Sertoli Cell Tumor (SCT) in a Captive Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

A black bear of 29-year-old (Ursus americanus) died unexpectedly in captivity without any gross lesions or clinical signs. We identified a firm, lobulated, yellowish tan, and well-circumscribed mass embedded inside the testicular tissue at the time of necropsy. The tumor sections exhibited soft necrotic and hemorrhagic areas beneath its capsule. Histologically, the tumor comprised Sertoli cells arranged in tubules and solid sheets supported by prominent fibrous connective tissues. The Sertoli cells were positive for vimentin and ER-β expression, whereas it showed negative staining for inhibin-α, cytokeratin 19, and S-100. To the best of our knowledge, this is the rare case report of testicular Sertoli cell tumor in black bear.

Papillomavirus Infection in Humans and Dromedary Camels in Eastern Sudan

Cases of wart-like lesions in humans and dromedary camels occurred in eastern Sudan in 2015 were described. Involvement of papillomavirus (PV) in causing these cases was affirmed by PCR and immunoperoxidase test. Mostly, the lesions were observed on the skin of the chest and forearms in addition to lips and mandible. Sequence analysis revealed Camelus dromedarius PV types 1 and 2 genotypes as the causative genotypes. We also observed cases of wart-like lesions on hands and legs of two herders attending the infected camel herd. Partial genome sequencing revealed human PV type 2 in one of the two human samples providing no indications for interspecies transmission of camel PVs, yet provides, for the first time evidence of active circulation of this virus in eastern Sudan.

Inhibition of Formation of Azoxymethane-induced Colonic Aberrant Crypt Foci in Rats by Edible Green Algae Capsosiphon fulvescens and Brown Algae Hizikia fusiforme

Capsosiphon fulvescens (green seaweed) and Hizikia fusiforme (brown seaweed) are marine algae consumed as food supplements, especially in Japan, China and Korea, and are considered traditional medicinal tonics for certain ailments. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible inhibitory effects of dietary C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) in rats. F344 male rats (5 weeks, 150 g) were divided into six groups as follows. Group 1: Injected with normal saline solution and fed control diet (untreated control). Group 2: Injected with AOM and fed control diet (treated control). Group 3: Injected with AOM and fed 1% C. fulvescens diet. Group 4: Injected with AOM and fed 2% C. fulvescens diet. Group 5: Injected with AOM and fed 2% H. fusiforme diet. Group 6: Injected with AOM and fed 6% H. fusiforme diet. Test animals received subcutaneous injections of AOM (15 mg/1 ml/kg body weight) once a week for 2 weeks to induce aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in treated control and experimental groups. We evaluated the effects of dietary C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme at two different dose levels: 1 and 2% C. fulvescens, and 2 and 6% H. fusiforme, on colonic carcinogenesis by AOM in rats. Our results suggest that body weights were not significantly different amongst groups. We found that feeding C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme with a control diet significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the development of ACF in experimental groups. C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme in food also significantly (p<0.05) reduced the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index in the colonic tissues of experimental groups. These results demonstrate the chemopreventive potential of C. fulvescens and H. fusiforme against CRC in an AOM-induced rats.

Preventive Effects of Vitamin C on Diethylnitrosamine-induced Hepatotoxicity in Smp30 Knockout Mice

