A documented case of canine granulocytic anaplasmosis coupled with the molecular characterization of the etiological agent is reported for the first time in Northern Italy. The patient showed nonspecific clinical signs such as fever and weight loss. The most relevant clinicopathological findings were thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and normal azotemic proteinuria consistent with glomerular diseases. Blood smear examination revealed the presence of intracytoplasmatic inclusions in neutrophils associated with high positive serology forAnaplasma phagocytophilum. PCR analysis and sequencing of the amplicon confirm serological diagnosis ofA. phagocytophilum. Phylogenetic analysis evidenced that the detected bacterial strain belongs to theA. phagocytophilumEurope 1 lineage. Data indicates thatA. phagocytophilumcirculates in natural environments of Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy) and its prevalence in dogs could be underestimated because the clinical signs are frequently nonspecific and a certain diagnosis requires the combination of clinicopathological and molecular assays. Pets living in this area should be regularly monitored and treated for ectoparasites to minimize health risks for humans and pets. Also, surveillance ofA. phagocytophilumshould be improved in Northern Italy and canine anaplasmosis should be considered in differential diagnosis of persistent proteinuria.

Chemotherapy and cyclooxygenase inhibitors (COXi) are primary treatments for canine urethral transitional cell carcinoma (uTCC), a tumor known for its aggressiveness and poor prognosis. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinico-pathological characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognostic factors of 35 dogs with confirmed uTCC that received chemotherapy and COXi. Upon admission, urethral obstruction (UO) and urinary tract infection (UTI) were observed in seven (20%) dogs each. Gemcitabine (n = 20; 57.1%) and vinblastine (n = 10; 28.6%) were commonly used as first-line therapies, with four dogs also receiving radiation therapy. Based on RECIST, one (2.9%) dog achieved complete remission, nine (25.7%) partial remission, 20 (57.14%) showed stable disease, and five (14.3%) progressed. Among dogs with UO, six (85.7%) showed resolution or improvement after the first chemotherapy dose. The median time to local progression was 171 days (range: 107–235), and the median survival time was 333 days (range: 158–508). Dogs with UO upon admission had a higher risk of local progression, while both UO and UTI were associated with an increased risk of overall disease progression and tumor-related death. Additionally, gemcitabine significantly improved metastatic control. This study identified UO and UTI as negative prognostic factors, highlighting the importance of a multimodal approach in managing uTCC.

To test the antitumor effect and safety of peptide-based anticancer vaccination in dogs with hemangiosarcoma undergoing the standard of care (SOC; surgery and doxorubicin), canine hemangiosarcoma cells were infected with Salmonella typhi Ty21a to release immunogenic endoplasmic reticulum stress-related peptides into the extracellular milieu via CX43 hemichannels opening. The infected tumor cell secretome constituted the vaccine. Following the SOC, dogs with biologically aggressive hemangiosarcoma were vaccinated a total of five times, once every 3 weeks, and were followed up with serial imaging. A retrospective population of dogs undergoing the SOC alone served as controls. The primary endpoints were the time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were toxicity and immune responses. A total of 28 dogs were vaccinated along with the SOC, and 32 received only the SOC. A tumor-specific humoral response along with a vaccine-specific T-cell response was observed. Toxicity did not occur. The TTP and OS were significantly longer in vaccinated versus unvaccinated dogs (TTP: 195 vs. 160 days, respectively; p = 0.001; OS: 276 vs. 175 days, respectively; p = 0.002). One-year survival rates were 35.7% and 6.3% for vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs, respectively. In dogs with hemangiosarcoma undergoing the SOC, the addition of a peptide-based vaccine increased the TTP and OS, while maintaining a safe profile. Moreover, vaccinated dogs developed a tumor-specific response, supporting the feasibility of future phase three studies.

Heinz bodies (HBs) are known to interfere with automated hematology in cats, particularly with the white blood cell (WBC) count. We evaluated the influence of feline HBs on the complete blood count (CBC) results obtained using a flow cytometry–based analyzer. We retrospectively selected cats with circulating HBs and reviewed the results of their CBCs, including red blood cell (RBC) indices, basophil/lobularity (Baso) WBC count (WBCB), peroxidase (Perox) WBC count (WBCP), and cytograms. Based on the presence or absence of HB-related artifacts in their Baso cytogram, cats were grouped into Baso-HBs and HBs groups, respectively, for comparison. The WBCB and WBCP were compared to manual counts of WBCs carried out on blood smears at 400× (MC-WBC). We included 32 cats in our study: 9 of 32 were in the Baso-HBs group, and 23 of 32 were in the HBs group. Baso-HBs cats had a significantly increased HB percentage (p < 0.001), WBCB (p < 0.001), difference between WBCB and WBCP (p < 0.001), lymphocyte count (p < 0.001), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001), and difference between calculated and measured erythrocyte hemoglobin concentrations (p < 0.001) compared to HBs cats. In Baso-HBs cats, the WBCB was significantly higher than the WBCP (p = 0.02); no significant difference was detected between the WBCP and the MC-WBC (p = 0.88). Evaluation of automated CBC results raised the suspicion of HB-related interference when using a hematology analyzer in cats; hence, blood smear examination remains essential in routine practice.

Background: Benefit of adding a second-line immunosuppressive drug to glucocorticoids for the treatment of non-associative immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (naIMHA) in dogs has not been defined prospectively. Hypothesis/Objectives: Evaluate the effectiveness of different immunosuppressive protocols in naIMHA dogs. Animals: Forty-three client-owned dogs. Methods: Open label, randomized, clinical trial. Dogs were treated with methylprednisolone (M-group), methylprednisolone plus cyclosporine (MC-group) or methylprednisolone plus mycophenolate mofetil (MM-group). Dogs were defined as responders by disappearance of signs of immune-mediated destruction and hematocrit stabilization. Frequency of responders was compared between M-group and combined protocols (MC and MM-group evaluated together), and among the 3 different therapeutic groups at 14 (T14), 30 (T30), 60 (T60) days after admission. Frequency of complications, length of hospitalization and relapse were also compared. Death rate was evaluated at discharge, T60 and 365 (T365) days. Results: Proportion of responders was not significantly different between M-group and combined protocols (MC and MM-groups), nor among the 3 therapeutic groups at T14, T30, and T60 (P > .17). Frequency of relapse, complications, and length of hospitalization were not significantly different between M-group and dogs treated with combined protocols, nor among the 3 treatment groups (P > .22). Death was significantly more common only for MM-group compared with MC-group at T60 (+42.8%; 95% CI: 11.5–67.4; P = .009), and at T365 (+50%; 95% CI: 17.5–73.2; P = .003). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Combined immunosuppressive therapy did not improve hematological response in naIMHA.