Nodular pyogranulomatous panniculitis due to Leishmania infantum infection in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease caused by different Leishmania species and transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies under natural conditions in Europe. Scientific information related to Leishmania infantum in dogs is extensive, where less information is available in cats and other companion animals. Recently, first clinical cases of L.infantum infection in domestic ferrrets (Mustela putorius furo) have been described. However, clinical information on leishmaniosis in this species is limited A 15-month-old male neutered domestic ferret was presented with chronic weight loss and the presence of coalescent, erythematous and firm subcutaneous nodules in the ventral abdominal subcutis. A fine-needle aspiration of these nodules was performed and the cytological examination revealed a granulomatous inflammation with the presence of macrophages contained a number of oval organisms with an eccentric nucleus and pale cytoplasm, compatible with Leishmania spp. amastigotes compatible with Leishmania spp. amastigotes. The nodules were surgically excised and histological examination showed a severe multifocal pyogranulomatous panniculitis. Specific immunohistochemistry and qPCR for L. infantum from excised nodules were positive. Additionally, L. infantum was cultured and isolated from the nodules by a fine-needle aspiration. An in-house Western Blot test for L. infantum was performed in serum sample and a positive result was obtained. This is the first reported case of nodular pyogranulomatous panniculitis due to L. infantum infection in a domestic ferret. Further studies are necessary to determine the relevance of domestic ferrets in the transmission of leishmaniosis. The description of new clinical forms of the disease is important as it can assist veterinarians in identifying these new clinical presentations.

Steatitis in Cold-Stunned Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii)

The pathogenesis of steatitis that infrequently occurs in cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (KRT; Lepidochelys kempii) has been undetermined. The objectives of this study were to investigate the clinical (n = 23) and histologic findings (n = 11) in cold-stunned KRT, and to compare plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol (vitamin E), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and the TBARS to vitamin E (T/E) ratio (an assessment of oxidative stress) between cold-stunned KRT with clinically and/or histologically confirmed steatitis (n = 10) and free-ranging KRT (n = 9). None of the cold-stunned turtles had clinically detectable steatitis at admission, and the median number of days to diagnosis of steatitis was 71 (range 33-469). Histologic findings of affected adipose tissue included heterophilic (n = 9) and/or histiocytic (n = 5) steatitis, fat necrosis (n = 7), myonecrosis (n = 2), and intralesional bacteria (n = 6). Cold-stunned KRT had significantly lower plasma vitamin E concentrations (median = 3.5 nmol/g), lower plasma TBARS concentrations (median = 1.6 nmol/g), and higher T/E ratios (median = 0.37), than controls (208.8 nmol/g; 2.1 nmol/g; 0.01, respectively). These results suggest a multifactorial etiology for the development of steatitis in KRT during rehabilitation, including tissue injury, septicemia, and various factors resulting in imbalances of anti-/oxidative status. By highlighting the need to provide more effective vitamin E supplementation, and the need to re-assess specific components of the diet, this study may lead to reduced incidence and improved medical management of steatitis in cold-stunned sea turtles.

Characterisation and outcome of idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis in 64 English springer spaniel dogs

OBJECTIVES

To describe the history, clinicopathological abnormalities, diagnostic imaging findings, lymph node cytological/histological appearance, treatment and outcome of English springer spaniels diagnosed with idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective UK-based multicentre study, 64 dogs were recruited from 10 referral centres, 32 first-opinion practices and three histopathology/cytology laboratories, between 2010 and 2016.

RESULTS

The median age at presentation was 6 years (range: 0.17 to 11.75). Neutered females were frequently affected. Pyrexia (83.8%), peripheral lymphadenomegaly (78.4%), dermatological lesions (72.9%), lethargy (67.6%), hyporexia (54%), diarrhoea (29.7%), coughing (24.3%), epistaxis, sneezing or nasal discharge (21.6%), ocular signs (21.6%) and vomiting (16.2%) were reported in dogs for which the history and physical examination records were available. Popliteal (45.3%), superficial cervical (35.9%) and submandibular (37.5%) lymphadenomegaly were frequently reported. Haematology and serum biochemistry revealed non-specific changes. When undertaken, testing for infectious diseases was negative in all cases. Lymph node cytology, histopathology or both demonstrated mixed inflammatory (27%), pyogranulomatous (24%), neutrophilic (20%) or granulomatous (11%) lymphadenitis. Treatment details were available for 38 dogs, with 34 receiving prednisolone for a median duration of 15 weeks (range: 1 to 28 weeks). A good to excellent clinical response was reported in all but one case. Ten dogs relapsed after discontinuing prednisolone.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for lymphadenopathy and pyrexia in English springer spaniels. The characteristics of the disease, absence of identifiable infectious aetiology and response to glucocorticoid therapy suggest an immune-mediated aetiology.

