Canine leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum; transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. Leishmania infantum amastigotes were identified by cytology from a locally born Hong Kong dog exhibiting nasal, cutaneous, and systemic disease who was part of a kennel of eight dogs. All eight kennel dogs were subsequently tested serologically by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by DNA sequencing for L. infantum infection. The local dog was seropositive and blood and splenic tissue were PCR positive for L. infantum whilst the other kennel dogs were negative on serology and PCR. Autochthonous transmission was suspected for the local dog as Hong Kong lacks known vectors of L. infantum. Either vertical transmission from the deceased dam who had previously died with disease suspicious for leishmaniasis or horizontal transmission from a second non-locally born kennel dog who had been diagnosed previously with leishmaniasis was possible. This is the first recorded autochthonous case of canine leishmaniasis in Hong Kong. Leishmaniasis should be considered as a differential for cutaneous or systemic illness in local untraveled dogs in Hong Kong. In addition, as dogs serve as L. infantum reservoirs for human infection attention should be paid to the possibility of leishmaniasis emerging in Hong Kong.

Canine hemangiosarcoma is a common, highly fatal tumor of older dogs, and predictors of survivability may provide clinically useful information. The objectives of this case series were to determine if a previously published tumor histological grading scheme, the level of tumor cellular atypia, clinical staging, or the level of CD 31 expression were useful for predicting the survival time in dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma. Canine splenic hemangiosarcomas from 16 dogs were histologically graded, clinically staged, and assessed for CD 31 expression. Medical records were reviewed, the date of death was obtained, and survival data were analyzed statistically. Histopathological grading and clinical staging of canine splenic hemangiosarcomas, and the expression of CD 31 by the tumor cells were not significantly associated with the median survival time of the dogs in this study. However, strong expression of CD 31 by canine splenic hemangiosarcoma tumor cells was observed in dogs with short survival times, which warrants further studies to evaluate the potential prognostic value of CD 31 expression for the survival of dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma.

A 10‐year‐old Maltese neutered female was presented for lip dermatitis and mild generalised pruritus. On examination, there were multiple lesions affecting the peri‐oral and peri‐nasal mucocutaneous junctions as well as distal limbs. Serum chemistry and a bile acids test were indicative of hepatocellular injury and hepatic dysfunction. Plasma amino acids were markedly depleted. Ultrasonography of the liver revealed a honeycombed appearance. A CT scan was performed to rule out a porto‐vascular abnormality, hepatic or pancreatic neoplasia. Abnormalities in hepatic architecture are described in this confirmed case of hepatocutaneous syndrome (HCS) for the first time on CT. This is the first reported case of HCS in Hong Kong. The dog was treated with a high‐quality protein diet and amino acids transfusions. Eleven months after presentation the dog was still alive with good control of clinical signs.

A rare case of Geotrichum spp. dermatitis in a horse is presented. After unrelated, previous surgery and antibiotic treatment, a saddle horse showed well-circumscribed areas of non-pruritic alopecia. Suspecting allergic skin disease, the horse was treated with corticosteroids. The skin lesion spread, and a second veterinarian was consulted. At clinical examination, the horse was lethargic, pyretic and hair was shedding/easily epilated over the head, neck, shoulders, and legs and the hind legs were swollen. Blood analysis revealed mild leucocytosis and hyperglobulinemia. Hair, skin scraping, and skin biopsy ruled out parasites and bacteria; cytology identified yeast-like structures with hyphae or pseudohyphae. Geotrichum candidum was isolated on culture. Treatment consisted of stable disinfection, topical application of an antifungal solution, vitamins C and E supplementation and allowing the horse to graze in sunlight for at least 6 h/day. At 3-weeks follow-up, the horse had gained weight, alopecia was decreased, and all other clinical parameters were normal. Antifungal treatment was continued twice a week for three months. This study suggests Geotrichum candidum may cause skin lesions in horses after long-term use of corticosteroids or antibiotics. To avoid unnecessary and prolonged suffering in cases of dermatitis, veterinarians should be promptly consulted, appropriate diagnostic procedures conducted, so that a definitive diagnosis can be reached, and an appropriate treatment regimen implemented.

Background: Canine leishmaniosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum and transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. Infected dogs represent the main domestic reservoir of the parasite for both human and animal transmission. Methods: Leishmania infantum infection was investigated in a kennel of eight dogs in Hong Kong, of which four had cutaneous lesions. All eight dogs were tested serologically by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the Leishmania ribosomal operon internal transcribed spacer 1 and the kinetoplast minicircle on blood and tissues, followed by DNA sequencing. Results: One dog which never left Hong Kong was seropositive for Leishmania infantum and diagnosed with cutaneous and systemic disease with detection of tissue amastigotes by cytology, and positive blood and spleen PCR for L. infantum. Leishmania amastigotes were seen within inflamed nasal and skin samples from this dog. Another kennel dog imported from the USA which developed cutaneous lesions prior to the local dog, was confirmed as infected by L. infantum by PCR and skin histopathology. All other kennel dogs were negative on serology and PCR and no amastigotes were identified in the skin lesions from the additional two dogs with skin disease. Treatment of allopurinol administered to both clinically affected dogs with leishmaniosis resulted in clinical recovery.Conclusions: A dog from the USA introduced into a Hong Kong kennel was detected as clinically affected by leishmaniosis followed by the development of the disease in a local kennel dog which never left Hong Kong. Both dogs responded well to long term therapy and none of the six in contact dogs showed evidence of being infected. As there are no known suitable sand fly vectors of leishmaniosis reported in Hong Kong, horizontal or vertical transmission is suspected to be responsible for disease transmission. As L. infantum causes human and canine disease, and dogs serve as reservoirs for human infection, attention should be paid to the possibility of visceral leishmaniosis emerging in Hong Kong.