Nonregenerative Anemia Research Articles

Combination Chlorambucil/Firocoxib or Chlorambucil/Prednisolone Treatment for Inflammatory Colorectal Polyps in Miniature Dachshunds.

Inflammatory colorectal polyps (ICRP), which are more commonly recognized in miniature dachshunds, are thought to represent an immune-mediated disease. This retrospective case series describes six miniature dachshunds with refractory ICRP, who were treated with chlorambucil (CLB) combined with firocoxib or prednisolone. Improvement in clinical manifestations was seen in five of the six dogs by the end of the study period; four were treated with CLB/firocoxib and one with CLB/prednisolone. One dog had nonregenerative anemia after 23 mo of treatment with CLB, but whether there was a causative relationship was unclear. No severe adverse events were observed during treatment in the remaining five dogs. CLB in combination with firocoxib or prednisolone appears to be an effective alternative treatment for ICRP in dogs. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness and long-term complications of CLB treatment for ICRP in dogs.

Pure red cell aplasia in a Holstein calf

A 3-month-old Holstein calf presented with lethargy. Hematological examination showed severe non-regenerative anemia without reduction in white blood cell and platelet counts. Serum biochemical analysis revealed both high erythropoietin activity and high serum iron concentration. Bone marrow examination revealed selectively decreased erythroid precursors and an increased myeloid:erythroid ratio of 7:1. Lesions that could have caused anemia were found only in bone marrow by necropsy. The calf was diagnosed with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) based on these clinical and pathological findings. Although the cause of PRCA was not identified, this is the first confirmed clinical report of PRCA in a Holstein calf.

Clinicopathological findings in sick dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum: Comparison of five different clinical classification systems

A wide spectrum of clinical and clinicopathological findings in dogs with canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum exists. However, the majority of clinical descriptions have been published a long time ago and recent studies in Europe are almost lacking. In addition, clinical classification of sick dogs is not well-standardized, with different classification systems used by clinical and epidemiological studies, making comparison of studies a difficult task. The aims of the study were to describe the clinicopathological findings of dogs naturally infected with L. infantum at the time of diagnosis and to review and compare the various clinical classification systems for CanL available in the literature. Eighty-one healthy dogs and fifty-one dogs with CanL were studied and clinical and clinicopathological data were recorded. The most common clinical findings at diagnosis were skin lesions (78.4%), lymphadenomegaly (64.7%) and weight loss (47.1%). The most frequent clinicopathological abnormalities included mild to moderate non-regenerative anemia (62.7%), lymphopenia (25.5%), hyperproteinemia (52.9%) dysproteinemia (78.4%). and proteinuria (47.8%). Renal azotemia was rare (5.9%). Only 5.9% of the patients studied were classified in similar categories (mild, moderate and severe disease) when five clinical classifications systems were compared, while 11.8% of cases were classified in similar categories when only two clinical classification systems were considered based on the fact that they included therapeutic and prognosis recommendations. In conclusion, anemia and protein-related alterations are common in dogs with CanL. In contrast, renal azotemia is infrequent despite the high percentage of diseased dogs with proteinuria, indicating kidney involvement. Adequate clinical staging system is desirable in order to establish proper management, treatment and prognosis in dogs with CanL and to facilitate the comparison of clinical and epidemiological studies.

Anaemia in pet rabbits: causes, severity and reticulocyte response

The objective of the study was to determine the causes and the severity of anaemia in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), to classify anaemia and to compare the reticulocyte counts from...

Clinical and hematological evaluation of Rangelia vitalii-naturally infected dogs in southeastern Brazil.

Rangelia vitalii, a tick-borne piroplasm that infects dogs, has been recently molecularly characterized in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Studies on molecular characterization of these piroplasms in different Brazilian regions are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and hematological changes in dogs caused by R. vitalii in the mountainous region of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Blood samples from 36 dogs were evaluated for piroplasms and hematological disorders using light microscopy and molecular analysis. Blood samples from all the animals included in this study were confirmed to be positive for R. vitalii through genetic sequencing. Clinical signspresented by 24 of the 36 dogs of the study were evaluated during appointments or hospitalization within private practice. The most frequent clinical disorders in these dogs that were naturally infected with R. vitalii were fever, spontaneous cutaneous bleeding and diarrhea. Normochromic non-regenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia were the most common hematological disorders in these R. vitalii-positive dogs and therefore should be considered in hematological evaluations on suspected cases.

