The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of different categories of specific and general classification in canine cavitary effusions (CE), as well as their association with the underlying etiologies. The laboratorial and clinical data from 304 cases of canine CE were retrospectively assessed. In 32.9% (100 cases), at least one of the specific classification categories was established, with a subtotal predominance of neoplasia (42%), bacterial serositis (24%) and hemorrhage (16%). Neoplasia was confirmed by effusion cytology in 57.5% of the cases with histopathological confirmation. From the cases in which the specific classification was not obtained, 35.8% were classified as modified transudate, 30.4% as pure transudate, 21.1% % as exudate and 12.7% was not included in any general category. The most common causes of effusion among these cases were hypoproteinemia and/or hipoalbuminemia (HPHA) (25.8%), hepatopathy (22.5%), cardiac insufficiency (15.5%) and cytologically undetected cases of neoplasia (12.4%). In conclusion, HPHA, hepatopathy and neoplasia represents important etiologies for canine CE development. Classification of effusions, solely based on [TP] and TNCC, might be an inaccurate diagnostic tool of effusions. New laboratorial classification methods for canine CE should be researched. RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a frequência de diferentes categorias de classificação específica e geral em efusões cavitárias (EC) caninas, bem como sua associação com as etiologias subjacentes. Os dados laboratoriais e clínicos de 304 casos de EC canina foram avaliados retrospectivamente. Em 32,9% (100 casos), pelo menos uma das categorias específicas de classificação foi estabelecida, com predomínio subtotal de neoplasia (42%), serosite bacteriana (24%) e hemorragia (16%). A neoplasia foi confirmada pela citologia da efusão em 57,5% dos casos com confirmação histopatológica. Dos casos em que a classificação específica não foi obtida (204 casos), 35,8% foram classificados como transudato modificado, 30,4% como transudato puro, 21,1% como exsudato e 12,7% não foram incluídos em nenhuma categoria geral. As causas mais comuns de efusão nestes casos foram hipoproteinemia e/ou hipoalbuminemia (HPHA) (25,8%), hepatopatia (22,5%), insuficiência cardíaca (15,5%) e casos de neoplasia citologicamente não detectados (12,4%). Em conclusão, HPHA, hepatopatia e neoplasia representam importantes etiologias para o desenvolvimento da EC canina. A classificação geral de efusões, baseada exclusivamente em proteína e celularidade, pode ser uma ferramenta diagnóstica imprecisa. Novos métodos de classificação laboratorial para ECs caninas devem ser pesquisados. Palavras-chave: líquido cavitário, exsudato, peritoneal, pleural e transudato Recebido em 18 de abril de 2018 Aceito em 4 de junho de 2018

This case report describes for the first time the cytologic characteristics of a hormonally secreting pituitary adenoma in a cat. An 8-year-old female spayed domestic long-haired cat was referred with a previous diagnosis of hypersomatotropism and secondary diabetes mellitus 7 months prior. Clinical signs included weight loss, polyphagia, polyuria, and polydipsia. Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 was 340 nmol/L (RI: 12-92), and CT scan revealed a hypophyseal mass, and a presumptive diagnosis of acromegaly was made. A transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed. A fragment of the pituitary gland was subjected to a squash preparation and cytology revealed a neuroendocrine neoplasm characterized by anisokaryosis and prominent nucleoli. Additional cytologic findings included cell cohesiveness, indistinct cytoplasmic borders, nuclear crowding, molding, and fragmentation. A diagnosis of adenoma was based on a lack of histopathologic or imaging evidence of invasion. A week later, during post-surgical hospitalization, the patient worsened and died. Histopathology from a necropsy procedure revealed fibrinosuppurative meningitis as a post-surgical complication. Pituitary adenomas might have an aggressive cytologic appearance, despite a lack of histopathologic invasion or dissemination.