Sterile Pyogranulomatous Dermatitis and Panniculitis

Canine sterile pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis is an infrequently described syndrome. No autoantigen, or exogenous antigen, inflammatory stimulus has been identified. This syndrome is characterized by pyogranulomatous nodules, plaques, and ulcers of variable extent and severity. Prodromal and concurrent nonspecific clinical and hematologic signs of inflammation may occur. This waxing and waning condition is typically responsive to systemic immunomodulation. Lifelong therapy may be required to prevent relapse. Differential diagnoses include bacterial and fungal nodular dermatoses, neoplasia, and cutaneous reactive histiocytosis. Diagnosis is achieved via diagnostic exclusion of infectious causes and supportive histopathology findings.

Canine sterile nodular panniculitis: a retrospective study of 39 dogs

BACKGROUND

Canine sterile nodular panniculitis (SNP) is an inflammatory disease of the panniculus that is typically managed with immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive treatments. It has been reported to be a cutaneous marker of an underlying systemic disease.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

To assess the presence or absence of concurrent systemic diseases associated with canine SNP and to document breed predispositions.

ANIMALS

Thirty nine dogs presented to a veterinary teaching hospital from 1990 to 2012 which met inclusion criteria.

METHODS

Inclusion in this retrospective study required a diagnosis of SNP via histopathological analysis and negative special stains for infectious organisms. Breed distributions of affected dogs were compared to all other dogs examined at this hospital during the study period. Correlations between the histological pattern of panniculitis and the histological presence of dermatitis, clinical presentation of lesions, dog breed and therapeutic outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

Australian shepherd dogs, Brittany spaniels, Dalmatians, Pomeranians and Chihuahuas were significantly over-represented, but correlations between inflammatory patterns of panniculitis and other histological and clinical factors were not identified. Based on the information available in medical records, 32 dogs (82.1%) had no concurrent systemic diseases identified. Four dogs had concurrent polyarthritis, which may be related to SNP through unknown mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS/CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

This study identified several novel breed predilections for SNP; it failed to find any clear correlations with associated systemic diseases other than polyarthritis. The histological inflammatory pattern of SNP does not predict therapeutic outcome.

Multiple autoimmune diseases syndrome in Italian Greyhounds: preliminary studies of genome-wide diversity and possible associations within the dog leukocyte antigen (DLA) complex

A disorder manifested by multiple autoimmune disorders, and resembling autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 2 (APS-2) in humans, may exist in Italian Greyhounds. The incidence of this disorder is increasing and its potential impact on the health of the breed is becoming of great concern. The aims of the present study were to document the existence of this syndrome, conduct a preliminary assessment of genetic diversity across the breed and within affected and unaffected dogs, determine whether the disorder associates with the dog leukocyte antigen (DLA) complex, and demonstrate similarities to APS-2 of humans. To these ends, information on disease, pedigrees, and blood or buccal swab samples were collected from affected and healthy Italian Greyhounds and extracted DNA analyzed. Analysis of Y chromosome markers and mitochondrial DNA sequences showed that Italian Greyhounds evolved from a single patriline and two major and four minor matrilines. A panel of 24 highly polymorphic simple tandem repeat (STR) markers across 20 autosomes demonstrated that affected and unaffected dogs were not distinguishable from the population as a whole by heterozygosity, F-statistics, and principal component analysis (PCA). However, analysis of allele frequencies at each STR loci identified regions of increased or decreased disease risk on four chromosomes. A similar genetic analysis using 109 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the DLA region showed differences between affected and unaffected dogs. PCA and zygosity mapping of DLA SNPs from unrelated dogs demonstrated two distinct subpopulations among the affected individuals. One population was very homozygous and the other closely resembled unaffected dogs in its heterozygosity, suggesting the evolution of a disease prone bloodline as a result of non-random selection. Exon 2 sequencing of the DLA class II genes demonstrated 5-8 alleles at each locus and 14 three loci haplotypes. Two specific haplotypes containing DRB1*00203 or DRB1*02901 were associated with increased disease risk in about one-third of affected dogs. However, high density SNP association mapping across the DLA region and CFA12 did not corroborate the association.