Tumour Necrosis Factor-α, Chemokines, and Leukocyte Infiltrate Are Biomarkers for Pathology in the Brains of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEEV)-Infected Mice.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a disease typically confined to South and Central America, whereby human disease is characterised by a transient systemic infection and occasionally severe encephalitis, which is associated with lethality. Using an established mouse model of VEEV infection, the encephalitic aspects of the disease were analysed to identify biomarkers associated with inflammation. Sequential sampling of lethally challenged mice (infected subcutaneously) confirmed a rapid onset systemic infection with subsequent spread to the brain within 24 h of the challenge. Changes in inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, CCL-2, and CCL-5) and CD45+ cell counts were found to correlate strongly to pathology (R>0.9) and present previously unproven biomarkers for disease severity in the model, more so than viral titre. The greatest level of pathology was observed within the olfactory bulb and midbrain/thalamus. The virus was distributed throughout the brain/encephalon, often in areas not associated with pathology. The principal component analysis identified five principal factors across two independent experiments, with the first two describing almost half of the data: (1) confirmation of a systemic Th1-biased inflammatory response to VEEV infection, and (2) a clear correlation between specific inflammation of the brain and clinical signs of disease. Targeting strongly associated biomarkers of deleterious inflammation may ameliorate or even eliminate the encephalitic syndrome of this disease.

14-3-3σ Protein Expression in Canine Renal Cell Carcinomas.

14-3-3σ is a protein expressed in many epithelial tissues associated with essential cell functions, including cell-cycle control, apoptosis, and cytoskeletal integrity. There is a paucity of knowledge of the tumorigenesis of canine renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), and the histological origin of this tumor has not been established. This study analyzed the expression of 14-3-3σ, Ki-67, cytokeratins, and vimentin in 40 canine RCCs. Aberrant expression of 14-3-3σ was demonstrated in 15 (38%) cases and was associated with a significantly shorter survival time ( P < .002). In contrast to canine RCC, normal kidney did not express 14-3-3σ. The Ki-67 proliferation index did not show utility as a prognostic factor. The distal convoluted tubular epithelium in normal kidneys coexpressed cytokeratins and vimentin, and thus maintenance of this coexpression pattern in canine RCC suggests that most tumors arise from the distal segment of the nephron. These results suggest that 14-3-3σ is a potential negative prognostic factor and a possible therapeutic target.

OSTEOCHONDROSIS IN THE DISTAL FEMURS OF AN ADULT RETICULATED GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS RETICULATA): MACROSCOPIC, RADIOLOGIC, AND HISTOLOGIC FINDINGS.

An adult male reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) was presented for postmortem examination. During radiologic examination of the hindlimbs, osseous cyst-like lesions were detected in both medial femoral condyles. These lesions were subsequently examined macroscopically and histologically. The gross appearance suggested a diagnosis of bilateral osteochondrosis that was confirmed with histopathologic examination. This finding has not previously been reported in giraffes. Macroscopic visualization of the major limb joints, including the femorotibial joints, is therefore encouraged in future postmortem examinations of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), and further assessment of clinical significance is required.