Spontaneous Ocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Twin Goats: Pathological and Biomolecular Studies

Prevalence and genotype distribution of caprine papillomavirus in peripheral blood of healthy goats in farms from three European countries

Caprine papillomaviruses (ChPVs, Capra hircus papillomaviruses) were detected and quantified for the first time using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) in blood samples of 374 clinically healthy goats from farms located in Italy, Romania, and Serbia. Overall, ddPCR revealed ChPV DNA in 78 of the 374 examined samples, indicating that ~21% of the goats harbored circulating papillomavirus DNA. In particular, in Italian goat farms, ChPV genotypes were detected and quantified in 58 of 157 blood samples (~37%), 11 of 117 samples from Serbian farms (~9.4%), and 9 of 100 from Romanian blood samples (9%). Blood samples from Italian goat farms showed a high prevalence of ChPV1, which was detected in 45 samples (28.6%). The ChPV2 genotype was detected in 13 samples (~8.3%). Therefore, significant differences in prevalence and genotype distributions were observed. On Serbian and Romanian farms, no significant differences were observed in the genotype prevalence of ChPVs. Molecular findings are consistent with ChPV prevalence, characterized by a territorial distribution similar to that of papillomaviruses in other mammalian species. Furthermore, this study showed that ddPCR is a very sensitive and accurate assay for ChPV detection and quantification. The ddPCR may be the molecular diagnostic tool of choice, ultimately providing useful insights into the molecular epidemiology and field surveillance of ChPV.

Ophthalmic examination findings in adult pygmy goats (Capra hicus)

OBJECTIVE

To document normal ophthalmic findings and ocular abnormalities in captive adult pygmy goats.

ANIMALS STUDIED

Ten healthy adult pygmy goats (five male, five female; 5-11 years of age; 26-45 kg body mass) underwent complete ophthalmic examinations.

PROCEDURE

Direct illumination, diffuse and slit-beam biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, IOP measurements and Schirmer tear tests were performed. TonoVet rebound tonometry, followed by topical application of 0.5% ophthalmic proparacaine, and Tono-Pen XL applanation tonometry were performed in each eye to obtain estimates of IOP.

RESULTS

Ophthalmic abnormalities included corneal scars and pigmentation, incipient cataracts, lenticular sclerosis, and vitreal veiling. Mean STT values were 15.8 mm/min, with a range of 10-30 mm/min. Mean IOP values were 11.8 mmHg for TonoVet-D, with a range of 9-14 mmHg; 7.9 mmHg for TonoVet-P, with a range of 6-12 mmHg; and 10.8 mmHg for Tono-Pen XL, with a range of 8-14 mmHg.

CONCLUSIONS

Ophthalmic examination findings in adult pygmy goats, including normal means and ranges for STT and IOP measurements, using applanation and rebound tonometry, are provided.

CONJUNCTIVAL-CORNEAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASM IN AN ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS)

An adult female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with an enlarging nasal limbal mass of the left eye. The mass was excised and the surgical bed treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. Histopathologic examination of the excised tissue showed the mass to be a superficial dysplastic ocular lesion, or conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasm. A 5-yr follow-up period has passed without complications or recurrence, suggesting that as is the case in humans (Homo sapiens), excision and cryotherapy is an effective treatment for these lesions in elephants. This is the first report of any ocular neoplasia in an elephant.