Noury S, De Maria R, Morello E, Iussich S, Azrib R and Tligui N
Angiogenesis as a prognostic indicator in tumours has been extensively studied, demonstrating a positive correlation for various malignant tumours. Yet, in osteosarcomas (OSAs), its role remains a topic of debate. VEGFA is considered the most important pro-angiogenic factor involved in the development of the vasculature. In order to investigate the possibility that intra-tumoral microvessel density (MVD) expression may be related to VEGFA and may provide useful prognostic information in canine OSA, 12 histological specimens of primary canine appendicular OSA were immunostained using an endothelial marker CD31 and VEGFA antibody. No significant differences in mean MVD were found when comparing with various clinicopathological features, development of pulmonary metastasis and patient prognosis. Notably, the number of vessels counted in VEGFA-High expression specimens was significantly greater than those in the VEGFA-Low expression (p <0.05). In this study, we were able to demonstrate that canine appendicular OSA is a relatively vascular tumour and that the local MVD in primary canine appendicular OSA is significantly correlated with VEGFA immunostaining expression in the tumour tissue. These observations suggest that VEGFA secreted by canine appendicular OSA cells elicits angiogenesis. However, the degree of MVD does not provide prognostic information. It is likely that angiogenesis plays a key role in the tumorigenesis of canine appendicular OSA and may be a potential target for novel anti-angiogenic therapies.
Nigatu Akililu, Kibebe Legese, Yacob Hailu, Hagos Ashenafi and Yohans Hagos
Cross sectional study was done from November 2008 to April 2009 with the objective to identify the major health and management problems of cart horses in and around Debre Zeit town, central Ethiopia. Animal based, retrospective data analysis of clinic cases presented to the society for protection animal abroad (SPANA) veterinary clinic from 2007-2008 and owners interviews used to collect data. A total of 435 randomly selected cart horses were examined and 100 owners or users were interviewed. According to cases brought to veterinary clinic, wound and abscessation recorded highest cases (39.3%), followed by infectious disease (25.28%), respiratory disorder (12.07%), ocular disorder (5.85%), alimentary disorder (4.87%) and dermatological disorder (3.8%). Internal parasite such as Strongyles, Parascaris equorum and Gastrodiscus species were found in proportion of 61.1%, 29.2% and 9.7%. Compared to the retrospective data analysis, wounds, ocular problems. infectious disease and respiratory problems are decreasing in occurrence while alimentary system disorders such as colic and musculoskeletal disorders increased. Among the 100 respondents interviewed, 69% of cart horse owners interviewed responded that they feed their horses with concentrate, 22% feed with crop residues and concentrate, 4% feed with only crop residue and 5% graze them on pasture and supplementing with hay or straw at night. All respondents of the questionnaire survey indicated that epizootic lymphangitis and helminthosis were the major health problems of their horses followed by wounds. Management and welfare understanding of carthorses owners were found to be un satisfactory. Therefore, equine health and management awareness enhancement education to carthorse owners, development of legislation for the control of abuse of working animals and socio-economic impact of major health problem of equines are recommended.
