There are multiple vector-borne diseases in cats, the most prominent being those transmitted by mosquitos, sand flies, fleas, and ticks. Many of the agents vectored by fleas or ticks have been grown ...or amplified from blood or have induced antibodies in the serum of normal cats or those with clinical signs like fever and will be the focus of this manuscript. As high as 80% of fleas collected from cats contain at least one organism that could induce illness in cats or people. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp., hemoplasmas, and Rickettsia spp. infect cats and can be associated with clinical illness. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi are transmitted by Ixodes spp., Ehrlichia spp. and A. platys are transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Fleas vector Bartonella spp., hemoplasmas, and R. felis. Recently, R. typhus was detected in cats in Spain. Lethargy and fever are common findings in cats with flea and tick borne diseases. Hemoplasmas are associated with hemolytic anemia. Moderate thrombocytopenia is associated with the tick-vectored agents. Polymerase chain reaction assays performed on blood collected in the acute phase of infection can be used to prove presence of the organisms. Doxycycline at 5 mg/kg, PO, twice daily or 10 mg/kg, PO, daily can be effective for resolving the clinical signs. If doxycycline is ineffective or not tolerated, fluoroquinolones can be effective for treatment of clinical illness associated with Bartonella spp., hemoplasmas, and Rickettsia spp. Use of flea and tick control products is effective for blocking transmission of many of the agents.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in aqueous humor (AH) from dogs with anterior uveitis and post-operative ocular hypertension (POH) following ...phacoemulsification, in AH from dogs with primary glaucoma, and in normal healthy eyes with no signs of anterior uveitis or other ocular diseases. An exploratory study including 21 samples of AH collected from 15 dogs; post-phacoemulsification with anterior uveitis and POH ('POH group', n = 10 samples), primary glaucoma ('glaucoma group', n = 6 samples), and normal ('normal group', n = 5 samples). Target mass spectrometry via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM-MS) with the Canine Cytokine SpikeMixTM as internal standard was used to measure the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. The MRM-MS method measured 15 pro-inflammatory cytokines. Tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels in AH were different between all three groups (glaucoma>POH>normal) (p = .05, p = .02, respectively). Additionally, IL-6 was higher in the 'POH group' compared to the 'glaucoma group' (p = .04) and IL-4 was higher in the 'POH group' compared to the 'normal group' (p = .04). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was positively associated with increased AH levels of IL-18 (Spearman correlation = .64, p = .03). MRM-MS using the Canine Cytokine SpikeMixTM as an internal standard was established as a method to detect pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in canine AH. The study demonstrated increased levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-18, and TNFalpha in AH from canines with POH following phacoemulsification. Primary glaucomatous eyes had the highest levels of IL-18 and TNFalpha which may indicate that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of primary glaucoma in dogs.
•These guidelines provide recommendations for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats.•Sporadic bacterial cystitis, recurrent bacterial cystitis, ...pyelonephritis, bacterial prostatitis, and subclinical bacteriuria are addressed.•Issues pertaining to urinary catheters, medical dissolution of uroliths and prophylaxis for urological procedures are discussed.
Urinary tract disease is a common clinical presentation in dogs and cats, and a common reason for antimicrobial prescription. This document is a revision and expansion on the 2011 Antimicrobial Use Guidelines for Treatment of Urinary Tract Disease in Dogs and Cats, providing recommendations for diagnosis and management of sporadic bacterial cystitis, recurrent bacterial cystitis, pyelonephritis, bacterial prostatitis, and subclinical bacteriuria. Issues pertaining to urinary catheters, medical dissolution of uroliths and prophylaxis for urological procedures are also addressed.
The gastrointestinal microbiome plays an important role in host health and there is increasing concern regarding the deleterious effects of pharmaceuticals on the fecal microbiome. The effect of ...anthelmintic therapy on the fecal microbiome in dogs has not yet been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of anthelmintic administration on the fecal microbiome of dogs with and without subclinical Giardia species and Cryptosporidium canis infections.
