Alba Revilla Ruiz defended this Degree Final Project

July 11^st, 2025

Animal abuse is an increasing concern in society, and veterinary forensic pathologists play a critical role in combating maltreatment by identifying non-accidental injuries in animals. This study aimed to comparatively analyze the macro and microscopic lesions, as well as p53 immunoexpression, in dogs with varying degrees of emaciation (Body Condition 1, 2 and 3) from suspected cases of abuse. Anatomopathological findings were thoroughly examined, and immunohistochemical techniques were applied to key tissues to evaluate nuclear p53 expression as a marker of cellular damage and potential senescence.
The results revealed a clear correlation between body condition and the frequency, type, and severity of the lesions observed. Dogs with Body Condition 1 exhibited a lesion pattern consistent with extreme cachexia, including severe muscle atrophy, marked lymphoid depletion, hepatic fibrosis, and intracardiac thrombosis. In contrast, dogs with Body Condition 3 showed predominantly acute traumatic injuries such as cranial fractures, hemothorax, and hemopericardium. Lesions in Body Condition 2 were of intermediate severity and more heterogeneous, suggesting a state of chronic but non-terminal suffering. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in key lesions between groups, although the limited number of individuals reduced the statistical power for some comparisons.
Immunoreactivity to p53 revealed a higher percentage of positive cells in the most emaciated animals, particularly in lymph nodes, intestines, liver, and testicles, which may indicate increased activation of cellular stress pathways associated with chronic malnutrition. The absence of p53 positivity in skeletal muscle aligned with the low cellular turnover rate in this tissue. These findings support the diagnostic value of p53 in the forensic pathology context and emphasize the usefulness of correlating body condition with lesion patterns to distinguish between different types of abuse.
Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the anatomopathological
consequences of prolonged animal abuse, highlighting malnutrition as a key factor, and
reinforces the role of veterinary forensic pathology as an essential tool in detecting and
characterizing abuse in companion animals.
Keywords: Animal abuse, dog, emaciation, forensic necropsy, immunohistochemistry