Diagnosis of Septic Body Cavity Effusion in Dogs and Cats: Cytology vs. Bacterial Culture.

The elective test for the determination of the effusions etiopathogenesis is represented by physico-chemical analysis and cytology. Nevertheless, the bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests are crucial for setting therapy and for the outcome. This study compared cytology with microbiology in the etiologic diagnosis of exudative body cavity effusions in dogs and cats collected from October 2018 to October 2022.

Measurement of Feline Alpha-1 Acid Glycoprotein in Serum and Effusion Using an ELISA Method: Analytical Validation and Diagnostic Role for Feline Infectious Peritonitis.

Background: Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) may support a clinical diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). In this study, we assessed the analytical and diagnostic performances of a novel ELISA method to measure feline AGP.

Methods: AGP was measured in sera and effusions from cats with FIP (n = 20) or with other diseases (n = 15).

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: Morphological, immunophenotypical and clonality assessment in six cats.

Background: Primary cutaneous lymphoma represents 0.2%-3% of all feline lymphomas, with nonepitheliotropic lymphomas being the most common. In humans and dogs, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a primary nonepitheliotropic lymphoma with a T-cell phenotype developing in the subcutis and often mimicking inflammation.

Subcutaneous mast cell tumours: A prospective multi-institutional clinicopathological and prognostic study of 43 dogs.

Background: Canine subcutaneous mast cell tumours (ScMCTs) reportedly have a good prognosis. However, biomarkers that can be used to predict outcome are currently limited.

Methods: A multicentre prospective study was conducted to identify new prognostic markers.

Pre-analytical and analytical variability of reticulocyte counts in dogs.

Background: Automated fluorescence-based haematology analysers are now available for reticulocyte enumeration in veterinary medicine, but manual counting is still largely used. This study aimed to evaluate potential sources of analytical and pre-analytical errors when performing automated and manual counts.

Methods: Automated and two-operator double-blind manual reticulocyte counts were performed on 15 blood samples.

Evaluation of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin to detect renal tubular damage in dogs with stable myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Background: Dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) can experience progressive renal tubular damage and dysfunction. The prevalence of renal tubular damage is not known in dogs with stable MMVD.

Objective: To evaluate renal tubular damage in dogs with stable MMVD by evaluation of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL).

Utility of the Ratio between Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Activity and Total Nucleated Cell Counts in Effusions (LDH/TNCC Ratio) for the Diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

Background: We tested the hypothesis that the ratio between lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and total nucleated cell counts (TNCC) in effusions may be useful to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

Methods: LDH/TNCC ratio was retrospectively evaluated in 648 effusions grouped based on cytology and physicochemical analysis (step 1), on the probability of FIP estimated by additional tests on fluids (step 2) or on other biological samples (step 3, = 471). Results of different steps were statistically compared.

Erythrophagocytic multiple myeloma in a dog.

A 5-y-old spayed female Golden Retriever dog was referred because of severe normocytic normochromic nonregenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia. Serum analysis revealed hyperproteinemia and monoclonal or oligoclonal gammopathy. Fine-needle aspiration of the spleen revealed a highly erythrophagocytic population of neoplastic round cells, morphologically suggestive of plasma cells.

Urinary cortisol-creatinine ratio in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism.

Background: Basal serum cortisol (BSC) ≥2 μg/dL (>55 nmol/L) has high sensitivity but low specificity for hypoadrenocorticism (HA).

Objective: To determine whether the urinary corticoid:creatinine ratio (UCCR) can be used to differentiate dogs with HA from healthy dogs and those with diseases mimicking HA (DMHA).

Animals: Nineteen healthy dogs, 18 dogs with DMHA, and 10 dogs with HA.

A retrospective study on prophylactic regional lymphadenectomy versus nodal observation only in the management of dogs with stage I, completely resected, low-grade cutaneous mast cell tumors.

Background: While lymphadenectomy of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) has been associated with improved outcome, the clinical utility of prophylactic lymphadenectomy in dogs with stage I cutaneous mast cell tumors (cMCTs) remains a controversial topic. To assess the therapeutic role of lymphadenectomy of uninvolved regional LNs, the long-term outcome of cMCT-bearing dogs with cytologically negative and surgically unresected regional LNs (observation only, OO) was compared with that of dogs with surgically resected and histologically negative regional LNs (prophylactic regional lymphadenectomy, PRL).

Results: A retrospective analysis of 64 dogs with a low-grade, completely resected stage I cMCT was performed: 35 (54.

A case of "misplaced" Tritrichomonas foetus infection in a dog in Northern Italy.

