Hematological Parameters from the Feline Blood Donor to the Blood Unit: What Changes Are to Be Expected?

Feline blood donation requires sedation to allow for good blood collection, avoiding venous damage and unnecessary donor stress. In the present study, we describe the variation of hematological parameters in a population of 74 healthy blood-donor cats that underwent the same sedation protocol, including medetomidine, alfaxalone, and butorphanol. Changes in hematological parameters were evaluated in blood samples collected from conscious cats (group A), sedated cats (group B), and feline whole-blood units (FBUs) (group C).

Effects of leukoreduction on storage lesions in whole blood and blood components of dogs.

Background: Leukoreduction is a routine procedure in human transfusion medicine but is uncommon in veterinary.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of leukoreduction on the quality of canine whole blood (WB) and blood products during storage.

Animals: Ten canine blood donors.

In vitro assessment of quality of citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-1 preserved feline blood collected by a commercial closed system.

Background: Optimal procedure for storage of feline blood is needed. Open-collection systems have been employed in feline medicine, thus limiting the possibility for storage.

Objectives: To evaluate indicators of quality of feline blood stored for 35 days at +4°C in a closed-collection system specifically designed for cats.

DNA and RNA isolation from canine oncologic formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues for downstream "-omic" analyses: possible or not?

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues represent a unique source of archived biological material, but obtaining suitable DNA and RNA for retrospective "-omic" investigations is still challenging. In the current study, canine tumor FFPE blocks were used to 1) compare common commercial DNA and RNA extraction kits; 2) compare target gene expression measured in FFPE blocks and biopsies stored in a commercial storage reagent; 3) assess the impact of fixation time; and 4) perform biomolecular investigations on archival samples chosen according to formalin fixation times. Nucleic acids yield and quality were determined by spectrophotometer and capillary electrophoresis, respectively.

Adenocarcinoma of the dorsal glands in 2 European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus).

Olfactory communication is an important aspect of the biology of ground squirrels; accordingly, some of their integumentary glands are associated with scent-marking behavior. Although reports of neoplasms in ground squirrels are limited, the literature on tumors in this family of rodents is extensive, with hepatocellular carcinomas in woodchucks and fibromas in squirrels being the 2 most common neoplasms. Apocrine gland tumors occur frequently in domestic animals such as cats and dogs but to our knowledge have not previously been reported in squirrels.

Retroperitoneal teratoma in a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Teratomas are histologically complex tumors arising from germ cells of two or three embryonic layers either in the gonads or occasionally from germ cells that mistakenly migrated to ectopic sites. A case of retroperitoneal teratoma in a regularly slaughtered 4-month-old, male domestic rabbit is reported. A pale reddish, 3 x 4 cm, fibrous mass was detected, loosely connected to the parietal wall in the retroperitoneal region cranial to the kidney.

Intra-abdominal leiomyosarcoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius Furo): histopathological and immunohistochemical characterization.

A 5 years old female ferret with an abdominal palpable mass confirmed at echo-graphic examination died during an explorative laparotomy. A single lymph-node-like nodule was found adjacent to the intestinal loops. The round mass well circumscribed, solid and white, histologically, at low magnification, appeared encapsulated and built up by a population of atypical spindle cells arranged in interwoven fascicles.

Unilateral seminoma with multiple visceral metastases in a duck (Anas platyrhynchos).

A case of unilateral seminoma with visceral metastases in a Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is reported. The right testis was markedly enlarged. The liver surface showed multifocal to coalescent regular circular umbilicated greyish-white spots.