Abstract
A gross pathology and histological investigation was carried out on bovine target organs of anabolic substances in the Molise Region (Italy). One hundred forty-four bovines (12–24 months old, 123 males and 21 females) were included in the survey. Ante-mortem assessment on their behaviour and clinical examination was performed. After slaughtering, samples of prostate, Cowper’s glands, Bartholin’s glands, mammary gland, ovaries, thymus and thyroid were collected, inspected and processed for histopathology, as suggested in the guidelines of the Italian national program for residue surveillance (PNR). Overall, 15.3% of examined animals have been classified as “suspect,” whereas 44.4% as “uncertain” and the remaining 40.3% as “negative”. The most frequent lesion was a severe thymus atrophy with fat infiltration (15.4% of males and 14.3% of females), strongly suggesting the illegal use of corticosteroids.
