Hatice Eröksüz

Increased plasma cardiac troponin I concentration in lambs with myocarditis

BACKGROUND Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a blood biomarker of myocardial injury. A human cTnI assay may be useful for measuring cTnI concentrations in lambs with naturally occurring myocarditis. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to evaluate the utility of a commercially available human chemiluminescent microparticle cTnI immunoassay for measuring plasma cTnI concentrations in lambs with naturally occurring myocarditis from infection with foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), and to determine cTnI expression in cardiac muscle of affected lambs. METHODS Ten lambs with myocarditis and 10 clinically healthy lambs (control group) were included. Clinical signs, gross and histologic necropsy findings, and immunoreactivity for cTnI in cardiac tissue were evaluated. Plasma cTnI concentration was determined using the commercial human immunoassay system. RESULTS All lambs with myocarditis died within 1 day of clinical signs. Infection with FMDV was confirmed by PCR analysis. Gross cardiac lesions were evident and histologic examination revealed myocarditis. Immunoreactivity for cTnI was absent in cardiac myocytes that were degenerative or necrotic, but was strong in cardiac myocytes from unaffected areas of the myocardium and in all cardiac myocytes of healthy lambs. The geometric mean plasma concentrations of cTnI for lambs in the myocarditis and control groups were 146.78 μg/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 61.90-348.06) and 0.013 μg/L (95% CI, 0.010-0.017), respectively (t-value 19.27; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS A commercial human cTnI assay may be used to detect plasma cTnI concentrations in sheep, and cTnI may be used as a blood-based biomarker of myocarditis in this species.

The effectiveness of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and evaluation of angiogenesis in the model of experimental colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early diagnosis and treatment of CRCs are of importance for improving the survival. In the present study, we studied the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-induced chemopreventive effects on tumor development incidence and angiogenesis in experimental CRC rats. 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride (DMH) was used as cancer-inducing agent and two NSAIDs (celecoxib and diclofenac) were given orally as chemopreventive agents. Histopathological and immuno histochemical evaluations were performed in colorectal tissue samples, whereas angiogenesis parameters were studied in blood samples. Histopathological examination showed that adenocarcinoma (62.5%), dysplastic changes (31.25%) and inflammattory changes (6.25%) were detected in DMH group, whereas no pathological change was observed in control rats. In treatment groups, there was marked decrease in adenocarcinoma rate (30% and 10%, respectively). A significant increase was detected in MMP-2, MMP-9 levels and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio in DMH group as compared with controls and treatment groups. In immunohistochemical evaluations, there was an increase in intensity and extent of staining of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in DMH group as compared to controls and treatment groups. The decrease in celecoxib group was more prominent. Overall, it was concluded that NSAIDs, particularly cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, might have a protective effect on CRC development and slow down progression of tumor in a DMH-induced experimental cancer model. One of the possible mechanisms in the chemoprevention of colon cancer seems to be inhibition of angiogenesis by diclofenac and celecoxib.

Systemic nocardiosis in a dog caused by Nocardia cyriacigeorgica

BackgroundSystemic nocardiosis due to Nocardia cyriacigeorgica has not been reported in dogs.Case presentationLight and electron microscopy, microbiological culture and molecular identification (PCR) were used to diagnose systemic nocardiosis caused by Nocardia cyriacigeorgica in a 3-month-old husky dog. The postmortem changes included multifocal to coalescing, sharply circumscribed pyogranulomatous inflammation and abscess formation in lungs, liver, myocardium, spleen, kidneys, brain, and hilar lymph nodes. The organism was isolated and sequencing of its 16S rRNA allowed its identification and speciation. Examination of the bacterial culture by scanning electron-microscope showed filamentous branching with fragmentation into widely bacillary and cocoid forms of the bacteria. There was no history of immunosupressive drug administration and infection by the immunosuppresive viral pathogens, canine distemper and parvovirus were excluded via PCR.ConclusionN. cyriacigeorgica should be considered potential cause of systemic pyogranulomatous lesions in dogs. It is the first reported case of systemic nocardiosis due to N. cyriacigeorgica in a dog.

