Search

The Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell line is widely used as epithelial cell model in studies ranging from viral infection to environmental pollutants, and vaccines production. However, little is known about basal expression of genes involved in innate immunity, and the ability to respond to infectious and non-infectious stressors. Therefore, the aims of our study were to evaluate the basal level of expression of pivotal genes in the innate immune response and cell cycle regulation, as well as to evaluate the ability of this cell line to respond to infectious or non-infectious stressors. As surmised in our working hypothesis, we demonstrated the constitutive expression of genes involved in the innate immune response and cell defense alike, including TLRs, Interleukins, Myd88, p65/NF-kB and p53. Moreover, we described the ability of this cell line to respond to LPS and cadmium (Cd2+) in terms of gene expression and cytokine release. These data confirm the possibility of using this cell line as a model in studies of host/pathogen interaction and response to non-infectious stressors.

A 9-year-old, male dwarf Angora rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), weighing 1.1 kg, was presented to the referring veterinarian with a history of abdominal pain, anorexia and poor body condition. On physical examination, a solid mass was detected in the abdominal cavity by palpation. No other physical abnormalities were apparent at that time. A complete blood cell count revealed a marked hypochromic macrocytic regenerative anaemia and leucopenia with marked lymphopaenia. Serum biochemical analysis showed a marked hypoproteinaemia with hypoalbuminaemia and a moderate increased blood ureic nitrogen concentration. Histopathological evaluation of the intestinal lesion showed a proliferation of spindle cells with morphological features of neoplastic smooth muscle cells which resulted positive for smooth muscle actin, vimentin, desmin, c-kit and faintly positive for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3). Based on histomorphological and immunohistochemical evaluation, a diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) was made. The latter is considered a tumour originating from primitive mesenchymal cells of gastrointestinal tract with pluripotential differentiation. GISTs have been reported in humans, and in a few domestic animal species such as dogs, horses and ferrets. To our best knowledge, this is the first report describing a gastrointestinal stromal tumour in an Angora rabbit. The clinical outcome of GISTs is considered to be similar to other indolent tumours and sarcomas.

Between 2001 and 2004, 229 foxes, 36 stone martens and 48 badgers from the western Italian Alps were examined for sarcoptic mange and for gastrointestinal helminths to investigate their prevalence and geographical distribution and to point out the existence of potential interactions among them. Sarcoptic mange was observed in 25.3±2.8% SE of foxes and in 5.6±3.8% SE of stone martens, while no badger was found infected. Helminths belonged to Cestoidea Cyclophillidea (3.0±1.1% SE), Nematoda Trichurida (Capillaria aerophila and Trichuris vulpis: 6.5±1.6% SE; Trichinella britovi: 3.0±1.1% SE), Ascaridida (12.2±2.2% SE) and Strongylida (6.9±1.7% SE). Sarcoptic mange infection and the presence of helminths proved to be associated, with mangy foxes showing significantly higher prevalence of both cestode and nematode (particularly Ascaridida) worms. Moreover, considering three clusters of parasites (S. scabiei, nematodes and cestodes), more foxes than expected hosted simultaneously 2 and 3 taxa. These evidences suggest the existence of some kind of interaction, whose modalities and implications are discussed in this paper.