Non-accidental injuries in dogs and cats: Review of post-mortem forensic assessment and the social significance of small animal practice

The co-existence of animal abuse cases and domestic violence are well established today. Many studies worldwide have identified that pet dogs and cats are commonly harmed or killed by an abuser who may be a member of the family. In fact, the abuse of pets is an indicator that human members of a family are also at risk for interpersonal abuse. The abusers may show a variety of motivations and mental health disorders, resulting in a variety of abuse forms. The animal victims may be presented alive or dead to a veterinary clinic. The post-mortem differential diagnosis and forensic evaluation of pet dogs and cats with non-accidental injuries (NAI), caused by the physical violence of the abuser and items commonly found in a household environment are presented in the current review, according to the main type of abuse: a) blunt force trauma; b) sharp-force injuries; c) gunshot injuries; d) asphyxiation and drowning; e) thermal injuries; and f) poisoning. The recognition and mandatory report of pet cruelty in the family is a complex issue, causing ethical dilemmas for veterinarians concerning professional confidentiality to the client, obligation to protect the human probable victims and the probability of prosecution when the law has been broken. The key-role of veterinarians in the identificationand report of pet abuse to appropriate state authorities for animal and human welfare is discussed. Also, ethical issues are highlighted in this paper. © 202

Sarcoptes scabiei dermatitis in adult sheep: an immunohistochemical study of 34 chronic cases with extensive lesions

Ovine sarcoptic mange is a contagious ectoparasitic skin disease, seen in many countries with sheep production. Although several studies concerning dermatopathology have been published, the local cutaneous immune response to Sarcoptes scabiei has not been studied by immunohistochemistry. The present study aims to evaluate immunohistochemically the adaptive cellular immune response in chronic natural cases with extensive gross lesions. Facial and foot skin biopsies of 32 ewes and 2 rams were obtained, and moreover from the scrotal scabietic lesions of the 2 rams. Each biopsy was bisected and processed for paraffin and cryostat sections. Mites were not observed in the vast majority of skin histology sections. Epidermal hyperplasia and chronic inflammation were the main histopathologic features. The dermal inflammatory infiltrate was mixed, dominated by eosinophils and lymphocytes equally. Tissue sections immunostained with a panel of monoclonal antibodies showed among lymphocytes an almost exclusively T-cell population (CD3+), while CD79a + cells were sparse. T-helper cells (CD4+) were predominant versus T-cytotoxic cells (CD8+) in 4:1 to 5:1 ratios. The mixed inflammatory infiltrate combined with the immunohistochemical findings suggest both a type-I and type-IV hypersensitivity reactions during the chronic course of the disease. Moreover, all these chronic cases in adult sheep are recorded into the hypersensitivity form of sarcoptic mange (“classical or ordinary” scabies) and no cases of the hyperkeratotic form of the disease (“Norwegian or crusted” scabies) were found. © 2021. All rights reserved

Incidence of an intense Caligus minimus Otto 1821, C-pageti Russel, 1925, C-mugilis Brian, 1935 and C-apodus Brian, 1924 infection in lagoon cultured sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) in Greece

An unusual case reported for the first time. of enhanced pathology, of two Caligidae species infecting a new host Dicentrarchus labrax reared in Eratino lagoon (North Greece). During winter months (December-February 1998-1999), moribund fish were observed in the lagoon: fish showed slow swimming at the surface of the water, were lethargic and cacchectic. Infected fish had either pinpoint or dispersed ulcerative skin lesions on the head and around and inside the buccal area as well as hemorrhages. Four Caligidae species were found namely: Caligus minimus, C. pageti. C mugilis and C. apodus as well as one gill trematode parasite. The prevalence and intensity of C minimus was high throughout the year with a distinct peak of intensity in winter. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Large animal models in forensic medicine and pathology: Recent research and its impact on the evolution of veterinary forensic pathology

Modern forensic research studies using large animal models are presented and classified by subject, into (a) corpse decomposition and post mortem interval; (b) forensic entomology; (c) forensic toxicology; (d) blunt-force trauma; (e) sharp-force trauma; (f) ballistics; (g) drowning and bodies recovered from water; (h) the effects of electrical discharge devices, and (i) modern imaging techniques applied to the corpse. These research studies have a positive impact on the rapidly evolving scientific field of the veterinary forensic pathology of animal abuse. The value of comparative forensic pathology is highlighted in accordance with the One Health approach. © Athens Medical Society

