警犬辨出六旬杀人疑犯

2004年11月3日,河北省廊坊市公安局刑警支队警犬基地接固安县公安局报称：固安县牛驼镇某村村民赵某(男、35岁),在看守自家菜地时被杀,请求速派警犬协助侦破。     

Intra-abdominal mass aspirate from an alopecic dog

An 11-year-old female Yorkshire terrier was presented to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center for evaluation of a palpable intra-abdominal mass and alopecia. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a large, complex, cavitary mass in the left caudal region of the abdomen. A fine needle aspirate of the mass was collected. A population of markedly pleomorphic, large, round to polygonal cells were found singly and in small noncohesive aggregates. The cells contained scant, clear to blue-gray cytoplasm, large, round to oval nuclei, and distinctly stippled to reticular chromatin. Cytologic findings were consistent with a tumor of ovarian origin, with a primary differential diagnosis of germ cell tumor. Hormonal analysis of serum revealed a marked increase in 14-OH-progesterone concentration (2.71 ng/mL, reference interval 0.05-0.69 ng/mL). Ovariohysterectomy was performed, and the mass was found to be in the area of the left ovary. Histologic evaluation of the reproductive tract confirmed a diagnosis of left ovarian dysgerminoma. Based on immunohistochemical stains, the tumor was negative for c-kit (CD117c) and single cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase. A right ovarian cyst and squamous metaplasia of the right uterine horn also were diagnosed. The cyst was presumed to be the source of 14-OH-progesterone, which likely resulted in the squamous metaplasia and dermatopathy. Three months after surgery, the progesterone concentration had returned to normal and the alopecia had nearly resolved. Dysgerminomas in dogs are reported rarely, but have a distinctive, recognizable, cytologic appearance and should be included in the differential diagnosis of an intra-abdominal mass in a reproductively intact female dog.     

Necrotizing cerebellitis due to Neospora caninum infection in an old dog

A severe, necrotizing, non-suppurative inflammation of the cerebellum associated with Neospora caninum infection was identified in a 14-year-old male Labrador Retriever. On presentation, clinical signs included mild depression and head tremor, marked ataxia of both thoracic and pelvic limbs, and abnormal postural reactions. In the central nervous system, inflammatory lesions were mainly restricted to the cerebellar leptomeninges and cerebellar cortex, which appeared necrotic and atrophic. Protozoal organisms were positively stained with an anti-N. caninum antibody in an immunohistochemical procedure.     

Oral conidiobolomycosis in a dog

Conidiobolomycosis was diagnosed via culture from an oral lesion in a 1.5-year-old German Shepherd dog. Clinically, the lesion consisted of a large, irregularly shaped, ulcerative focus on the caudal hard palate. Microscopically, the lesion was characterized by an eosinophilic granulomatous stomatitis with hyphal organisms surrounded by eosinophilic sleeves (Splendore–Hoeppli material) suggestive of an entomophthoramycosis. The fungus was cultured and identified with features consistent with Conidiobolus sp. Treatment with itraconazole at 10 mg kg⁻¹ twice daily for 61 days resulted in clinical and radiographic resolution of the lesion.     

Diagnosis and treatment of occult dirofilariasis in an imported dog

Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis is described in a 4-year-old Labrador Retriever bitch imported to Britain from Florida, USA. This is the first recorded case of the occult form of the disease occurring in the UK. The clinical signs included chronic coughing, decreased exercise tolerance and haemoptysis. Although there was a marked eosinophilia, basophilia and hyperglobulinaemia, plain radiography and angiocardiography were required to confirm the diagnosis. The successful treatment is described and progress monitored over a two-and-a-half-year period. With the increased global movement of dogs, exotic diseases require more consideration in differential diagnosis. The importance of maintaining preventative treatment during the quarantine period is emphasized.     

Ovarian teratoma with a formed lens and nonsuppurative inflammation in an old dog

A 9-year, 7-month-old female German shepherd weighing 26.6 kg was admitted to the hospital for pica and diarrhea. A large mass was found in the right ovary and removed, and cross section of the mass revealed a multilobular tumor consisting of several cystic cavities which contained tufts of dark hair in thick creamy-white sebaceous fluid. Histologically, the tumor consisted of adipose tissue, central nervous tissue, crystalline lens, cartilage and bone. In the central nervous tissue, lens and lesions like nonsuppurative inflammation comprizing of accumulation of glial cells and lymphocytic perivascular cuffing were observed. The tumor was diagnosed as a mature cystic teratoma.     

Pericardial lipoma in a geriatric dog with an incidentally discovered thoracic mass

An intrathoracic mass was discovered as an incidental finding in a 14-year-old, spayed, female Rottweiler cross during evaluation of urinary incontinence. Computed tomography suggested a pericardial or pleural location and high adipose content of the mass. The mass was removed via lateral thoracotomy with partial pericardectomy and was diagnosed as a pericardial lipoma. The dog recovered well, and there was no evidence of recurrence approximately one year later. Adipose tumours of the heart and its associated structures are rare in dogs and have been associated with both successful and fatal outcomes.     

Ectopic spleen presenting with anemia and an abdominal mass in a dog

An 11.5-year-old, neutered male, golden retriever dog that had previously had a splenectomy for benign disease 2 years prior to presentation was diagnosed with anemia and a large abdominal mass. Necropsy and histopathology identified the abdominal mass as ectopic splenic tissue.     

Paratracheal cervical mass in a dog

A 14-year-old female Welsh Terrier was presented for evaluation of multiple skin masses. Two of them were diagnosed as a follicular (epidermal) cyst and a sebaceous epithelioma by cytology and histopathology. The third mass was located in the subcutis adjacent to the cervical trachea. Clinical findings, thoracic radiography, and laboratory results were otherwise unremarkable. Cytologically, the cervical mass was characterized by the presence of round to polygonal cells with distinct cell borders, mild to moderate anisocytosis, round to oval eccentric nuclei with prominent nucleoli, and a variable amount of finely granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm. Differential diagnoses included endocrine/neuroendocrine tumors such as thyroid adenocarcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, carotid body chemodectoma, and parathyroid carcinoma. The mass was removed surgically and submitted for histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination. Histologically, the mass was composed of rows and nests of densely packed cells separated by thin fibrovascular stroma. Neoplastic cells had moderate to large amounts of pale eosinophilic dusty or finely vacuolated cytoplasm and round to oval nuclei with finely dispersed chromatin and 1 or 2 small nucleoli. On immunohistochemistry, neoplastic cells were positive for chromogranin A, calcitonin, and neuron-specific enolase, and were negative for cytokeratin and thyroglobulin. The final diagnosis was medullary thyroid carcinoma, an uncommon endocrine tumor of dogs that has cytologic and histopathologic features similar to other endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors. Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry should be performed to differentiate medullary thyroid carcinoma from other endocrine/neuroendocrine tumors of dogs.