Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm in the urinary bladder. Distant metastases to the regional lymph nodes, lungs, abdominal organs or bones are noted in up to 50% of dogs at time of death. Surgical excision is often not practical as TCC typically involve the trigone of the bladder and/or occurs multifocally throughout the bladder with field cancerization. Therapeutic approaches are very challenging and the requirement to evaluate alternative therapeutic protocols that may prolong survival times in dogs bearing these tumours is compelling. We assessed the immunohistochemical expression of HER-2 in 23 cases of canine TCCs of the urinary bladder and compare it with non-neoplastic urothelium in order to evaluate a rationale for targeted therapies and gene-based vaccines. HER-2 positivity was recorded in 13/23 (56%) neoplastic lesions. The receptor was significantly overexpressed in neoplastic than in non-neoplastic samples (P = .015). According to our preliminary results, it would be of interest to further evaluate the role of HER-2 in canine TCCs as a marker of malignancy and a therapeutic target for cancer vaccine and antibodies. Moreover, the significantly different overexpression of HER-2 in TCCs than in non-neoplastic urothelium further supports to investigate its role in the progression toward malignancy of non-neoplastic lesions.

The major antigenic protein 2 (MAP2) of Ehrlichia canis was cloned and expressed. The recombinant protein was characterized and tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format for potential application in the serodiagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. The recombinant protein, which contained a C-terminal polyhistidine tag, had a molecular mass of approximately 26 kDa. The antigen was clearly identified by Western immunoblotting using antihistidine antibody and immune serum from an experimentally infected dog. The recombinant MAP2 (rMAP2) was tested in an ELISA format using 141 serum samples from E. canis immunofluorescent antibody (IFA)-positive and IFA-negative dogs. Fifty-five of the serum samples were from dogs experimentally or naturally infected with E. canis and were previously demonstrated to contain antibodies reactive with E. canis by indirect immunofluorescence assays. The remaining 86 samples, 33 of which were from dogs infected with microorganisms other than E. canis, were seronegative. All of the samples from experimentally infected animals and 36 of the 37 samples from naturally infected animals were found to contain antibodies against rMAP2 of E. canis in the ELISA. Only 3 of 53 IFA-negative samples tested positive on the rMAP2 ELISA. There was 100% agreement among IFA-positive samples from experimentally infected animals, 97.3% agreement among IFA-positive samples from naturally infected animals, and 94.3% agreement among IFA-negative samples, resulting in a 97.2% overall agreement between the two assays. These data suggest that rMAP2 of E. canis could be used as a recombinant test antigen for the serodiagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.Ehrlichia canis is an obligate intracellular, gram-negative bacterium and the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne rickettsial disease which is transmitted by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (19). Interest in E. canis infection has heightened over the last decade, fueled by the recent discovery of a very closely related organism, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (15). More recently, it has been shown that dogs are susceptible to experimental infection with E. chaffeensis (11), and natural infections with E. chaffeensis have also been identified in healthy and clinically ill dogs by PCR analysis (5,11,25,29). This suggests that dogs may serve as an important reservoir for this human pathogen.Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA genes of E. canis and E. chaffeensis revealed that E. chaffeensis is more closely related to E. canis than to any other species (3). These organisms, along with Cowdria ruminantium, a rickettsial disease agent of cattle, are phylogenetically related and are all placed within the E. canis genogroup (13,36, 48). There is considerable antigenic cross-reactivity between the Ehrlichia spp. and other closely related organisms, such as C. ruminantium (8,9,23,30,32). Serological assays able to distinguish between i...