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is well known as a free radical scavenger that protects cells against damage from oxidative stress. Herein, we investigated the effects of vitamin C against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatotoxicity. Male wild-type (C57BL/6) and senescence marker protein-30 (Smp30) knockout (KO) mice were used and divided in the following four groups: WT group (n=15): Wild-type (WT) mice fed vitamin C-free diet with tap water; WV group (n=14): WT mice fed vitamin C-free diet with water supplemented with 1.5 g/kg vitamin C; KT group (n=12): Smp30 KO mice fed vitamin C-free diet with tap water; and KV group (n=13): Smp30 KO mice fed vitamin C-free diet with water supplemented with 1.5 g/kg vitamin C. A single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (5 mg/kg body weight) was injected in the second week during the experimental period. Mice were sacrificed after 17 weeks of treatment to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin C on DEN-induced hepatotoxicity. The results showed that vitamin C significantly increased the mean lifespan (p<0.05) in the WT, WV and KV groups compared with the KT group. The serum concentrations of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase did not significantly differ among groups. The WT group exhibited significantly more acute cellular swelling accompanied by centrilobular necrosis, focal lymphocyte infiltration, and eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies as compared with the WV and KV groups, suggesting that vitamin C had a hepatoprotective effect. Dysplastic, large, and binucleated hepatocytes were also observed in the WT group, but these pathological signs were absent from the WV and KV groups. Our experimental evidence suggests that vitamin C supplementation in Smp30 KO mice was effective for the treatment of DEN-induced hepatotoxicity.

Fatal fibrino-hemorrhagic bronchopneumonia associated with Morganella morganii in a bottlenose dolphin: a case report

A 5 yr old, 184 kg, and 262 cm total length female bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus was found dead in a display after bloody discharge from the blowhole was observed 3 h prior to death. Pathological examination revealed fibrinous bronchopneumonia with prominent areas of necrosis (sequestra) and numerous Gram-negative bacilli within alveoli and in blood vessels of the lungs and liver and between muscle fibers. The cause of death was attributed to septicemia. Often, cases of fibrinous bronchopneumonia are characterized by bacteremia in the latter stages of infection, resulting in the death of the animal. Septicemia likely accounts for the ecchymoses and petechiae noted on the spleen, pancreas, forestomach, lungs, visceral peritoneum, and small intestine. Additional lesions included hemothorax, stable red frothy fluid in the trachea, and lymphoid depletion in the spleen and lymph nodes. Pure growth of Morganella morganii was isolated from the lungs, blood, liver, and blowhole mucosa. Sequencing of 16s rRNA of the isolated bacteria showed more than 99.6% identity with M. morganii strain FDAARGOS_172. To our knowledge, this is the first report of fatal fibrinonecrotizing bronchopneumonia associated with M. morganii infection in a cetacean.

Preventive effect of anti-VacA egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) on Helicobacter pylori-infected mice

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative bacterium, is the causative agent of gastric disorders and gastric cancer in the human stomach. Vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) is among the multi-effect protein toxins released by H. pylori that enables its persistence in the human stomach.

METHODS

To evaluate the effect of anti-VacA egg yolk immunoglobulin (anti-VacA IgY) on H. pylori infection, a highly specific anti-VacA IgY was produced from egg yolks of hens immunized with a mixture of two purified recombinant VacAs. Female C57BL/6 mice were supplemented anti-VacA IgY daily with drinking water for 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after H. pylori ATCC 43504 inoculation. Anti-VacA IgY recognized both native and denatured structures of VacA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting analyses, respectively.

RESULTS

Oral administration of anti-VacA IgYs significantly (p < .05) reduced the serum levels of anti-H. pylori antibodies compared to those in the H. pylori-infected, untreated group. The reduction in the immune response was accompanied by a significant (p < .05) decrease in eosinophilic infiltration of the stomach in anti-VacA IgY treated group compared to other groups. Concomitantly, H. pylori-induced histological changes and H. pylori antigen-positivity in gastric tissues were decreased significantly (p < .05) in anti-VacA IgY treated group similar to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral administration of anti-VacA IgY is correlated with a protective effect against H. pylori colonization and induced histological changes in gastric tissues. Our experimental study has proved that it is expected to be a new drug candidate of Hp infection by further study.