Displasia renal em cães: estudo retrospectivo (2008-2013)

Background: Renal dysplasia, which has been reported in some dogs and human patients, refers to a developmental disorder of renal parenchyma due to imperfect inductive interaction between the mesonephric duct and the metanephric blastemal. In dogs, the characteristic histological findings on which diagnosis is based include (1) persistent metanephric ducts surrounded by primitive mesenchyme, (2) fetal or immature glomeruli, (3) fetal or immature tubules, and (4) anomalous presence of interstitial fibrous tissue. The aim of this study was to report the major pathological and immunohistochemical features of nine young dogs necropsied with renal dysplasia.Cases: The necropsy files from the Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária (LPV) of the Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso (UFMT) were reviewed between the years 2008 and 2013. Dogs diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and macroscopic and histopathological renal lesions consistent with renal dysplasia were selected. Kidney fragments in paraffin blocks were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using anti-vimentin and anti-cytokeratin monoclonal antibodies. The staining was considered positive for the presence of at least one renal cell marked with brown cytoplasmic staining clear and unambiguous. A total of 787 necropsies of dogs were performed. Of these, 64 had a clinical diagnosis of chronic renal failure of which 9 were classified as renal dysplasia. The age of the dogs ranged from 3 months to 2 years. Clinical signs were characterized by anorexia and non-regenerative anemia in 88.9%, vomiting 66.7%, dehydration 55.6%, uremia 55.6%, convulsion 33.4%, abdominal pain 22.3% and diarrhea in 11.2% of cases. At necropsy the main macroscopic changes in the kidneys were external surface with pale staining, in 6 of 9 dogs necropsied. Additionally, 5 dogs, cystic cavities of various sizes from 0.1 to 5 cm in diameter, diffusely distributed in the renal subcapsular surface and cutting were observed. Of the 64 dogs with diagnosis of chronic renal failure, 14.06% had dysplastic kidney changes, characterized by dilatation of Bowman’s space, glomerular and tubular atrophy, immature glomeruli and tubules, lymphocytic interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. In the dogs with renal dysplasia, it was observed that the tubular structures showed marked glomerular labeling for vimentin. Moreover, the kidneys of normal dogs showed weak or absent for marking tubes and glomerular structures for vimentin, and strong staining for cytokeratin in tubular cells, glomerular cells and collecting ducts.Discussion: Renal morphological damage observed in these nine dogs less than two years old, that contained degenerative and inflammatory changes, fibrosis and glomerular atrophy, but mostly immature glomeruli and tubules were associated with atypical renal dysplasia. This condition develops when the urethral diverticulum and metanephric blastoma not properly form in the embryonic stage, resulting in abnormal metanephric differentiation and formation of structures that do not recapitulate the normal nephrogenesis. Abnormal kidney function in young animals caused chronic renal failure resulting in death. The results of immunohistochemical observed in this study can complement the diagnosis of renal dysplasia. The morphological normality can be observed in the proportion of mesenchymal and epithelial tissue in the different structures of the kidney by staining with anti-cytokeratin and anti-vimentin. In the present study, there was moderate to strong labeling of vimentin in glomerular and tubular structures being dysplastic kidney would be expected to occur in normal dogs predominant staining with cytokeratin. Based on the clinic, pathological and immunohistochemical findings it is concluded that the animals developed renal dysplasia.

Piotórax crônico em cão por vagem de Acácia Imperial (Cassia fistula)

