Pathological and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Follicular Gastritis (Gastric Lymphofollicular Hyperplasia) in 41 Dogs
Andrada Negoescu,
Corina Toma,
Claudiu Gal,
Constantin Ifteme,
Bianca Bofan,
Teodoru Soare,
Irina Amorim,
Raluca Maria Pop,
Ştefan Cristian Vesa,
Dragoș Hodor,
Elvira Gagniuc,
Cornel Cătoi,
Marian Taulescu
Affiliations
Andrada Negoescu
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Corina Toma
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Claudiu Gal
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Constantin Ifteme
Endoscopy and Minimal Invasive Surgery Veterinary Center, 077190 Bucharest, Romania
Bianca Bofan
Endoscopy and Minimal Invasive Surgery Veterinary Center, 077190 Bucharest, Romania
Teodoru Soare
Histovet, 050855 Bucharest, Romania
Irina Amorim
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Raluca Maria Pop
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Morphofunctional Sciences, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Victor Babeș, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ştefan Cristian Vesa
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Morphofunctional Sciences, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Victor Babeș, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Dragoș Hodor
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Elvira Gagniuc
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Synevovet, 81 Pache Protopopescu, 021408 Bucharest, Romania
Cornel Cătoi
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Marian Taulescu
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Gastric lymphofollicular hyperplasia (GLFH) is characterized by large lymphoid nodules in the lamina propria. Its etiology and immunohistochemical characteristics are poorly understood. This study analyzed 41 canine GLFH cases, including clinical, endoscopic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical evaluations. Young French Bulldogs (75.06%) were the most affected. Endoscopically, lymphoid nodules were identified in both the antrum and gastric body. Lymphoid follicle diameters were similar in the gastric body (mean 295.587 μm) and antrum (mean 294.641 μm). Associated lesions included glandular atrophy, lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, and fibrosis. Minimal, moderate, and severe colonization with Helicobacter-like organisms (HLOs) were observed in 20, 6, and 3 cases, respectively. B-cell lymphocytes positive for Bcl6 and Pax5 were localized centrally in large follicles, surrounded by CD3+ T lymphocytes. Small follicles lacked germinal centers and showed mixed T and B lymphocytes. A positive correlation was found between the follicle diameter and both HLOs colonization (p = 0.049) and follicular hyperplasia (p 2 = 0.423, p < 0.001). Additional studies are required to investigate potential correlations between GLFH and HLOs, as well as to assess the role of this lesion in the progression to neoplasia.
