First cases of alveolar echinococcosis in dogs in Poland.

Alveolar echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus multilocularis is common parasitic disease among humans and animals in the northern hemisphere. Dogs, foxes, and other wild canids are definitive hosts, whereas small rodents play the role of intermediate hosts. In rare cases, after incidental ingestion of tapeworm eggs, dogs can become an intermediate host. The study describes briefly two cases of alveolar echinococcosis in dogs in Poland, including clinical management, diagnostic, treatment and molecular confirmation. Diagnostic procedures included laparotomy, cytology, histopathology and molecular analysis. Obtained sequences data were 100% homologous to E. multilocularis dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene sequences in GenBank®. To the authors' knowledge, alveolar echinococcosis has not been reported previously in a dog in Poland.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of dogs with centroblastic lymphoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Centroblastic lymphoma (CBL) is the most common morphological type of lymphoma found in dogs; it is usually identified through cytology in veterinary clinical practice. This study aimed to identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of dogs with CBL that was diagnosed with cytology and immunocytochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dogs with a suspicion of lymphoma were diagnosed by cytology supported by immunocytochemistry with the use of the updated Kiel classification adapted for dogs. During the analyzed time period, 336 lymphomas were diagnosed in dogs, including 171 cases of CBL. Epidemiological and clinical data from the dogs with CBL were provisionally collected. RESULTS: The epidemiology analysis revealed an increased risk of CBL in Rottweilers, golden retrievers, and Bernese mountain dogs. At admission, most of the dogs displayed generalized lymphadenopathy with spleen and liver enlargement. The most common hematological abnormality was leukocytosis due to neutrophilia. The most common biochemical abnormality was elevated alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and selective hypoproteinemia due to hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSION: Rottweilers, Bernese mountain dogs, and golden retrievers appear to be overrepresented among dogs with CBL. CBL is usually diagnosed at an advanced clinical stage according to the World Health Organization; however, it is usually accompanied by only minor hematological and biochemical abnormalities.