Canine parvovirosis is a high mortality disease with acute clinical picture. However, there are few available resources to help stablish prognosis accurately. This study aimed to determine the prognostic threshold values for vital and hematological parameters of dogs naturally infected by the Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPV). A retrospective study of 103 canine parvovirosis cases was carried out. Twenty seven percent of these (28/103) died, 96% (27/28) of which within the first four days of hospitalization. Deceased animals had significantly higher median values for heart (HR) and respiratory (f) rates, as well as significantly lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) than survivors. Severely leukopenic animals (<1,000 cells/μL), had a significantly higher mortality rate (68%, n=13) compared to that of other patients (P<0.0007). Animals with at least two of the following findings: severe hypotension (SBP< 90mmHg), tachycardia (HR > 150 bpm) and leukopenia, represented 34% (34/101) of the cases and had a survival rate of 29% (10/34), while animals with at most one of these parameters represented 66% (67/101) and had a survival rate of 94% (63/67). The presence of two or three abnormal parameters was significantly related to the higher death risk among dogs with parvovirosis (P<0.0001).

Background: There is disagreement in the literature about the proportion of neutrophils expected in canine transudates. A cutoff of <30% neutrophils has been recommended for distinguishing transudates from exudates, but its validity has not been established. Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate differential cell counts in canine effusions and analyze the percentage and number of neutrophils in transudates and exudates.Methods: Effusion data were obtained retrospectively from 263 dogs with pleural or peritoneal effusion. Low-protein transudates, high-protein transudates, and exudates were classified using the total protein (TP) concentration and total nucleated cell count (TNCC). Differential percentages and absolute neutrophil counts were compared by the effusion type and underlying etiology.Results: Low-protein transudates (n = 63), high-protein transudates (n = 84), and exudates (n = 77) had a median (range) of 35% (0%-100%), 59% (0%-100%), and 90% (50%-98%) neutrophils (P < .0001). All effusions with <50% neutrophils were transudates, but 53% of transudates had ≥50% neutrophils, and 69% had ≥30%. Median neutrophil counts were 62/µL (0-892/µL), 538/µL (0-4550/µL), and 45 590/µL (5400-496 800/µL) in low-protein transudates, high-protein transudates, and exudates, respectively (P < .0001). Neutrophil counts correlated with TNCC (r 2 = 0.99), such that using neutrophil cutoffs did not affect effusion classifications in most cases.Neutrophil percentages and counts were higher in effusions from dogs with uroabdomen and sepsis (P < .01); neutrophil counts were lower in dogs with hepatic insufficiency (P < .0001). Uroabdomen usually caused low-protein, high-neutrophil exudates.Conclusions: Although effusions with <50% neutrophils are transudates, most transudates and exudates have ≥50% neutrophils, limiting the diagnostic usefulness of % neutrophils for classifying effusions. Absolute neutrophil cutoffs did not notably improve effusion classification but could warrant future studies.

The Wellness Ready Test (WRT) is a lateral flow, stall-side assay that measures equine insulin in whole blood and requires validation before recommending clinical use. We evaluated intra- and inter-assay precision and linearity and compared the WRT with a radioimmunoassay (RIA). Tested concentrations ranged from <139 to >695 pmol/L (<20 to >100 μIU/mL). For 20 replicates at each insulin level, intra-assay CVs of the WRT for insulin were 13.3%, 12.9%, and 15.3% at low (139–278 pmol/L; 20–40 μIU/mL), intermediate (278–417 pmol/L; 40–60 μIU/mL), and high (>417 [Formula: see text] >60 μIU/mL) concentrations, respectively. For 10 replicates at each level (3 assay lots), inter-assay CVs were 15.9%, 11.0%, and 11.7%, respectively. In the weighted linear regression of 5 measured insulin concentrations against expected concentrations, R2 = 0.98, slope = 1.02, and y-intercept = 14.4 pmol/L (2.08 μIU/mL). The Spearman correlation coefficient ( rs) was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85–0.94) between the WRT and RIA; the WRT = f(RIA) Passing–Bablok regression yielded the fit, y = 1.005x + 24.3 pmol/L (3.50 μIU/mL). The WRT result averaged 10.4% higher than the RIA result, with targeted bias of 25.9, 26.1, and 26.7 pmol/L (3.74, 3.76, and 3.84 μIU/mL) for cutoffs used to diagnose insulin dysregulation of 312, 347, and 451 pmol/L (45, 50, and 65 μIU/mL). Assay clinical sensitivities, specificities, and accuracies determined at the 3 selected clinical cutoffs and using the RIA as gold standard were 87–95%, 92–96%, and 91–95%, respectively ( n = 99 samples). Observed total error was 28.4–30.4%. The WRT had acceptable precision, excellent linearity, and good association with the RIA.