Effects of oral glucosamine hydrochloride and mucopolysaccharide protein in a rabbit model of osteoarthritis

AIM

The aim was to study whether oral glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN.HCl) or mucopolysaccharide protein (MucoP) has a structure-modifying effect on an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) rabbit model of osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

OA was surgically induced in the right knees of rabbits by transection of the ACLT. The left knees served as a sham-operated control. The animals were divided into four groups (n = 6 each): negative control (phosphate buffered saline, orally), positive control (oral celecoxib 10 mg/kg body weight/day), GlcN.HCl (oral 100 mg/kg/day) and MucoP (oral 100 mg/kg/day). Experimental animals were sacrificed after 8 weeks of treatment and the distal femur was removed for macroscopic examination, histological assessment, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay of the OA rabbits.

RESULTS

On gross morphology, severe lesions were observed in articular cartilage in the negative control group. In the GlcN.HCl and MucoP treatment groups, fibrillations and cartilaginous lesions were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased compared to the negative control group. In particular, degenerative changes in cartilage and chondrocyte cellularity were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the positive control (celecoxib) group, GlcN.HCl treatment group and MucoP treatment group compared with the negative control group. TUNEL assay showed that apoptotic chondrocytes were significantly suppressed in the celecoxib group. Similar significant (P < 0.05) results were seen in the GlcN.HCl group and MucoP group but apoptosis of chondrocytes were high in the negative control group.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the protective effects of GlcN.HCl and MucoP may play a useful role in the clinical treatment of OA.

Melatonin ameliorates alcohol-induced bile acid synthesis by enhancing miR-497 expression

Alcoholic liver disease is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is involved in a diverse metabolic diseases. B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) and yin yang 1 (YY1) are a potent regulator of biological conditions. Melatonin plays a crucial role in regulating diverse physiological functions and metabolic homeostasis. MicroRNAs are key regulators of various biological processes. Herein, we demonstrate that melatonin improves bile acid synthesis in the liver of alcohol-fed mice by controlling miR-497 expression. The level of bile acid and the expression of Cb1r, Btg2, Yy1, and bile acid synthetic enzymes were significantly elevated in the livers of Lieber-DeCarli alcohol-fed mice. The overexpression of Btg2 enhanced Yy1 gene expression and bile acid production, whereas disrupting the CB1R-BTG2-YY1 cascade protected against the bile acid synthesis caused by alcohol challenge. We identified an alcohol-mediated YY1 binding site on the cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) gene promoter using promoter deletion analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Notably, melatonin attenuated the alcohol-stimulated induction of Btg2, Yy1 mRNA levels and bile acid production by promoting miR-497. Overexpression of a miR-497 mimic dramatically diminished the increase of Btg2 and Yy1 gene expression as well as bile acid production by alcohol, whereas this phenomenon was reversed by miR-497 inhibitor. These results demonstrate that the upregulation of miR-497 by melatonin represses alcohol-induced bile acid synthesis by attenuating the BTG2-YY1 signaling pathway. The melatonin-miR497 signaling network may provide novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of hepatic metabolic dysfunction caused by the alcohol-dependent pathway.

Characterization of the complete genomes of Camelus dromedarius papillomavirus types 1 and 2

Camel papillomatosis has been described previously, but the genome of the suspected papillomavirus (PV) has not been identified. An outbreak of papillomatosis occurred in a dromedary farm of 55 animals in Sudan during August 2009. The disease was only present in young animals aged about 3-7 months, of which 44 % (11/25) were affected with lesions, mainly on the lips and lower jaw. This study reports for the first time the complete genomes of Camelus dromedarius papillomavirus types 1 (CdPV1) and 2 (CdPV2), isolated from a cauliflower-like nodule and a round oval raised nodule, respectively. Pairwise comparisons of their L1 nucleotide sequences revealed 69.2 % identity, and phylogenetic analyses suggested that these two PV types are grouped within the genus Deltapapillomavirus. Both viruses were isolated from fibropapillomas, although no putative E5 proteins homologous to that of bovine papillomavirus type 1 were identified. The genetic information will be useful for evolutionary studies of the family Papillomaviridae, as well as for the development of diagnostic methods for surveillance of the disease in dromedaries.