The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of histopathological lesions in the different organs in relation to the commercial-type and the age of birds (i.e. broiler chickens and layers). During the period 1999-2010 a total of 189 cases was submitted to the Division of Animal Pathomorphology, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics at WULS. Most cases were found in broiler chickens (66.7%). The majority of the histopathological lesions were detected in the liver and lymphoid organs. In of 29% cases of hepatic injury pathognomonic lesions associated with inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) were found. The mean age of birds was 23 days. Among IBH cases proventriculitis (58%) was more often found than gizzard lesions (25.8%). Interestingly, we noted some intranuclear inclusions in the epithelial cells within the proventriculus. A low percentage of histopathological evidence of infectious bursal disease (IBD) was reported in chickens. The gastrointestinal tract was the second most frequent predilection site for histopathological lesions. Histopathological findings within the heart and lungs were less common and were more often seen in the upper respiratory tract. Cases of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) were registered in broiler chickens (3.2%, mean age 37 days) and in layers (4.8%; mean age 196 days). Lesions associated with Marek’s disease, avian leukosis and fowl pox were recognized only in layers, respectively in 3.2% (mean age 176 days), 1.6% (mean age 205 days) and 1.1% (mean age 196 days) of all cases. Avian encephalomyelitis (AE) was noted only in 0.5% of all cases.

In the veterinary literature there are few data concerning the expression of insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-IR) in the canine mammary gland tumors. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of IGF-IR expression and its correlation to the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PR), proteins: Bcl-2, Bax, p53 in canine mammary gland tumors, and also a correlation with other features: bitch's age, tumor diameter, histologic type of tumor, degree of histologic malignancy, proliferate activity. The study was done on 112 epithelial neoplasms: 21 (19%) were adenoma, 38 (34%) complex carcinoma (adenocarcinoma), 47 (42%) simple carcinoma (adenocarcinoma) and 6 (5%) solid carcinoma. Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry methods were employed. It was shown that more common and/or higher IGF-IR expression in cells of canine mammary gland tumors was related to the histologic type of cancer of worse prognostic (solid and simple carcinoma), high histologic degree of malignancy (III degrees) but the statistical analysis did not reveal any significant differences. We observed the high degree of IGF-IR expression in tumors which displayed the high ERalpha and PR expression. These results suggest the involvement of IGF-IR in the development of hormonosensitive canine mammary tumors. Additionally, the significant positive correlation between expression of IGF-IR and p53, Bax was found. Our study provides some evidence that interactions exist between the IGF-IR and these apoptosis-associated proteins may contribute to the development and progression of canine mammary gland tumors. These results require further investigations.

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF BCL-2 PROTEIN IN CANINE MAMMARY TUMOURS I. Dolka*, T. Motyl y and E. Malicka* *Department of Clinical Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw and yDepartment of Physiological Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland Introduction: Development of canine mammary tumours involves accumulation of mutant cells caused by excessive proliferation and insufficient apoptosis. Bcl-2 is an oncoprotein and plays a role in blocking programmed cell death. Moreover, p53 gene products have been linked to apoptosis pathways. Materials and Methods: Samples of 112 canine mammary tumours were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Histopathological diagnosis was based on the WHO classification system using sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Expression of Bcl-2, p53 protein, Ki67 antigen, oestrogen (ERa) and progesterone (PR) receptors was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: Positive expression of Bcl-2 and p53, respectively, was noted in 73% and 38% of the tumours. While p53 had nuclear localization, Bcl-2 was found in the cytoplasm of tumour cells. The Bcl-2 protein was detected in 81% of benign tumours and in 40% of grade I carcinomas. Expression of Bcl-2 was significantly correlated with ERa, but not with PR or p53. Proliferative activity showed a significant positive correlation with histological type, tumour grade and p53. Conclusions: The positive correlation between Bcl-2 and ERa suggests that oestrogen may be a regulator of Bcl-2 in canine mammary tumours. Prospective determination of Bcl-2 and p53 status may be useful in tumour grading and prognosis.

Systemic mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium genavense was diagnosed in a 7-year-old captive lineolated parakeet (Bolborhynchus lineola). About a year before death, proventricular dilatation syndrome (PDS) was suggested, because of persistent regurgitations and intermittent diarrhoea. Necropsy examination did not show any signs typical of PDS and mycobacterioses. No caseous necrosis, but focal ulcerated overgrowth in the proventriculus, hypertrophy of intestinal mucosa and splenomegaly, was found. Primary neoplasia was suspected. The crucial examination was histopathology, which revealed changes typical of mycobacteriosis and the presence of numerous acid-fast bacilli. A real- time SYBR® Green PCR test was used and Mycobacterium genavense infection was diagnosed. The mycobacterium was also cultured on BD BACTEC™ 460TB 12B Middlebrook 7H12 medium.