[Thymoma in a young adult cat]. / Thymom bei einer jung-adulten Katze.

Thymomas and mediastinal lymphomas are the most common mediastinal neoplasms in cats. While mediastinal lymphoma occurs primarily in younger cats (approximately 2 to 4 years of age), thymomas are diagnosed almost exclusively in older cats. However, the following case shows that this is not necessarily always the case.A 3-year- and 11-month-old neutered male European Shorthair was presented with a preliminary report of exercise intolerance and restricted respiration. Both symptoms occurred primarily at high ambient temperatures. Radiographically, a mediastinal mass filled a significant part of the thoracic cavity. A computed tomographic examination and ultrasound-guided TruCut biopsy were performed. Histologic examination suggested a thymoma. A sternal thoracotomy and resection of the circumferential proliferation was conducted. Subsequent histopathologic examination confirmed the suspected diagnosis of a mediastinal thymoma. The cat recovered well postoperatively, and a clinical and radiographic follow-up examination was unremarkable after 8 months.

Case of mastocytemia and systemic mastocytosis in a dog: ProCyte Dx and Sysmex XT-2000i scattergram findings, morphologic features, and c-kit somatic mutation analysis.

A 10-year-old female Golden Retriever was presented for a recheck after the complete removal of low-grade complex mammary carcinoma. The in-house ProCyte Dx automated counts revealed moderate regenerative anemia and moderate eosinophilia. The ProCyte Dx WBC scattergram showed a cloud in an unusual place parallel and to the right of the monocyte dot plot location. Cells were classified as either monocytes or neutrophils with no clear separation. Complete blood count analysis performed in the laboratory on a Sysmex XT-2000iV analyzer showed moderate regenerative anemia and WBC count within RI; a differential count was not provided by the instrument. On the Sysmex XT-2000iV DIFF scattergram, neutrophil and eosinophil dot plots were present at the respective locations and appeared separated, but the instrument did not provide numerical results. In addition to the normal lymphocyte dot plot location, the second cloud of cells classified as lymphocytes was displayed to the right of the monocyte dot plot area. On the WBC/BASO scattergram, the second population of cells was present above and to the right of the leukocyte cluster. Morphologic assessment of the blood smear detected mastocytemia with 16% poorly granulated and degranulated mast cells. FNAs from the liver and spleen contained large aggregates of poorly granulated mast cells. C-kit somatic mutation screening detected the presence of point mutation S479I in exon 9 of the canine c-KIT gene. This is the first description of abnormal scattergrams from ProCyte Dx and Sysmex XT-2000iV analyzers in a dog with concurrent mastocytemia and systemic mastocytosis, and where cytologic assessments of a blood smear, liver, and spleen, and c-kit somatic mutation analysis were performed.

Renal Nephroblastoma in a 17-Month-Old Jack Russell Terrier.

A 17 mo old female Jack Russell terrier was diagnosed with unilateral primary malignant nephroblastoma. The dog presented with polyuria and polydipsia. Laboratory tests revealed polycythemia and elevated serum erythropoietin levels. Diagnostic imaging (i.e., MRI) revealed a unilateral renal mass without spinal cord involvement. Nephrectomy was performed, and the histopathologic diagnosis was nephroblastoma. The dog did not receive any chemotherapy, and there was no evidence of recurrent disease or metastasis over 30 mo after nephrectomy. This is the first case report of a dog presenting with polyuria and polydipsia found to be a result of nephroblastoma. Furthermore, this is the longest survival reported for canine nephroblastoma treated with nephrectomy alone.

Use of a 2-tier histologic grading system for canine cutaneous mast cell tumors on cytology specimens.

BACKGROUND: Mast cell tumors (MCT) represent the most common malignant skin tumor in the dog. Diagnosis of an MCT can be achieved through cytologic examination of a fine-needle aspirate. However, the grade of the tumor is an important prognostic marker and currently requires histologic assessment. Recently a 2-tier histologic grading system based on nuclear features including number of mitoses, multinucleated cells, bizarre nuclei, and karyomegaly was proposed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess if the cytomorphologic criteria proposed in the 2-tier histologic grading system are applicable to cytology specimens. METHODS: A total of 141 MCT specimens reported as grade I, II, or III according to the Patnaik system with both histologic specimens and fine-needle aspirates available were histologically and cytologically reevaluated in a retrospective study. RESULTS: According to the 2-tier grading system, 38 cases were diagnosed histologically as high-grade and 103 as low-grade MCT. Cytologic grading resulted in 36 high-grade and 105 low-grade tumors. Agreement between histologic and cytologic grading based on the 2-tier grading system was achieved in 133 cases (sensitivity 86.8%, specificity 97.1%, kappa value 0.853), but 5 high-grade tumors on histology were classified as low-grade on cytology. CONCLUSION: Cytologic grading of MCT in the dog is helpful for initial assessment. However, the reliability of cytology using the 2-tier grading system is considered inadequate at this point. Prospective studies including clinical outcome should be pursued to further determine diagnostic accuracy of cytologic mast cell grading.

Comparative study on the behaviour, health and productivity of laying hens in a furnished cage and an aviary system.

A total of 540 Lohmann Silver laying hens was used to investigate behaviour, use of the structural elements offered, as well as health and productive parameters in six units (45 hens each) of one furnished cage system (FC; Typ 715/725, Fa. Salmet, Berge, Germany, according to EU guideline 1999/74/EG [2003]) vs. three units (90 hens each) of one aviary housing system (AV; type natura, Big Dutchman, Vechta, Germany). There was no difference between the two systems in terms of animal health, egg quality, laying performance and nest acceptance Acceptance of the nests was high in both systems and resulted in relatively small proportions of mislaid eggs (median 0.28% AV vs. 0.33% FC). Perches in FC were used during the light phase by 15.6% of the hens compared with 73.3% at night. The dust bathing activity of the hens in AV corresponded to natural circadian behaviour patterns (P <0.003) and the complete behaviour chain was exhibited. In contrast, FC hens invariably exhibited incomplete dust bathing patterns on the mat and on the grid floor without any diurnal rhythm. Duration of dust bathing of hens in FC differed significantly from the AV hens (median value 4.77 minutes on mats and 4.62 on grid floors respectively vs. 14.87 minutes, P < 0.05). Even though comparison of laying performance, egg quality and health did not yield any serious disadvantage of one system over the other, it has to be taken into consideration that normal behaviour was highly restricted in FC.