Canine mammary gland tumors (MGTs) pose a significant challenge due to their malignancy and the burden they place on the affected animals. Recent studies on human breast cancer have explored the potential of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 15-3, and cancer antigen (CA) 27-29, which originate from the mammary gland or somewhere else, as an area of interest for early tumor detection. The use of ELISA measurements of CEA, CA 15-3, and CA 27-29 has shown promising diagnostic performance in detecting canine MGTs. Elevated levels of CEA were observed in both MGT and ovarian cancer patients, while increased levels of CA 15-3 and CA 27-29 were found only in MGT patients. This indicates that the combined use of these biomarkers through ELISA testing can effectively differentiate MGT from other tumors and may be useful in monitoring metastasis and recurrence of canine MGT. In terms of sensitivity and specificity, only CA 27-29 exhibited significant diagnostic performance in detecting and distinguishing MGT from other cancers. This underscores the need for further research to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CEA and CA 15-3 using a larger sample size. Considering the potential overlap of biomarkers associated with specific tumors in different organs, the combined application of tumor markers is crucial to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of cancer diagnosis. Therefore, this study underscores the potential use of combined biomarkers in veterinary medicine, aligning with the recent progress in the exploration of blood biomarkers in human oncology.

We evaluated the potential ability of germanium biotite (GB) to stimulate the production of antibodies specific for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). To this aim, we measured the total FMDV-specific antibody responses and IgM production after vaccination against FMD both experimentally and in the field. GB supplementation with FMDV vaccination stimulated the production of anti-FMDV antibodies, and effectively increased IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels. These results suggest that GB may be a novel alternative feed supplement that can serve as a boosting agent and an immunostimulator for increasing the efficacy of FMDV vaccination in pigs.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/therapeutic use ; Aluminum Silicates/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/*immunology ; Antibody Formation/drug effects ; *Dietary Supplements ; Ferrous Compounds/*therapeutic use ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease/*immunology/prevention & control ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus/immunology ; Germanium/*therapeutic use ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/immunology/prevention & control/*virology

Germanium biotite (GB) is an aluminosilicate mineral containing 36 ppm germanium. The present study was conducted to better understand the effects of GB on immune responses in a mouse model, and to demonstrate the clearance effects of this mineral against Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in experimentally infected pigs as an initial step towards the development of a feed supplement that would promote immune activity and help prevent diseases. In the mouse model, dietary supplementation with GB enhanced concanavalin A (ConA)-induced lymphocyte proliferation and increased the percentage of CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes. In pigs experimentally infected with PRRSV, viral titers in lungs and lymphoid tissues from the GB-fed group were significantly decreased compared to those of the control group 12 days post-infection. Corresponding histopathological analyses demonstrated that GB-fed pigs displayed less severe pathological changes associated with PRRSV infection compared to the control group, indicating that GB promotes PRRSV clearance. These antiviral effects in pigs may be related to the ability of GB to increase CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte production observed in the mice. Hence, this mineral may be an effective feed supplement for increasing immune activity and preventing disease.
Aluminum Silicates/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Antigens, CD3/metabolism ; Antigens, CD8/metabolism ; Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Concanavalin A/metabolism ; Dietary Supplements/analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ferrous Compounds/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Germanium/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Lung/immunology/virology ; Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects ; Lymphocytes/cytology/drug effects ; Lymphoid Tissue/immunology/virology ; Mice ; Mitogens/metabolism ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome/*drug therapy/pathology/virology ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus/*drug effects ; Swine

Interleukin (IL)-10 exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of both T-help (Th) 1 and Th2 cells. Previous studies have reported that IL-10 can ameliorate various inflammatory disorders. The present study was performed to examine whether IL-10 plasmid DNA could suppress development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice, as an initial step towards the development of an appliance for use in dogs with AD. Intradermal injection of IL-10 plasmid DNA markedly inhibited the development of AD-like skin lesions, as evidenced by a marked decrease in skin symptoms and reduced inflammation within the skin lesions. Efficacy was confirmed by significant decreases in eosinophil ratio and serum IgE concentration, and a reduction in the number of Staphylococcus aureus recovered from the ear. Moreover, relative mRNA expression levels of IL-4 and interferon-gamma in the skin lesions of mice injected with IL-10 plasmid DNA were also decreased compared with those of control mice. Of note, higher serum IL-10 levels in mice injected with IL-10 plasmid DNA were maintained compared with those in control mice. Taken together, the results indicate that IL-10 plasmid DNA can suppress the development of AD-like skin lesions by suppressing both Th1 and Th2 cell responses. Beneficial effects of IL-10 plasmid DNA may be expected in dogs with AD.
Animals ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology/*prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Female ; Interleukin-10/genetics/*immunology/*therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Mutant Strains ; Plasmids/genetics/*therapeutic use ; Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/*immunology