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The use of alternative feeds for animal nutrition has widely been recommended in the last years. Banana (Musa acuminate) is a predominant culture in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world with an estimated world production of 116 million tons. Banana by-products could be used as alternative feeds for ruminant nutrition. The present study assessed the effects of replacing ryegrass hay with banana byproducts on carcass characteristic and composition in Canary hair sheep lambs. The animals (N=22, weighted 14.8±0.5 kg body weight (BW)) were divided into 2 groups receiving a mixture of fresh banana by-products and commercial ryegrass hay, respectively. A commercial concentrate feed was also added to both groups. After a 58-day trial, 14 animals (n=14) were slaughter at weights of 25.0 ± 0.6 kg BW. Carcass weight, dressing weight, composition and tissue weight were not significantly different for both groups, except for the weights of the empty digestive tracts (P=0.001) and livers (P=0.002). The results confirm that banana by-products could be used as alternative forage source for Canary hair sheep lambs raised in subtropical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first work that applies immunohistochemistry in the characterisation of the inflammatory infiltrate of verminous bronchopneumonia associated with lungworm parasites in stranded dolphins. Samples from three different species (Stenella coerulealba, Stenella frontalis and Delphinus delphis) stranded in the Canary Islands were used. The most common findings found in these animals varied from bronchitis to verminous bronchopneumonia with different degree of severity. The immunohistochemical study showed variable expressions of Lysozyme, MHC-II, iNOS and IgG. The main population presenting in the inflammatory infiltrates were CD3+ lymphocytes. However, moderate number of Foxp3+ lymphocytes was found in lymph nodes even though no Foxp3+ cells were found in lung lesions in any of the samples analysed. This study revealed that lung lesions showed a chronic inflammatory infiltrate mainly composed by lymphocytes CD3+. Deeper studies are needed in order to provide a more complete scope about the infiltrates involved in these types of lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the immunophenotype of cellular inflammatory infiltrates in chronic cholangitis in six common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), four striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), three Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and one pygmy sperm whale (Kogia Breviceps) found stranded along the coasts of the Canary Islands (Spain). A panel of 5 antibodies previously tested in dolphins (anti-CD3, -IgG, -MHC class II, -S100 protein and -lysozyme) were used. The present work also reports cross reactivity with dolphin antigens of two antibodies not used to date in dolphins (anti-mouse iNOS and anti-mouse Foxp3). The most common type of cholangitis found was chronic granulomatous cholangitis, associated with the presence of the parasite Campula spp., or its eggs in bile ducts. The cellular composition of the hepatic inflammatory infiltrate associated to chronic parasitic cholangitis was closely similar to that found in the cortex of control lymph nodes, including the presence of S100+ and MHC class II+ dendritic- like cells in lymphoid follicles and interfollicular areas. Only occasional macrophages expressed iNOS, whereas Foxp3+ lymphocytes were not found in any of the lesions described in the different types of cholangitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the gross, histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of gastrointestinal lesions and regional lymph nodes of six common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 11 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and six Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) found stranded along the coasts of the Canary Islands. The most common lesion was chronic granulomatous gastritis of the glandular stomach, associated with the parasite Pholeter gastrophilus, and characterised by the parasites, their eggs, or parasite debris in the mucosa, submucosa or tunica muscularis, surrounded by numerous lysozyme-positive macrophages and neutrophils, and more peripherally by abundant fibrous tissue containing variable numbers of immunoglobulin (Ig) G+ plasma cells, and small numbers of CD3+ T lymphocytes and lgM+ and lgA+ plasma cells. Anisakis simplex nematodes were found in two dolphins that were also parasitised by P gastrophilus and had parasitic granulomatous gastritis and multiple small chronic gastric ulcers. Lymphoplasmacytic enteritis was found in eight cases, three of them parasitised by Diphyllobothrium species; the lesion was characterised by moderate to severe infiltrations of CD3+ T lymphocytes and lgG+ plasma cells, with small numbers of lgM+ and lgA+ plasma cells in the lamina propria and submucosa, mainly of the small intestine. One dolphin had severe fibrinopurulent peritonitis, which may have been secondary to gastric perforation caused by the large mural granulomatous gastritis associated with P gastrophilus parasitism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is considered a rare condition in cats that is characterized by the obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow tract from the level of the small hepatic veins to the level of the termination of the inferior vena cava into the right atrium in the absence of cardiac or pericardial disease, or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. Case description: This report presents a 13-year-old cat with a two-week history of progressive lethargy, inappetence, weight loss, and abdominal distension. Findings/treatment and outcome: The radiological study was consistent with pleural effusion, as well as alveolar and interstitial pulmonary patterns. Ultrasonography