anti-inflammatory, which may be a desirable feature. The effects of radiation are not reliant on any uptake and "metabolism” by the target cells, as in the case with drugs, and thus radiation potentially may be more effective as a result of its more-direct action. However, radiation does have some significant drawbacks compared to drug-eluting stents, including a much delayed re-endothelialization resulting in the need for prolonged anti-platelet therapy. Based on recent clinical data, drug-eluting stents have been shown to markedly reduce the likelihood of restenosis, which actually favors this approach for the prevention of restenosis. From a biological perspective, drug-eluting stents and radiation have certain differences, which are reviewed in this articl

Experimental infection with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in European brown hare (Lepus europaeus, Pallas)

Objective To investigate clinicopathological, bacteriological and pathological aspects of an experimental infection with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Y. pseudotuberculosis) in hares to verify the efficacy of serology for the in vivo diagnosis. Moreover, the pathogenicity of two Y. pseudotuberculosis strains was investigated in order to detect potential differences. Methods Twelve European brown hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas) were experimentally infected per os and via conjunctival mucosae with Y. pseudotuberculosis: six subjects were infected with a strain isolated from a naturally infected hare (YpH) and six subjects with a strain isolated from a naturally infected rabbit (YpR). Two hares were used as negative controls. All animals were subjected to clinical, bacteriological and serological examinations during 9 weeks following the infection and, at the end of the control period, subjects still alive were euthanized and submitted to a complete post mortem examination. Results All faecal samples collected during the control period were positive for bacteriological examinations and to a PCR for the inv gene of Y. pseudotuberculosis, while only one YpH-infected hare showed a positive haemocultures. From the 2nd to the 9th week post infection (pi), serological analysis revealed specific antibodies with titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:160 in all YpH-infected and two YpR-infected subjects. All the YpH-infected and two YpR-infected hares scored positive for Y. pseudotuberculosis by means of bacteriological investigations. Grossly, suppurative multifocal lesions were detected in liver, spleen, kidney and sub-mandibular lymph nodes in both YpH- and YpR-infected hares and confirmed with histopathology. Pulmonary lesions were observed only in YpH-infected subjects. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of bacterial antigen in all infected animals. Conclusion Results of this study revealed that YpH strain is more pathogenic for hares than the YpR strain; moreover the serological test performed in this study could be used for the diagnosis of pseudotuberculosis in hares, whereas post mortem diagnosis should be confirmed by means of bacteriological examination, PCR, histopathology and immunohistochemistry

Some problems in application of certain forms of summary procedure based on criminal procedure code of the Russian federation

The recent amendments to the criminal procedure legislation of the Russian Federation and occurrence of a number of its new procedural institutions, such as, short stories dedicated to the simplified legal proceedings, have become a grounded state reaction to the changes in the crime situation in the country as a whole, and an increased level of counteraction to investigation of crimes, in particular. By introducing the institution of a special order of the court judgment adoption, which grants the accused (suspected) person with certain "advantages" in comparison with the usual order of the judicial proceedings, and by expanding the base of its application1, by the introduction of mutually acceptable legal concessions, thestate found it necessary and possible to motivate the suspected and the accused person to provide an active assistance in solving crimes, especially serious and the most serious ones, committed by the organized criminal groups. The cooperation relationships emerging in this case between the state represented by the bodies, which carry out the criminal proceedings, and the accused (suspected) person, containing inherently a mutually beneficial compromise for them, shall have the clearly defined borders, the violation of which is unacceptable in terms of compliance with the human rights and freedoms of the participants in the process, provision of quality crime investigation and fair court judgment

Adenosine A1 Receptors Promote Vasa Vasorum Endothelial Cell Barrier Integrity via Gi_{i} and Akt-Dependent Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling

Background: In a neonatal model of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, a dramatic pulmonary artery adventitial thickening, accumulation of inflammatory cells in the adventitial compartment, and angiogenic expansion of the vasa vasorum microcirculatory network are observed. These pathophysiological responses suggest that rapidly proliferating vasa vasorum endothelial cells (VVEC) may exhibit increased permeability for circulating blood cells and macromolecules. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations remain unexplored. Some reports implicated extracellular adenosine in the regulation of vascular permeability under hypoxic and inflammatory conditions. Thus, we aimed to determine the role of adenosine in barrier regulation of VVEC isolated from the pulmonary arteries of normoxic (VVEC-Co) or chronically hypoxic (VVEC-Hyp) neonatal calves. Principal Findings We demonstrate via a transendothelial electrical resistance measurement that exogenous adenosine significantly enhanced the barrier function in VVEC-Co and, to a lesser extent, in VVEC-Hyp. Our data from a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction show that both VVEC-Co and VVEC-Hyp express all four adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3), with the highest expression level of A1 receptors (A1Rs). However, A1R expression was significantly lower in VVEC-Hyp compared to VVEC-Co. By using an A1R-specific agonist/antagonist and siRNA, we demonstrate that A1Rs are mostly responsible for adenosine-induced enhancement in barrier function. Adenosine-induced barrier integrity enhancement was attenuated by pretreatment of VVEC with pertussis toxin and GSK690693 or LY294002, suggesting the involvement of G$_{i}$ proteins and the PI3K-Akt pathway. Moreover, we reveal a critical role of actin cytoskeleton in VVEC barrier regulation by using specific inhibitors of actin and microtubule polymerization. Further, we show that adenosine pretreatment blocked the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced permeability in VVEC-Co, validating its anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions: We demonstrate for the first time that stimulation of A1Rs enhances the barrier function in VVEC by activation of the G$_{i}$/PI3K/Akt pathway and remodeling of actin microfilament