Exercise-induced Acute Abdominal Haemorrhage due to Iliopsoas Trauma in Racing Greyhounds

Post-mortem examination of 74 racing greyhounds with sudden, unexpected death was undertaken at the Veterinary School, University of Nottingham, UK, from 2015 to 2019. These investigations revealed severe, acute haemoabdomen with extensive retroperitoneal haemorrhage and an underlying severe, unilateral iliopsoas tear in four cases (5.4%). In all four cases, unilateral trauma and haemorrhage affecting the right iliopsoas muscle was common near the caudal insertion. Despite the acute clinical event, three cases demonstrated histological evidence of previous muscle damage with muscular regeneration, fibrosis and evidence of chronic haemorrhage. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed description of exercise-induced trauma to the iliopsoas muscle leading to extensive haemoretroperitoneum and haemoabdomen with subsequent hypovolaemic shock and death in racing greyhounds.

A Fibromyxoid Stromal Response is Associated with Muscle Invasion in Canine Urothelial Carcinoma

Canine urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common type of cancer of the lower urinary tract and tends to affect elderly neutered female dogs, with a high predisposition for Scottish terriers. Tumour stroma, inflammation and necrosis are poorly characterized in canine UC and their role as prognostic factors is unknown. The aims of this study were to (1) assess histologically 381 canine UCs, with emphasis on myxoid tumour stroma, inflammation and necrosis and (2) assess possible associations between these features and the available epidemiological data as well as bladder wall muscle invasion. In 103 of 381 (27%) cases, the stroma was mixed collagenous and myxoid (fibromyxoid), which was strongly associated with invasive growth of muscle (P <0.0001). Peritumoural and intratumoural inflammation was present in 308 of 345 (89%) and 287 of 381 (75%) cases, respectively, and was mostly mild and lymphoplasmacytic. One hundred and fifteen of the 381 (30%) cases showed a variable eosinophilic inflammation and 58 of 381 (15%) presented with formations of one or several lymphoid follicles. Twenty-four percent (91 of 381) of cases had tumour necrosis, which was typically mild. In 83 of 91 (91%) cases, the necrosis was comedo-like. Moderate to severe tumour necrosis was associated with the presence of moderate to predominant fibromyxoid tumour stroma (P <0.02). The results of this study indicate that fibromyxoid stroma is common in canine UC and is a strong indicator for invasive growth of muscle, which is consistent with a poor prognosis. Based on histomorphology, tumour necrosis in canine UC is best described as comedonecrosis.

Pulmonary Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Dog

A 9-year-old neutered male crossbred dog with a 4-week history of progressive vestibulocerebellar signs was presented for necropsy examination. Gross examination revealed neoplastic growth in the lungs, thoracic lymph nodes, left kidney and cerebellum. Microscopically, the tumour consisted of an infiltrative, densely cellular, basaloid epithelial neoplastic growth with extensive areas of abrupt keratinization. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells expressed p63 and partially expressed cytokeratins 5/6. Based on these findings, the tumour was diagnosed as a primary pulmonary basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSSC) with metastasis to regional lymph nodes, kidney and brain. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first description of BSCC in an animal species.

Remote effects of acute kidney injury in a porcine model

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious condition with no specific treatment. An episode of AKI may affect organs distant from the kidney, further increasing the morbidity associated with AKI. The mechanism of organ cross talk after AKI is unclear. The renal and immune systems of pigs and humans are alike. Using a preclinical animal (porcine) model, we tested the hypothesis that early effects of AKI on distant organs is by immune cell infiltration, leading to inflammatory cytokine production, extravasation, and edema. In 29 pigs exposed to either sham surgery or renal ischemia-reperfusion (control, n = 12; AKI, n = 17), we assessed remote organ (liver, lung, brain) effects in the short (from 2- to 48-h reperfusion) and longer term (5 wk later) using immunofluorescence (for leukocyte infiltration, apoptosis), a cytokine array, tissue elemental analysis (e.g., electrolytes), blood hematology and chemistry (e.g., liver enzymes), and PCR (for inflammatory markers). AKI elicited significant, short-term (∼24 h) increments in enzymes indicative of acute liver damage (e.g. , AST: ALT ratio; P = 0.02) and influenced tissue biochemistry in some remote organs (e.g., lung tissue [Ca(2+)] increased; P = 0.04). These effects largely resolved after 48 h, and no further histopathology, edema, apoptosis, or immune cell infiltration was noted in the liver, lung, or hippocampus in the short and longer term. AKI has subtle biochemical effects on remote organs in the short term, including a transient increment in markers of acute liver damage. These effects resolved by 48 h, and no further remote organ histopathology, apoptosis, edema, or immune cell infiltration was noted.

A case of feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia associated with phycomycetes

Feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) is a recently described inflammatory condition of domestic cats with unknown aetiology. A proportion of cases of FGESF are associated with bacteria, but antibiotic treatment is ineffective. It has been hypothesized that genetically predisposed cats may develop FGESF in response to the introduction of bacteria or other antigens into the intestinal wall. A 9- month-old male Persian cat presented with a history of marked acute haematemesis. A mass (10 cm diameter) was detected within the pylorus and proximal duodenum and this was not surgically accessible. On necropsy examination the duodenal wall was seen to be markedly thickened with extensive mucosal ulceration. Microscopically, there were haphazardly oriented trabecular bands of dense eosinophilic collagen, separated by wide, clear areas containing variable numbers of fibroblasts, eosinophils, mast cells, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Numerous pleomorphic, non-parallel walled, sparsely septate hyphae, characteristic of phycomycetes, were present within the collagen matrix. Colonies of gram-positive and gram-negative rods were also present within the lesion. This is the first description of FGESF with intralesional fungi.

Six-Year Follow-up of Slaughterhouse Surveillance (2008-2013): The Catalan Slaughterhouse Support Network (SESC)

Meat inspection has the ultimate objective of declaring the meat and offal obtained from carcasses of slaughtered animals fit or unfit for human consumption. This safeguards the health of consumers by ensuring that the food coming from these establishments poses no risk to public health. Concomitantly, it contributes to animal disease surveillance. The Catalan Public Health Protection Agency (Generalitat de Catalunya) identified the need to provide its meat inspectors with a support structure to improve diagnostic capacity: the Slaughterhouse Support Network (SESC). The main goal of the SESC was to offer continuing education to meat inspectors to improve the diagnostic capacity for lesions observed in slaughterhouses. With this aim, a web-based application was designed that allowed meat inspectors to submit their inquiries, images of the lesions, and samples for laboratory analysis. This commentary reviews the cases from the first 6 years of SESC operation (2008-2013). The program not only provides continuing education to inspectors but also contributes to the collection of useful information on animal health and welfare. Therefore, SESC complements animal disease surveillance programs, such as those for tuberculosis, bovine cysticercosis, and porcine trichinellosis, and is a powerful tool for early detection of emerging animal diseases and zoonoses.

Detection of porcine circovirus type 2 and viral replication by in situ hybridization in primary lymphoid organs from naturally and experimentally infected pigs

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection is the cause of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). It has been speculated whether cell types permissive of replication are found in the primary lymphoid organs and whether infection of these tissues has an important role in the pathogenesis of PMWS. The aim of this study was to determine if primary lymphoid organ cells support viral replication during PCV2 infection. This was done by histopathological examination of thymus and bone marrow from pigs experimentally inoculated with PCV2 (n = 24), mock-infected pigs (n = 12), pigs naturally affected by PMWS (n = 33), and age-matched healthy control animals (n = 29). In situ hybridization (ISH) techniques were used to detect PCV2 nucleic acid irrespective of replicative status (complementary probe, CP) or to detect only the replicative form of the virus (replicative form probe, RFP). PCV2 was not detected in the experimentally PCV2-inoculated pigs or the control animals. Among the PMWS-affected pigs, 19 of 20 (95%) thymuses were positive for PCV2 by CP ISH, and 7 of 19 (37%) of these also supported viral replication. By CP ISH, PCV2 was detected in 16 of 33 (48%) bone marrow samples, and 5 of 16 (31%) of these also supported replication. The 2 ISH probes labeled the same cell types, which were histiocytes in both organs and lymphocytes in thymus. The RFP labeled fewer cells than the CP. Thus, PCV2 nucleic acids and replication were found in bone marrow and thymus of PMWS-affected pigs, but there was no evidence that primary lymphoid organ cells are major supporters of PCV2 replication.

Lingual osteoma in a dog

An 11-year-old male Belgian shepherd dog was evaluated for a one-week history of progressive lethargy, decreased appetite and excessive panting. On physical examination, a pedunculated mass protruding from the right side of the tongue base was observed. The mass was solid, irregular and multi-lobulated, and it measured approximately 4 × 2 cm. The mass was surgically excised. The histological examination was consistent with a lingual osteoma and the margins were free of neoplastic cells. The dog was euthanased eight months after the diagnosis because of an unrelated problem and no evidence of recurrence at the surgical site was appreciated at that time. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of a lingual osteoma in a dog, and, therefore, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of masses on the tongue, especially pedunculated masses located at the base of the tongue.

Characterization of necrotizing lymphadenitis associated with porcine circovirus type 2 infection

Necrotizing lymphadenitis is observed in approximately 2% of pigs affected by post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The pathogenesis of the lesion has been linked to apoptosis induced by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). The aim of the present study was to gain further insights into PCV2-associated lymphoid necrosis in pigs with PMWS. Three groups of animals were studied: (1) PMWS-affected pigs with necrotizing lymphadenitis (n=5), (2) PMWS-affected pigs without necrotizing lymphadenitis (n=5) and (3) healthy pigs with no PMWS-related lesions (n=5). Investigations performed included immunohistochemical evaluation of the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and von Willebrand factor, Mallory's staining for fibrin and in-situ hybridization for detection of the PCV2 genome. The results of the study suggested that lymphoid necrosis in PMWS-affected pigs may be related to hypertrophy and hyperplasia of high endothelial venules (HEVs). The mechanism underlying these changes in HEVs was not clearly defined, but necrotizing lymphadenitis in pigs with PMWS may develop following vascular damage with thrombosis and subsequent follicular necrosis. Apoptosis was not found to be involved in lymphocyte depletion in PMWS or in PMWS-associated necrotizing lymphadenitis.

