Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in many human and animal cancers. Selective COX-2 inhibitors have shown antitumoral effects in tumors with a high expression of COX-2. This study evaluates (1) the expression of COX-2 in rabbit uterine adenocarcinomas, (2) the correlation between immunophenotypic expression and histopathological changes, and (3) the post-surgery response to therapy with COX-2 inhibitors. Forty rabbit uteri were divided into three groups: neoplastic, hyperplastic, and normal endometrium. A histological and immunohistochemical score was applied to investigate the tumor’s grade and the COX-2 expression. By histological evaluation, 30 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma, 5 cases of endometrial hyperplasia and 5 normal endometria were found. Of the six cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma with follow-up available, four received a post-surgical treatment with meloxicam and two were treated by surgery alone. The survival time of the animals treated with meloxicam was longer than that observed in the untreated animals. A statistically significant difference in COX-2 IHS was observed between non-neoplastic endometrium and adenocarcinoma. The progressive increase in COX-2 expression from normal epithelium to carcinoma suggests that upregulation of COX-2 expression may play a role in tumor initiation and progression. Our findings suggest the possible use of COX-2 inhibitors in treating uterine adenocarcinoma in rabbits. Further study will be needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Estimation of age represents a central focus in the veterinary forensic pathology field. Currently, the visual examination of the dentition and the skeletal age are the main methods to estimate the age of puppies. Nevertheless, these methods are affected by a broad range of variables. In contrast, the kidney is characterized by a specific postnatal development. In human glomerulogenesis, fetal mesangial cells change their immunohistochemical phenotypes with maturation. Therefore, we hypothesized that histological and immunohistochemical examinations of the kidney can be used together as an indirect parameter for age determination in puppies’ cadavers. Forty-five puppies’ cadavers were divided into five groups defined by age (Group A= 0–15 days, Group B = 16–45 days, Group C = 46–85 days, Group D = 86–105 days, Group E= 105–365 days). For each case, kidney samples were collected and processed for histopathological (for morphometrical study of the glomerulus) and immunohistochemical (for the immunolocalization of the α-SMA protein) studies. Morphometrical study allowed us to observe statistical differences in the mean glomerulus numbers per field among assessed groups. Similarly, immunohistochemical examination showed differences in SMA expression among groups. Our findings suggest a potential use of kidney morphometrical and immunohistochemical examinations together as an indirect parameter to assess the age of illegally imported puppies.

An 8-month-old female Lagotto Romagnolo dog was presented for a 1-month history of an initial severe reluctance to move, rapidly progressing to a marked stiff gait and progressive muscular weakness and evolving to tetraparesis, which persuaded the owner to request euthanasia. A primary muscle pathology was supported by necropsy and histopathological findings. Macroscopically, the muscles were moderately atrophic, except for the diaphragm and the neck muscles, which were markedly thickened. Histologically, all the skeletal muscles examined showed atrophy, hypertrophy, necrosis with calcification of the fibers, and mild fibrosis and inflammation. On immunohistochemistry, all three dystrophin domains and sarcoglycan proteins were absent. On Western blot analysis, no band was present for delta sarcoglycan. We sequenced the genome of the affected dog and compared the data to more than 900 control genomes of different dog breeds. Genetic analysis revealed a homozygous private protein-changing variant in the SGCD gene encoding delta- sarcoglycan in the affected dog. The variant was predicted to induce a SGCD:p.(Leu242Pro) change in the protein. In silico tools predicted the change to be deleterious. Other 770 Lagotto Romagnolo dogs were genotyped for the variant and all found to be homozygous wild type. Based on current knowledge of gene function in other mammalian species, including humans, hamsters, and dogs, we propose the SGCD missense variant as the causative variant of the observed form of muscular dystrophy in the index case. The absence of the variant allele in the Lagotto Romagnolo breeding population indicates a rare allele that has appeared recently.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a highly potent mycotoxin that contaminates many kinds of food and feed sources. Its significant impact on human health and animal productivity makes it a topic of particular concern. The role of specific bioactive compounds used as dietary antioxidants is believed to be substantial due to their capacity to act as free radical scavengers. Because of the well-known oxidative stress induced by OTA, the primary objective of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of a standardized powder extract recovered from citrus processing waste, red orange and lemon extract (RLE), on liver damage induced by OTA in a rat model. This study aimed to examine the impact of oral administration of RLE (90 mg/kg b.w.) on hepatic function and oxidative balance in Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 6/group) treated with OTA (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) over a period of 14 days. The administration of OTA alone resulted in both biochemical changes and an imbalance in redox status in the liver. However, the use of RLE alleviated the activity of antioxidant enzymes and dramatically decreased the serum levels of ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and ALP (alkaline phosphatase), providing evidence of its protective benefits. Based on the findings from liver histology tests, the administration of RLE resulted in mitigation of lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, steatosis, and necrosis in the OTA group. These results indicate that the novel phytoextract RLE holds potential for application in the field of nutraceuticals.

Background: The presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in food and feed is a public health concern. OTA intoxication is caused by several mechanisms, one of which consists of the alteration of the antioxidant activity of the cell due to the oxidative stress (OS). In this context, the use of natural antioxidant substances could be a potential biological decontamination method of mitigating the negative outcomes induced by OTA. Methods: we aimed to investigate how a red orange and lemon extract (RLE), rich in anthocyanins, would affect OTA-treated rats. The current work sought to clarify the renal protective efficacy of RLE in an OTA-treated rat model (RLE (90 mg/kg b.w.); OTA (0.5 mg/kg b.w.)) by investigating, thorough Western blot analysis, the involvement of the Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. The OS parameters and inflammatory status were evaluated by spectrophotometry. The inflammatory infiltrates in the kidney were evaluated by immunohistochemical assays. Results and Conclusion: Our findings showed a significant increase in oxidative and inflammatory parameters after OTA exposure, while the OTA + RLE co-treatment counteracted both the inflammatory and OS damage through the modulation of the Nrf2 pathway.

A razorbill ( Alca torda ) was found dead in Bacoli, Italy, on January 16, 2023, during an exceptional irruptive event. Post‐mortem examination revealed coelomitis with severe congestion of the liver, lungs, kidneys, and myocardium. Bacterial isolation, MALDI‐TOF MS analysis and PCR confirmed the presence of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (Pdd), supported by 16S rDNA gene sequencing and detection of the ureC gene. PCR screening for virulence factors identified the hlyAch gene in lung samples, suggesting a potentially pathogenic strain in avian species. Histopathological examination showed severe inflammatory infiltrates and widespread haemorrhages with mild and multifocal lymphocytic infiltrates in tissues analysed. These findings suggest a significant role of Pdd in the observed lesions. Pdd is an emerging pathogen affecting a wide range of marine animals, including invertebrates, fish, and cetaceans. Here, we report the first isolation of Pdd in a razorbill and more importantly, the first detection in a migratory bird. We report a potential new cross‐species transmission of Pdd, underscoring its zoonotic potential and the need for further research. Given the role of migratory birds in pathogen spread and the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems, a preventive approach is essential to mitigate risks to wildlife, aquaculture, and human health.