The presence of anthracosis is associated with the environmental air quality of zoo, wildlife, and companion animals in Jeollabuk-do Province, South Korea.

OBJECTIVE: To determine pulmonary anthracosis in zoo, wildlife, and companion animals of Jeollabuk-do Province, South Korea. ANIMALS: A total of 350 animals of 61 different species, belonging to 3 classes (mammals: n = 38; avian: 21; and reptiles: 2) from different habitats in Jeollabuk-do Province, were examined. PROCEDURES: Gross lung examination and tissue sampling were done at postmortem, and histopathological analysis was microscopically done on hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides. RESULTS: Macroscopic analysis of anthracotic lung tissue revealed minute (pinpoint size) spots and black pigmentation in a scattered and/or coalescing fashion. The presence of carbon particles was noted in 154 (44%, 154/350) cases. Based on habitation, zoo animals had the highest frequency of anthracosis in the lung (55.2%, 69/125), followed by companion animals (45.2%, 56/124) and wildlife animals (28.7%, 29/101). There was an association between habitation and the presence of anthracosis (P < .05). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study revealed evidence that the presence of anthracosis is associated with the environmental air quality of zoo, wildlife, and companion animals in Jeollabuk-do Province, South Korea. Air pollution may affect the respiratory health of the endangered species at the Jeonju Zoo as well as the human population. Continuous monitoring of particulate matter and establishing policies that control industrialization around the province would enable quick action to curb any potential respiratory health risks to animals kept in the urban cities of the province.

A pilot study on the lung morphology of shelter dogs in relation to air pollution in Trinidad.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize the gross and histological lesions associated with air pollution in the lungs of dogs from various locations in Trinidad. ANIMALS: 56 fresh lungs were obtained from already euthanized adult dogs collected from different locations in Trinidad at the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. PROCEDURES: Lung specimens were examined grossly and tissue samples were taken for routine histologic examination. RESULTS: Histological examination showed that 51.8% of the dogs had evidence of anthracosis. Dogs with anthracosis had greater median lesion scores compared to dogs without anthracosis (P = .022). There was no association between the presence of anthracosis and any other lesion in this study (P > .05). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There was evidence that dogs with anthracosis had a greater degree of nonspecific lung histologic lesions. Using the dog as a sentinel model for human exposure in Trinidad, our findings indicate that environmental air pollution may also have an effect on the respiratory health of the human population. It is important for the public to be aware of air pollution, and the government of Trinidad and Tobago should develop an intervention protocol along with veterinary and human medical epidemiologists to reduce air pollution in the country.

EGFR overexpression in canine primary lung cancer: pathogenetic implications and impact on survival.

This study reports the main clinicopathological features of primary lung cancer (PLC) in 37 dogs, with special regard to the pathogenetic and prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression. For each case the following characteristics were evaluated: tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumour histotype, histological grade, mitotic activity and immunohistochemical expression of EGFR. In samples with available normal lung tissue, the amount of background anthracosis was also measured by image analysis. In 27 tumours (73%) a variable number of cells (20-100%) stained positively for EGFR. The proportion of EGFR-positive tumours was significantly higher in cases with background anthracosis, and the amount of anthracosis was correlated with the percentage of positive tumour cells. Additionally, a trend towards shortened survival for the high EGFR group was observed. These findings suggest an involvement of EGFR signalling pathway in canine PLC, a negative prognostic significance of protein overexpression and its potential implication in air pollution carcinogenesis.

Endogenous lipid pneumonia in an African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus).

Lipid pneumonia is an unusual, non-infectious, inflammatory lung disease characterized by patchy pneumonic consolidation secondary to accumulation of lipid in macrophages. It can be classified as exogenous or endogenous, depending on whether it is associated with the aspiration of foreign material. Endogenous lipid pneumonia (EnLP) has been reported in many mammal species. In pet birds, EnLP is an incidental and uncommon lesion of unknown pathogenesis. A 35-year-old African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) was presented for depression lasting several months, with marked worsening over the 2 days prior to presentation. The animal died shortly after admission. Necropsy examination showed that the lungs were firm with diffuse grey discolouration. Microscopically, there was EnLP, anthracosis, severe atherosclerosis and hepatic amyloidosis. Although the pathogenesis of EnLP in birds is not clear, it has been associated with concurrent atherosclerosis, hepatic diseases and other lesions of the respiratory tract. This is the first description of EnLP in a bird associated with severe respiratory distress.

Association between environmental dust exposure and lung cancer in dogs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the accumulation of black dust matter in lungs (anthracosis) and primary lung cancer in dogs. A retrospective study was carried out on material from 35 dogs with primary lung cancer and 160 controls. The amount, histological appearance and birefringence of anthracosis were assessed in pulmonary specimens by light microscopy, and the odds ratio (OR) calculated for dogs with primary lung cancer. The same factors were analysed to identify an association between tumour histotype, histological grade, and clinical stage. Papillary adenocarcinoma was most commonly diagnosed (45.7%). The majority of tumours were of histological grade II, and the lung cancer was more often localised (clinical stage I). An increased risk of lung cancer was observed in dogs with higher amounts of anthracosis (OR: 2.11, CI 95%: 1.20-3.70; P < 0.01), which suggests an association between anthracosis due to inhalation of polluted air and lung cancer in dogs.

Lesions associated with mineral deposition in the lymph nodes and lungs of cattle: a case-control study of environmental health hazard.

This report focuses on the state of health of the cattle raised in the district of Taranto - city of Italy rated as environmentally at risk. Representative samples of lungs, bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes of cattle from district of Taranto's slaughterhouses were collected. After a macroscopic examination, samples with marked lesions were processed for light microscopy. Samples were also observed with polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and with microanalysis. The macroscopic examination revealed that 60 out of 183 samples showed marked lesions. Lung alterations were characterized by thickening of the alveolar septa and by the latter's modifying action on the alveolar spaces, foci of fibrosis and bronchopulmonary inflammation. For 51 out of the 60 samples observed, the histological examination confirmed the presence of pneumoconiosis and lymph nodal anthracosis. Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis of lung samples identified a wide range of elements including silicon, aluminium, titanium, iron, carbon and small amount of the other metals. In the lymph-nodes the same kind of metals with a different levels of distribution was observed. Our survey on cattle farmed in areas at high risk of pollution may be helpful to the estimation of the exposure risk for man to environmental contaminants and to the evaluation of the occurrence of the pathological manifestations as well.