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Abstract. In this report a 9-year-old female German Shepherd dog with a membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type III associated with concomitant infection of Dirofilaria immitis and Leishmania infantum is presented. Light microscopic evaluation of kidney revealed a diffuse hypercellularity and thickening of glomerular basement membrane. Heavy and coarse granular complement C 3 deposition and a weaker positive reaction to immunoglobulin G were present along peripheral glomerular basement membrane and in the mesangium in the immunofluorescent study. Transmission electron microscopy revealed deposits in the mesangium, subendothelium, and subepithelium. These lesions are compatible with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type III in humans.Key words: Dirofilaria; dogs; Leishmania; membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis; transmission electron microscopy.Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is a histologic lesion characterized by intraglomerular hypercellularity (mesangial cells, endothelial cells, and inflammatory cells), matrix expansion, and thickening to the walls of the peripheral capillary loops. Immunocomplex deposits in the capillary walls and within mesangium are seen on electron microscopy. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is usually associated with an immune complexmediated pathogenesis and may be idiopathic (primary) or secondary to viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. According to the World Health Organization classification, MPGN is subdivided, based on ultrastructural alterations in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), as type I (subendothelial deposits), type II (intramembranous dense deposits), and type III. 6,7 In MPGN type III, immune deposits are found in the subendothelial and mesangial region, similarly to type I; in addition, numerous subepithelial deposits are present. 1,6,7,13,14 This work describes the features of MPGN type III in a dog associated with simultaneous infection with Dirofilaria immitis and Leishmania infantum. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of MPGN type III in dogs.A 9-year-old female German Shepherd dog was referred with a 4-week history of poliuria/polydipsia, anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea with melena. A hematologic evaluation 3 days earlier had revealed blood urea nitrogen increase and elevated serum creatinine and antibodies to Leishmania spp. (IFAT 10 ) and D. immitis antigens (SNAP a ). On clinical examination, the animal was in lateral recumbency with a severely dull and depressed mental state (uremic status). Its body condition score was poor, and it exhibited generalized muscle atrophy, tachypnea (60/min), and tachycardia (170/min). Mucous membranes were dry and a pale-yellowish color while all lymph nodes were subjectively normal to decreased in volume. After blood and urine collection and fine needle aspiration of lymph nodes, the dog was hospitalized. Fluid therapy (lactated Ringers) was infused, and antiemetic and gastro protective therapy (metoclopramide, ranitidine) was initiated. Hema...

Despite the European ban on the use of growth promoters in cattle, veterinary surveillance reports indicate that the illicit use of corticosteroids persists both alone and in combination with anabolic hormones and β-agonists. Current control strategies should be informed by research into the effects of corticosteroids on bovine metabolism and improved through the development of specific, sensitive diagnostic methods that utilize potential molecular biomarkers of corticosteroid treatment. The actions of corticosteroids on target tissues are principally regulated by two receptors: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). The effects of these steroids are modulated by prereceptor enzyme-mediated metabolism: the two isoforms of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSDs) enzyme catalyze the interconversion between active glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, into inactive compounds, such as cortisone. This study aimed to determine whether the expression of the prereceptor system and of the corticosteroid receptors could be regulated in different target tissues by the administration of dexamethasone and prednisolone in cattle. It was observed that greater up-regulation of the GR and MR genes followed dexamethasone treatment in the muscle tissues than in the kidney, liver, and salivary glands; up-regulation of GR and MR expression following prednisolone treatment was higher in adipose tissue than in the other tissues. The thymus seemed to respond to dexamethasone treatment but not to prednisolone treatment. Both treatments significantly down-regulated 11β-HSD2 gene expression in the adrenal tissues, but only dexamethasone treatment down-regulated 11β-HSD2 expression in the bulbourethral and prostate glands. Together, these data indicate that the combination of GR, MR, and 11β-HSD2 could provide a useful biomarker system to detect the use of illicit glucocorticoid treatment in cattle.

It has been previously demonstrated that the progesterone receptor gene is up-regulated in the sex accessory glands of pre-pubertal and adult male bovines after 17β-oestradiol treatment. In the present study, a qualitative screening method was optimised to detect 17β-oestradiol treatment using absolute quantification by qPCR of the progesterone receptor gene to determine the amount of gene expression in bulbo-urethral glands. An external standard curve was generated and developed with TaqMan® technology. Based on two in vivo experiments, the decision limit CCα, sensitivity and specificity of this screening method were established. Trial 1 consisted of 32 Friesian veal calves divided into two groups: group A (n = 12), consisting of animals treated with four doses of 17β-oestradiol (5 mg week(-1) per animal); and group B (n = 20), consisting of control animals. Trial 2 was performed on 26 Charolaise beef cattle that either received five doses of 17β-oestradiol (group C; 20 mg week(-1) per animal; n = 6) or remained untreated (group D; n = 20). Further, progesterone receptor gene expression was evaluated in beef and veal calves for human consumption. A specific CCα on 20 Piedmontese control beef cattle was calculated to include these animals in a field investigation. Five out of 190 beef cattle and 26 out of 177 calves tested expressed the progesterone receptor gene above their respective CCα and they were classified as being suspected of 17β-oestradiol treatment. Additionally, 58% of veal calves that tested suspect via qPCR exhibited histological lesions of the bulbo-urethral gland tissue, which are typical of oestrogen administration and are consistent with hyperplasia and metaplasia of the glandular epithelium.

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