confirmed hepatic venin congestion and ascites. Abdominocentesis revealed a modified transudate. A computed tomography (CT) angiography showed a mass at the level of the caudal mediastinum that compressed the caudal vena cava (CVC). Mediastinal lymphoma was considered the most likely differential diagnosis. These findings were interpreted as Budd-Chiari-like syndrome (BCLS) secondary to a mediastinal mass although, unfortunately, no further diagnostic or treatment procedures were accepted by the owners. BCLS is a rare condition in cats, where most of the reported cases occurred as a result of obstruction of the caudal vena cava. In this report, BCLS was caused by a mass located in the caudal mediastinum oppressing the caudal vena cava. Conclusion: This is the first report of BCLS in cats diagnosed by CT angiography, and it shows the value of this technique to define the origin and extent of the mass and to evaluate the presence or absence of metastatic lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paraneoplastic pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering skin disease associated with concurrent neoplasia that is rarely observed in veterinary medicine. Case description: This case report presents a ten-year-old female Labrador Retriever dog with generalized seborrhea and alopecic, crusting and ulcerative lesions in the periocular and perioral regions, the lips and the groins. Findings/treatment and outcome: Hematology analysis showed a marked increase in the number of lymphocytes, while the rest of the values were normal. Skin biopsies were collected and the histological findings were consistent with pemphigus in association with an epitheliotropic lymphoma. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed. There was deposition of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the basement membrane and in the intercellular space that corresponded with an immunostaining pattern characteristic of pemphigus erythematosus (PE). The lymphoma was positive to CD3 cells and was classified as a T-cell epitheliotropic lymphoma. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case of PE and cutaneous lymphoma coexisting in a dog, expanding the list of associations between immune-mediated diseases and cancer in dogs, and providing support to the eventual connection between autoimmunity and neoplasia in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microanatomy of the intestinal epithelium in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (CST) was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The small intestinal epithelium (SIE) was single layered or pseudostratified. The enterocytes contained mitochondria or mitochondria and lipid droplets. The enterocytes were arranged tightly in the apical parts of epithelium and connected by desmosomes and interdigitations. The large intestinal epithelium (LIE) was pseudostratified and the enterocytes did not contain lipid droplets. Enterocytes were arranged compactly in the apical part, forming spaces in the middle and basal parts of epithelium. Numerous mucous cells were scattered in the epithelium and there were intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) with their pseudopodia extended into the intestinal lumen. This study provides detailed features of intestinal epithelium in the Pelodiscus sinensis that could be related to function. In addition, these findings are discussed in relation to other vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle samples were examined post-mortem in 148 cetaceans over a 12-year period. Histological analysis included haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining with and without diastase digestion. In addition, histological muscle sections were immunostained for ubiquitin and fast and slow heavy-chain myosin isoforms. PAS-positive, diastase-resistant inclusions were detected in 26 animals from 11 different species. Older cetaceans were preferentially affected. These intrafibre inclusions varied from large aggregates to multiple coarse granules and were typically associated with type II fibres. All diastase-resistant inclusions were positive for ubiquitin. These features resembled those inclusions described as complex polysaccharide in horses. Based on these histological findings and the ubiquitin staining pattern, a morphological diagnosis of complex polysaccharide storage myopathy is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anatomical study of the mammary gland by computed tomography, X-rays and histology was carried out. Three canarian breed goats were used. Identification of the udder structures by different methods represented the basis of this study. Using these techniques the internal and external organization of the caprine mammary gland was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jepson et al. reply - We did not, as Piantadosi and Thalmann suggest, present our findings as conclusive evidence of decompression sickness (DCS). We stated neither that DCS occurs naturally in cetaceans, nor that exposure to active sonar increases its occurrence. However, we restate that there is now a generally accepted link between some beaked-whale strandings and sonar use, and that lesions in some cetaceans demonstrate that in vivo bubble formation (embolus) can occur and persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are spatial and temporal links between some mass strandings of cetaceans - predominantly beaked whales - and the deployment of military sonar. Here we present evidence of acute and chronic tissue damage in stranded cetaceans that results from the formation in vivo of gas bubbles, challenging the view that these mammals do not suffer decompression sickness. The incidence of such cases during a naval sonar exercise indicates that acoustic factors could be important in the aetiology of bubble-related disease and may call for further environmental regulation of such activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]