Immunohistochemical Expression of Keratins in Normal Ovine Skin and in Chronic Dermatitis due to Sarcoptes scabiei

Hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes is a major histopathological feature of chronic Sarcoptes scabiei dermatitis. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of several keratins in scabietic dermatitis in sheep and in the skin of healthy sheep, using a panel of commercially available anti-human antibodies for keratins. Keratins AE1/AE3 and 34BE12 were expressed in all epithelial structures in healthy skin. Keratin MNF116 was expressed in the stratum basale and in the three lowest layers of the stratum spinosum, in follicular epithelium and in apocrine glands. Keratin K5/6 expression was seen in the stratum basale, in the two lowest cell layers of the stratum spinosum, in the outer root sheath of hair follicles and in myoepithelial cells of apocrine glands. K14 expression was observed in the stratum basale, in locally extensive regions of the two lowest cell layers of the stratum spinosum, in the outer root sheath of hair follicles and in sebaceous glands. Immunolabelling of K19 antigen was confined to apocrine glands. In scabietic skin, immunolabelling of keratin 34BE12 was seen in all layers of hyperplastic stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum but was restricted to some locally extensive regions in hyperkeratotic and parakeratotic stratum corneum. Keratin MNF116 was widely labelled in all layers of hyperplastic stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum. There was expansive labelling of K5/6 keratin in all layers of hyperplastic stratum spinosum and in locally extensive regions of stratum granulosum, as well as in hyperkeratotic or parakeratotic stratum corneum. Expansive labelling of K14 keratin was detected in all layers of hyperplastic stratum spinosum and in the layers of the hyperplastic stratum granulosum. K5/6 and K14 keratins were also labelled in the inner root sheath of occasional hair follicles. © 2021 Elsevier Lt

Animal abuse and mental health

Animal abuse is a serious problem in the interaction between human beings and animals. Animals can easily become victims of human aggression and other abnormal behavior. This is a review of current data on the relationship between animal abuse and human mental health disorders. Introductory definitions of veterinary forensic issues are presented. Animal cruelty (including unlawful killing) is characterized as intentional active abuse, while animal maltreatment due to lack of concern or failure of proper care is characterized as passive abuse or neglect. It is further divided into physical and emotional abuse, depending on whether the physical health or emotional well-being of the animals is affected. Subsequently, the mental health disorders of animal abusers are presented according to the age of offenders, juvenile or adult. Animal abuse by children and adolescents is associated with conduct disorder, addictive disorders and zoophilia. Animal abuse by adults is associated mainly with an antisocial personality disorder, but also with addictive disorders, zoophilia, Munchausen syndrome by proxy, Noah’s syndrome and more rarely with other mental health disorders. Animal abuse is linked to various forms of interpersonal violence and criminal behavior, including child abuse, bullying, intimate partner violence, elder abuse and other types of delinquency. © Athens Medical Society

Canine plasmacytic-lymphocytic colitis. A clinicopathologic study of 15 cases

Clinical, endoscopic and histopathologic findings of 15 cases of canine chronic Plasmacytic-Lymphocytic colitis are presented. The clinical findings were hematochesia, mucus in the stool, tenesmus, diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss. Endoscopically, the presence of erythema, erosions, ulcers, mucus, mucosal friability and granularity, as well as loss of submucosal vascular pattern noticed in the colon of 15 dogs. The histopathology of colon revealed various degrees of plasma cell and lymphocyte mucosal infiltration. The treatment protocol included sulfasalazine and prednisolone administration in combination with dietary modification. The points of this clinical work are: 1) it is worth to take specimen, for histopathologic examination, from colon, 2) the colonoscopic and histopathologic findings help the diagnosis and treatment of Plasmacytic-Lymphocytic colitis, 3) there is no firm correlation between the severity of clinical and endoscopic findings and the degree of mucosal infiltration, 4) the suggested dose and duration of sulfasalazine administration for the treatment of canine Plasmacytic-Lymphocytic colitis is higher and longer, and 5) there is not any correlation between the number of lymphocytes in blood and the severity of lymphocyte infiltration in colon lamina propria