title: Cytological Findings of 140 Bile Samples from Dogs and Cats and Associated Clinical Pathological Data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cholecystocentesis can be part of the diagnostic workup of hepatobiliary disease in small animals, but literature on cytological evaluation of bile is scant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the diagnostic utility of cytological assessment of bile aspirates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six and 78 client-owned dogs and cats, respectively, with bile collected by cholecystocentesis and submitted to our diagnostic laboratory between 1999 and 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study describing cytological findings of bile, concurrent bacterial culture results, hematological and serum biochemical data, gallbladder biopsy results, as well as final diagnosis and complications after cholecystocentesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infectious agents were found in 30% of canine and 22% of feline bile aspirates, and inflammation in 5% and 19% respectively. Presence of microorganisms was more often detected on cytological examination (24%) than by culture (21%). The most common bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp., isolated from 14.8% and 6.7% of cultured samples respectively. Only increased canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentration (cPLI) was significantly associated with the presence of microorganisms, inflammatory cells, or both in bile. Clinically relevant complications of cholecystocentesis occurred in 2 dogs. The majority of the animals undergoing cholecystocentesis suffered from hepatic, pancreatic, gastrointestinal disease, or a combination thereof.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytological examination of bile is inexpensive and straightforward, and yields diagnostically relevant information that precedes and complements bacterial culture.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glanemann
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Garden
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szladovits
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001646:Bile / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Bactibilia; Cholecystitis; Cholecystocentesis; Hepatobiliary disease