Veterinary Pathology最新文献

Pathologists use modifying phrases (MPs) to express diagnostic confidence (DC) in the diagnosis when essential features of a lesion are lacking. Although commonly used, a standardized application and shared definitions of MPs are not recognized, resulting in a discretional use in veterinary pathology reports. Through an anonymous online survey, this study explored how different groups (veterinary pathologists, general practitioners, specialists of other specialties, residents, and students) perceive selected MPs used in veterinary pathology reports, evaluated their impact on the clinical decision, and provided a possible indication on their use. Participants (n = 753) responded from various continents. The highest DC was generally perceived for the term "diagnostic of," in all groups. "Compatible with," "indicative of," and "consistent with" were also generally perceived with high DC. The DC was lower for the other MPs ("suggestive of," "suspicious for," and "cannot rule out"). MPs perceived as having the highest DC were more often interpreted as definitive diagnoses, while those with lower DC were more likely perceived as suggestions to perform additional diagnostic tests. Pathology reports may benefit from using the comment section to further clarify the level of certainty of the diagnosis. Limitations in the data's representativeness arise from the non-probabilistic sampling and a predominance of a single nation's participants. Despite this, our study provides valuable insights into the perception and clinical impact of MPs, providing a foundation for discussions aimed in standardizing their use in veterinary pathology reports. Adopting consistent and uniform MPs could improve communication between pathologists and clinicians and patient care.

Australia is home to bare-nosed, northern hairy-nosed and southern hairy-nosed wombats. Adiaspores have been noted in the lungs of all 3 species and severe pneumonia has been characterized in 2 northern hairy-nosed wombats associated with intralesional adiaspores produced by a novel Emmonsiellopsis species. Similar organisms have been observed in the lungs of bare-nosed and southern hairy-nosed wombats. In the current report, DNA amplification and sequencing demonstrated that an adiaspore producing fungus in 3 bare-nosed wombats is a genetic variant or sister species to the Emmonsiellopsis sp. found in the northern hairy-nosed wombat. Thirty-two lung sections were evaluated for 7 histopathological parameters and adiaspores were counted in a 2.37 µm² randomly chosen area. Fisher's exact tests, relative risk, and absolute risk were calculated to determine if there was a correlation between adiaspores and an inflammatory response. Adiaspores were observed in samples from most wild wombats and were rare in captive wombats. Wombats with adiaspores were 3.53 times more likely to have interstitial pneumonia compared to wombats without adiaspores. The severity of pneumonia varied from mild to marked. However, the impact of pneumonia appeared to be minimal, as wombats were in good condition, except for wombats with mange. Therefore, the presence of adiaspores in wombats and associated inflammatory responses are usually considered an incidental finding. Further studies to determine the pathogenicity and clinical significance of the Emmonsiellopsis spp. in wombats and their prevalence across a wider portion of wombats' range may provide information on their impact on wombat populations.

Inflammatory myopathy (IM) and myocarditis are relevant complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. IM has also been reported in adult cats with experimental feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection. The present study investigated naturally FIV-infected cats for IM and myocarditis and further characterized the inflammatory processes and their potential pathogenesis. Snap-frozen skeletal muscle (quadriceps femoris (QF) and triceps brachii (TB) muscles) and myocardial samples from naturally FIV-infected cats and controls were examined histologically and by immunohistochemistry for leukocytes and FIV-p24-gag, and by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) for the relative transcription of inflammatory mediators. Sera from FIV antibody-positive cats were tested for anti-skeletal muscle autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). Inflammatory infiltrates were observed in 9/31 (35%) QF and TB muscles and 11/30 (37%) myocardial samples from FIV-infected cats, frequently in combination. The infiltrates were dominated by T-cells, with rare B-cells and macrophages; several leukocytes harbored FIV-p24-gag. The T-cell count in the QF was positively correlated with the T-cell count in TB and myocardium. Skeletal muscle of FIV-positive animals showed significantly higher transcription of interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-17, and transforming growth factor-beta than the controls, whereas the myocardium exhibited significantly higher IL-17 and lower IL-13 mRNA levels. IIF showed anti-skeletal muscle autoantibodies in sera of FIV positive cats up to a dilution of 1:1000. The results show that natural FIV infection is frequently associated with IM and myocarditis and driven by T-cells, with Th1/Th17 polarization of the response. The presence of circulating anti-muscle autoantibodies suggests an underlying autoimmune pathogenesis.

