Feline Mammary Cancer

Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) is similar to human breast cancer in the late age of onset, incidence, histopathologic features, biological behavior, and pattern of metastasis. Therefore, FMC has been proposed as a relevant model for aggressive human breast cancer. The goals of this study were to develop a nude mouse model of FMC tumor growth and metastasis and to measure the expression of genes responsible for lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, tumor progression, and lymph node metastasis in FMC tissues and cell lines. Two primary FMC tissues were injected subcutaneously, and 6 FMC cell lines were injected into 3 sites (subcutaneous, intratibial, and intracardiac) in nude mice. Tumors and metastases were monitored using bioluminescent imaging and characterized by gross necropsy, radiology, and histopathology. Molecular characterization of invasion and metastasis genes in FMC was conducted using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 6 primary FMC tissues, 2 subcutaneous FMC xenografts, and 6 FMC cell lines. The histologic appearance of the subcutaneous xenografts resembled the primary tumors. No metastasis was evident following subcutaneous injection of tumor tissues and cell lines, whereas lung, brain, liver, kidney, eye, and bone metastases were confirmed following intratibial and intracardiac injection of FMC cell lines. Finally, 15 genes were differentially expressed in the FMC tissues and cell lines. The highly expressed genes in all samples were PDGFA, PDGFB, PDGFC, FGF2, EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB3, VEGFD, VEGFR3, and MYOF. Three genes ( PDGFD, ANGPT2, and VEGFC) were confirmed to be of stromal origin. This investigation demonstrated the usefulness of nude mouse models of experimental FMC and identified molecular targets of FMC progression and metastasis.

Natural and experimental nodular dermatomycosis in chickens

The occurrence of unusual cases of generalised, tumour-like cutaneous swellings in 2-3-month-old chickens, from which A. flavus or C. albicans could be isolated, is described. Histologically similar but clinically different lesions could be produced experimentally in 1-month-old chickens by intradermal inoculation of A. flavus alone or combined with C. albicans. The latter organism alone failed, however, to produce the cutaneous lesions by the same route of inoculation. Intracardiac inoculation of A. flavus into chickens of the same age resulted in a systemic infection, including the nervous tissue, but without apparent involvement of the skin.

Study of the pathological effect of Escherichia coli endotoxin in rams

This experimental study was carried out on nine adult rams. Rams were injected intravenously with Escherichia coli endotoxin serotype 055:B5. The regimen of injections is described fully. Blood and semen samples were collected periodically to evaluate the changes in blood and semen picture. The reproductive as well as the visceral organs were collected and examined macroscopically and microscopically. The results of the study revealed that sperm cell abnormalities and serum testosterone level were increased, and sperm acrosomal abnormalities were significantly increased. The total leucocytic count was significantly decreased. The histopathological examination revealed severe testicular degeneration in addition to various other lesions in the visceral organs. Scanning electron microscope of the sperm cells revealed detached acrosomes, knobbed acrosomes and coiled tails.

Adrenocortical carcinoma in a donkey

An adrenocortical carcinoma was found in an eight-year-old male donkey. The main clinical feature was severe depression and inappetence. The animal died 24 hours after hospitalization. Necropsy revealed a large tumor around the anterior pole of the left kidney and metastases to liver, heart and lung. Fibrous adhesions were seen between the tumor and the intestinal serosa. The abdominal cavity contained a large amount of red-brown fluid.

Endometritis in she donkeys in Egypt

The endometrial necropsies of 165 she donkeys were examined and the endometria were classified into four grades according to histological features (I, IIa, IIb, III). Category I was observed in 86 cases (52.12%) and diagnosed as normal endometria. Category IIa was observed in 18 cases (10.91%) and diagnosed as slight endometritis. Category IIb was observed in 28 cases (16.97%) and diagnosed as moderate endometritis (two to four nests/field), while category III was observed in 33 cases (20%) and diagnosed as severe endometritis (eight nests/field). A bacteriological examination was carried out and oestrogen and progesterone were estimated. Our results indicate that endometritis and the prognosis of fertility in she donkeys were more or less parallel to mares.

Histopathological studies on neoplasms in the genital tract of female donkeys in Egypt

The genital tracts of 165 female donkeys were collected and examined with special concern to neoplasms. Ovarian Neoplasms were found in 12 cases (7.72%). A granulosa cell tumor was found in one case (0.61%). A cavernous haemangioma was found in 11 cases (6.67%). Uterine neoplasms were found in 14 cases (8.84%). Endometrial polyps and fibroleiomyoma were found in one case (0.61%) each. Leiomyoma was found in 2 cases (1.21%). Cavernous haemangioma was found in 10 cases (6.06%), and cervical polyps in 5 cases (3.03%).

