Early embryo development, number, quality, and location and the relationship with plasma progesterone in dogs.

This research assessed the developmental stages and morphological quality of dog embryos collected during different stages of pregnancy as well as the relationship with serum progesterone recorded at insemination and embryo collection. Embryos were collected from 23 young mature bitches, that had been inseminated with fresh semen 3-6 days after the LH surge (day 0). Embryo flushing was performed on pregnancy days 8-11 (Group 1), 12-15 (Group 2), or 16-20 (Group 3). The location, number and morphological characteristics of the embryos were evaluated. A total of 120 embryos and 25 unfertilized oocytes were collected from bitches with a total of 156 corpora lutea (CL). The mean total embryo yield (total of embryos/CL) was 76.7 ± 5.9%, and the mean embryo recovery rate (number of flushed embryos/number of CL) was 70.6 ± 6.6%. The mean ovulation rate was 6.8 ± 0.5 and the mean number of embryos per bitch was 5.2 ± 0.6. Oocyte fertilization occurred following oocyte maturation. Most embryos in Group 1 (70.0 ± 18.6%) were collected at the 2 to 16 cell stage. The morula stage was first observed on day 11. Expanded blastocysts (EBLs) and hatched blastocysts were first flushed from the uterus on days 13 and 14, respectively. The EBL was the most abundant stage in Groups 2 and 3. After day 19, some embryos (n = 8) had already adhered to the endometrium. Although most recovered embryos were classified as very good, a greater number of low quality embryos was collected in the later gestational periods. A significant variation in the embryonic stages and location of embryos in early canine pregnancy was observed, as embryos entered the uterus independently of their developmental stage. Embryo yield and quality were independent of the serum progesterone concentration at insemination and recovery.

Seroprevalence of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in feline and canine hosts from central and northern Portugal.

Dirofilaria immitis is endemic in Portugal. Several studies have reported the presence of canine heartworm disease, although no previous studies on feline infections have been published. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of D. immitis in cats and dogs from central and northern Portugal. Blood samples from 434 cats were tested for circulating anti-D. immitis and anti-Wolbachia antibodies. Furthermore, 386 dogs were tested for circulating D. immitis antigens. Overall feline seroprevalence was 15%, while canine prevalence was 2.1%. The highest feline seroprevalences of 18.7% and 17.6% were found in Aveiro and Viseu, respectively, while the highest canine prevalences of 8.8% and 6.8% were found in Coimbra and Aveiro, respectively. Cats and dogs showing respiratory signs presented higher prevalences of 24.4% and 17%, respectively, while 50% of cats with gastrointestinal signs were seropositive. The present study confirms the seropositivity of D. immitis in the feline population in central and northern Portugal, and suggests the importance of including heartworm disease in the list of differential diagnoses of cats and dogs showing clinical signs compatible with the disease.

Feline endometrial adenocarcinoma in females <1 year old: a description of four cases.

Uterine neoplasms of epithelial origin are rare in cats and most often are described in older females. Yet, in less than 2 years, four ovariohysterectomy specimens were submitted from different practices to the Laboratory of Histology and Anatomical Pathology, at UTAD (Vila Real, Portugal), that emitted a diagnosis of feline endometrial adenocarcinoma. Untypically, all the females were aged <1 year old at the surgery. Access to the clinical files was requested to document the clinical features of the four cases, including any complementary data available, to construct the present case reports. The clinical situation developed with discrete signs, but vulvar discharge was present in three cases, ranging from bloody to brownish or colourless, and from purulent to mucous. The females were in dioestrus, although the oestrus remained unperceived in most cases. In this study, the four clinical situations are described and discussed on the basis of available literature, highlighting the aspects that may impair an early diagnosis and that may favour the progression of the disease and also that age should not be an excluding criteria when analysing the differential diagnosis list.