Part 1: 6 healthy adult research beagles with subclinical giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis were administered a commercially available preparation of febantel combined with pyrantel and praziquantel (FPP) orally daily for three days. Part 2: 19 healthy staff-owned dogs without giardiasis or cryptosporidiosis were divided into a treatment group (n = 9) that was administered fenbendazole orally daily for five days and an untreated control group (n = 10). For both parts of the study, feces were collected at multiple time points before and after anthelmintic (FPP or fenbendazole) administration. Fecal DNA was extracted for Illumina sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and qPCR assays. Neither FPP nor fenbendazole treatment caused a significant change in alpha or beta diversity or the relative abundance of bacterial species. Upon univariate statistical analysis neither FPP or fenbendazole caused minimal changes in the fecal microbiota.
FPP administration was associated with minimal alterations of the fecal microbiome of healthy research beagles with subclinical giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis. Fenbendazole administration was associated with minimal alterations of the fecal microbiome of healthy staff owned dogs.
Background
Chronic stress is implicated in behavioral and health issues in cats, but methods for recognition, evaluation, and measurement of stress are lacking. Cortisol concentration is typically ...used as an indicator of stress.
Objectives
To evaluate use of an enzyme immunoassay to quantitate hair and nail cortisol concentrations (HCC and NCC) in cats and evaluate associations between HCC and NCC and behavioral, physical, and environmental correlates of chronic stress in cats.
Animals
Forty‐eight adult, owned or community cats.
Methods
Cross‐sectional study. Nail clippings and hair were collected from cats. Medical history and cat daily lifestyle questionnaires were completed by owners or caretakers. A commercial laboratory performed cortisol extraction and quantification using a validated enzyme immunoassay kit. Correlational and regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between HCC and NCC and behavioral, environmental, and medical factors.
Results
Hair and nail cortisol concentrations were significantly associated (rs = 0.70; P < .001), but HCCs varied widely within and among cats. Cats with litterbox issues had significantly increased HCC (P = .02) and NCC (P = .001) as compared to cats without litterbox issues. Cats with groomed coats had lower HCCs (P = .02) as compared to cats without groomed coats, whereas cats with dander and mats had higher NCCs (P = .01) as compared to cats without dander and mats.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
The quantification of NCCs might improve identification and evaluation of chronic stress in cats. The variability of HCCs in individual cats warrants caution using this measurement in chronic stress studies.
Sheltered and stray dogs, exposed to zoonotic parasites, including protozoa, helminths, and arthropods, may represent a major threat to public health. Resources for addressing health problems in ...these animals are not on the priority list of veterinary and public health authorities. Thus, dogs continue to represent an important reservoir for zoonotic parasites. In this article, we review the importance of sheltered and stray dogs as reservoirs of zoonotic parasites in different parts of the world, especially in the context of the current global political and economic crisis.
Sheltered and stray dogs represent reservoirs of zoonotic parasites worldwide, especially in the context of the current global changes and economic crisis.
Stray dog populations are an underestimated problem in several countries, and management policies are virtually nonexistent, or not applied, particularly in developing nations.
Relocation of stray dogs from southern to northern countries of Europe has contributed to the establishment of parasites and/or their vectors in previously nonendemic areas.
Poverty and low public health standards may further worsen the welfare of dogs in developing and industrialized countries.
Background
Use of diets with increased concentrations of dietary fiber is thought to be beneficial in the management of dogs with large bowel diarrhea.
Objective
To determine whether feeding a diet ...with high concentrations of soluble and insoluble fiber to dogs with acute colitis would be superior to feeding a diet with typical fiber levels.
Animals
A total of 52 dogs with acute signs of large bowel diarrhea housed in an animal shelter were entered into the study; 11 dogs per diet completed the protocol.
Methods
In this randomized, prospective study, dogs with a fecal score of 4, 5, 6, or 7 and signs of acute colitis were fed a high fiber diet (4.54% soluble; 15.16% insoluble fiber) or a standard diet (0.6% soluble; 5.33% insoluble fiber) and fecal scores compared over the course of the study with significance defined as P < .05.
