Comparative oncology has recently developed, in according to the quality of scientific research, as the result of reasonable opportunity to study neoplastic diseases in the pets "dogs and cats" that may provide new biological information and knowledge for the understanding and treatment of human cancers.Some spontaneous tumors of animals, such as mammary (breast),lymphohematopoietic, cutaneous (mastocytoma) and vescical, are considered models that share, with human cancers, biological aspects in terms of carcinogenesis and tumor progression and clinical aspects; thus, comes the need to preserve biological material in optimal condition and their associated data, in order to have a tissue heritage to be exploited over time to new insights and innovative laboratory techniques. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari has signed an agreement with I.R.C.C.S Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" di Bari to assist in the creation of an animal tissue-bank to collect samples of neoplastic organs. The collection, preservation and recording of biological sample are made according to a system of operating procedures (SOPs) and addressed to ensure common quality standards. The specimen is initially stored at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, then moved in accordance with procedures involving biological material transfer mode to I.R.C.C.S where a biobank institutional functioning. Is designing a computerized system for data management that meets the needs of the two structures. The samples data are currently recorded in the register "Comparative Biobank" and inserted into a database. For appropriate management the staff of both facilities has been instructed in order to have a unique mode of approach to research. The collaboration has developed national and international projects aimed at theme of the VEGF, Thymidine Phosphorylase, Ki-67 on different animal species tumors.

Cercopithifilaria rugosicauda (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) is a subcutaneous filarial nematode of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) transmitted by Ixodes ricinus (Acari, Ixodidae). At the necropsy of a roe deer from the Parco Regionale di Gallipoli Cognato (Basilicata region, southern Italy), two female nematodes of C. rugosicauda were found. Following the necropsy, seven skin snips were sampled from different body regions and 96 I. ricinus ticks were collected. In addition, 240 ticks were collected by dragging in the enclosure where the roe deer lived. Samples were examined for the presence of C. rugosicauda larvae and assayed by PCR targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1, ∼300 bp) and 12S rDNA (∼330 bp) gene fragments. Female nematodes, microfilariae from skin samples and eight third stage larvae (L3) from ticks were morphologically and molecularly identified as C. rugosicauda. Phylogenetic analyses clustered this species with other sequences of Cercopithifilaria spp. This study represents the first report of C. rugosicauda in a roe deer and ticks from Italy and provides new morphological and molecular data on this little known nematode.

Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease acquired from the environment, for which animals may serve as sentinels for human exposure. The occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in the respiratory tract of 125 squirrels, Callosciurus finlaysonii, trapped in Southern Italy, was assessed. Upon examination of nasal swabs and lung tissue from each individual, a total of 13 (10.4%) animals scored positive for yeasts, 7 for Cryptococcus neoformans (C.n.) (5.6%) and 6 for other yeasts (4.8%). C.n. was isolated from the nostrils and lungs, with a high population size in nostrils. Two C.n. molecular types, VNI and VNIV, were identified, with C.n. var. grubii VNI the most prevalent. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS+ and URA5 sequences revealed that C.n. isolates were genetically similar to isolates from a range of geographical areas and hosts. Results suggest that C.n. can colonize or infect the respiratory tract of C. finlaysonii. The high occurrence and level of colonization of nasal cavities might be an indicator of environmental exposure to high levels of airborne microorganism. The close phylogenetic relationship of C.n. strains from squirrels with those from human and other animal hosts suggests a potential role for these animals as “sentinels” for human exposure.

Histiocytic diseases in veterinary medicine have been revised in the last few decades, but these are considered relatively rare in horses. This report describes a 9-year-old female horse, Dutch Warmblood, presented for investigation of severe nasal bleeding. A multinodular bilateral mass of 5 cm, reddish to white in color, that invaded and destroyed the surrounding tissues, was observed during a clinical examination of the nostril The morphological features of the tumor cells were represented by cytologically bizarre, highly phagocytic, multinucleated giant cells. These findings, together with immunohistochemical results allowed a diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma.

Angiogenesis is an important pathway of neoplastic growth and progression. Our several published studies suggest that angiogenesis represents an interspecies pathway of tumour growth due to its roles in several spontaneous canine tumour model. Stromal microenvironment, macrophages and mast cells play a main roles in tumour angiogenesis. Furthermore several recent studies strongly suggest that mast cells density and mast cell activation are correlated with microvascular density. In this context mast cells may stimulates angiogenesis by secretion of their angiogenetic factors such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Tryptase and Chynase. VEGF represents the classical pro-angiogenic factor while Tryptase and Chynase are proteases identified as new pro-angiogenic factor.. Interstingly canine mast cell tumour model (CMCTM) represents a unique model to study the role of mast cells in angiogenetic pathway. CMCTM are classified in well, intermediate and poorly differenziated tumours with and different angiogenetic activity and metastatic capacity. We aim to study by mean of immunohistochemistry and ELISA methods primary mast cell tumour and mast cell tumour lines for the expression of angiogenic factors and mast cell activation. In this context will be possible to evaluate the inhibition of pro-angiogenic factors and mast cell degranulation as a new anti-angiogentic and anti tumour therapy.

Troglostrongylus brevior is a neglected feline lungworm species, which has been increasingly reported in the Mediterranean area, although scant data are available on the respiratory alterations it causes in cats. Therefore, we describe the gross and histological lesions of a 20-week old kitten that succumbed due to the onset of a fulminant respiratory failure. At necropsy, a catarrhal exudate was observed in the airways, along with nematodes in the trachea and bronchi. The lungs were processed for histological examination and serial pulmonary sections were performed. A total of 14 nematodes were collected, being all morphologically and molecularly identified as T. brevior. Lungworms were histologically localized within the bronchial lumen, surrounded by an eosinophilic infiltrate. The presence of T. brevior in the airways has been histologically documented for the first time and its life-threatening potential is discussed.

L’esperienza svolta nella ideazione, gestione e realizzazione del progetto pilota “Tutela e Riproduzione del Riccio di Mare (Paracentrotus lividus) specie innovativa per l’acquacoltura” dalla Algesiro srl di Manfredonia e della Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria Dipartimento di Benessere Animale dell’Università di Bari è un modello per sviluppare la filiera ittica e la collaborazione tra imprese e mondo della ricerca. Classificato al primo posto della graduatoria nella valutazione di merito, avendo colto il senso del bando ed i suoi obiettivi, il progetto è stato condotto con puntualità ed aggiornamento costante rispetto alle scoperte via via effettuate ed alle tecnologie applicate. L’esperienza si colloca nelle buone pratiche che la Regione Puglia intende adottare e replicare perché il settore delle risorse ittiche possa crescere in maniera sostenibile e nel lungo periodo. L’attenzione posta alla tutela dell’ambiente e delle risorse partendo dalla richiesta di mercato del riccio di mare dimostra che è possibile progettare la gestione della filiera ittica bilanciando gli interventi tenendo conto della pluralità degli interessi e della qualità. Il protocollo sviluppato, primo al mondo, è replicabile in ogni angolo del pianeta e la funzione degli echinodermi, sia in allevamento sia in banchi naturali, contribuisce a tutelare l’ecosistema. Con l’auspicio che esperienze positive come questa possano replicarsi attivando rapporti virtuosi tra imprese, mondo della ricerca, istituzioni e ambiente per la crescita del territorio pugliese