Malignant Sertoli cell tumour in a young Simmenthal bull--clinical and pathological observations

Tumours are rare in the bovine testicle. A case of malignant Sertoli cell tumour in a 29-month-old Simmenthal bull that was hospitalized with a history of severe unilateral scrotal swelling is reported. On inspection and palpation, the scrotal sac was found enlarged with fluctuant content in the right side. The right testicle was enlarged, hard and indolent. Also the right plexus pampiniformis and funiculus spermaticus were enlarged. Sonograms revealed severe changes in the right testicle with a loss of homogeneity and multiple hyperechogenic areas. After slaughter, the scrotum with testicles were removed and evaluated pathologically. On section, the right testicle contained areas of necrosis, haemorrhage, and mineralization. Histology showed Sertoli cells in tubular structures surrounded by dense fibrous stroma replacing normal testicular tissue. Both lymphatic and blood vessels were infiltrated by neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells stained positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin and S-100. Based on the pathological observations a diagnosis of right-sided malignant Sertoli cell tumour with vascular invasion and hydrocele was established.

Pathology of Trichuris suis infection in pigs fed an inulin- and a non-inulin-containing diet

Pathology of the colon in pigs infected with Trichuris suis and fed an inulin and a non-inulin containing diet was studied to investigate the inflammatory response induced and the influence of inulin on this. Twenty-nine pigs were allocated into four groups (N-7, I-7, N-9 and N/I-9). Groups N-7, N-9 and N/I-9 were given a diet with non-fermentable carbohydrates, and group I-7 was fed a diet including fermentable carbohydrates (inulin). After 2 weeks, all pigs were inoculated with 2000 T. suis eggs. Seven weeks post-infection (p.i.), groups N-7 and I-7 were killed and group N/I-9 changed to inulin diet to study the influence of inulin on already established T. suis. Nine weeks p.i., groups N-9 and N/I-9 were killed. Trichuris suis were collected from the colon for enumeration. Tissues from the colon of each pig were taken for histological and immunohistochemical quantitative and semi-quantitative evaluations of heterophils, eosinophils, mast cells, IgA(+), IgG(+), IgM(+) and CD3(+) cells. The findings were compared with tissues from seven uninfected pigs of the same age. Pigs fed inulin had significantly fewer worms compared with pigs on the non-fermentable carbohydrate diet. The number of inflammatory cells in the colonic mucosa was increased in all T. suis-infected pigs compared with uninfected controls. The numbers of eosinophils, mast cells, IgA(+), IgG(+) and CD3(+) cells were significantly lower in pigs fed inulin than pigs fed non-fermentable carbohydrate. Whether this is a direct effect of inulin or a secondary effect due to the lower parasitic burden in inulin fed pigs is not known.