JANUARY 2008

Cat, Kidney: Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

FIP is caused by Feline Coronavirus and is a variable systemic disease inducing pyogranulomatous and fibrinosuppurative inflammation primarily of serous membranes. The lesion is defined as a phlebitis but this is rarely evident due to the destructive nature of the inflammation. Texts often describe a "Wet and Dry" form but clinical disease is often a ixture os the two types of lesions. Renal involvement is frequent. Diagnosis of FIP is confirmed by immunohistological demonstration of FCoV antigen within macrophages in lesions (Kipar et al 1998)

FEBRUARY 2008

Horse: Bacterial pseudomycosis (Botryomycosis)

This is an infrequent lesion in the horse but occurs in other species and in man. It is a chronic suppurative and granulomatous bacterial infection usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus (originally thought to be due to fungi called botryomycetes). It is characterized by lesions containing "sulfur granules" (see inset) composed of a central mass of bacteria surrounded by a capsule, and histologically resembling actinomycosis or mycetoma. Infection in domestic animals most often occurs as chronic, localized or spreading abscesses of the skin but rarely can involve the viscera. Trauma is thought to be the major aetiologic factor.

march 2008

Cat, Digit: Metastatic Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma

Although it is reported to be a rare event, there are a large number of reports describing metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma to the digits—so-called "lung-digit syndrome" and not an infrequent diagnosis at our laboratory. In many cases, ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells are present. Cats with metastatic pulmonary carcinoma may not exhibit any clinical respiratory signs, and the lesions developing in the digits may be the first indication of disease. The reason for the digit as a site of metastasis is unclear, but in humans, it is suggested that trauma, temperature, hormone influences, and plentiful vasculature may play a role.