Swine torque teno virus (TTV) infection and excretion dynamics in conventional pig farms

Torque teno virus (TTV) is a non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) virus infecting human and non-primate species. Two genogroups of TTV (TTV1 and TTV2) have been described in swine so far. In the present study, TTV1 and TTV2 prevalences in serum, and nasal as well as rectal swabs of 55 randomly selected piglets from seven Spanish multi-site farms, were monitored from 1 to 15 weeks of age. Also, blood from their dams (n=41) were taken at 1 week post-farrowing. Samples were tested by means of two TTV genogroup specific PCRs. Although prevalence of TTV1 and TTV2 in sows was relatively high (54% and 32%, respectively), it was not directly associated to their prevalence in the offspring. Percentage of viremic pigs for both TTV genogroups followed similar dynamics, increasing progressively over time, with the highest rate of detection at 11 weeks of age for TTV1 and at 15 weeks for TTV2. Forty-two (76%) and 33 (60%) of the 55 studied pigs were TTV1 and TTV2 PCR positive in serum, respectively, in more than one sampling time. TTV1 and TTV2 viremia lasted in a number of animals up to 15 and 8 weeks, respectively. Co-infection with both TTV genogroups in serum was detected at all sampling points, but at 1 week of age. On the contrary, there were animals PCR negative to both genogroups in serum at all sampling times but at 15 weeks of age. During the study period, TTV1 and TTV2 nasal shedding increased also over time and faecal excretion was intermittent and of low percentage (<20%). In conclusion, the present study describes for the first time the infection dynamics of TTV1 and TTV2 as well as the nasal and faecal excretion throughout the life of pigs from conventional, multi-site farms. Moreover, results indicate that both swine TTV genogroups are able to establish persistent infections in a number of pigs.

Pig-major acute phase protein and haptoglobin serum concentrations correlate with PCV2 viremia and the clinical course of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome

The aim of the present longitudinal study was to assess the evolution of two acute phase proteins (APPs), pig-major acute phase protein (pig-MAP) and haptoglobin (HPT), in serum from pigs that developed postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in comparison to healthy and wasted non-PMWS affected pigs. In addition, evidence of infection with other pathogens and its relation with variations in APPs concentrations was also assessed. Fourteen independent batches of 100-154 pigs were monitored from birth to PMWS outbreak occurrence in 11 PMWS affected farms. Pigs displaying PMWS-like signs and age-matched healthy controls were euthanized during the clinical outbreak. PMWS was diagnosed according to internationally accepted criteria and pigs were classified as: (i) PMWS cases, (ii) wasted non-PMWS cases and (iii) healthy pigs. At the moment of PMWS occurrence, pig-MAP and HPT concentration in PMWS affected pigs were higher than in healthy ones (p<0.0001). No differences in APPs serum concentrations between subclinically PCV2-infected pigs and healthy non-PCV2-infected pigs (based on quantitative PCR on serum results) were detected. Results showed a significant correlation between PCV2 loads and both pig-MAP (R=0.487-0.602, p<0.0001) and HPT (R=0.326-0.550, p<0.05-0.0001) concentrations in serum of PMWS affected pigs, indicating that the acute phase response in PMWS affected pigs occurred concomitantly to PCV2 viremia. No other pathogen, apart from PCV2, was consistently related with variations in APPs concentrations. A ROC analysis, made to determine the capacity of discrimination of both APPs between PMWS affected and non-affected pigs, showed higher sensitivity and specificity values using pig-MAP compared to HPT. These results suggest that pig-MAP might be a better indicator of PMWS status than HPT. Moreover, the fact that APR occurred some weeks before the start of clinical signs suggests that APPs could provide valuable prognostic information for PMWS development.

A proposal on porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) genotype definition and their relation with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) occurrence

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the essential infectious agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). Despite first sequencing studies did not find any association between PCV2 sequences and PMWS occurrence, recent works have suggested the opposite. In the present study, 87 open reading frame 2 (ORF2) sequences obtained from pigs with different clinical conditions and coming from farms with different PMWS status were analyzed. Results further confirmed the existence of two genogroups and the definition of two PCV2 genotypes (1 and 2) is proposed. All sequences included in genotype 1 came from pigs from PMWS affected farms, while all sequences obtained from non-PMWS affected farms corresponded to genotype 2. Moreover, infection of single pigs from PMWS affected farms harbouring both genotypes is described. Present results suggest that PCV2 genotype 1 may potentially be more pathogenic than PCV2 genotype 2.