Markers of lipid peroxidation and α-tocopherol levels in the blood and neoplastic tissue of dogs with malignant mammary gland tumors.

BACKGROUND: Excess reactive oxygen species due to oxidative stress and the ensuing lipid peroxidation are believed to be involved in mammary gland tumor (MGT) pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of lipid peroxidation as evidenced by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation, and the concentration of α-tocopherol as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, in blood and neoplastic tissue of dogs with malignant MGT. The correlation between inflammatory cell infiltration score and TBARS or α-tocopherol in MGT was also evaluated. METHODS: Sixteen intact female dogs with malignant MGT and 12 clinically healthy and age/weight-matched controls were included in the study. In all dogs, serum TBARS, α-tocopherol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured. Tissue TBARS and α-tocopherol levels were determined in 1 cm(3) sized tissue samples collected from MGT and adjacent, ipsilateral, normal mammary gland tissue from the 16 affected dogs. The degree of inflammatory cell tumor infiltration was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in serum levels of TBARS, α-tocopherol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides between dogs with and without malignant MGT. TBARS were significantly higher, whereas α-tocopherol was lower in neoplastic tissue when compared with normal mammary gland tissue. There was no correlation between TBARS or α-tocopherol concentration and the inflammatory cell infiltration score in neoplastic tissue. CONCLUSION: The increased level of TBARS suggests oxidative stress induction in canine malignant MGT. The origin of this phenomenon is not clear, as a potential oxidative burst could not be attributed to inflammatory cells infiltrating the tumors.

Clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities in dogs with clinical spirocercosis: 39 cases (1996-2004).

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities in dogs with naturally occurring clinical spirocercosis. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 39 dogs with spirocercosis. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed, and information on signalment, residence (rural vs urban), owner complaints, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic abnormalities, radiographic and endoscopic findings, and concurrent systemic diseases was recorded. RESULTS: Hellenic hounds and mixed-breed dogs were overrepresented, compared with a group of 117 control dogs without spirocercosis that were examined because of gastrointestinal tract disease, and mean body weight of dogs with spirocercosis was significantly higher than mean body weight of control dogs. Odynophagia (34 [87%]), regurgitation (24 [62%]), and excessive salivation (14 [36%]) were the most common clinical findings. The most common radiographic abnormalities were a mass in the caudodorsal aspect of the mediastinum (15/35 [43%]) and spondylitis of the caudal thoracic vertebrae (10 [29%]). Parasitic nodules were seen during esophagoscopy in all 39 dogs. Normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia; neutrophilic leukocytosis; hyperproteinemia; and high alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly more common in dogs with spirocercosis than in a control group of 56 healthy dogs. Concurrent systemic diseases, mainly leishmaniosis, dirofilariosis, and monocytic ehrlichiosis, were documented in 14 (36%) dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that clinical spirocercosis occurs more often in young-adult, large-breed dogs. Nonregenerative anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia, and high alkaline phosphatase activity may be useful clinicopathologic indicators of this disease.

Mixed Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis, and presumptive Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a dog.

A 5-month-old, female, mongrel dog was admitted to the Clinic of Companion Animal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, with depression, anorexia, fever, peripheral lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, oculonasal discharge, nonregenerative anemia, and mild thrombocytopenia. Cytology of Giemsa-stained buffy coat, bone marrow, and lymph node aspiration smears revealed numerous morulae in mononuclear leukocytes and in neutrophils, and Hepatozoon canis gamonts in neutrophils. The dog was seropositive to Ehrlichia canis (immunofluorescence assay [IFA]) and Hepatozoon canis (ELISA) but not to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (IFA). A nested polymerase chain reaction performed on bone marrow aspirates was positive for E canis. This method was not applied for the detection of A phagocytophilum. Treatment with doxycycline and imidocarb dipropionate resulted in both clinical and parasitologic cure. This is the first reported case of a mixed infection with E canis, H canis, and presumptive A phagocytophilum. The findings emphasize the value of cytology in offering a quick and inexpensive diagnosis in mixed tick-borne infections of dogs.

A comparison between ethanol-induced chemical ablation and ivermectin plus prednizolone in the treatment of symptomatic esophageal spirocercosis in the dog: a prospective study on 14 natural cases.

This study included a total of 14 dogs with spontaneous esophageal spirocercosis. Historical and clinical evidence of esophageal dysphagia, detection of parasitic ova in fecal samples and endoscopic documentation of esophageal nodules were the inclusion criteria. The animals were randomly assigned into two groups: group A (n = 6 ) dogs received two intranodular injections of absolute ethanol (96%) via a through-the-endoscope injector, at weekly intervals; group B (n = 8) dogs were put on ivermectin (600 microg/kg BW, subcutaneously, twice, 14 days apart) and oral prednisolone (0.5mg/kg BW, every 12h, for a total of 3 weeks, tapering the dose accordingly). Clinical and fecal examination as well as endoscopy, were performed on admission and at 20, 60 and 180 days from the beginning of the treatment. One group A dog responded poorly and died of pyothorax during the trial and another developed esophagitis due to accidental intraluminal ethanol infusion, only to experience an uneventful recovery. At different times during the 6-month follow-up period, there was a complete disappearance of the clinical signs in 4/6 group A dogs. However, full nodular regression was achieved only in one dog, and parasitic ova were still found in the feces of 4/6 dogs. At the same period of time in five group B dogs still available for evaluation, resolution of the clinical signs and complete nodular regression were seen in four and five animals, respectively, while negative fecal results were obtained in all dogs (8/8) of the same group 2 months from the beginning of the treatment. No significant difference was found between the groups, regarding the resolution of clinical signs, though group B dogs demonstrated a significantly higher rate of regression of esophageal nodules as well as negative fecal results, compared to group A dogs. The combination of ivermectin and prednizolone may be considered an effective treatment in the symptomatic and evidently asymptomatic esophageal spirocercosis of the dog.