Inhibition of MCP-1 and MIP-2 Chemokines in Murine Trichinellosis: Effect of the Anti-Inflammatory Compound L-Mimosine

Mimosine, is a plant amino-acid which has been reported to block DNA replication in mammalian cells and to arrest cells reversibly towards the end of the G1 phase or at the beginning of the S phase. In this study, 42 mice were infected with T. spiralis, a nematode parasite, and treated with the anti-inflammatory compound L-mimosine, to determine if any alteration in the chronic inflammatory state occurred, by investigating the host's immunological response. MCP-1, a C-C chemokine and MIP-2, a C-X-C chemokine were tested and measured in the sera of infected animals, after 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days postinfection, by ELISA method. The diaphragm/muscle and the masseters of the infected mice, were tested for inflammatory response. We found that MCP-1 was partially inhibited by L-mimosine, while MIP-2 was totally inhibited. Moreover, in sections of the diaphragm and masseters, the infiltration of inflammatory cells such as macrophages, lymphocytes and eosinophils were more intense in untreated animals compared to those treated with L-mimosine. These findings show, that L-mimosine may have an inhibitory effect on MCP-1 and MIP-2 serum levels in Trichinellosis and may influence the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the intensity of the inflammatory reaction in this parasitic disease.

A Clinical Case of Chicken Infectious Anemia Disease and Virus DNA Detection in Naturally Infected Broilers in Greece

In this study, chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) DNA was detected from 12-day-old broilers. Clinical history showed that the clinical features were diarrhea, blue wing disease, depression, and death. Necropsy findings were pale liver, severe atrophy of bursa of Fabricius and thymus, and discoloration of the bone marrow as well as hemorrhages subcutaneously and a few in skeletal muscles. The majority of the necropsied broilers had developed gangrenous dermatitis. Histopathology showed hypoplasia of bone marrow and depletion of lymphocytes in spleen, bursa, and subcapsular thymic cortex. Karyorrhexis of lymphocytes was scattered in the thymic cortex and most pronounced in the bursal follicles. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were mainly located in lymphocytes of thymus, with a few in hemopoietic cells of bone marrow. CIAV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction from bursa, thymus, and bone marrow. A virus strain was detected and genetically characterized in 639 base pairs of VP1 gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Greek isolate was clustered together with isolates from Alabama, China, Slovenia, and Bangladesh.

Outbreak of Avian Mycobacteriosis in a Flock of Two-Year-Old Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica)

This report describes an outbreak of avian mycobacteriosis in a flock of 100 two-yr-old pigeons. Over a 6-mo period, the sick pigeons showed cachexia followed by death. In Columbiformes classic tubercles rarely develop, but in these affected pigeons granulomatous nodular lesions of various sizes, containing numerous acid-fast bacilli, were found in the internal organs. The lesions were observed in the liver, spleen, intestine, bone marrow, ovary, and oviduct. Despite their breeding age, atrophy was also found in the ovary and oviduct. Microorganisms belonging to Mycobacterium avium complex were identified in the affected tissues by polymerase chain reaction.

Immunohistochemical investigation of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) in the brain of aged cats

To clarify the immunohistochemical features of amyloid deposits and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the distribution of the amyloid beta-protein subtypes Abeta40, Abeta42, Abeta43 and Abeta precursor protein (APP) were examined in the brains of fourteen aged cats (7.5-21 year-old). Two types of plaques were detected. The first type was characterized by Ass positive antigenic material and detected in the cortical layers of the frontal and parietal lobes of all examined cats. The second type was characterized by diffuse positive immune staining representing diffuse plaques, which were detected only in the very aged cats (17-21 years old) and distributed throughout the cortical layers of the parietal lobes. Vascular amyloid and the amyloid deposits were strongly positive-stained with the antibody Abeta42. APP was exhibited in neurons and axons while the staining was stronger in the very aged cats (17-21 years old). Our findings suggest that the feline forms a spontaneous model for understanding the early changes of normal brain aging and the early stage of amyloid beta-protein deposition.

Vertebral telangiectatic osteosarcoma in a dog

Telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TOS) affecting the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) was diagnosed in a 4-year-old male dog with signs of locomotor dysfunction. Bone lysis and an extradural-extramedullary mass were observed in radiographs and occipital myelograms. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination of the mass. The tumor was composed of large blood-filled cavities lined by anaplastic stromal cells (malignant osteoblasts). Around the cavities were characteristic tumor giant cells ("bizarre cells"). Immunohistochemically the tumor cells were positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The lining cells of the cysts were negative for von Willebrand factor. The histologic findings in this case of TOS involving C7 were similar to those seen in other cases of TOS in dogs and in people. Immunohistochemistry was a useful tool for assessing malignancy and for ruling out other differential diagnoses.