Detection of frequent neutrophil misclassification by the ProCyte Dx in sick dogs and how to avoid it.

Objectives: A common and severe error in identifying neutrophils in feline blood samples by the IDEXX ProCyte Dx haematology analyser (ProCyte) has been reported. The hypothesis was that the same or similar error would be identified during analysis of canine blood samples and that white blood cell dot plot evaluation would be critical to detect and avoid erroneous results.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-six canine blood samples collected for clinical diagnosis of hospital patients were evaluated.

International Guidelines for Veterinary Tumor Pathology: A Call to Action.

Standardization of tumor assessment lays the foundation for validation of grading systems, permits reproducibility of oncologic studies among investigators, and increases confidence in the significance of study results. Currently, there is minimal methodological standardization for assessing tumors in veterinary medicine, with few attempts to validate published protocols and grading schemes. The current article attempts to address these shortcomings by providing standard guidelines for tumor assessment parameters and protocols for evaluating specific tumor types.

Mitotic Figures-Normal, Atypical, and Imposters: A Guide to Identification.

Counting mitotic figures (MF) in hematoxylin and eosin-stained histologic sections is an integral part of the diagnostic pathologist's tumor evaluation. The mitotic count (MC) is used alone or as part of a grading scheme for assessment of prognosis and clinical decisions. Determining MCs is subjective, somewhat laborious, and has interobserver variation.

Hematologic, prostaglandin F -metabolite, serum amyloid A, and serum iron changes in horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia.

Background: Endotoxemia is a common and severe disease of horses. Most previous studies have monitored changes caused by a bolus dose of endotoxin over short time periods.

Objectives: We aimed to describe inflammatory responses to endotoxin with inflammatory and hematologic markers monitored over a longer time than has been performed in the past using more prolonged endotoxin exposures.

Hepatozoon canis infection causing a strong monocytosis with intra-monocytic gamonts and leading to erroneous leukocyte determinations.

In this case report, a Swedish flat-coated retriever was diagnosed with an extensive Hepatozoon canis infection. The dog had a prominent monocytosis (14.0 × 10 /L) with H canis gamonts detected in most monocytes, but none were found in the neutrophils.

Massive uric acid crystalluria and cylinduria in a dog after l-asparaginase treatment for lymphoma.

A 10-year-old golden retriever bitch was treated for diarrhea and vomiting that lasted about 1 month without a specific diagnosis until a hepatic biopsy provided a histopathologic diagnosis of lymphoma. The dog was referred to the Swedish University of Agricultural Science and treated with one dose of l-asparaginase. The day after chemotherapy, the urine was dark yellow, very turbid, and had large amounts of small amorphous crystals and many casts made of similar appearing material identified by infrared spectroscopy to be 100% uric acid dihydrate.

Feline Differential Leukocyte Count with ProCyte Dx: Frequency and Severity of a Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Error and How to Avoid It.

Background: Erroneous neutrophil and lymphocyte counts from analysis of feline blood samples were transferred directly into the hospital information system from the ProCyte Dx hematology instrument in our after-hours laboratory. Errors usually were not detected by the users.

Hypothesis/objectives: To quantify the frequency and severity of errors associated with the ProCyte Dx analyzer and to identify methods to avoid the errors.

Measurement of serum C-reactive protein concentration for discriminating between suppurative arthritis and osteoarthritis in dogs.

Background: In a dog with joint pain, it is important to determine whether it has suppurative joint disease, characterized by exudation of neutrophils in the synovial fluid, or not, as this affects choice of diagnostic tests and treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration could be used to discriminate between dogs with suppurative arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA). Furthermore, the concentrations of serum and synovial fluid interleukin (IL) 6 concentrations were measured in dogs with joint disease and in healthy dogs, and were correlated to serum CRP concentrations.

Time-related changes in equine neutrophils after experimental endotoxemia: myeloperoxidase staining, size, and numbers.

Background: Neutrophil myeloperoxidase content is determined by the Advia 2120 hematology system by staining characteristics. Changes in myeloperoxidase staining are shown by location of neutrophils on Advia peroxidase dot plots and as myeloperoxidase index (MPXI). Significant changes in MPXI have been reported during severe inflammation in horses, dogs, and people but conclusions were inconsistent.

Reducing error in feline platelet enumeration by addition of Iloprost to blood specimens: comparison to prostaglandin E1 and EDTA.

Background: Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and Iloprost inhibit platelet aggregation and should prevent or minimize preanalytic error with feline platelet enumeration.

