Pleural fluid was obtained from a 12-year-old neutered male Golden Retriever with clinical signs of dyspnoea and restrictive pericarditis on ultrasound and radiography. Smears were prepared from sediment from the fluid (9a, b) (both Wright–Giemsa, ×50 oil).
i. The laboratory data and a cytological review indicated that the fluid was a modified transudate, with evidence of previous haemorrhage and a ‘potential’ underlying aetiology. What are the structures labelled 1, 2 and 3?
ii. Which special stains would you request on the cytology specimen to help confirm that the structures are yeast?
iii. List five more common types of fungal infections that can be isolated/identified in pleural fluid.
iiii. A pericardectomy was performed a few days post cytology, and the pericardium was evaluated histologically. Identify the most significant pathological change (bracketed) (9c) (H&E, ×100 oil).
