The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of elastography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tumours of the mammary gland in dogs. The study was performed to 12 female dogs of different breeds aged 5-12 years in which tumoral lesions of the mammary gland were found in the clinical examination. In all the animals elastographic examination of the lesions was carried out and then the fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed to determine the nature and degree of malignancy of the lesions. The examinations proved that benign neoplasms of the mammary gland showed low stiffness (average 22.42 kPa, range 19 to 42.4 kPa), whereas malignant neoplasms were characterized by high stiffness (average 235.44 kPa, range 171 to 300 kPa). On the basis of the results obtained we conclude that the elastography of proliferative lesions of the mammary gland is a useful diagnostic method for distinguishing benign neoplastic lesions from malignant neoplasms.

The aim of this study was to identify the species and determine the prevalence of gastric Helicobacter in the saliva of dogs with gastritis. The study was carried out on 30 dogs of different breeds, genders and ages, which were diagnosed with gastritis. The nested-PCR method was used to detect Helicobacter spp. in saliva. Helicobacter bacteria were found in the saliva samples of 23 (76.6%) dogs. Helicobacter heilmannii was the most commonly detected species of gastric Helicobacter spp. in canine saliva, and was found in 22 (73.3%) cases. The results indicate that gastric Helicobacter spp. occurs relatively frequently in dogs with gastritis. Moreover, the saliva of dogs with gastritis may be a source of Helicobacter spp. infection for humans and other animals. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding as the PCR method does not distinguish active from inactive infections.

There are multiple dynamic changes associated with the metabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) which occur in the course of liver fibrosis. Therefore, the evaluation of parameters reflecting the deposition of ECM, the activity of myofibroblasts and the synthesis and degradation of collagen may aid in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Hyaluronic acid is considered to be a marker of ECM deposition. It is a glycosaminoglycan synthesized by hepatic stellate cells and degraded by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of hyaluronic acid in dogs with different degrees of liver fibrosis. The study was carried out on 29 dogs with liver disease. A core needle biopsy of the liver was performed in order to assess the degree of hepatic inflammation. Then, hyaluronic acid serum concentrations were measured. The dogs were divided into five groups based on the histopathological examination and the evaluation of the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The study showed that serum hyaluronic acid concentrations were low in patients with first stage liver fibrosis and in controls, while they were twice as high as control values in the group of dogs with second stage liver fibrosis. These concentrations were three-fold greater than control values in patients with third stage liver fibrosis, and seven-fold greater in patients with liver cirrhosis. Based on the results, it was concluded that serum hyaluronic acid is a useful marker of liver fibrosis and may aid in determining the degree of its advancement.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and identify the species of gastric Helicobacter in the stool of dogs with gastritis. The study was carried out on thirty dogs of different breeds, of both genders and of various ages, diagnosed with gastritis. Helicobacter spp. was detected in stool samples using the nested-PCR method. Helicobacter bacteria were identified in stool samples from seven (23.3%) dogs. Helicobacter heilmannii was found to be the most common species of gastric Helicobacter. Helicobacter salomonis was identified much less frequently, while Helicobacter felis, Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter bizzozeronii were not detected in any of the samples.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum concentration of the type III procollagen aminopeptide in dogs, and to assess its utility in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. The study was carried out on 20 dogs of different breeds and of both genders, between 7 and 15 years old. Based on the results of the histopathological examination and the evaluation of the degree of liver fibrosis, the dogs were divided into five groups. The mean serum PIIINP concentration in the group of dogs with stage 1 and 2 liver fibrosis (groups 2 and 3) was five-fold higher than in healthy dogs (group 1). In turn, the mean PIIINP concentration in the group of dogs with stage 3 (group 4) and stage 4 (group 5) fibrosis was 10-fold higher than that of the control group (group 1). Based on the results, we found that the serum PIIINP concentration correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis, assessed based on a histopathological examination. Therefore, PIIINP serum concentration tests may be a promising non-invasive diagnostic technique that could be used in veterinary hepatology to assess the degree of liver fibrosis.

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The aim of this study was to assess whether the serum levels of the 7S fragment of type IV collagen may aid in diagnosing liver fibrosis in dogs. The study was carried out on 20 dogs with liver disease. Serum levels of the 7S fragment of type IV collagen were measured in all dogs. The analysis showed that healthy dogs and dogs with type 1, 2 and 3 liver fibrosis had low serum concentrations of the 7S fragment of type IV collagen compared to dogs with type 4 liver fibrosis. The study revealed that the assessment of serum levels of the 7S fragment of type IV collagen is useful in the diagnosis of advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Of all the tumours in dogs, three percent are located in the intestines, and 36-60% of those tumours affect the large intestine. Adenocarcinomas of the intestines account for 20-35% of the gastrointestinal tumours and for almost 60% of the large intestine tumours. The aim of the study was to analyze clinical disorders and endoscopic, histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in colorectal adenocarcinomas in dogs with the use of the E-cadherin, β-catenin, cytokeratin 20 (CK20), Ki-67 and minichromosome maintenance 3 (MCM-3). The study comprised 11 dogs of both genders and of different breeds diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the large intestine. They were from 4 to 11 years old.The large intestine adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in all the patients. 72.7% cases were diagnosed with a rectal adenocarcinoma, and 27.3% were found to have a colonic adenocarcinoma. All the studied proteins were expressed at different levels and, together with the histological findings, indicated different levels of malignancy (G). The statistical analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in the studied tissues (p=0.79) and between the expression of Ki-67 and MCM-3 (p=0.39). A strong positive correlation was found between the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin (r=0.86; p<0.05).The diagnosis of adenocarcinomas of the large intestine may be facilitated by the introduction of immunohistochemical studies using appropriate cell markers. They may also aid in the accurate evaluation of the biological character of the tumours, their origin, the connections between tumour cells and the mitotic index. That, in turn, may help determine the malignancy and the choice of treatment.