Objectives: The objective was to compare the relative effectiveness in reducing errors in platelet enumeration by adding Iloprost to feline EDTA blood specimens in comparison to adding PGE1 or EDTA alone. In addition, a grading system for platelet aggregation in blood smears was evaluated for effectiveness in predicting prominent errors and compared to ADVIA's PLT-CLM flag.

Comparison of specific gravity analysis of feline and canine urine, using five refractometers, to pycnometric analysis and total solids by drying.

Aims: To compare the performance of five refractometers for determination of urine specific gravity in cats and dogs, with reference to weight of total solids and pycnometer analysis.

Methods: Urine samples from 27 cats and 31 dogs submitted for routine urinalysis were included. Urine specific gravity was determined with five refractometers.

Validation of a commercially available automated canine-specific immunoturbidimetric method for measuring canine C-reactive protein.

Background: Measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) is used for diagnosing and monitoring systemic inflammatory disease in canine patients. An automated human immunoturbidimetric assay has been validated for measuring canine CRP, but cross-reactivity with canine CRP is unpredictable.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to validate a new automated canine-specific immunoturbidimetric CRP method (Gentian cCRP).

Comparison of a Schmidt and Haensch refractometer and an Atago PAL-USG Cat refractometer for determination of urine specific gravity in dogs and cats.

Background: The performance of a digital Atago PAL-USG Cat refractometer (Atago) was compared with a Schmidt and Haensch, Goldberg type refractometer (S+H).

Materials And Methods: Specific gravity of 47 canine and feline urine samples was determined with both refractometers and the results were compared with Passing-Bablok and Bland-Altman plots. In addition, the specific gravity of dilutions of 10% glucose, 10% NaCl, and 3% albumin solutions was determined and compared with expected values.

Serum serotonin concentration is associated with severity of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs.

Background: The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has recently been suggested to play a role in the development of naturally acquired myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs.

Aim: To investigate the association between serum 5-HT concentration and MMVD severity in dogs, and to assess potential associations between serum 5-HT concentrations and dog characteristics, echocardiographic variables, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, presence of macrothrombocytosis, and plateletcrit.

Animals: A total of 120 client-owned dogs.

Theileria annae in a young Swedish dog.

A severe regenerative anemia was detected in a 12-week-old mixed breed puppy in Sweden. A small protozoan parasite was observed in erythrocytes on a blood smear. It was initially suspected to be Babesia gibsoni based on its size and because B.

Enumeration of feline platelets in ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid anticoagulated blood with the ADVIA 2120 system and two manual methods: Leucoplate and Thrombo-TIC.

A manual method (Thrombo-TIC; Bioanalytic GmbH, Umkirch/Freiburg, Germany) was advertised to disaggregate platelet clumps and to make human platelets spherical to improve platelet enumeration. The current study's hypothesis was that this method would perform better than current methods for feline blood anticoagulated with ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), which often contains platelet aggregates. Platelet concentrations (PLTs) were determined in 21 feline blood samples by 3 methods.

Cytologic appearance of retinal cells included in a fine-needle aspirate of a meningioma around the optic nerve of a dog.

A 6-year-old Wirehair Dachshund had a meningioma around the optic nerve that caused exophthalmos. A benign mesenchymal tumor was suspected based on the cytologic pattern of a fine-needle aspirate, and a meningioma was diagnosed by histopathologic examination. In addition to the meningioma cells, the cytologic smears included groups of cells from apparently 4 layers of normal retina.

Validation of Advia plateletcrit for assessing platelet mass in dogs, including Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

Background: Determination of the plateletcrit (PCT) is the most effective way to evaluate platelet mass in dogs, such as Cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS) dogs, with macrothrombocytopenia. The IDEXX VetAutoread hematology analyzer, which performs quantitative buffy coat (QBC) analysis, has been validated to determine platelet mass in CKCS dogs. The Advia 2120 reports a PCT, but the validity of this value has not been evaluated for dogs with macrothrombocytopenia.

Evaluation of cytologic findings in feline conjunctivitis.

Background: Cytologic examination of smears prepared from ocular swabs of conjunctiva from cats with conjunctivitis permits identification of the type of inflammation and possibly specific microorganisms. Results of studies of the diagnostic utility of cytology for detection of infectious causes of feline conjunctivitis have been inconsistent.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe cytologic findings in cats with conjunctivitis and to compare those findings with results of PCR analysis for feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), Chlamydophila felis (C felis), and Mycoplasma felis (M felis).