APPROFONDIMENTI ANATOMOPATOLOGICI APPLICATI A PATOLOGIE EMERGENTI DEL BOVINO E DEL SUINO

During the PhD course different topics, affecting cattle and pigs in the Po Valley, were approached. Colibacillosis is one of the main cause of disease in calves and is characterized by high morbility and mortality. The first study of this report investigated the bacteria-induced lesions, bacterial distribution in the digestive system, and the immunohistochemical expression of a specific antibody panel, in order to better understand the magnitude and type of immune response evoked by the pathogen in the host. The same approach was used in the second work, that investigated the relationship between host and pathogen in Bovine Virus Diarrhea - Mucosal Disease, that represents a common risk in bovine herds. Another problem of intensive dairy cattle herds is represented by “repeat breeding”. The objective of this study was to evaluated macroscopical and histopathological alterations and bacteriological findings of uteri and ovaries of repeat breeder cows culled for infertility. Finally, we studied bovine malformations, that despite the literature, in our cases are over-represented. We described the lesions observed and created a specific database in order to perform further genetic study and supervise this problem actually underestimated. Concerning swine, gastric ulcers is one of the main problem of intensive herds. Unfortunately, there are no specific clinical tests allowing to make a correct diagnosis intravitam, for this reason we tested a diagnostic tool, that can contribute to early detection of disease. Finally, as part of an international collaboration, the presence of Pneumocystis spp. in pig lungs, was investigated, through the use of in situ hybridization after the design of a specific probe.