Veterinary Pathology最新文献

Canine anal sac adenocarcinoma (ASAC) is an aggressive malignancy with high metastatic potential. Histologic and proliferation parameters such as mitotic count and Ki67 scores have limited prognostic value according to the published literature. Using pathologist-supervised digital image analysis methods with the image analysis software QuPath, we analyzed 58 cases of ASAC to evaluate mitotic count (MC) and Ki67 indices, explore relationships between different Ki67 indices [semi-automatic Ki67 digital hotspot score (Ki67-saHDS), Ki67 global digital score (Ki67-GDS), and fully automatic Ki67 digital hotspot score (Ki67-faHDS)] and MC, and to verify which method carries the most significant prognostic value. The MC did not impact median tumor-related survival (TRS) time. Although high correlation coefficients were observed between the 3 Ki67 scores, Ki67-GDS had more prognostic relevance than hotspot-based scores (Ki67-saHDS and Ki67-faHDS). Dogs with Ki67-GDS ≥ 26 had significantly shorter survival times (175, days 95%, confidence interval (95% CI) = 123-540) compared to dogs with Ki67-GDS< 26 (median survival time (MST) 650 days, 95% CI = 503->1579). No association was observed between TRS and Ki67-faHDS or Ki67-saHDS. On multivariate analysis, anisokaryosis and Ki67-GDS, but not tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, or MC, were independent prognostic markers for survival. These results demonstrate the advantage of Ki67 GDS over hotspot-based scores; however, these data need to be validated in a larger cohort of cases before clinical implementation.

Nasal biopsies from 21 dogs diagnosed with chondro-osseous respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas or respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas were reviewed. Associated lesions included angiomatous tissue (4/21), seromucinous gland proliferation (2/21), and polyps (3/21), and all had chronic inflammation. Dogs had epistaxis (14/21), sneezing (9/21), decreased airflow (8/21), congestion (6/21), and discharge (5/21). In addition to a mass lesion, computed tomography findings (n = 19) included turbinate lysis (10/19), cribriform plate and orbit erosion (4/19), and contralateral extension (8/19). In 16 dogs with outcome data collected 0-49 months after diagnosis, 13 had continued respiratory symptoms, 11 of which received medical management; 2 of the 3 dogs with improvement had radiotherapy/radiofrequency procedures after biopsy. Eight dogs were alive, 5 were euthanized due to the hamartoma (median survival 9.3 months), 2 died from unknown causes, and 1 died from a seizure. Nasal hamartomas are often locally destructive mass lesions that cause recurrent upper respiratory symptoms and may require more aggressive therapeutic interventions for disease control. Diagnosing nasal hamartomas requires integrating the clinical history, imaging results, adequate biopsy sampling of the mass, and the presence of characteristic histologic features.

Variables in the fixation and processing of histological specimens and storage of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues affect the outcomes of morphological and molecular examinations. The present study investigated the influence of unbuffered formalin fixation and prolonged fixation on histomorphology, immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, and DNA quality in FFPE tissues, which are essential issues in veterinary diagnostic pathology. Fixation of tissues with 10% unbuffered formalin resulted in increased intercellular spaces and decreased color contrast in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, attenuated Ki-67 immunolabeling, advanced DNA fragmentation, and lower PCR amplification efficiency compared with 10% neutral-buffered formalin. Prolonged fixation resulted in attenuated immunolabeling for multiple antigens, advanced DNA fragmentation, and lower PCR amplification efficiency. Preserving formalin-fixed tissue in 70% ethanol prevented loss of immunolabeling by prolonged fixation. Regarding storing FFPE tissues, coating FFPE blocks with paraffin prevented chronological DNA fragmentation. Based on the results obtained in this study and previous publications, the authors propose a standard preanalytic tissue handling guideline for histology and molecular examinations using FFPE tissues in veterinary medicine. In particular, fixation with 10% neutral-buffered formalin within 72 hours is recommended to obtain high-quality FFPE samples widely applicable for precision molecular diagnostics in routine veterinary histological examinations.

Hamartomas are benign proliferations of disorganized tissues normally present in a given site. This study aimed to characterize histopathological features of alimentary tract hamartomas in dogs, focusing on their classification and diagnostic methods. Samples collected from 2 veterinary archives were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Masson's trichrome (MT), Gomori, and Luxol fast blue stains. Immunohistochemistry was performed for α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), neurofilament, GFAP, neuron-specific enolase, von Willebrand factor, and c-kit. Sixteen hamartomas were identified: 6 neuromuscular and vascular hamartomas, 9 neurovascular hamartomas, and 1 vascular hamartoma. Locations included the oral cavity (6/16) and the gastrointestinal tract (10/16). Most dogs were mixed breeds (8/16) with a median age of 10.5 years. These findings suggest that hamartomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of oral and gastrointestinal masses in dogs. For accurate classification and diagnosis, MT in combination with α-SMA and neurofilament immunohistochemistry is recommended, in addition to routine HE.

