Search

In order to study the capability of a Bluetongue virus serotype 2 (BTV‑2) field isolate to cross the placental barrier, 2 groups of 5 pregnant ewes were infected with a field BTV‑2 Italian strain (Group A) or with the same strain passaged once in Culicoides cells (Kc) (Group B). Following infection, EDTA‑blood and serum samples were collected weekly and tested for the presence of BTV RNA/infectious virus and anti‑BTV‑2 antibodies, respectively. At lambing, precolostral EDTA‑blood and serum samples were collected from lambs and tested as before. The lambs were then sampled as scheduled for the dams. All sheep seroconverted on day 12 post‑infection (pi) and remained seropositive throughout the sampling period (day 68 pi). BTV was isolated from day 7 pi to day 14 pi in animals of Group A and from day 5 pi to day 12 pi in animals of Group B. None of the 14 lambs born had pre‑colostral antibodies. Three lambs born from two ewes of Group B were viraemic at birth and in one lamb infectious virus was isolated from blood up to 11 days of age. This study proved for the first time that a single passage of BTV‑2 field strain in Kc cells is able to give to BTV the ability to cross the placenta barrier and infect foetal tissues.

Mesotheliomas are rare neoplasm affecting on rare occasions both animals and humans and which arise from the mesothelial cells lining the coelomic cavities. We report herein the histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical findings in a dog affected by sclerosing peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare variant of canine mesothelioma, and submitted to laparotomy in December 2012 (Teramo, Italy). Our data confirm that mesothelioma still represents a diagnostic challenge and that immunohistochemistry can be extremely useful as supportive diagnostic technique.

A seven-year-old horse was euthanised after exhibiting a severe and rapidly progressive neurological disorder. Tissue samples were despatched to the Italian Reference Centre for Animal Foreign Diseases (Istituto 'G. Caporale' in Teramo) for diagnosis. All laboratory tests for equine neurotropic viruses gave negative results. Scattered perivascular inflammatory infiltrates and several parasites that were morphologically classified as Halicephalobus gingivalis, were seen within the brain upon microscopic examination. Pathological findings led to the diagnosis of parasitic meningo-encephalitis caused by H. gingivalis. This case report confirms that halicephalobosis should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of equine encephalopathy and it also highlights the value of a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving in veterinary medicine.

Un cavallo di 7 anni è stato abbattuto dopo aver manifestato una grave sindrome neurologica a rapida evoluzione. Campioni tessutali sono stati inviati al Centro Studi Malattie Esotiche dell’Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (Istituto G. Caporale) per gli accertamenti diagnostici del caso. Gli esami per le più comuni virosi neurologiche equine non hanno evidenziato la presenza di infezioni in atto. Istologicamente, si è osservata a livello encefalico la presenza di manicotti perivascolari e numerosi corpi parassitari, morfologicamente riferibili a Halicephalobus gingivalis. Il rinvenimento ha consentito di formulare la diagnosi di meningo-encefalite da H. gingivalis. Il caso riportato conferma che le encefaliti parassitarie devono essere annoverate nella diagnosi differenziale delle encefalopatie equine e sottolinea l’utilità dell’approccio diagnostico multidisciplinare.

Le neoplasie testicolari sono piuttosto frequenti nel cane e condividono alcune caratteristiche con quelle umane, rendendole un potenziale modello in patologia comparata. Si riportano i dati relativi ai tumori testicolari del cane conferiti ed esaminati Istituto G. Caporale nel corso degli ultimi 12 anni, dal 2000 al 2011. In totale, sono stati diagnosticati 183 tumori: 108 seminomi, 37 sertoliomi, 18 tumori a cellule interstiziali del Leydig, 10 tumori misti, 9 neoplasie primitive di diversa natura una metastasi. La raccolta dettagliata di informazioni (segnala-mento, anamnesi, manifestazioni cliniche e follow-up) messa in atto, consentirà di valutare al meglio il comportamento biologico delle neoplasie animali il potenziale oncogeno di specifici fattori, sia intrinseci che estrinseci.

Canine testicular tumours frequently occur and share relevant features with their human counterparts, thus being a putative model in comparative oncology. The authors present data on canine testicular tumours submitted to the Istituto G. Caporale over the last 12 years. In total, 183 testicular neoplasms were diagnosed: 108 seminomas, 37 Sertoli cell tumours, 18 interstitial Leydig cell tumours, 10 mixed tumours, 9 other primary tumours and one metastatic neoplasm. A systematic and more detailed collection of data (signalling, history, clinical signs and follow-up) enables a better evaluation of clinical and biological features of animal tumours, as well as a clear assessment of the real impact, if any, of specific intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors.