Rare case of presence of nematodes Dirofilaria repens in apleural cavity of a dog.

Dirofilariosis, caused by nematodes Dirofilaria repens, is a parasitosis of wild and domestic carnivores. Nematodes D. repens locate in the subcutaneous and intramuscular tissue. The aim of this article is to describe rare case of pleural infection of a dog with nematodes D. repens. 12-year-old golden retriever had been treated in the veterinary clinic due to emaciation, weakness and dehydration, observed for 2 weeks. Hematologic and biochemical tests revealed reduction in the number of leukocytes and erythrocytes, significant decrease of hemoglobin, hematocrit and albumins as well as increased ALAT, urea and creatinine levels. Parasitological examination of blood smear revealed the presence of multiple microfilariae. Increased echogenicity of renal parenchyma was visible during ultrasound examination. Necropsy of euthanized animal revealed adult nematodes D. repens, located in the pleural cavity. Additionally, enlarged kidneys with subcapsular petechiae and a single cyst in the renal cortex were observed. To our best knowledge, it is the first case of finding nematodes D. repens in a pleural cavity of a dog.

The prevalence and distribution of Dirofilaria repens in dogs in the Mazovian Province of central-eastern Poland.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of canine dirofilariosis from different districts of the Mazovian Province in central-eastern Poland. 462 dogs aged from 1.5-14 years were examined for dirofilariosis. Blood samples were examined for the presence of microfilariae using the Knott method, as well as the method of Kingston and Morton, after centrifugation in haematocrit microtubes in order to determine the intensity of infection as the number of microfilariae in 60 microliters of blood. The species of microfilariae found were determined after staining on the basis of the morphological characters. Samples were also examined using Canine Heartworm Antigen Test Kit SNAP HTWM (IDEXX, USA) that allows the detection of circulating antigens of females of Dirofilaria immitis. The positive samples were examined using multiplex PCR assay for species confirmation. Microfilariae belonging to the species D. repens were found in the blood samples of dogs originating from the city of Warsaw and from 18 districts of Mazovian Province. The mean prevalence of that species observed in the province was 25.8%. The range of intensity counted with the number of microfilariae found in 60 microliters of blood amounted to between 1-150; median intensity 9 microfilariae. The highest prevalence, reaching 52.9% and the highest median intensity of infection reaching 28 microfilariae, was found in Radom district. The lowest prevalence, amounting to 4.2%, was registered in Grójec district; however, the lowest median intensity reaching 6 microfilariae was noted in Zyrardów district. The infected dogs had not been outside of Poland, which means that this is an autochthonous infection. Microfilariae and antigens of D. immitis were not found in any examined blood samples. Results of the presented study show that autochthonous dirofilariosis caused by nematodes D. repens commonly occurs in the area of the Mazovian Province.

Development of a new, simple and cost-effective diagnostic tool for genetic screening of hereditary colorectal cancer--the DNA microarray assay.

Detection of mutations in families with a hereditary predisposition to colon cancer gives an opportunity to precisely define the high-risk group. 36 patients operated on for colon cancer, with familiar prevalence of this malignancy, were investigated using the DNA microarrays method with the potential detection of 170 mutations in MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, CHEK2, and NOD2 genes. In microarrays analysis of DNA in 9 patients (25% of the investigated group), 6 different mutations were found. The effectiveness of genetic screening using the microarray method is comparable to the effectiveness of other, much more expensive and time-consuming methods.