Lipogranulomas and pigment granulomas in livers of dogs with portosystemic shunt.

Lipogranulomas are lesions found in histopathological liver examination in humans and in various animal species, including dogs, especially those with portosystemic shunts. They consist of macrophages and other inflammatory cells, and sometimes they contain iron salts (pigment granuloma). This study aimed at determining the number of granulomas and cellular composition of lipogranulomas in dogs with the congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and to identify factors associated with their development. 44 archival liver samples from dogs with portosystemic shunt were stained using HE, Perl's method and - in randomly-selected cases - immunohistochemically against CD56, CD20 and CD3 (DAKO). A reduction in the size of the liver was observed in all dogs during laparotomy, and the diameter of the vessel circumventing the liver was also measured (in 24 dogs). Lipogranulomas were found in 52.3% of samples; iron salts were present in 47.8% of them; 72% of cells in lipogranulomas were macrophages. In lipogranulomas both types of lymphocytes - T and B - were seen. The presence of lipogranulomas in liver samples in dogs was connected with fatty degeneration of hepatocytes and was correlated with the age of animals and with the diameter of the abnormal vessel circumventing the liver. Their formation appears to be triggered by severe ischemia and shortage of nutrient supply.

Veterinary pathology in Europe in the light of the congresses of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology in the last decade.

This paper presents the main trends in the activity of European veterinary pathologists in the context of their oral presentations (plenary lectures and short presentations) and posters provided during annual meetings of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology (ESVP), in the decade 1997-2006. It was found that the issue that was most often brought up in the meetings was organ pathology (566 presentations). Infectious and parasitical diseases were only slightly less frequent (548 presentations). Oncology was another common issue (404 presentations). During this decade, 52 plenary lectures were presented, 765 oral presentations and 1 072 posters. Altogether, 1 889 presentations were made, which is between 127 and 238 per year. Research by Polish scientists accounted for 3.16% of all presentations. Additionally, the subject matter discussed at the annual meetings is analysed, and the trends in the development of veterinary diagnostic pathology and broad pathology education are indicated. It is shown that veterinary pathology enhances knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine by fulfilling a cognitive and diagnostic role.

Tumors of the urogenital system in dogs and cats. Retrospective review of 138 cases.

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and localization of different tumors in the urogenital system in dogs and cats in relation to sex, age and breed of animals. The study was performed on tumors or tissue specimens from tumors of the urinary and genital system obtained during surgery from dogs and cats submitted to the Division of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Clinical Sciences Agricultural University of Warsaw from 1998 to 2005. Most tumors of the urogenital system recognized in the present study derived from dogs (94.20%, 130 cases), and only a few cases were obtained from cats (5.79%). Occurrence and localization of urogenital system tumors in present review is similar to findings reported by other authors. Testicular tumors in males, ovarian lesions in females and urinary bladder tumors in both sexes were most commonly recognized. Older dogs were most often affected, animals with nonmalignant tumors were a bit younger than those with malignant lesions. Any obvious breed predilections were found, but terriers were at increased risk for development of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and mixed breed and German shepherd for development of testicular neoplasms.

Estrogen receptors in canine mammary gland tumours.

The aim of the present study was to establish the relationship between estrogen receptor expression in neoplastic parenchymal cells and the type of canine mammary gland tumour. The research material included mammary gland tumours obtained from 66 dogs. Paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies and LSAB/Peroxidase/Universal Kit. The estrogen receptor expression was observed in nuclei of neoplastic cells in about 59% of the cases and in the cytoplasm in about 89% of the cases. In about 20% of the cases the expression in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm was extremely weak. No correlation was found between the expression of estrogen receptors and the value of mitotic indexes in the neoplasms investigated.