Background: Pyothorax is characterized by the accumulation of septic purulent fluid within the pleural space. Most of the times, it is the true identified infection way in only 2 to 22% of dog cases. Reports show that the most common cause is the migration of grass edges and plant materials, mainly in regions of California, USA. The current study reports an unusual case of a Cassia fistula pod (Brazilian Acácia Imperial), of around 10x3 cm long, causing chronic Pyothorax in a Border Collie female dog.Case: It was admitted in a Teaching Veterinary Hospital a 2-year-old female Border Collie, weighing 16.5 kg. The complaint was producing of severe cough, dyspnoea, hyporexia and loss of weight in the past three months. The animal could have been horse-kicked, as it is used to herding. In the physical examination, it was detected bilateral thick lung crepitations, more evident in the ventral skull area, dyspnoea, tachypnea, fever, splenomegaly and low body condition score (3/9). The laboratory tests revealed nonregenerative anemia and leukemoid reaction. The chest x-ray showed intense pulmonary opacification and free fluids in the pleural space along with a heterogenic cylindrical image of the mixed radiopacity. This image was then confirmed as the intrathoracic foreing body by the use of a computerized tomography. In this exam it was also possible to observe the damage of part of the middle and inferior right lung lobe. The cytology of the pleural effusion found mixed inflammation and coccoid bacteria, and the microbiological culture Streptococcus sp., and Escherichia coli. The dog underwent thoracotomy in order to remove the foreign body, which was later identified as being a Cassia fistula pod (Brazilian Acácia Imperial), of around 10x3 cm long. Due to the intense lung damage, a right pneumonectomy was required. After 30 days the animal was fully recovered.Discussion: The applied surgical procedure ended up being the most correct, due to the shape and place of the foreign body, and also due to the massive damage of the lobes on the right lung. In dogs, right pneumonectomy may cause respiratory acidosis and exercise intolerance, besides it can also show signs of hyperinflation in some pulmonary spots. However, such abnormalities were not perceived by the patient. There are a few reports concerning the right pneumonectomy applicability on veterinary routine, nevertheless, it is a perfect practicable intervention from the clinic-surgical perspective, according to this case’s reports. Initially, the possibility of a foreign body was not expected, once the history of a plausible trauma, caused by horse-kick, associated to the presence of thoracic effusion, influenced only to the Pyothorax’s etiology. But the continuity of the clinic condition and the cylindrical image in subsequent x-rays favored the suspect of an foreign body, which could be confirmed in the computerized tomography. However, the way the pod got into the animal’s thorax, adhering to the lung parenchyma, remained undetermined. Besides, there were not found clinic descriptions relating the Cassia fistula pod (Brazilian Acácia Imperial) as an etiological agent of intra-thoracic foreign body in dogs, making this report an unusual clinic case. The computerized tomography was primordial to the definite diagnostic and for choosing the type of surgical procedure to be applied. The right pneumonectomy associated to the removal of the foreign body promoted the success of the treatment without further post-operatory complications.

Novel incidental finding of Hepatozoon canis infection in two dogs of the same household in Trinidad, West Indies.

A five-year old mixed breed bitch was presented to the veterinary clinic in lateral recumbency with a history of anorexia and muscle hyperaesthesia. Examination of the blood smear of this animal revealed the presence of Hepatozoon spp. gamonts in the neutrophils and monocytes with a parasitaemia level of approximately 2%. Complete blood count (CBC) revealed a neutrophilia, and a normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anaemia which were consistent with Hepatozoon spp. infections. Diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 18S rRNA gene followed by DNA sequencing of the amplicon. Although the other dog in the household appeared asymptomatic, Hepatozoon canis infection was confirmed by both microscopic examination of blood smear and PCR. Both dogs were infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the H. canis sequences from these two dogs were similar to those from Venezuela and St Kitts but not Brazil. This is the first reported case of Hepatozoon canis infections in dogs in Trinidad that were confirmed by molecular techniques.

Histologic and cytologic bone marrow findings in dogs with suspected precursor-targeted immune-mediated anemia and associated phagocytosis of erythroid precursors.

Precursor-targeted immune-mediated anemia (PIMA) has been suspected in dogs with nonregenerative anemia and bone marrow findings varying from erythroid hyperplasia to pure red cell aplasia. Phagocytosis of erythroid precursors/rubriphagocytosis (RP) reported in some affected dogs suggests a destructive component to the pathogenesis of PIMA. The purpose of the study was to characterize laboratory and clinical findings in dogs with suspected PIMA and RP, with emphasis on cytologic and histologic bone marrow findings. Dogs with PIMA and RP were identified by review of paired bone marrow aspirate and core biopsy slides collected over a 4-year period. Samples were systematically assessed and characterized along with other pertinent laboratory data and clinical findings. Twenty-five dogs met criteria for PIMA and had RP that was relatively stage-selective. Erythropoiesis was expanded to the stage of erythroid precursors undergoing most prominent phagocytosis, yielding patterns characterized by a hypo-, normo-, or hypercellular erythroid lineage. A 4th pattern involved severe collagen myelofibrosis, and there was a spectrum of mild to severe collagen myelofibrosis overall. Evidence of immune-mediated hemolysis was rare. Immunosuppressive therapy was associated with remission in 77% of dogs treated for at least the median response time of 2months. Bone marrow patterns in dogs fulfilling criteria for PIMA were aligned with stage-selective phagocytosis of erythroid precursors and the development of collagen myelofibrosis, common in dogs with PIMA. Recognition of these patterns and detection of RP facilitates diagnosis of PIMA, and slow response to immunosuppressive therapy warrants further investigation into its pathogenesis.