Natural language processing (NLP), a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on the interaction between computers and human language, has potential in advancing veterinary pathology through its ability to source knowledge efficiently from vast data sets, generate high-quality text rapidly, and enhance data searchability. This review explores the applications of NLP in veterinary pathology, emphasizing its potential role in diagnostics, training pathologists, and research. NLP might offer many advantages, such as accuracy, speed, and cost reduction, especially for routine tasks including text summarization and report generation. These benefits make NLP a promising technology for achieving precision, adding value, and driving innovation in health care. However, caution is warranted, as NLP models may introduce biases and errors due to the quality of the data they are trained on, have limitations in interpreting nuanced or context-specific information, and lead to private data leakage. Furthermore, the multifaceted nature of veterinary pathology data may require specifically trained and expert-validated algorithms for accurate interpretation. To ensure the credibility and validity of research findings, pathologists must critically evaluate and complement obtained outputs with human expertise and judgment. This article highlights the transformative potential of NLP in veterinary pathology, underscores the importance of integrating this technology into the field for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and research advancements, and gives real-life examples from pathologists for pathologists, which illustrate how NLP can be applied in veterinary pathology.

Pathologists use modifying phrases (MPs) to express diagnostic confidence (DC) in the diagnosis when essential features of a lesion are lacking. Although commonly used, a standardized application and shared definitions of MPs are not recognized, resulting in a discretional use in veterinary pathology reports. Through an anonymous online survey, this study explored how different groups (veterinary pathologists, general practitioners, specialists of other specialties, residents, and students) perceive selected MPs used in veterinary pathology reports, evaluated their impact on the clinical decision, and provided a possible indication on their use. Participants (n = 753) responded from various continents. The highest DC was generally perceived for the term "diagnostic of," in all groups. "Compatible with," "indicative of," and "consistent with" were also generally perceived with high DC. The DC was lower for the other MPs ("suggestive of," "suspicious for," and "cannot rule out"). MPs perceived as having the highest DC were more often interpreted as definitive diagnoses, while those with lower DC were more likely perceived as suggestions to perform additional diagnostic tests. Pathology reports may benefit from using the comment section to further clarify the level of certainty of the diagnosis. Limitations in the data's representativeness arise from the non-probabilistic sampling and a predominance of a single nation's participants. Despite this, our study provides valuable insights into the perception and clinical impact of MPs, providing a foundation for discussions aimed in standardizing their use in veterinary pathology reports. Adopting consistent and uniform MPs could improve communication between pathologists and clinicians and patient care.

Australia is home to bare-nosed, northern hairy-nosed and southern hairy-nosed wombats. Adiaspores have been noted in the lungs of all 3 species and severe pneumonia has been characterized in 2 northern hairy-nosed wombats associated with intralesional adiaspores produced by a novel Emmonsiellopsis species. Similar organisms have been observed in the lungs of bare-nosed and southern hairy-nosed wombats. In the current report, DNA amplification and sequencing demonstrated that an adiaspore producing fungus in 3 bare-nosed wombats is a genetic variant or sister species to the Emmonsiellopsis sp. found in the northern hairy-nosed wombat. Thirty-two lung sections were evaluated for 7 histopathological parameters and adiaspores were counted in a 2.37 µm² randomly chosen area. Fisher's exact tests, relative risk, and absolute risk were calculated to determine if there was a correlation between adiaspores and an inflammatory response. Adiaspores were observed in samples from most wild wombats and were rare in captive wombats. Wombats with adiaspores were 3.53 times more likely to have interstitial pneumonia compared to wombats without adiaspores. The severity of pneumonia varied from mild to marked. However, the impact of pneumonia appeared to be minimal, as wombats were in good condition, except for wombats with mange. Therefore, the presence of adiaspores in wombats and associated inflammatory responses are usually considered an incidental finding. Further studies to determine the pathogenicity and clinical significance of the Emmonsiellopsis spp. in wombats and their prevalence across a wider portion of wombats' range may provide information on their impact on wombat populations.

Inflammatory myopathy (IM) and myocarditis are relevant complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. IM has also been reported in adult cats with experimental feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection. The present study investigated naturally FIV-infected cats for IM and myocarditis and further characterized the inflammatory processes and their potential pathogenesis. Snap-frozen skeletal muscle (quadriceps femoris (QF) and triceps brachii (TB) muscles) and myocardial samples from naturally FIV-infected cats and controls were examined histologically and by immunohistochemistry for leukocytes and FIV-p24-gag, and by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) for the relative transcription of inflammatory mediators. Sera from FIV antibody-positive cats were tested for anti-skeletal muscle autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). Inflammatory infiltrates were observed in 9/31 (35%) QF and TB muscles and 11/30 (37%) myocardial samples from FIV-infected cats, frequently in combination. The infiltrates were dominated by T-cells, with rare B-cells and macrophages; several leukocytes harbored FIV-p24-gag. The T-cell count in the QF was positively correlated with the T-cell count in TB and myocardium. Skeletal muscle of FIV-positive animals showed significantly higher transcription of interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-17, and transforming growth factor-beta than the controls, whereas the myocardium exhibited significantly higher IL-17 and lower IL-13 mRNA levels. IIF showed anti-skeletal muscle autoantibodies in sera of FIV positive cats up to a dilution of 1:1000. The results show that natural FIV infection is frequently associated with IM and myocarditis and driven by T-cells, with Th1/Th17 polarization of the response. The presence of circulating anti-muscle autoantibodies suggests an underlying autoimmune pathogenesis.