Total pectoral ectopia cordis and other congenital malformations in a calf

Injury to abdominal wall vessels during equine laparoscopy LAPAROSCOPY is being used increasingly in equine surgery. A six-month-old Lippizan colt, a 14-month-old Arabian filly and a seven-year-old thoroughbred mare underwent laparoscopic procedures for cryptorchidectomy, ovariectomy and removal of intraabdominal electrode wires. In each case the caudal epigastric vessel was damaged (the artery was damaged in the first case). The resulting complications included subcutaneous haematoma formation, haemoperitoneum and increased surgical time. Bleeding was controlled by pressure and the use of haemostatic ligatures. All three patients recovered uneventfully. The epigastric and superficial epigastric vessels appear to have a variable course and an inconsistent pattern of branching. H. Er8ksuz, N. Metin, Y. Er8ksiiz, Firat University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, 23 139, Elazig,Turkey RAGLE, C. A., SOUTHWOOD, L. L. & SCHNEIDER, R. K. (1998) Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 212, 87 437

Decreased pituitary hormone levels in a sheep with pituitary abscess

A four-year-old Akkaraman ewe was presented to the Firat University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for circling, dullness, weakness and sternal recumbency. On physical examination, opisthotonus, mydriasis in the right eye and myosis in the left eye, absence of the pupillary reflex, ruminal tympany were detected. Serum pituitary hormone analyses indicated the hypopituitarism characterized by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) < 0.05 IU/L, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) < 0.13 IU/L, luteinizing hormone (LH) < 0.10 IU/L and prolactin (PRL) < 0.50 ng/ml. On the basis of clinical presentation and hypopituitarism, tentative diagnosis of pituitary abscess was made. The animal was euthanized due to the poor prognosis. Morphological examination revealed coexistence of hypophyseal-carotid rete abscess and hyaline thrombosis in carotid rete, heteropic ossification in carotid rete and tuberal muscles. Microbiologically; Arcanobacterium pyogenes was isolated in blood agar culture from the hypophysis. Decreased serum pituitary hormone levels including TSH, FSH, LH and PRL in conjunction with the clinical findings were a useful diagnostic tool for antemortem diagnosis of pituitary abscess in the sheep.

Traumatic reticuloperitonitis in a flock of sheep

(The objective of this study was to describe the clinical, ultrasonographical, and pathological findings of traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) with its complications in a flock of sheep. Thirteen sheep in a flock died within one months duration before two sheep were admitted to the Firat University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Three additional dead sheep were submitted for necropsy. A tentative diagnosis of TRP on two of the sheep was made based on clinical and ultrasonographic findings. A needle perforating the reticulum was removed from each sheep by surgery. The two sheep improved after the surgery. The necropsy revealed fibrous adhesions and a fistular connection between the dorso-ventral face of the reticulum to diaphragma and pericardium with 3 cm syringe needles in the other three sheep. There were congophylic amyloid deposits in the glomerular tufts, Bowman capsule and vascular walls of the liver, kidneys and spleen. Additionally, there was centrilobular necrosis indicating heart failure.Taken together; TRP is rarely seen in sheep; however, TRP and its complications may cause economic losses in sheep flocks. Ultrasonographic examination of the reticular area in sheep may be used as an ancillary diagnostic technique.

Concurrent Occurrence of Lower Respiratory Aspergillosis and Pneumoconiosis in a Turkey Flock

Abstract This study describes a concurrent occurrence of lower respiratory aspergillosis and pneumoconiosis in a turkey flock. From one flock of 1000 turkeys, 4 clinically affected turkeys were examined pathologically and microbiologically. Clinically affected turkeys showed anorexia, lethargy, drooping of the wing, vomiting, dyspnea and open-beak breathing, or sudden dead. Gross lesions were observed in the air sacs and lungs which presented white to yellowish granulomas of varying size. Microscopic there was multifocal granulomatous airsacculitis and pneumonia. At the center of the granulomas, fungal hyphae were clearly highlighted in the lungs and air sacs by Gomori methenamie silver (GMS) staining. In the microbiological cultivation of the affected lungs and air sacs, Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Furthermore, dark black dust accumulations were present in the cytoplasm of macrophages or interstitial tissue in the lungs and air sacs. There were also fibrosis and lymphohistiocytic cell infiltrations around the particles. Overall, this study could implicated that pneumoconiosis might be a predisposing factor in the development of respiratory aspergillosis in turkeys.