Canine leishmaniasis associated with pericardial effusion in a 4-year-old dog.

A 4-year-old crossbreed dog presented with a two-day history of lethargy and abdominal effusion. Physical examination and echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was performed. Intracytoplasmic Leishmania amastigotes were found on cytological examination of the pericardial fluid. The animal was treated with N-methylglucamine antimoniate and allopurinol. After an initial favorable response, cardiac tamponade reoccurred one month later. The dog died during a pericardiectomy four months after the initial diagnosis. Histology confirmed the presence of chronic pericarditis. The presence of Leishmania amastigotes on cytological examination of pericardial effusion suggests a possible association between canine leishmaniasis and chronic pericarditis. This finding also supports the importance of cytological examination of pericardial fluid in areas endemic for canine leishmaniasis.

Anatomical anomalies and variations of main thoracic vessels in dogs: a computed tomography study.

INTRODUCTION: There is scarce information about the prevalence of anomalies and anatomical variations of the main great thoracic vessels in dogs, particularly in dogs without congenital heart disease. ANIMALS: The study included 878 privately owned dogs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Computerized tomography (CT) thoracic studies carried out between 2011 and 2014 for a variety of reasons were reviewed. The prevalence of anomalies and anatomical variations of the aorta and vena cava, the arterial branches of the aortic arch and the main branches of the intrathoracic veins in dogs with no evidence of congenital heart disease was evaluated. Poor-quality CTs, CTs with thoracic pathology that impaired visualization or those of young dogs with clinical evidence or suspicion of congenital cardiac disease were excluded. RESULTS: Eight hundred two CT studies were analysed. Eight dogs (1%) showed an anatomic anomaly. The most common anomaly was an aberrant retroesophageal right subclavian artery (n = 7, 0.8%). One dog showed a dilated azygos vein secondary to an interrupted vena cava. Three types of branching of the common carotid arteries were observed: both arteries arising at the same point (type I: n = 506/742; 68.2%), separated (type II: n = 212/742; 28.6%) or from a common trunk (type III: n = 24/742; 3.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Major anatomical variations or anomalies of the main great thoracic vessels in dogs without congenital cardiac disease were rare. An aberrant retroesophageal right subclavian artery was the most common anomaly found. Three slight variations of common carotid artery branching were identified. These findings might be of relevance for surgical or catheterization procedures.