Extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin, collagen III, and collagen I) immunoexpression in goat tuberculous granulomas (Mycobacterium caprae)

The lesion resulting from the interaction between Mycobacterium and the host immune response is the tuberculous granuloma. Tuberculous granulomas, except in incipient stages, are partially or totally encapsulated by connective tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the immunoexpression of the extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin, collagen III, and collagen I in granulomas caused by Mycobacterium caprae in goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) to understand capsule development at diferent granuloma stages. For this purpose, a retrospective study of 56 samples of tuberculous granulomas in lung (n=30) and mediastinal lymph node (n=26) from 17 goats naturally infected with M. caprae in stages I (n=15), II (n=14) and III (n=27) was carried out. Fibronectin immunoreaction was extracellular, fibrillar-reticular in the center of stage I, II and III granulomas and peripheral in stages II and III granulomas. Collagen III immunoexpression was extracellular and fibrillar in the center of stages I, II and III tuberculous granulomas in lung and mediastinal lymph node, and progressive expression was observed in the periphery of stages II and III granulomas. Finally, collagen I immunoexpression was extracellular and fibrillar, showing a progressive loss of central expression and an increase in peripheral expression in stage III granulomas compared to stage I granulomas. Immunoexpression of these extracellular matrix proteins could help understand fibrogenesis and dating in tuberculous granuloma in both animal models and humans

Colistin Selection of the Mcr-1 Gene in Broiler Chicken Intestinal Microbiota

Colistin has a long story of safe use in animals for the treatment and prevention of certain bacterial diseases. Nevertheless, the first description of the mcr-1 gene showed that colistin resistance can spread by horizontal gene transfer and changed the landscape. This study aimed to assess the effect of colistin administration on the dispersion of resistance in the microbiota of day-old broiler chicks and how the presence of mcr-1 genes influences the spread of colistin resistance determinants. In this study, 100 one-day-old chicks were divided into four groups of 25 animals (G1, G2, G3, and G4). Animals from G3/G4 were challenged with mcr-1-carrying Salmonella (day 7), while colistin (600 mg/L) was administered daily to G2/G4 animals through drinking water (from day 8 to day 15). Two quantitative PCR assays were performed to compare the amount of Salmonella and mcr-1 that were present in the caecal samples. We observed that levels of mcr-1 were higher in G3/G4 animals, especially G4, due to the spread of mcr-1-carrying Salmonella. On day 21, Salmonella levels decreased in G4, reaching similar values as those for G3, but mcr-1 levels remained significantly higher, suggesting that colistin may accelerate the spreading process when mcr-1-carrying bacteria reach the gut

Bcl-2 Immunoexpression in Feline Epitheliotropic Intestinal T-Cell Lymphomas

Lymphoma is the most common malignant hematopoietic neoplasm in domestic felines. Twenty-two cases of feline epitheliotropic duodenal T-cell lymphoma were characterized morphologically and immunohistochemically (CD3, Pax5, Ki-67), and Bcl-2 immunoexpression was established. Most cases were in domestic shorthair cats (88.2%), with a mean age of 11.2 years. All lymphomas were CD3+, with a low-to-moderate expression of Ki-67 (p = 0.0155). Intraepithelial nests of neoplastic lymphocytes were predominantly observed in lymphomas with a patchy distribution in the lamina propria, whereas intraepithelial plaques were seen in lymphomas with an obliteration pattern. Bcl-2 was expressed in neoplastic cells in all cases, and a higher expression was associated with increased villous stunting (p = 0.0221), and tended to be present in those cases with increased epithelial damage. The expression of Bcl-2 and the degree of epitheliotropism were correlated with neoplastic progression in epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphomas; those displaying high Bcl-2 immunoexpression showed increased villous stunting and epithelial damage, suggesting that Bcl-2 is overexpressed in advanced tumor stages, and may be used as a predictor of tumoral behavior in feline epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphomas. This entity showed many similarities with human MEITL, so the latter entity should be considered in further lymphoma classifications of domestic animals

Feline Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Sclerosing Fibroplasia—Extracellular Matrix Proteins and TGF-β1 Immunoexpression

Feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) has been described as an inflammatory disorder with an eosinophilic component with etiopathogenesis that is still unknown. Sixteen intestinal samples from two veterinary diagnostic services (2014–2017) were included in the study. A histopathological criterion classified the cases into three grades (mild, moderate, and severe) according to the distribution of the lesions and the course. An immunohistochemical study of collagen I, collagen III, fibronectin, and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) was performed in each case. An immunohistochemical study of mild grades shows greater collagen III immunoexpression, compared to collagen I and fibronectin, which suggests an “early” stage of fibrosis. In more intense grades, an increased immunoexpression of collagen I, compared to collagen III, suggests a “late” stage of fibrosis. Otherwise, the highest expression of TGF-β1 was observed in the moderate phase, due to the high proliferation of reactive fibroblast and intense inflammation. The results suggest that the inflammatory infiltrate is the trigger for the elevation in TGF-β1, altering the collagen type III:I ratio. In conclusion, immunohistochemical studies can be a very useful method in diagnosing cases of FGESF of mild grades and could help to apply a differential diagnosis regarding feline eosinophilic chronic enteritis (CEE) in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Bcl-2 Immunoexpression in Feline Epitheliotropic Intestinal T-Cell Lymphomas

