Project description:Despite being rarely reported, improved diagnostic and prognostic indicators are necessary for treating malignant melanoma in rabbits. In this study, two cases of primary skin lesions, on the scrotum and on eyelid, with systemic metastases, were examined. The tumors formed intra-dermally by sheet-like proliferation of polymorphic cells, with anisocytosis and varying amount of melanin granules. Tumors had displaced almost 50% of the lung and liver tissue, and tumor metastasis was the cause of early death in both rabbits. Ki-67-positive population was high in both, and it was found to be useful in assessing the outcome and malignancy. In addition, Melan-A, HMB-45, PNL2 and S100 established a useful immunohistochemical panel for the diagnosis of melanocytic tumor in rabbits.
Project description:Cryptosporidium cuniculus is a zoonotic parasite responsible for cryptosporidiosis cases and outbreaks in both humans and rabbits. Since there are no molecular Cryptosporidium spp. infection data in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Spain, our aim was to gather information about this parasite in wild European rabbits from Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). A total of 100 faecal samples were collected from rabbits from eight municipalities of Tenerife. Microscopic analysis showed that 4.0% of the samples presented structures compatible with Cryptosporidium oocyst. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene fragments was carried out, and sequencing confirmed the identity of C. cuniculus in one sample (1.0%). The sample was successfully subtyped using nested PCR analysis of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene as the subtype VbA26R3. This study confirms the presence of C. cuniculus in wild rabbits from Tenerife, providing new information on the occurrence of this zoonotic parasite. Further studies are required to better understand the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild rabbits in Spain and their possible public health repercussions.
Project description:The breakdown of epidermal barrier and consequent loss of skin hydration is a feature of skin aging and eczematous dermatitis. Few treatments, however, resolve these underlying processes to provide full symptomatic relief. In this study, we generated a novel compound, isosorbide di-(linoleate/oleate) (IDL), by esterifying isosorbide with sunflower fatty acids. Topical effects of IDL in skin were compared to those of ethyl linoleate/oleate (EL), which has previously been shown to improve skin barrier function. Both IDL and EL down-regulated inflammatory gene expression, but IDL more effectively up-regulated the expression of genes associated with keratinocyte differentiation (e.g., KRT1, GRHL2, SPRR4). Consistent with this, IDL increased abundance of epidermal barrier proteins (filaggrin and involucrin) and prevented cytokine-mediated stratum corneum degradation. IDL also down-regulated expression of “unhealthy skin signature” genes linked to loss of epidermal homeostasis and uniquely repressed an interferon-inducible co-expression module activated in multiple skin diseases including psoriasis. In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial enrolling females with dry skin, 2% IDL lotion applied over 2 weeks significantly improved skin hydration and decreased transepidermal water loss (NCT04253704). These results demonstrate mechanisms by which IDL improves skin hydration and epidermal barrier function, supporting IDL as an effective intervention for treatment of xerotic pruritic skin.