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Antibodies against Leishmania spp. are detected in most dogs with clinical signs of leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum. Accurate, rapid in-clinic serological tests may permit immediate confirmation of the diagnosis and implementation of therapeutic measures. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 2 commercial, rapid in-clinic serological tests for the detection of anti- Leishmania antibodies in sera of dogs, the Snap Canine Leishmania Antibody Test kit (IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Westbrook, Maine) and the ImmunoRun Antibody Detection kit (Biogal Galed Labs, Kibbutz Galed, Israel), using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) as the reference method. A total of 109 sera collected from 65 seropositive and 44 seronegative dogs were used. The sensitivities of the Snap and ImmunoRun kits were 89.23% (95% confidence interval: 79.05–95.54%) and 86.15% (95% confidence interval: 75.33–93.45%), respectively, and the specificity of both tests was 100%. A good agreement between each of the rapid in-clinic serological tests and IFAT and between the 2 rapid in-clinic serological tests was witnessed. Both rapid in-clinic serological tests showed an adequate diagnostic accuracy and can be used for the fast detection of antibodies against L. infantum in dogs.

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A seven-year-old, entire male, American Staffordshire bull terrier was diagnosed with chronic solar dermatitis and basal cell carcinoma, based on physical examination, cutaneous cytology and histopathology. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumour cells did not express p53. To the authors' knowledge this is the first reported case of canine basal cell carcinoma developing as a complication of chronic solar dermatitis.

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Background:The optimal microscopic magnification and number of optical fields of adhesive tape strip cytological slides that should be examined when searching for Malassezia yeasts on canine skin are unknown.Objectives: To determine the optimal magnification and the minimum number of optical fields that should be examined to maximise intraobserver repeatability and interobserver reproducibility. Materials and Methods:Seven experienced examiners counted, twice, the number of yeasts in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 optical fields of 40 slides at ×400 and ×1000 magnification. Results:The number of yeasts per unit surface area was significantly higher at ×1000 compared to ×400 magnification. Repeatability and reproducibility for counting the yeasts was very poor. Conclusions and clinical relevance:Adhesive tape strip cytological slides should be examined microscopically for Malassezia spp. at ×1000 magnification. The repeatability of this examination for counting the yeasts is poor.

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