Lymphoscintigraphic evaluation of the thoracic duct (TD) was performed in 10 healthy and 12 dogs with experimentally created TD abnormalities (6 dogs with TD lacerations and 6 dogs with cranial vena ligations). Complete imaging took 4 hours and caused no adverse effects or complications. Lymphoscintigraphy of healthy dogs failed to image the TD; however, background activity in the abdomen and thorax, and radioactivity in the kidneys, bladder, liver, and heart were noticed. Lacerations and transections of the TD were experimentally created, in 6 dogs to ascertain whether TD rupture could be detected with lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed within 48 hours of creating the TD defect. There was no significant difference in the scintigraphic pattern of healthy dogs and those with experimentally created TD defects. Ligation of the cranial vena cava was performed in 6 dogs; 3 dogs developed chylothorax. In those 3 dogs, diffuse radioactivity was imaged in the thorax and was compatible with thoracic lymphangiectasia. In one of these dogs, linear activity consistent with the TD and localized regions of radioactivity cranial to the heart (compatible with the mediastina lymph nodes) were noticed. Lymphoscintigraphic findings in these dogs correlated with lymphangiographic findings.

Leishmaniasis is a life-threatening zoonosis of which dogs are the major reservoir and sandflies are the vectors. Until now, the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in the Slovenian dog population was unknown. Epidemiological data, eye swabs and blood samples were taken from 465 dogs born in Slovenia and older than one year. Commercial ELISA kits and real-time PCR were used. For ELISA-positive samples, an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) was performed. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise the samples. The one-sample nonparametric chi-square test was used to test whether the categories of a variable were equally distributed. A 59.9% proportion of the recruited dogs had travelled to endemic regions and 62.1% of them had not been protected by insect repellents. Skin symptoms that might be CanL-related were described in 109 of the dogs’ histories (23.4%), inappetence and/or weight loss in 25 (5.4%), and anaemia, intermittent fever, and/or lymphadenopathy in 19 (4.1%). At the time of recruitment, all dogs were asymptomatic. All samples were PCR negative, nine (1.9%) were ELISA positive, but none were IFAT positive. Five of the nine ELISA-positive dogs were non-travellers. We conclude that the seroprevalence of canine leishmaniasis of 1.9 % in the autochthonous Slovenian dog population may pose a risk of endemic spread of the disease.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV; formerly, feline T-lymphotropic lentivirus) is a typical lentivirus resembling human and simian immunodeficiency viruses in morphologic features, protein structure, and reverse transcriptase enzyme. It is antigenically dissimilar, however. The virus is tropic for primary and permanent feline T-lymphoblastoid cells and Crandell feline kidney cells. The virus did not grow in other permanent feline non-lymphoblastoid cells that were tested or in lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells from man, dogs, mice, and sheep. During short term inoculation studies in cats, the feline immunodeficiency-like syndrome found in nature was not experimentally induced, but a distinct primary phase of infection was observed. Fever and neutropenia were observed 4 to 5 weeks after inoculation; fever lasted several days, and neutropenia persisted from 1 to 9 weeks. Generalized lymphadenopathy that persisted for 2 to 9 months appeared at the same time. Antibodies to FIV appeared 2 weeks after inoculation and then plateaued. Virus was reisolated from the blood of all infected cats within 4 to 5 weeks after inoculation and persisted indefinitely in the face of humoral antibody response. Virus was recovered from blood, plasma, CSF and saliva, but not from colostrum or milk. Contact transmission was achieved slowly in one colony of naturally infected cats, but not between experimentally infected and susceptible specific-pathogen-free cats kept together for periods aslong as 4 to 14 months. The infection was transmitted readily, however, by parenteral inoculation with blood, plasma, or infective cell culture fluids. In utero and lactogenic transmission were not observed in kittens born to naturally or experimentally infected queens. Lymphadenopathy observed during the initial stage of FIV infection was ascribed to lymphoid hyperplasia and follicular dysplasia. A myeloproliferative disorder was observed in 1 cat with experimentally induced infection.

Hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes are lymphoid organs that share morphologic and functional characteristics of lymph nodes and spleens. The aim of the present study was to obtain new informations on the distinct morphological structures of hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes according to ages, andto get the basic data for their functions in Korean native goats. Goats were divided into 5 groups, consisting of 3 animals aged 1, 3, 6, 10 and 12 months, respectively. Ultrastructural features of the organs were observed by transmission and scanning electron microscopes. The sinuses of hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes were lined by enodthelial-like reticular cells which had euchromatin-rich nuclei and many cytoplasmic processes, surrounding collagen fibrils. Macrophages containing phagocytosed erythrocytes were often noted in the diffuse lymphatic tissues of hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes. Some mast cells were in contact with the plasma cells near the blood vessel. Hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes had venous sinusal-like vessels which were different from the deep sinus. The lymph vessels with valves were observed in the capsule of the hemolymph node. There were no ultrastructural differences of the organs in the age different groups of the animals. These results suggest that hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes may take part in hemopoiesis, blood filtration and immune reaction in Korean native goats.

Hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes are lymphoid organs which share morphologic and functional characteristics of lymph nodes and spleens. Hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes are normally present in Korean native goats. Hemal nodes had extensive subcapsular and deep sinuses distended by a great number of erythrocytes, and no typical cortex and medulla were observed. Blood vessels commonly occurred, but lymph vessel was not observed in the hemal node. Hemolymph nodes had distince cortex and medulla, and also had afferent and efferent lymph vessels. The aim of the present study was to obtain new informationon the distinct morphological structures of hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes according to ages, and have the basic data for their functions. Goats are divided into 5 groups, consisting of 3 animals aged 1, 3, 6, 10, and 12 momths. The morphological studies of the organs were carried out by groww anatomy, light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. During aging, there was an increase in the size of the organs, while there were no significant changes of their numbers, locations and colors. As the goat got older, the lymphatic nodules of hemal nodes were more developed, and the number of macrophage containing phagocytosed erythrocytes was more increased. As the goat was younger,the lymphatic tissues of hemolymph nodes were less developed. There was no difference in distribution of T-and B-lymphocytes according to ages.