Pathological and biochemical studies on experimental hypothyroidism in growing lambs

Secondary iodine deficiency was experimentally produced in growing male lambs by oral administration of 50 mg/kg bodyweight of Thiourea daily for 3.5 months. At the end of the experiment the animals became weak, emaciated, anaemic, significantly reduced in body weight with facial oedema and alopecia at thigh, legs and abdomen. The clinical analysis showed significant reduction in erythrocyte and leucocyte numbers and in levels of triiodothyronine and testosterone at the end of the experiment. The histopathological picture of the thyroid gland revealed hyperplasia of the follicle-lining epithelial cells which project into the lumen. The lumens of the follicles are devoid of colloid. The testes showed ill-developed small, empty seminiferous tubulcs. In the liver, the hepatocytes showed degeneration and vacuolation with proliferation of Kupffer cells, which contain haemosiderin pigment. The kidney showed glomerular lipidosis with accumulation of haemosiderin pigment in the cytoplasm of the renal tubules. Hyperkeratosis of the epidermis associated with excessive keratin formation within the hair follicles was detected. In conclusion, deficiency of iodine causes hypothyroidism which leads to retardation of growth, reduced wool production and interferes with sexual maturity of growing male lambs.

Experimental induction of renal lesions in chickens

The present work was conducted to investigate the possibility of inducing renal lesions in chickens subcutaneously or orally inoculated with E. coli [E. coli O1K67(B12)], Staphylococcus aureus and Actinomyces pyogenes. The strains were previously isolated from the kidneys of broilers showing different pathological lesions. The gross lesions observed in the kidneys included enlargement, congestion, haemorrhagic spots in addition to dilatation and distension of the ureters. The microscopic lesions were mainly interstitial nephritis. The lesions were acute and changed gradually to subacute or chronic nephritis. The glomerular lesions were not common. The wall of the primary branches of the ureter and the ureters was heavily infiltrated with inflammatory cells, also granular and albuminous casts were seen in the renal tubules. The lesions were not related to the inoculated pathogen, although they were more severe in chickens inoculated with E. coli and Staph. aureus more than in Actinomyces pyogenes. Reisolation of the inoculated pathogens was more successful from the birds inoculated subcutaneously than from those infected orally.

Comparative studies on hydatidosis in farm animals in Egypt

A survey on the frequency of hydatid disease in animals slaughtered in Cairo abattoir revealed that the percentage in camels, sheep, pigs, cows and buffaloes attained 31.0%, 1.33%, 4.62%, 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. In camels and pigs the lungs were the main predilection sites of hydatid cysts, while in sheep the liver was the most infested organ. The wall thickness of the cysts was different according to the host species and the location of the cyst. The parasitic membrane of the cysts collected from camels consisted of two layers, an outer layer rich with mucopolysaccharides, and an inner germinal layer; some of its cells were rich with glycogen others were charged with lipids; the latter were mainly concentrated at the origin of the brood capsule. Hydatid cysts from camels showed a large number of calcareous bodies which stained deeply with both von Kossa stain and alcian blue stain. The majority of the examined cysts from sheep showed non-fertile germinal membranes. The most characteristic feature observed in the cysts collected from pigs was the presence of large amounts of fat droplets.

Experimental study of contagious paralysis of pigeons

A study of the clinical and pathological changes in pigeons experimentally inoculated with a herpesvirus isolated recently from natural cases of a condition termed contagious paralysis was carried out. Signs and pathological findings similar to those recorded in natural cases were produced after inoculation of the isolate via different routes. The incubation period differed according to the route of inoculation from 2 to 10 days and the course of the disease from 5 to 21 days. The mortality ranged from 100% in the intracerebrally inoculated pigeons to 61% in the orally infected ones. The clinical signs and the gross and histopathological changes included mainly progressive paralysis, meningo-encephalomyelitis, pancreatitis and sometimes enteritis.

Studies on natural and experimental endometritis in ewes

Of 100 uteri of ewes collected from a slaughterhouse, 44 had endometritis. These cases were classified as acute endometritis (18%), acute lymphocytic endometritis (59%), chronic non-suppurative endometritis (16%) and suppurative endometritis (6.8%). Aerobic bacteria were isolated from 26 uteri. The most commonly isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium pyogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. These organisms then were inoculated into the uteri of normal ewes. None of the inoculated bacteria consistently produced any particular type of endometrial lesion.

Testosterone-antibiotic effectiveness on staphylococcus aureus infected rats

(1) Male castrated rats (testosterone-free) inoculated intraperitoneally with Staph. aureus showed severe damage in their internal organs as determined by pathological examination of the killed animals. (2) Penicillin-G, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol treatment 24 h after injection markedly decreased the extent of damage. (3) Pretreatment of castrated rats with testosterone propionate for 3 successive days before infection had a protective influence on the internal organs. (4) Testosterone-injected rats when treated with different antibiotics, showed a clear synergistic action with penicillin-G and oxytetracycline but not chloramphenicol.