Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus associated with fatal disease in progressively infected cats. While testing/removal and vaccination led to a decreased prevalence of FeLV, recently, this decrease has reportedly stagnated in some countries. This study aimed to prospectively determine the prevalence of FeLV viraemia in cats taken to veterinary facilities in 32 European countries. FeLV viral RNA was semiquantitatively detected in saliva, using RT-qPCR as a measure of viraemia. Risk and protective factors were assessed using an online questionnaire to report geographic, demographic, husbandry, FeLV vaccination, and clinical data. The overall prevalence of FeLV viraemia in cats visiting a veterinary facility, of which 10.4% were shelter and rescue cats, was 2.3% (141/6005; 95% CI: 2.0%–2.8%) with the highest prevalences in Portugal, Hungary, and Italy/Malta (5.7%–8.8%). Using multivariate analysis, seven risk factors (Southern Europe, male intact, 1–6 years of age, indoor and outdoor or outdoor-only living, living in a group of ≥5 cats, illness), and three protective factors (Northern Europe, Western Europe, pedigree cats) were identified. Using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis, the origin of cats in Europe, pedigree, and access to outdoors were important predictors of FeLV status. FeLV-infected sick cats shed more viral RNA than FeLV-infected healthy cats, and they suffered more frequently from anaemia, anorexia, and gingivitis/stomatitis than uninfected sick cats. Most cats had never been FeLV-vaccinated; vaccination rates were indirectly associated with the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. In conclusion, we identified countries where FeLV was undetectable, demonstrating that the infection can be eradicated and highlighting those regions where awareness and prevention should be increased.

ABSTRACT:A four-year-old Bullmastiff weighing 44 kg was presented with a 14-day history of weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea. Abdominal ultrasonography showed the presence of abdominal lymphadenopathy and thickening of the wall of the descending colon. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy with biopsy were performed. Histological examination revealed a high-grade lymphoblastic lymphoma, flow cytometric analysis detected malignant cells of the immature B phenotype. PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement confirmed IgH monoclonality pointing together with immunophenotyping to B-cell lymphoma. The dog was treated using a multi-agent chemotherapy protocol. The overall survival time was 487 days. This was an unusual case of primary gastrointestinal B-lymphoblastic lymphoma in a dog with survival equivalent to that of the multicentric form.Keywords: canine; alimentary; lymphoid neoplasia; immunophenotyping; PARR; chemotherapy List of abbreviations:B-LBL = B-lymphoblastic lymphoma, FC = flow cytometry, FNAB = fine-needle aspiration biopsy, GI = gastrointestinal, LPE = lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis, PARR = polymerase chain reaction for antigen receptor rearrangement

The presented case describes an interesting manifestation of epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma with formation of nodal and distant metastases in an 8-year-old cocker spaniel. Cutaneous lesions included multiple hypotrichous to alopetic foci, scales, erythematous plaques and multiple cutaneous nodules, often with superficial ulceration. The lesions were present predominantly on the neck, thorax, abdomen and hind legs. Clinically, the dog showed lethargy and there was an inappetence and a mild dyspnoe. Subsequent findings were generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, pallor of mucous membranes and tachycardia. Smear impression of cutaneous nodules contained degenerated neutrophils with phagocytized cocci and macrophages. Cytological examination of nodules (FNA) showed a predominantly round cell population, with a compound of histiocytoid cells mixed with cells of inflammatory infiltration. Histopathological examination of the skin was performed. There was infiltrate of large neoplastic round cells in the superficial and deep dermis, morphologically resembling histiocytes. In some tissue sections the neoplastic infiltrate was present only in the superficial dermis, composed of medium-sized lymphocytes with hyperchromatic round, oval to indented nuclei 1.5 red cells in diameter and a small amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm. Focal exulceration, formation of Pautrier’s microabscesses in epidermis, and in some sections subepidermal and intraepidermal vesiculopustules and intraepidermal vesicles were present. Neoplastic infiltrate was CD3, CD18 and vimentin positive. Examination for CD79 and CD117 was negative. MHC II positivity was found only focally in cells of inflammatory infiltration in superficial dermis. Diagnosis of epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) was carried out. The response to the therapy of the disease was poor and the dog died two months after diagnosis. Necropsy revealed generalized lymphadenopathy, several white, fat-like nodules in heart muscle, lungs, esophagus and stomach, and mild hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Multiple white disseminated foci were found in the spleen. Histopathological examination showed round cell, CD3 positive neoplastic infiltrate in heart, lungs, spleen, liver, lymph nodes, esophagus and stomach, morphologically corresponding with neoplastic infiltrate found in skin.