Francesca Abramo

Acute toxicity of ionic liquids to the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Acute toxicity and histological damage derived from exposure of Danio rerio (zebrafish) to several ionic liquids have been evaluated.

Feline leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum in Italy

A case of leishmaniosis in domestic cats (Felis catus domesticus) is described. The subject showed a nodular lesion on the eyelid. The diagnosis was achieved by serological, parasitological, and light and electron microscopic investigations. By molecular techniques the aetiological agent was identified as belonging to Leishmania infantum, the species implicated in human and canine leishmaniosis in southern Europe. A preliminary study on the prevalence of asymptomatic feline leishmaniosis, performed in the areas where the infected cat was identified, revealed a low seroprevalence of infection: only 1 (0.9%) of the 110 cat sera examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test was positive for anti-Leishmania antibodies. Because clinical signs in feline leishmaniosis are unspecific and similar to those observed in other diseases commonly found in this species, leishmaniosis must be added to the differential diagnosis by feline veterinary practitioners and adequate serologic and histopathologic investigations must be performed in endemic areas.

RENAL INVOLVEMENT IN CANINE LEISHMANIASIS - A LIGHT-MICROSCOPIC, IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY

In a prospective survey in the Isle of Elba, 413 dogs affected by naturally acquired Leishmania infantum infection were identified out of a controlled population of 1,500 resident mongrel dogs. In all the 34 randomly selected dogs of different breed, age, and duration of disease, the presence of glomerular lesions which defined mainly two categories of glomerulonephritis (GN) was observed. The first group was characterized by mesangial-cell proliferation either with focal features (11 dogs), or with a diffuse pattern (10 dogs). The second group (12 dogs) showed the typical findings of segmental membrano-proliferative GN; amyloid deposits were seen in the glomerular tuft and interstitium in 1 dog. Immunohistochemical investigation revealed granular deposits of IgG, IgM, and C3 both in mesangial areas as well as on glomerular capillary walls. Granular immune deposits om the tubular basement membrane were also found in 31 out of 34 dogs examined. With ultrastructural investigation, subendothelial and mesangial electron-dense deposits were revealed. Age, sex, serum creatinine, BUN, duration of disease, anti-Leishmania antibody titers, and immune complexes did not discriminate between the types of observed GN, while proteinuria did. The study shows that the renal involvement is the natural sequela in dogs infected with L. infantum, and that the kidney lesions are characterized by immunologically mediated glomerular and tubular damage.

Prevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus and other retroviral infections in sick cats in Italy

Two hundred and seventy-seven sick pet cats living in Italy were tested for antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen. Overall, 24% of the cats resulted positive for anti-FIV antibody and 18% for FeLV antigen. FIV was isolated from the peripheral mononuclear blood cells of ten out of 15 seropositive cats examined and from one out of eight saliva samples. No FIV isolations were obtained from six serum samples cultured. Feline syncytium forming virus (FeSFV) could be isolated from blood and/or saliva in ten out of 11 FIV seropositive cats examined, in six out of nine FeLV antigen positive cats, in two cats found positive for both infection markers, and in three out of 11 cats negative for both markers. Thus, the probability of isolating FeSFV was enhanced by infection with other exogenous retroviruses.

Isolation and expansion of equine umbilical cord-derived matrix cells (EUCMCs)

Stem cells from extra‐embryonic sources can be obtained by non‐invasive procedures. We have standardized a method for the expansion of equine umbilical cord‐derived matrix cells (EUCMCs) for potential therapy.

Tumor necrosis factor-α and virus expression in the central nervous system of cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus

Cytokine disregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of lentivirus-induced diseases. In the present study, 18 specific pathogen free (SPF) cats were inoculated with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) Petaluma strain and sacrificed at different times post-infection. Five additional SPF cats were used as controls. The cell localization of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α in the central nervous system (CNS) was determined by immunohis-tochemical and morphometric analyses with a polyclonal rabbit anti-human TNF-α antibody. TNF-α and FIV RNA were measured using competitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and the number of proviral genomes was estimated by competitive PCR. Portions of frontal cortex were collected from each animal and both formalin-fixed and snap-frozen and stored at—80°C until used. The results showed that TNF-α is present mainly in astrocytes and microglial cells. Morphometric analysis showed that areas of TNF-α production increased in th...

Renal involvement in feline immunodeficiency virus infection: a clinicopathological study

Renal tissues from 15 cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) were examined histologically, immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally. Renal function and urinary proteins were also studied. Kidney abnormalities were found in 12 cats and were characterized by mesangial widening with segmental to diffuse glomerulosclerosis and presence of IgM and C3, and scanty IgG deposits in the mesangium. Tubulointerstitial lesions were also present. In 6 cats the lesions were severe enough to cause marked increase in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, and heavy glomerular nonselective proteinuria. These findings suggest that a renal involvement is a frequent occurrence in FIV-infected cats. As the histopathological features observed were similar to those described in HIV-infected patients, FIV-infected cats may represent a valuable model for a better understanding of HIV-associated nephropathy in humans.

Neuropathology in cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus: a morphological, immunocytochemical and morphometric study.

Neuropathological changes have been described associated with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection. The objective of our study was to characterize the lesions found in the brain and spinal cord of experimentally FIV-infected cats and to quantify, by morphometric analysis, the intensity of gliosis found in these subjects at different time post infection (pi). The brains and spinal cords appeared grossly normal. Gray matter of cortical and subcortical structures showed a moderate to pronounced gliosis particularly in all cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Morphometric analysis demonstrated that GFAP immunoreactivity was markedly higher in infected animals. Gliosis was present 15 days pi and did not appear to progress during the infection, whereas neuronal changes when present were observed only in long-term infected animals (15-23 months pi). In a large proportion of infected cats a diffuse gliosis of white matter and vacuolar myelinopathy was also present. Despite some discrepancies observed between neuropathological changes in FIV-infected animals and HIV-infected individuals, the presence in the cerebral cortex of cats with FIV infection of alterations similar to those observed in AIDS patients demonstrates that FIV is an interesting animal model particularly that may be useful for clarifying the pathogenesis of neuropathological changes associated with HIV infection.

Feline Cutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Due to Cladophyalophora Bantiana

A case of feline cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Cladophyalophora bantiana is described. The cat was presented with breathing difficulty and a swollen, ulcerated nodule on the dorsal nose and left nostril. Histological examination of the nodule revealed a cystic granulomatous dermatitis characterised by neutrophils, macrophages and giant cells. Pigmented, yeast-like fungus cells and hyphal elements were easily identified in haematoxylin-eosin stained tissue sections. Cladophyalophora bantiana was isolated from a tissue specimen. This organism, primarily known to cause cerebral infection in humans and cats, only rarely causes cutaneous infection. Despite anti-fungal chemotherapy two relapses occurred. The cat was feline immunodeficiency virus - and feline leukemia virus-negative and even if the owner was unaware of trauma, the hypothesis of wound contamination is the most likely.

Malignant lymphoma associated with experimentally induced feline immunodeficiency virus infection

A malignant low-grade B-cell lymphoma, primarily in the kidney, is described in a specific-pathogen-free cat experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and free of feline leukaemia virus. At the time of diagnosis the cat showed a marked reduction of circulating CD4+ T lymphocytes, was 2 years old, and had been infected for 18 months. FIV was isolated both from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the neoplastic tissue. DNA of FIV gag gene was detected in several specimens, including the neoplastic tissue. Even if they do not demonstrate a direct role for virus promotion of lymphomas, these and previous observations indicate that B-cell malignant lymphoma might be associated with FIV infection as reported for human and simian immunodeficiency virus infections.