A 22-year-old Appaloosa gelding was examined at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Florida, with a 2-week history of inappetence, lethargy, and ventral edema. Cutaneous nodules developed on the neck and lateral thoracic region several days before presentation. The horse was quiet, alert, and responsive on initial examination. The horse had tachycardia (80 beats per minute) and mild tachypnea (36 breaths per minute). A grade I of VI holosystolic murmur was noted on the left side on thoracic auscultation. Both conjunctiva had moderate chemosis and the sclera was mildly icteric. Pitting edema was noted in the ventral abdomen and prepuce. Rectal examination revealed firm nodules associated with the left kidney and root of the mesentery. Significant abnormalities on CBC included a normocytic, normochromic anemia with a hematocrit of 21% (reference range, 32-53%), hemoglobin concentration of 8.6 g/dL (reference range, 11-17 g/dL), mean cell hemoglobin concentration of 35 g/dL (reference range, 34-37g/dL), and mean cell volume of 42 g/dL (reference range, 43-54 g/dL). A marked leukocytosis (54.9 ϫ 10 9 /L; reference range, 5.2 ϫ 10 9 -13.9 ϫ 10 9 /L) and lymphocytosis (43.4 ϫ 10 9 /L; reference range, 1.0 ϫ 10 9 -5.0 ϫ 10 9 /L) were also noted. Lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were a pleomorphic population of cells, many of which contained cerebriform nuclei, clumped chromatin, and scant amounts of basophilic cytoplasm (Fig 1). These cells had a distinct resemblance to the Sézary cells sometimes seen in humans and dogs with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides). 1,2 No other leukocyte abnormalities were observed. Serum creatinine concentration was above reference range (2.4 mg/dL; reference range, 1.2-1.9 mg/dL) and serum total protein concentration was 8.6 g/dL (reference range, 5.7-7.9 g/dL) with hyperglobulinemia (6.2 g/dL; reference range, 2.6-4.0 g/dL). Protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal gammopathy of gamma 2 region with a protein concentration of 4.4 g/dL (reference range, 0.5-1.9 g/dL). Subsequent immunoelectrophoresis identified this protein to be of immunoglobulin G origin.Abdominal ultrasound revealed irregular nodular structures surrounding the left kidney. The liver appeared enlarged, but was of normal architecture and echodensity. The spleen had a mottled appearance. Cytologic preparations of fine-needle aspirates of the cutaneous lesions were very cel-Medicine 0891-6640/99/1306-0019/$3.00/0 lular and consisted of a population of atypical lymphocytes with nuclei ranging from 10 to 20 m in diameter. The nuclei of many of the cells were indented or cleaved, similar to those seen in the peripheral blood. The chromatin appeared moderately condensed and mitotic figures were occasionally observed. The nucleus to cytoplasm ratio was high and the cells had a thin rim of deeply basophilic cytoplasm. Based on these findings, a cytologic diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoid neoplasm was made. Examination of a bone marrow aspirate revealed mild erythroid hyperplasia with evidence o...

A 22-year-old Appaloosa gelding was examined at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Florida, with a 2-week history of inappetence, lethargy, and ventral edema. Cutaneous nodules developed on the neck and lateral thoracic region several days before presentation. The horse was quiet, alert, and responsive on initial examination. The horse had tachycardia (80 beats per minute) and mild tachypnea (36 breaths per minute). A grade I of VI holosystolic murmur was noted on the left side on thoracic auscultation. Both conjunctiva had moderate chemosis and the sclera was mildly icteric. Pitting edema was noted in the ventral abdomen and prepuce. Rectal examination revealed firm nodules associated with the left kidney and root of the mesentery. Significant abnormalities on CBC included a normocytic, normochromic anemia with a hematocrit of 21% (reference range, 32-53%), hemoglobin concentration of 8.6 g/dL (reference range, 11-17 g/dL), mean cell hemoglobin concentration of 35 g/dL (reference range, 34-37g/dL), and mean cell volume of 42 g/dL (reference range, 43-54 g/dL). A marked leukocytosis (54.9 ϫ 10 9 /L; reference range, 5.2 ϫ 10 9 -13.9 ϫ 10 9 /L) and lymphocytosis (43.4 ϫ 10 9 /L; reference range, 1.0 ϫ 10 9 -5.0 ϫ 10 9 /L) were also noted. Lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were a pleomorphic population of cells, many of which contained cerebriform nuclei, clumped chromatin, and scant amounts of basophilic cytoplasm (Fig 1). These cells had a distinct resemblance to the Sézary cells sometimes seen in humans and dogs with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides).1,2 No other leukocyte abnormalities were observed. Serum creatinine concentration was above reference range (2.4 mg/dL; reference range, 1.2-1.9 mg/dL) and serum total protein concentration was 8.6 g/dL (reference range, 5.7-7.9 g/dL) with hyperglobulinemia (6.2 g/dL; reference range, 2.6-4.0 g/dL). Protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal gammopathy of gamma 2 region with a protein concentration of 4.4 g/dL (reference range, 0.5-1.9 g/dL). Subsequent immunoelectrophoresis identified this protein to be of immunoglobulin G origin.Abdominal ultrasound revealed irregular nodular structures surrounding the left kidney. The liver appeared enlarged, but was of normal architecture and echodensity. The spleen had a mottled appearance. Cytologic preparations of fine-needle aspirates of the cutaneous lesions were very cel- Gainesville, FL 32610-0136; e-mail: polkesa@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu. Submitted May 6, 1999; Accepted August 3, 1999. Copyright ᭧ 1999 lular and consisted of a population of atypical lymphocytes with nuclei ranging from 10 to 20 m in diameter. The nuclei of many of the cells were indented or cleaved, similar to those seen in the peripheral blood. The chromatin appeared moderately condensed and mitotic figures were occasionally observed. The nucleus to cytoplasm ratio was high and the cells had a thin rim of deeply basophilic cytoplasm. Based on these findings, a cytologic diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoid neoplasm was...

We have established reference range values for WBC counts and protein concentrations in CSF from healthy adult ferrets that may be useful in the clinical investigation of CNS disease. Results of our study indicate that the WBC count is significantly affected by blood contamination of the CSF sample.