Skeletal metastasis is a common finding in dogs with prostatic carcinoma and most frequently involves the lumbar vertebrae and pelvis. In the present report, we describe the case of a prostatic carcinoma in a 6‐year‐old Labrador retriever, who developed apparent oral sensitivity and pain within a week of initial diagnosis. Computed tomography of the skull revealed a mixed osteoproductive and osteolytic mass of the condylar process of the left mandible, and cytologic evaluation of the mass was consistent with metastatic prostatic carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of mandibular metastasis of a prostatic carcinoma in a dog.

Background Current diagnostic evaluation of transudative effusions rarely aids in identifying an underlying etiology. Lipoproteins in the fluid might reflect the site or nature of vessel involvement. Objectives Improve the classification and diagnostic utility of pleural and peritoneal transudates in dogs and cats by investigating lipoprotein patterns in effusions. Compare these patterns with other peritonaeal and pleural fluid variables and underlying diseases. Animals Samples of transudates and serum from 18 cats and 37 dogs with transudative effusion (total nucleated cell count [TNCC] <5000 cells/μL) were analyzed. Methods Lipoprotein fractions, triglyceride, and cholesterol (CHO) concentrations were prospectively determined in paired fluid and serum samples. Standard fluid measurements were retrospectively collected. Results Two distinct fluid lipoprotein patterns were noted. Fluids rich in VLDL+IDL were associated with chronic kidney disease, acquired portosystemic shunts or protein‐losing enteropathy (group I). Fluids rich in denser lipoproteins were associated with underlying heart disease, caudal vena cava syndrome or intracavitary neoplasia (group II). Group I and group II also had significant differences between fluid concentrations of CHO (x̄ = 8 vs 110 mg/dL) and TP (x̄ = 0.6 vs 3.8 g/dL), respectively. Five peritoneal transudates were triglyceride‐rich (>100 mg/dL) and associated with pancreatitis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Protein‐poor (TP <1.5 g/dL) and protein‐rich (TP >2.5 g/dL) transudates were associated with distinct lipoprotein patterns and specific groups of disease. Effusions secondary to pancreatitis might be transudative and rich in triglycerides.

A 3-year-old male castrated Boxer was referred to the University of California-Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to further evaluate episodes of epistaxis of 1-year duration. The dog was adopted at approximately 6 months of age in the northern region of California (Petaluma, CA) and had no travel history outside of this region. Additional clinical history included urinary incontinence, resolved chronic pancreatitis, and waxing and waning allergic dermatitis, which was considered most likely seasonal. According to anamnesis, the only instituted therapy was cetirizine hydrochloride. Upon physical examination, moderate bilateral mandibular and superficial cervical lymphadenomegaly (up to 3.5 cm) was noted. There was alopecia with erythema and mild lichenification along the distal limbs, but no other overt clinical abnormalities were observed. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdominal cavity revealed mild generalized abdominal lymphadenopathy and hypoechoic hepatomegaly. The thoracic radiographic examination was unremarkable. A CBC (ADVIA 120 automated analyzer, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Munich, Germany) revealed microcytic (MCV = 60 fL, RI 65-75) normochromic nonregenerative (19 500 reticulocytes/ µL, RI 7000-65 000) moderate anemia (PCV = 29%, RI 40-55) and moderate lymphopenia (438 cells/µL, RI 1000-4000). On serum biochemistry (Cobas 6000 C501 analyzer, Roche, Basel, Switzerland), marked hyperglobulinemia (10.9 g/dL, RI 1.7-3.1), moderate hypoalbuminemia (2.1 g/dL, RI 3.4-4.3), and mild hypocholesterolemia (129 mg/dL, IR 139-353) were noted. Protein electrophoresis revealed a broad-based peak bridging the beta and gamma globulin regions, indicating a polyclonal gammopathy for which the presence