In this issue – May 2017

In this issue – May 2017

Use of Nandrolone Decanoate in Treatment of Pure Red Cell Aplasia Secondary to Diclofenac Administration: A Case Report

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a disorder that leads to a nonregenerative anemia that results from erythroid precursors failing to reach maturity in the bone marrow, whereas the numbers of mature myeloid and megakaryocytic cells remain normal. PRCA can be induced by autoimmune processes, infections, drugs, toxins, and radiation, and is diagnosed by a bone marrow cytology examination after excluding the most common causes of nonregenerative anemia. Immunosuppressive therapies are used to treat PRCA, and usually involve the use of glucocorticoids, cyclosporin, or azathioprine. Alternatively, although little studied in veterinary medicine, drugs which stimulate bone marrow (e.g., nandrolone decanoate) have been mentioned as possible therapeutic agents. A case of PRCA that presented at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (UNESP)-Botucatu, Brazil showed a good therapeutic response to weekly administration of nandrolone decanoate. Therefore, it was concluded that bone marrow stimulants might improve the quality of life of PRCA patients, provided they are used with caution and under close clinical supervision.

SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND SJÖGREN-LIKE SYNDROME IN A POODLE

An eight-year-old neutered female miniature poodle was presented at National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital with the history of intermittent fever, papules, discoid rash, low appetite and activity and having been treated at local veterinary hospitals for about two months. The laboratory data showed non-regenerative anemia, leukopenia, elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase and asparatate aminotransferase activity, low total T4 concentration and proteinuria. Xerophthalmia and xerostomia were also noted. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test revealed positive ANA at a titer of 256. The tentative diagnosis was systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) accompanied with Sjögren-like syndrome. After prednisolone and azathioprine administration, clinical signs and clinic pathologic abnormalities were improved gradually, and then prednisolone was tapered to reduce the side effects of steroid. Conclusively, this poodle was diagnosed as SLE and Sjögren-like syndrome.

Bone marrow bi-hypoplasia in a dog with a sertoli cell tumor

ABSTRACT A 20-year-old unneutered male poodle presented prostration, apathy, staggering gait, lack of appetite and tick infestation. The dog was diagnosed with a Sertoli cell tumor in an undescended testicle by cytological, histopathological and immunohistochemical tests. Pancytopenia with moderate nonregenerative anemia, leukopenia and severe thrombocytopenia were detected in the complete blood count. Cytological and histopathological evaluation of the bone marrow revealed a cellularity of 30%, with erythroid (59%), lymphoid (40%) and mast cells (1%), and an absence of granulocytic, monocytic and megakaryocytic lineage cells. In post-mortem examinations, changes related to hemostatic disorders were found. The absence of microorganisms in molecular tests and an estrogen serum concentration over reference values confirmed hyperestrogenism as a possible cause of pancytopenia. The literature describes a Sertoli cell tumor hyperestrogenism that induced pancytopenia, along with bone marrow hypoplasia of all hematopoietic lineages. In contrast, in the present case, the erythroid precursor cells were preserved in the bone marrow, although there were no reticulocytes circulating in the blood. This case, therefore, should be considered in future investigations of pancytopenia induced by Sertoli cell tumor hyperestrogenism.

Evaluation of oxidative status in dogs with anemia

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the oxidative status and the severity and type of anemia in dogs. A total of 70 dogs of various breeds, ages and of both sexes were enrolled in the study. Fifty dogs with anemia were classified according to the severity of anemia as mildly (n=18), moderately (n=18) or severely (n=14) anemic on the basis of the hematocrit (HCT) value. Anemia in the same dogs was also classified according to the type as regenerative (n=26) or non-regenerative (n=24) on the basis of the absolute reticulocyte count. Twenty dogs were used as healthy control. Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) values in plasma as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities in erythrocyte hemolysate were measured to evaluate the oxidative status. The plasma TOS value was increased in all anemic dogs, irrespective of the severity of anemia, whereas a significant increase in the TAC value and a significant decrease in erythrocyte GSH-Px activity were observed in mild and moderate anemia. Plasma TOS and TAC values were higher in dogs with both types of anemia when compared to the healthy group. A significant increase in plasma MDA concentration and a significant decrease in GSH-Px activity were observed in the non-regenerative anemia group. There were moderate negative correlations between HCT and TOS values in the mild anemia group and between HCT and erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in the regenerative anemia group. In conclusion, oxidative stress develops in dogs with anemia, and it is largely independent of the severity and type of anemia. These results suggest that further studies with different etiologies may also be useful for evaluating the efficacy of antioxidants administered at different doses and in different combinations to treat anemia in dogs.

