Subcutaneous filariasis: Cytopathology of Dirofilaria repens associated neoplastic alterations in a Chippiparai dog

Abstract

A Chippiparai female dog of five years old was presented with nodular swellings in neck and leg at Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli. Grossly, slightly raised, firm masses were found subcutaneously over the neck, ear base, shoulder and leg. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed from individual masses and examined microscopically. Cytological smears were composed of bloody background with clusters of epithelial cells and multiple filiform-shaped microfilaria. Morphology of microfilaria were identified as L1 of Dirofilaria repens whereas cellular clusters were identified as sebaceous adenoma. The present study records the incidence of subcutaneous filariasis in a Chippiparai dog with neoplastic changes in associated tissues.