An 8-year-old, spayed female Rottweiler dog, under immunosuppressant treatment for protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) and intestinal lymphangiectasia, was presented for anorexia, poor general conditions and episodes of diarrhea. A subcutaneous mass between the caudal abdominal mammary glands was found. A fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed and revealed the presence of inflammatory cells mixed with pear- or round-shaped microorganisms with cytomorphological features of flagellated protozoan trophozoites, belonging to Trichomonadida order.

Cutaneous metastases of prostatic adenocarcinoma in two dogs.

Canine prostatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy characterized by rapid growth, local invasiveness, and early metastatic spread. Metastases of prostatic cancer are generally diffuse at the time of diagnosis due to hematogenous or lymphatic spread and by direct exfoliation of neoplastic cells into the peritoneal cavity. Here we describe two dogs with prostatic adenocarcinoma and skin metastases.

Use of recombinant canine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to increase leukocyte count in dogs naturally infected by canine parvovirus.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is one of the most important cause of mortality in young dogs and no specific treatment exists. Since prolonged leukopenia greatly increases the risk of death in infected pups, strategies to counteract this decline were investigated. The outcomes of CPV naturally infected pups treated with the recombinant canine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rcG-CSF), in combination with the routine therapy, were compared with similarly-managed infected pups not treated with rcG-CSF.

Evaluation of the analytical variability of urine protein-to-creatinine ratio in cats.

Background: Proteinuria quantification with the urinary protein-to-creatinine (UPC) ratio is part of the diagnostic process in feline patients suspected of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In affected cats, monitoring and substaging of the UPC according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines is also necessary for appropriate patient management. No information is available about the possible effects of analytical variability on urinary proteins (UPs) and the UPC ratio in cats.

Cladosporium cladosporioides-complex infection in a mixed-breed dog.

A 3-year-old female mixed-breed dog was referred with a 2-day history of serious dyspnea, coughing, lethargy, anorexia, and a low-grade right anterior lameness. At presentation, the dog had an increased respiratory rate, dull heart and lung sounds, and cyanotic mucous membranes. It was hyperthermic and slightly dehydrated.

Pleural lymphocyte-rich transudates in cats.

Objectives Non-chylous lymphorrhagic pleural effusions are transudative effusions with a predominance of lymphocytes; however, they do not contain chylomicrons and therefore do not have the classical milky aspect of true chylous effusion. This type of effusion has been anecdotally associated with cardiac diseases in cats, but studies are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between this type of effusion and the primary disease.

Measurement of proteinuria in dogs: analytic and diagnostic differences using 2 laboratory methods.

Background: Urinary protein-to-creatinine (UPC) ratio is an early diagnostic and prognostic marker of renal disease in dogs. Pyrogallol red molybdate (PRM) and Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) are the most popular dye-binding assays for measurement of proteinuria. Published guidelines recommend strict cut-off points to substage patients with chronic renal diseases, irrespective of the assay applied.

Cytologic features of hepatic fibrosis in dogs: a retrospective study on 22 cases.

Introduction: Liver cytology has diagnostic value for the identification of neoplastic and nonneoplastic hepatic diseases. However, so far the diagnosis of fibrotic changes has traditionally been restricted to histopathology.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the cytologic features that may help in the recognition of hepatic fibrosis.

Evaluation of C-reactive protein as a clinical biomarker in naturally heartworm-infected dogs: a field study.

Canine heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis is considered a pulmonary disease, which leads to pulmonary hypertension, and in the late stage, may induce right cardiac insufficiency. Adult worms are localized in the pulmonary arteries, which undergo endothelial damage (proliferative endoarteritis), the severity of which depends on the duration of infection and the worm burden. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major canine acute-phase protein that rapidly increases in a wide range of inflammatory conditions and rapidly decreases when inflammation resolves.

A novel point mutation in the β1-tubulin gene in asymptomatic macrothrombocytopenic Norfolk and Cairn Terriers.

Background: An asymptomatic macrothrombocytopenia, phenotypically similar to asymptomatic inherited macrothrombocytopenia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, was described in a group of Norfolk Terriers (NT) from Northern Italy, and isolated cases were also reported in Cairn Terriers (CT).

Objectives: The purpose of this work was to evaluate for the presence of a genetic defect in the β1-tubulin gene in macrothrombocytopenic NT and CT.

Methods: Samples from 20 healthy dogs (13 NT and 7 CT) were collected at different institutions in Italy (n = 8), United Kingdom (n = 3), and United States (n = 9).