Laboratory tests for diagnosing and monitoring canine leishmaniasis.

Although several reviews on canine leishmaniasis have been published, none thoroughly described clinicopathologic abnormalities and their clinical usefulness. The aim of this review was to provide information concerning current diagnostic tests relevant for clinical pathologists and from a practical perspective. Specifically, in canine leishmaniasis, nonregenerative normocytic normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia, or leukogram changes may be present. Clinical chemistry and urinalysis may indicate renal dysfunction (azotemia, decreased urine specific gravity, proteinuria) and an inflammatory/immune response (increased acute phase proteins [APP] or α2 - and/or γ-globulins). Although a potential gammopathy is usually polyclonal, it may also appear oligo- or monoclonal, especially in dogs coinfected by other vector-borne pathogens. When lesions are accessible to fine-needle aspiration (lymphoadenomegaly, nodular lesions, joint swelling), cytology is strongly advised, as the presence of Leishmania amastigotes in a pattern of pyogranulomatous inflammation or lymphoplasmacytic hyperplasia is diagnostic. If the cytologic pattern is inconclusive, the parasite should be identified by histology/immunohistochemistry or PCR on surgical biopsies. Alternatively, cytology and PCR may be performed on bone marrow samples where amastigotes, along with erythroid hypoplasia, myeloid hyperplasia, plasmacytosis, or secondary dysmyelopoiesis can be observed. Dogs with overt leishmaniasis generally have high antibody titers, while low titers predominate in immunologically resistant infected dogs or in exposed dogs with no parasite confirmation. Quantitative serology is recommended in clinically suspect dogs as high-titer antibodies titers may confirm the clinical diagnosis. In confirmed and treated dogs, renal function and inflammatory/immune response variables should be periodically monitored.

Spurious reticulocyte profiles in a dog with babesiosis

A 9-year-old, female Maltese dog was referred to the Veterinary School of Toulouse with a 2-day history of anorexia and weakness. On clinical examination, the dog had hyperthermia (39.7°C), abdominal discomfort, and polypnea. Significant laboratory findings included pigmenturia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypercreatininemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, abnormal Snap canine pancreas-specific lipase, and pancytopenia with a nonregenerative anemia. A peripheral blood smear revealed numerous intraerythrocytic large Babesia but no polychromasia. There was a discrepancy between the absolute automated reticulocyte count (Sysmex reticulocyte count: 60 × 109 /L; RI 19.4-150.1 × 109 /L) and the manual reticulocyte count (3.6 × 109 /L) as well as the absence of polychromasia. The optical red blood cell scattergram showed an abnormal isolated reticulocyte cluster at the location of low-fluorescence ratio cells. These findings were interpreted as erythrocytes parasitized by large Babesia. The discrepancy between the Sysmex reticulocyte count and the manual reticulocyte count has been reported previously in people with falciparum malaria and numerous intra-erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum organisms. This spurious reticulocyte profile and reticulocyte count were observed with the Sysmex XT-2000iV and the ProCyte using the same fluorescent dye polymethine but not with the LaserCyte using new methylene blue which does not stain Babesia organisms on a blood smear performed for manual reticulocyte counting.

Correlations between peripheral parasite load and common clinical and laboratory alterations in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

Intensity of peripheral parasite infection has an important role in the transmission of Leishmania spp. from one host to another. As parasite load quantification is still an expensive procedure to be used routinely in epidemiological surveillance, the use of surrogate predictors may be an important asset in the identification of dogs with high transmitting ability. The present study examined whether common clinical and laboratory alterations can serve as predictors of peripheral parasitism in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania spp. Thirty-seven dogs were examined in order to establish correlations between parasite load (PL) in multiple peripheral tissues and common clinical and laboratory findings in canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine PL in conjunctival swabs, ear skin, peripheral blood and buffy coat. Additionally, a series of hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress markers were quantified. Correlations between net peripheral infection and severity of clinical alterations and variation in laboratory parameters were assessed through a new analytical approach, namely Compressed Parasite Load Data (CPLD), which uses dimension reduction techniques from multivariate statistics to summarize PL across tissues into a single variable. The analysis revealed that elevation in PL is positively correlated with severity of clinical sings commonly observed in CVL, such as skin lesions, ophthalmic alterations, onycogriphosis, popliteal lymphadenomegaly and low body mass. Furthermore, increase in PL was found to be followed by intensification of non-regenerative anemia, neutrophilia, eosinopenia, hepatic injury and oxidative imbalance. These results suggest that routinely used clinical and laboratory exams can be predictive of intensity of peripheral parasite infection, which has an important implication in the identification of dogs with high transmitting ability.

