Canine breed predispositions for marked hypocobalaminaemia or decreased folate concentration assessed by a laboratory survey

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine canine breed predispositions for decreased serum folate or markedly decreased cobalamin concentrations.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of samples from dogs that had serum folate and cobalamin concentrations measured, from 1990 to 2002 at the Comparative Gastroenterology Laboratory of Liverpool, were enrolled. A total of 13,069 samples were analysed. Those with trypsin-like immunoreactivity < 5·0 lg/L were excluded, and only breeds with at least 30 individuals tested were further analyzed. Breed predisposition was determined by calculating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for hypocobalaminaemia or decreased folate concentration. Significance was tested with a two-sided Fisher's exact test, and the level of statistical significance was set at P<0·05.

RESULTS

A total of 9960 dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Forty breeds contained at least 30 individuals. Predispositions for hypocobalaminaemia were identified in shar peis, Staffordshire bull terriers, German shepherd dogs and mixed breeds. Predispositions for decreased folate concentration were found in golden retrievers and boxers.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Predisposition for marked hypocobalaminaemia and decreased folate concentration differed between breeds. The shar peis had a markedly increased odds ratio for hypocobalaminaemia, as previously reported in North America, but other at-risk breeds were also identified.

Assessment of the clinical usefulness of ultrasound-guided cytological specimens obtained from gastrointestinal lesions in dogs and cats

OBJECTIVES

Cytological biopsies are an integral additional test to an abdominal ultrasound when a lesion is identified, but there is little published on factors that that may impact achieving a clinically useful sample of gastrointestinal lesions obtained by ultrasound-guided fine-needle cytologic biopsy. This retrospective, descriptive study aimed to assess factors that may influence the clinical usefulness of submitted cytological samples collected from gastrointestinal lesions by ultrasound-guided percutaneous fine-needle cytologic biopsy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Gastrointestinal cytological samples obtained from 25 dogs and 19 cats over 2.5 years were reviewed and determined as clinically useful or clinically useless as per the cytology report. Variables dependent on the ultrasound exam that were used in the analysis included lesion location, lesion thickness, loss of gastrointestinal layering, and the number of slides submitted.

RESULTS

Thirty (30/44) of the submitted cytological samples were considered clinically useful. Factors associated with achieving a clinically useful sample in univariable models included the number of slides submitted and the thickness of the lesion. However, these two variables appear inter-related, as a weak correlation existed between them. Where histologic biopsies were obtained, a clinically useful sample had a partial or complete agreement with histology in three of 12 and eight of 12 cases, respectively.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle cytological biopsies of gastrointestinal masses provided a clinically useful sample in two-third of the cases, especially if more slides were provided to the cytologist and thicker lesions were sampled.

Canine Leishmania infantum infection: an imported case in UK after staying in the Canary Islands

Leishmaniosis is reported in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, but the Canary Islands are deemed free. In the present communication, we report a clinical leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum in a dog that was presumptively infected during its stay on Tenerife. The result of Leishmania serology (whole-cell based ELISA with L. infantum antigen) was high positive (test score of 82.2 at a cut-off value of 12.0). This result was further confirmed with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for Leishmania spp. on a blood sample. A medium load of parasites was detected (48 parasites/ml blood). L. infantum was identified by RFLP analysis of the ITS-1 PCR product. Confirmation that leishmaniosis is endemic to the Canary Islands would further require study on local dogs with no travel history as well as reassessment on frequency and distribution of Phlebotomus spp. as well as Leishmania spp. detection in the sand fly vector. However, this case strongly suggests that L. infantum is present on the Canary Islands. Although transmission seems to be still exceptional, preventive measures in dogs travelling to the Canaries should be considered.

Diagnostic yield of percutaneous, ultrasound-guided, fine needle aspirates of the gastrointestinal wall: a retrospective analysis of 152 samples

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to assess the technical success of percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates of gastrointestinal wall lesions and evaluate predictors of success. Secondary aims included comparing the cytological diagnosis with histopathology, evaluating the utility of concurrent locoregional lymph node cytology and assessing the procedure's complication rate.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Gastrointestinal wall cytology from 75 dogs and 70 cats obtained between 2018 and 2023 were reviewed and categorised as successful (resulting in a diagnostic cytology report) and accurate (resulting in the correct diagnosis when compared to histopathology). Unsuccessful fine needle aspirates, not submitted for cytology, were not recorded. Variables recorded included animal signalment, lesion and lymph node's appearance on ultrasound, size, location, number of smears submitted and experience of the ultrasonographer.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-two reports were analysed. Eighty-eight (58%) were successful: three normal epithelium, 21 inflammatory processes and 64 neoplasms. Variables associated with increased technical success included description of a mass, higher number of slides submitted and thickness of gastrointestinal lesion on ultrasound. Comparison with histopathology, performed for 17 lesions, showed discrepancies in eight, complete agreement in seven and partial in two. Eighty-four loco-regional lymph nodes were sampled, of which, 67 were successful (80%) and 52 brought additional clinical information (supporting GI wall cytology or diagnosing neoplasia not identified on GI wall cytology). No complication strictly attributable to gastrointestinal wall sampling was reported but when possibly related, death of the patient occurred in 2.5% of cases.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirate of gastrointestinal wall had moderate accuracy and was unsuccessful in 42% of cases, but technical success increased when sampling mass lesions, thicker intestinal layers and submitting more slides.