Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in a German Shepherd dog

An 11-year-old spayed-female German Shepherd dog was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University with a history of weight loss, anorexia, depression, and lethargy for 2-3 weeks. Radiographic examination revealed a mass in the spleen and several round radiodense foci in the liver. CBC results included normocytic normochromic anemia, marked thrombocytopenia, and low numbers of neoplastic cells that frequently had cytoplasmic projections or blebs. A bone marrow aspirate contained about 80% neoplastic megakaryoblasts with the same microscopic features as those observed in peripheral blood. Using flow cytometry, cells of large size were identified in peripheral blood that expressed CD41/61, CD45, CD61, and CD62P (P-selectin) and were negative for markers of T cells, B cells, monocyte/macrophages, and dendritic cells. Because of the poor prognosis, euthanasia and subsequently necropsy were performed. On histopathologic examination, neoplastic megakaryoblasts were identified in spleen, liver, mesenteric lymph node, and the pulmonary vasculature. Using immunohistochemistry, the neoplastic megakaryoblasts weakly expressed von Willebrand factor. Based on microscopic and immunophenotypic findings, a diagnosis of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMegL) was made. To our knowledge, this is the first report of AMegL in a domestic animal in which immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and a panel of antibodies against CD41/61, CD61, and CD62P were used to support the diagnosis.