Fourteen feline nodal lymphomas previously diagnosed as Hodgkin-like lymphoma (HLL) were studied through histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses to further characterize feline HLL. The cohort comprised 12 domestic shorthair and 2 Maine coon cats, with a male/female ratio of 1.3 and a median age of 9.5 years. Reed-Sternberg and Hodgkin cells were observed in 14/14 HLLs, while a minority of cells resembling lymphocyte-predominant cells were observed in 5/14 (36%) cases. Neoplastic cells were embedded in a mixed reactive background mainly composed of T and B lymphocytes and histiocytes. Necrosis was present in 9/14 (64%) cases. Various percentages of neoplastic cells were positive for CD30, PAX5, and MUM1 in 14/14 cases and for CD20 in 12/14 (86%) cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for antigen receptor rearrangements (PARR) by agarose gel electrophoresis identified clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) in 9/14 (64%) cases, clonal T-cell receptor-gamma (TRG) rearrangements in 4/14 (29%) cases, and polyclonal IGH and TRG in 1 case. The predominance of Reed-Sternberg and Hodgkin cells and a CD30+/PAX5+/MUM1+ immunophenotype were consistent findings in this case series and align with the human classic form of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However, in contrast to the human tumor, most feline HLLs express CD20. Based on the human HL classification, feline HLLs were further categorized as lymphocyte-rich (6/14, 43%), mixed cellularity (4/14, 29%), nodular sclerosis (2/14, 14%), and lymphocyte-depleted (2/14, 14%). Feline HLL is a complex neoplasm that requires refinement of diagnostic criteria to improve classification and management.

An 11-year-old, Damaraland mole-rat queen died after several months of abdominal distension with no other clinical signs, and a necropsy was performed. Grossly, numerous red-white, smooth masses, ranging from a few millimeters to 1 cm in diameter, were widely scattered across the surfaces of the diaphragm, mesentery, and peritoneum. The pulmonary hilar, mediastinal, mesenteric, and renal lymph nodes were enlarged. Histologically, the masses and the enlarged lymph nodes consisted of atypical cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and large, eccentrically positioned nuclei. Multinucleated giant cells were often intermixed with these cells. Based on the positive immunolabeling of macrophage markers IBA1 and CD163, the lack of detectable pathogens, and the prominent dissemination of these cells, these lesions were diagnosed as histiocytic sarcoma. This is the first case of histiocytic sarcoma and the first case of a spontaneous tumor in a Damaraland mole-rat, a burgeoning non-traditional animal model of longevity and purported cancer resistance.

Feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) have a highly malignant and metastatic behavior and are associated with a poor prognosis. There is a need to identify new effective therapies for FMC. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is activated in various human and animal tumors. It has been proposed as a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target in human breast cancer (HBC). Given the similarities between HBC and FMCs, we hypothesized STAT3 expression in FMCs may be prognostically significant. In this study, 60 FMC samples were immunohistochemically evaluated for the expression of total STAT3 (tSTAT3), phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), and Ki-67. The pSTAT3 and Ki-67 indexes were calculated, and their associations with clinicopathological features, as well as tumor-specific survival (TSS), were investigated. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to determine the cutoff values for pSTAT3 and Ki-67 using Youden's index as the criterion. All FMCs positively immunolabeled for tSTAT3 and pSTAT3. Significant associations were observed between the pSTAT3 index and the WHO clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, and lymphovascular invasion. However, no significant associations were established with any other factors. Using the cutoff value to classify the pSTAT3 index, the higher pSTAT3 index (>25.2%) was significantly associated with decreased TSS (P = .00570). No significant associations were established between the Ki-67 index and any of the factors. Also, a significant positive association was observed between the pSTAT3 and Ki-67 indexes (P = .0001). This significant association with TSS underscores the potential role of pSTAT3 as a prognostic marker in FMC.

Nine wild American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) were found deceased or were moribund and subsequently euthanized within 24 hours after exposure to theatrical fog containing propylene glycol and triethylene glycol at a Halloween event at a zoological institution. Gross examinations revealed that all birds had congestion, edema, and hemorrhage throughout the lungs. Histologically, all birds had pathologic changes within the trachea and lungs indicative of acute respiratory insult. Microscopic changes in the trachea included segmental to diffuse epithelial attenuation with loss of cilia, alternating with regions of goblet cells filled with abundant mucus. In the lungs, all birds had perivascular edema and degenerative changes to the epithelium lining primary and secondary bronchi including hypereosinophilia and apical cytoplasmic blebbing of bronchial epithelial cells. In addition, in the lungs of 4 birds with longer intervals between exposure and death, there was granulomatous pneumonia, heterophilic perivascular cuffing, and multifocal bronchial epithelial necrosis. Propylene glycol and triethylene glycol were detected in lung and kidney tissues by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Traces of oxalic acid were found, along with presence of glycolic acid. While exposure to aerosolized glycols has been shown to cause irritation and minor degenerative changes to the respiratory epithelium in laboratory animals and humans, this study represents a unique investigation into the first reported incidence of acute inhalation toxicity and death following exposure to aerosolized glycol-containing theatrical fog in birds.

Zoonotic poxviruses, including monkeypox virus (MPV), the causative agent for Mpox disease, have gained significant media and scientific attention due to recent outbreaks in human populations across the globe. The increase in human cases of poxvirus infection is not unexpected, as routine vaccination against smallpox (a disease caused by the poxvirus variola virus, which cross protects against other orthopoxviruses) was discontinued in the 1980s after its eradication. Large numbers of vertebrate and invertebrate species are susceptible to infection by Poxviridae. Clinical signs and histologic lesions caused by genetically different poxviruses can be strikingly similar with some notable exceptions (eg, poxviral infections in fish). The purpose of this article is to review poxvirus pathology and pathogenesis observed in species of agricultural significance including poultry, cattle, goats, sheep, camels, swine, rabbits, horses, salmon, and carp.