Alessandra Gavazza

Use of CD9 and CD61 for the characterization of AML‐M7 by flow cytometry in a dog*

Acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia (AML-M7) is a rare myeloproliferative disorder in domestic animals. Recently, thanks to the greater availability of immunophenotype techniques, precise diagnosis is more easily made. The morphological evaluation has its limitations, especially in the study of poorly differentiated cells. Few reports have described AML-M7 in dogs using flow cytometry. This clinical case points out the utility of flow cytometry in the characterization of AML-M7 in a 3-year-old German Shepherd dog. Flow cytometry investigation has established megakaryocytic lineage involvement by showing the presence of two megakaryocyte/platelet associated antigens (CD9 and CD61). In human medicine CD9 may be used as a platelet and megakaryocyte marker. There is an evidence of cross-reactivity of human anti-CD9 monoclonal antibody with canine samples. To our knowledge, the use of CD9 has never been described before, for this purpose in the dog.

Faecal microbiota in dogs with multicentric lymphoma

Malignant lymphoma B-cell type is the most common canine haematopoietic malignancy. Changes in intestinal microbiota have been implicated in few types of cancer in humans. The aim of this prospective and case-control study was to determine differences in faecal microbiota between healthy control dogs and dogs with multicentric lymphoma. Twelve dogs affected by multicentric, B-cell, stage III-IV lymphoma, and 21 healthy dogs were enrolled in the study. For each dog, faecal samples were analysed by Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and quantitative PCR (qPCR) for selected bacterial groups. Alpha diversity was significant lower in lymphoma dogs. Principal coordinate analysis plots showed different microbial clustering (P = .001) and linear discriminant analysis effect size revealed 28 differentially abundant bacterial groups in lymphoma and control dogs. The qPCR analysis showed significant lower abundance of Faecalibacterium spp. (q < .001), Fusobacterium spp. (q = .032), and Turicibacter spp. (q = .043) in dogs with lymphoma compared with control dogs. On the contrary, Streptococcus spp. was significantly higher in dogs with lymphoma (q = .041). The dysbiosis index was significantly higher (P < .0001) in dogs with lymphoma. In conclusion, both sequencing and qPCR analyses provided a global overview of faecal microbial communities and showed significant differences in the microbial communities of dogs presenting with multicentric lymphoma compared with healthy control dogs.