Naturally occurring acquired primary hypothyroidism in a cat due to lymphocytic thyroiditis

A five-year-old ovariohysterectomised female Bengal cat was presented for investigation of weight gain, despite dietary modification, and a dry, poor quality hair coat with diffuse scaling of the skin. Initial...

Increased Serum Alkaline Phosphatase in a FeLV-Positive Cat

Background: Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is an oncogenic virus that usually invades bone marrow causing non-regenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia. In FeLV positive cats, the myeloid leukemia is characterized by intense proliferation of blast cells in a bone marrow with myeloid precursor predominance and several malignancies degree. The leukocyte alkaline phosphatase is found secondary granules of mature neutrophils of humans, horses and cows but not in dogs and cats,which demonstrate the enzyme activity in myeloblast and promyeloblasts cells. In this case is describing a FeLV-positive case with leukemic disorder accompanied by extremely high levels of serum alkaline phosphatase.Case: A 8-year-old castrated male Domestic Short Hair cat with a 3-month history of convulsions, pica, vomits, lethargy, hypodipsia and anorexia was examined and showed mild dehydration, severe jaundice and hyperpnoea. Laboratory results evidenced severe normocytic hypochromic non-regenerative anemia, moderated leukocytosis with severe degenerativeneutrophil left shift, moderated lymphocytosis and severe thrombocytopenia. Serum biochemical profle showed mild hyperalbuminemia, moderated increment in alanine transaminase and severe increment in alkaline phosphatese. The cat waspositive for ELISA point of care FeLV antigen and negative for FIV antibodies. Urinalysis revealed moderated bilirubinuria and proteinuria. The bone marrow cytology showed high cellularity, increased of M:E ratio, rare megakaryocyte lineage, erythroid hypoplasia, myeloid hyperplasia with blast excess and dysgranulopoiesis.Discussion: FeLV is a virus that usually causes cytopenias and in this case this was well evidenced through a severe non regenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia. Generally, anemia is a non-neoplastic complication of FeLV mainly related to suppressive effects hematopoietic and stromal cells of the bone marrow. Nevertheless, in this case, the anemia also maybe attributable to the observed acute myeloid leukemia. Neutrophilia is an uncommon fnding in FeLV-infected cats, even more with the severe degenerative left shift as in the present case. This fnding could be associated to a myeloid hyperplasia. Some biochemical alterations, as hyperalbuminemia and increment in values of serum ALT could be explained by clinical observations like dehydration and some degree of hepatic enlargement, respectively. However, the excessive value forserum alkaline phosphatase activity is an unpublished fnding in cats. In humans high levels of ALP has been associated with neutrophilia and it is quite likely that a great amount of degenerative neutrophils may contribute for high leakage of ALP than in other circumstances of neutrophilia. This is the frst report of a FeLV-positive cat exhibiting extremely high serum values of the enzyme ALP, possibly attributable to acute myeloid leukemia.Keywords: neutrophilia, cytopenia, non-regenerative anemia, acute leukemia.

Are blood haemoglobin concentrations a reliable indicator of parasitism and individual condition in New Holland honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)?

ABSTRACTAcross avian species, total blood haemoglobin concentration (BHC) is the most important determinant of oxygen-carrying capacity, and most accurately reflects the potential for the bird to satisfy its oxygen requirements. This creates a close association between high BHC and high aerobic capacity, and low BHC and states of regenerative or non-regenerative anaemia. As such, total BHC has been suggested to be a reliable indicator of avian health and condition. We mist netted 160 adult and 26 juvenile New Holland honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) from ten sites across South Australia to assess the relationship between BHC and individual health and condition traits in this species. From each bird we collected samples for blood haemoglobin estimation, inspected for the presence of external parasites (ticks), and measured basic morphometric parameters (mass, tarsus length, and length of bilateral tail feathers). A relationship could not be demonstrated between BHC and tick intensity, body condition or tail feather asymmetry in adult or juvenile birds. While the measurement of BHC may provide a reliable insight into individual health and condition in some avian species, our results highlight the need to validate this relationship within species and populations prior to its use in avian health and condition assessments.