Invasive Fatal Scopulariopsis brevicaulis Infection in Canaries.

Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, a soil saprophyte, is the most common dermatomycotic mould and causes deep fungal infection. Ten canaries died in a flock of 200 and, at necropsy, S. brevicaulis was isolated from lung and beak samples. Macroscopically, the colonies were flat, velvety or powdery, white, tan, dark brown, grey or black. Microscopically, the isolated fungus had hyaline and septate hyphae, finger-like conidiophores on which annelids produced chains of conidia. On histopathological examination, multiple irregular thin red hyphae were seen in lung tissue of the canaries. Although S. brevicaulis may be involved in onychomycosis, pulmonary mycosis or invasive infection in humans, this infection has not been reported in canaries. This study shows that S. brevicaulis can cause invasive and fatal infection in canaries.

Detection of progressive and regressive phase and LINE-1 retrotransposon in transfected dogs with transmissible venereal tumor during chemotherapy.

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a tumor that commonly occurs in genital and extragenital sites of both genders. Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1) retrotransposon has a pivotal role in allogenic transfection among uncontrolled dog populations. This study aimed to perform pathomorphological, immunohistochemical, and in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) evaluation of CTVT (n = 18) in transfected dogs during chemotherapy. Immunohistochemically, tumor phases were investigated by using specific markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD79, and transforming growth factor beta [TGF-ß]), and investigated an amplified specific sequence of TVT LINE-1 retrotransposon by in situ PCR. Polyhedral-shaped neoplastic cells that had large, round, hypo/hyperchromatic nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm were detected. All marker results were positive, especially in the early weeks of recovery. CD4 and TGF-ß markers were conspicuously positive at the initial stage. In situ PCR LINE-1 sequence was initially positive in only four cases. It is believed that the CD and TGF-ß markers provide phase identification at tumor initiation and during chemotherapy. It is thought that presence of T and B lymphocytes, which have roles in cellular and humoral immunity, is needed so that regression of the tumor is possible.