Results
All dogs fed the high fiber diet (11/11; 100%) had a fecal score <5 on the day of adoption or day 9, which was statistically different (P < .04) than dogs fed the standard diet (6/11 dogs; 55%; 95% CI: 23‐83). The proportions of stools with a fecal score >4 were greater (P = .0001) in the dogs fed the standard diet (29/48 samples; 60%; 95% CI: 45‐74) compared to the high fiber diet (8/50 samples; 16%; 95% CI: 7‐29).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
The results support feeding the high fiber diet described herein to dogs with acute large bowel diarrhea.
Background
Diet may induce clinical remission in dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE). Elemental diets (EDs), providing protein as amino acids, modulate intestinal immunity and microbiome in rodents ...and humans.
Hypothesis
Evaluate the impact of an amino acid‐based kibble (EL) on CE clinical activity and gastrointestinal (GI)‐relevant variables.
Animals
Client‐owned dogs (n = 23) with inadequately controlled CE.
Methods
Prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial. Diagnostic evaluation including upper and lower GI endoscopy was performed before study entry. Canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), serum biomarkers, and fecal microbiome were evaluated before and after 2 weeks of EL. Dogs with stable or improved CE remained in the study for another 6 weeks. Pre‐ and post‐EL clinical and microbiological variables were compared statistically using a mixed model.
Results
After 2 weeks of EL, 15 of 22 dogs (68%; 95% confidence interval CI, 47%‐84%) consuming the diet were classified as responders with a median (range) decrease in CCECAI from 6 (3‐12) to 2 (0‐9; P < .001). Fourteen of 15 responders and 2/7 nonresponders at 2 weeks completed the trial; all 16 were experiencing adequate control at week 8 with a median CCECAI of 2 (0‐3). In total, 16/23 dogs (70%; 95% CI, 49%‐84%) were responders. Feeding EL caused shifts in fecal bacterial communities, which differed between responders and nonresponders. Serum biomarker concentrations were unchanged throughout the study apart from serum alkaline phosphatase activity.
Conclusions
Exclusive feeding of EL improved clinical signs in 16 of 23 dogs with uncontrolled CE. Fecal microbiome shifts were associated with response to diet and may represent a mechanism for clinical improvement.
Background
Information regarding adverse events (AEs) of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is limited.
Objectives
To evaluate the types and frequency of potential AEs of MMF in dogs with immune‐mediated ...disease.
Animals
One hundred thirty‐one dogs treated with MMF for management of suspected immune‐mediated disease.
Methods
Retrospective study. Medical records were reviewed to find and group suspect AEs in gastrointestinal (GI), hematologic, and other categories. Age, dosage, body weight, and sex were analyzed between dogs with and without AEs by using the Mann‐Whitney U‐test and chi‐squared test.
Results
The median starting dosage of MMF was 17.5 mg/kg/day (interquartile range IQR = 15.1‐20.6 mg/kg/day) and the median treatment duration was 56 days (IQR = 14‐236 days). Mycophenolate mofetil was prescribed for immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (n = 31), immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia (n = 31), pemphigus foliaceus (n = 15), immune‐mediated polyarthritis (n = 12), and others (n = 42). Overall, potential AEs of MMF were observed in 34 of 131 dogs (GI 24.4% 31/127, neutropenia 4% 3/76, anemia 4% 1/25, thrombocytopenia 4.0% 1/25, and dermatologic 1.5% 2/131). There were no significant differences among dogs with (n = 37) or without potential AEs (n = 94) in regards to sex, age, body weight, or dosage of MMF (P = .06, .13, .24, and .26, respectively).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
In the dogs administered MMF, GI AEs were most common. Since potential hematologic and dermatologic AEs developed in a few dogs, clinicians should be aware of these when prescribing MMF to dogs with immune‐mediated disease.
ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats Littman, Meryl P.; Gerber, Bernhard; Goldstein, Richard E. ...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine,
May/June 2018, Letnik:
32, Številka:
3
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
An update of the 2006 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Small Animal Consensus Statement on Lyme Disease in Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention was presented at the 2016 ...ACVIM Forum in Denver, CO, followed by panel and audience discussion and a drafted consensus statement distributed online to diplomates for comment. The updated consensus statement is presented below. The consensus statement aims to provide guidance on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats.
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