Lymphoma is the most common malignant hematopoietic neoplasm in domestic felines. Twenty-two cases of feline epitheliotropic duodenal T-cell lymphoma were characterized morphologically and immunohistochemically (CD3, Pax5, Ki-67), and Bcl-2 immunoexpression was established. Most cases were in domestic shorthair cats (88.2%), with a mean age of 11.2 years. All lymphomas were CD3+, with a low-to-moderate expression of Ki-67 (<30%). A correlation between the tumoral pattern of infiltration in the lamina propria and the intraepithelial distribution of the neoplastic lymphocytes was established (p = 0.0155). Intraepithelial nests of neoplastic lymphocytes were predominantly observed in lymphomas with a patchy distribution in the lamina propria, whereas intraepithelial plaques were seen in lymphomas with an obliteration pattern. Bcl-2 was expressed in neoplastic cells in all cases, and a higher expression was associated with increased villous stunting (p = 0.0221), and tended to be present in those cases with increased epithelial damage. The expression of Bcl-2 and the degree of epitheliotropism were correlated with neoplastic progression in epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphomas; those displaying high Bcl-2 immunoexpression showed increased villous stunting and epithelial damage, suggesting that Bcl-2 is overexpressed in advanced tumor stages, and may be used as a predictor of tumoral behavior in feline epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphomas. This entity showed many similarities with human MEITL, so the latter entity should be considered in further lymphoma classifications of domestic animals

Forensic investigations of suspected livestock depredation by vultures: scientific tools for compensation programmes

The authors thank G. Torre (VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid) for her technical support. We are indebted to all the environmental law enforcement agents (Agentes de Medio Ambiente) for their field work.Human–wildlife conflicts may have devastating consequences for fauna due to targeting by humans of wildlife populations suspected to have predated livestock. Suspicion of depredation of extensively raised livestock by vultures in Europe has triggered public administration-led forensic investigations intended to distinguish between predation and scavenging in order to compensate farmers for attacks on their livestock. In this study, gross and histological analyses were carried out on suspected cases of domestic animal depredation by griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) over a 1-year period. Fifty-eight animals were affected (n = 41, suspected depredation), including domestic cattle (75.9%), sheep (22.4%) and a goat (1.7%). All the adults affected were female and most cases of suspected depredation occurred during the peripartum period (56%). Histological investigations distinguished between post-mortem (84% of diagnostic samples) and ante-mortem (16% of diagnostic samples) cases, and gross examinations revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.002) between ante-mortem, post-mortem and non-diagnostic samples. This study highlights the need to optimize sampling protocols to increase the success of forensic studies. The forensic investigations presented here may be applied to resolve human–wildlife conflicts involving not only vultures but other endangered carnivores and contribute to human–wildlife coexistence in rural areas by protecting the interests of both the livestock sector and endangered species.Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalCentro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET)Fac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Animal abuse in Spanish-breed fighting cocks (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Cockfighting is illegal both in the European Union and the United States, although fighting cock husbandry and breed preservation are allowed. Here, we describe the pathological findings observed in the carcasses of two Spanish-breed fighting cocks submitted to our laboratory after an animal abuse-suspected death. The postmortem examination revealed these cocks may have been used for cockfighting (comb, ear lobes, wattles, and chest feather removal; and trimmed spurs). The severe extensive hemorrhages observed in the cervical region of both birds, affecting C1-C4 in bird No. 1 and C8-C11 in No. 2, suggested cervical dislocation in a non-professional manner. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of abuse in a Spanish-breed fighting cock. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the identification of animal abuse cases in avian species which may lead to successful prosecutions in Spain and elsewhere

Primary Feline Tauopathy: Clinical, Morphological, Immunohistochemical, and Genetic Studies

Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons and glia. Primary tauopathies are not uncommon in humans but exceptional in other species. We evaluate the clinical, neuropathological, and genetic alterations related to tau pathology in 16 cats aged from 1 to 21 years with different clinical backgrounds. Interestingly, a 10-year-old female cat presented a six-year progressive history of mental status and gait abnormalities. The imaging study revealed generalized cortical atrophy. Due to the poor prognosis, the cat was euthanatized at the age of ten. Neuropathological lesions were characterized by massive neuronal loss with marked spongiosis and associated moderate reactive gliosis in the parietal cortex, being less severe in other areas of the cerebral cortex, and the loss of Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Immunohistochemical methods revealed a 4R-tauopathy with granular pre-tangles in neurons and coiled bodies in oligodendrocytes. Deposits were recognized with several phospho-site antibodies (4Rtau, tau5, AT8, PFH, tau-P Thr181, tau-P-Ser 262, tau-P Ser 422) and associated with increased granular expression of active tau kinases (p38-P Thr180/Tyr182 and SAPK/JNK-P Thr138/Thr185). The genetic study revealed well-preserved coding regions of MAPT. No similar alterations related to tau pathology were found in the other 15 cats processed in parallel. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting a primary 4R-tauopathy with severe cerebral and Purkinje cell degeneration in an adult cat with neurological signs starting at a young age

Forensic findings in urban red fox mortality in the metropolitan area of Madrid, 2014–2022

The expanding presence of red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) in urban and suburban regions could potentially lead to increased instances of human aggression towards this species. We studied 10 deceased red foxes that were submitted by law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan area of Madrid in 2014–2022 because of suspected abuse. Forensic autopsies were performed to establish the cause and manner of death. In 4 of the 10 cases, the cause of death was deemed unnatural, involving blunt-force trauma ( n = 2), asphyxia resulting from hanging ( n = 1), and firearm injury ( n = 1). Among the remaining cases, most had succumbed to natural causes ( n = 4), often marked by severe emaciation and a high burden of parasites, primarily Sarcoptes scabiei. In 2 cases, death was undetermined given the poor preservation of the carcass. The growing prevalence of wildlife species in urban areas, particularly red foxes, may require forensic veterinary investigation of deaths potentially related to abuse.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y UniversidadesDepto. de Sanidad AnimalCentro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET)Fac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu