Caratterizzazione dell'infiltrato infiammatorio nei meningiomi del gatto

I meningiomi sono i tumori intracranici più frequenti nel gatto. E' stato osservato che alcune cellule infiammatorie infiltrano questi tumori nell'uomo e nel cane, però poco si conosce riguardo alle interazioni tra sistema immunitario e meningioma nel gatto. Lo scopo di questo studio era quello di individuare quale tipo cellulare fosse presente all'interno del tumore e di scoprire se fossero state presenti delle correlazioni tra il quadro clinico del paziente e l'istotipo e il grado del tumore. Ventisette campioni di tumore, fissati in formalina e inclusi in paraffina sono stati analizzati utilizzando l'immunoistochimica con anticorpi specifici per CD 3, CD 79a, CD 20 e FoxP3. I risultati rivelano la complessa fisiopatologia della risposta immunitaria e la sua relazione con il comportamento biologico dei meningiomi felini

Occurrence of Escherichia coli virulence genes in feces of wild birds from Central Italy

Objective: To investigate the potential role of wild birds as fecal spreaders of enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and Shiga-toxins producing Escherichia coli (E. coli), enteropathogenic E. coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains. Methods: Fecal samples collected from 121 wild birds of different orders and species were submitted to molecular analyses. In particular, eaeA encoding intimin, hlyA encoding for hemolysin, stx1 and stx2 genes encoding Shiga-toxins 1 and 2, respectively, were investigated. Results: Overall, 21(17.35%) fecal samples resulted positive for at least one of the investigated genes. In detail, 12(9.91%) samples were positive for eaeA, 10(8.26%) for stx1, 4(3.31%) for hylA and 1(0.83%) for stx2. An owl (Athene noctua) positive for the four investigated genes suggesting that it harbored a STEC strain. However, virulence genes characterizing EPEC, and EHEC strains were mainly found among seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons. Conclusions: Seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons, which frequently reach and contaminate rural, urban and peri-urban areas with their droppings, may be important sources of E. coli infection for other animals and humans

Neospora caninum in Wild Waterfowl: Occurrence of Parasite DNA and Low antibody titers

Thirty-five adult waterfowl (14 males and 21 females) representing various orders and species were sampled during the hunting season from 2015 to 2016. Antibodies to Neospora caninum were detected by IFAT on blood samples, while heart and brain were subjected to molecular analysis for the detection of Neospora caninum DNA. Twelve birds (34.3%) (6 Anas crecca, 3 Anas platyrhynchos, 2 Anas penelope, 1 Anas acuta) showed antibodies versus N. caninum, while 10 animals out of 35 (4 Anas crecca, 2 Anas platyrhynchos, 2 Anas penelope, 1 Anas acuta, and 1 Vanellus vanellus) scored positive for at least 1 sample, with an overall prevalence of 28.6%. The present report shows for the first time the occurrence of antibodies and N. caninum DNA in waterfowl. The avian species investigated in the present report, which feed directly from the soil and/or water, would be able to ingest oocysts excreted by final canid hosts and could contribute to parasite transmission in the sylvatic cycle. To achieve a definitive result about the role of these avian species in the epidemiology of this protozoan, the presence of viable parasites should be demonstrated by bioassay and/or culture, as well as histological evidence of N. caninum cysts in avian tissues

Neospora caninum oocyst shedding in a naturally infected dog from Italy

Although the seroprevalence of Neospora caninuminfection in dogs can be relatively high, there are fewreports of dogs naturally shedding N. caninum oocysts. Worldwide, the prevalence of Neospora excretion in canine faeces ranges from 0.03% to 4.9%. A mixed-breed male household dog of about 8 years in age living in the district of Pisa (Tuscany, Central Italy) was referred for dysorexia, weakness and general lymph node enlargement. Clinical pathology demonstrated mild normocytic and normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypoproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia. Serology for Leishmania, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum was negative. From lymph node and bone marrow analysis, T cell lymphoma, high grade, pleomorphic type, clinical stage V, was diagnosed. The dog was treated with a chemotherapy induction protocol with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone for 8 weeks. A faecal sample collected from the dog 7 days after the beginning of the treatment and analysed by flotation test and a McMaster method, revealed the presence of 300 OPG N. caninum-like unsporulated oocysts of about 10–11 μmin diameter. An aliquot of the same faecal sample analysed by PCRwith species-specific primer pairs Np6+/Np21+ was positive for N. caninum DNA, while specific serology performed on sera collected at the first visit and a month later by IFAT, were positive with a titer of 1: 50 and 1:400, respectively. Soon after the dog died. Naturally occurring systemic illness or iatrogenic immunosuppression may predispose dogs to proliferation of the parasite. The dog was receiving chemo-immunosuppressive treatment for T cell lymphoma. For this reason it is possible to suppose that emission of Neospora oocysts in this dog was caused by reactivation of a latent infection

Prevalence of the microsporidian Nosema ceranae in honeybee (Apis mellifera) apiaries in Central Italy

Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis are microsporidia which play an important role in the epidemiology of honeybee microsporidiosis worldwide. Nosemiasis reduces honeybee population size and causes significant losses in honey production. To the best of our knowledge, limited information is available about the prevalence of nosemiasis in Italy. In this research, we determined the occurrence of Nosema infection in Central Italy. Thirty-eight seemingly healthy apiaries (2 to 4 hives each) were randomly selected and screened from April to September 2014 (n= 11) or from May to September 2015 (n= 27). The apiaries were located in six areas of Central Italy, including Lucca (n= 11), Massa Carrara (n= 9), Pisa (n= 9), Leghorn (n= 7), Florence (n= 1), and Prato (n= 1) provinces. Light microscopy was carried out according to current OIE recommendations to screen the presence of microsporidiosis in adult worker honeybees. Since the morphological characteristics of N. ceranae and N. apis spores are similar and can hardly be distinguished by optical microscopy, all samples were also screened by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) assay based on 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers to differentiate N. ceranae from N. apis. Furthermore, PCR-positive samples were also sequenced to confirm the species of amplified Nosema DNA. Notably, Nosema spores were detected in samples from 24 out of 38 (63.2%, 95% CI: 47.8–78.5%) apiaries. Positivity rates in single provinces were 10/11, 8/9, 3/9, 1/7, or 1/1 (n= 2). A full agreement (Cohen’s Kappa = 1) was assessed between microscopy and M-PCR. Based on M-PCR and DNA sequencing results, only N. ceranae was found. Overall, our results highlighted that N. ceranae infection occurs frequently in the cohort of honeybee populations that was examined despite the lack of clinical signs. These findings suggest that colony disease outbreaks might result from environmental factors that lead to higher susceptibility of honeybees to this microsporidian

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in red deer from Central Italy

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are cosmopolite protozoan parasites impacting on human and animal health. In particular, T. gondii commonly infects human beings and all warm-blooded animals, while N. caninum is responsible for bovine abortion and neuromuscular disease in dogs. The aim of the presented survey was to evaluate the occurrence and prevalence of these parasites in the most numerous Italian red deer population. The sera of 60 red deer (Cervus elaphus) inhabiting Central Italy (43°56’N 10°55’E) and killed by selective hunting were examined using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for both N. caninum and T. gondii antibodies. White blood cells (buffy coat) were also checked by PCR and T. gondii DNA was genotyped. Thirteen out of 60 sera (22%) scored positive for Toxoplasma, 17 samples (28%) were Neospora positive. Coinfection was recorded in 5 cases (8%). T. gondii (genotype II) and N. caninum DNA was detected in one and 3 samples of buffy coat, respectively. The presented study is the first to examine the occurrence of these parasites in the most numerous red deer Italian population, confirming this animal species as carrier of the investigated pathogens. These animals spread near human settlements, co-inhabiting with final hosts of T. gondii and N. caninum and could contribute to their transmission to domestic ruminants and humans. In particular, the seroprevalence value for N. caninum was the highest among European records

Serological survey on some pathogens in wild brown hares (Lepus europaeus) in Central Italy

Objective To determine the exposure of wild brown hares [Lepus europaeus (L. europaeus), pallas] to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum), Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) sensu lato, Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi), Leishmania sp., Neospora caninum (N. caninum) and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Methods Two hundred twenty-two blood serum samples of wild brown hares captured in protected areas of the province of Pisa (Central Italy) were tested to detect antibodies against the reported pathogens. Results Thirty one (14.0%) animals resulted positive for at least one tested agent, with antibody titres ranging from 1:20 to 1:320. In particular, 13 (5.8%) samples were positive to B. burgdorferi s.l., 11 (4.9%) to N. caninum, 3 (1.3%) to T. gondii, 2 (0.9%) to A. phagocytophilum and 2 (0.9%) to Leishmania sp. No samples scored positive to E. cuniculi. Four animals (14.8%) resulted coinfected with 2 different pathogens. Conclusion The obtained results showed that B. burgdorferi s.l. N. caninum, T. gondii, A. phagocytophilum and Leishmania sp. circulate in wild brown hares in Central Italy, suggesting a possible role of L. europaeus as reservoir of these pathogens. The obtained results showed that autochthonous wild brown hares living in Central Italy have been exposed to several pathogens circulating in this area, suggesting a possible role of L. europaeus as reservoir

Histološka i imunohistokemijska svojstva metastatskog karcinosarkoma mliječne žlijezde u kuje - prikaz slučaja

A carcinosarcoma is a tumor composed of cells morphologically resembling both malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. An 11-year-old, female, mixed-breed terrier was referred to the clinic with complaints of anorexia, vomiting and exercise intolerance. Clinically, tumoral masses were seen in the mammary glands. During necropsy, multilobulated calcified masses were observed in several visceral organs (the liver, kidneys, lungs, small intestines, lymph nodes and thyroid) and both right and left (3rd and 4th) mammary glands. Immunohistochemically, Thyroglobulin, SMA, TTF-1, S100, CD34, and p53 were negative in both epithelial and mesenchymal areas, however, Ki-67 showed high proliferation, especially in the mesenchymal areas. While the positivity of vimentin expression was high in the mesenchymal component of the tumor, the positivity of cytokeratin (CK7 and CK19) expressions was high in the epithelial component of the tumor. In the case of a carcinosarcoma, there is a probability that not only the carcinomatous part, but also the sarcomatous part will metastasize. Despite being uncommon, canine carcinosarcomas should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of mixed mammary tumors, if they include both components. There have not been many previous studies dealing with the metastasis of a mammary carcinosarcoma in dogs as an aggressive tumor. Therefore, we consider this report a worthy contribution and have defined the multiple organ metastasis of a mammary carcinosarcoma.Karcinosarkom je tumor sastavljen od stanica koje morfološki nalikuju i na maligne epitelne i na mezenhimne komponente. Ženka stara 11 godina, mješanka u tipu terijera, primljena je na pregled zbog anoreksije, povraćanja i nepodnošenja tjelesnog napora. Klinički, uočena je tumorska masa u mliječnim žlijezdama. Pri obdukciji su uočene multilobulirane kalcificirane tvrobe u nekoliko visceralnih organa (jetra, bubreg, pluća, tanko crijevo, limfni čvorovi, štitnjača) te u desnoj i lijevoj (trećoj i četvrtoj) mliječnoj žlijezdi. Imunohistokemijski su tireoglobulin, SMA, TTF-1, S100, CD34 i p53 bili negativni i u epitelnim i mezenhimnim tkivima, međutim Ki-67 pokazao je visoku proliferaciju, osobito u mezenhimnom području. Dok je pozitivnost ekspresije vimentina bila visoka u mezenhimnoj komponenti tumora, pozitivnost ekspresije citokeratina (CK7 i CK19) bila je visoka u epitelnoj komponenti tumora. U slučaju karcinosarkoma moguće je da ne metastaziraju samo karcinomatozni dijelovi nego također i sarkomatozni. Premda je neuobičajen, pseći karcinosarkom trebalo bi uzeti u obzir kao diferencijalnu dijagnozu kod miješanih tumora mliječne žlijezde, ako sadržavaju obje komponente. U dosadašnjim istraživanjima nema mnogo radova o metastazama karcinosarkoma mliječne žlijezde kuja, posebno u slučajevima gdje je to agresivan tumor. Stoga smatramo da je ovaj prikaz slučaja vrijedan doprinos kojim su utvrđene višestruke metastaze karcinosarkoma mliječne žlijezde na različitim organima