Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is one species in the commensal staphylococcal population in dogs. While it is commonly carried on healthy companion dogs it is also an opportunistic pathogen ...associated with a range of skin, ear, wound and other infections. While adapted to dogs, it is not restricted to them, and we have reviewed its host range, including increasing reports of human colonisation and infections. Despite its association with pet dogs, S. pseudintermedius is found widely in animals, covering companion, livestock and free-living species of birds and mammals. Human infections, typically in immunocompromised individuals, are increasingly being recognised, in part due to improved diagnosis. Colonisation, infection, and antimicrobial resistance, including frequent multidrug resistance, among S. pseudintermedius isolates represent important One Health challenges.
•Not just in man's best friend: a review of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius host range and human zoonosis.•Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a common commensal and pathogen in dogs.•Although adapted to dogs it has been isolated from a wide range of host species.•Zoonotic human infections are becoming increasingly recognised.•AMR in S. pseudintermedius make this an important One Health challenge.
While the role of vitamin D in the maintenance of skeletal health has been well‐established for many years, the discovery that many non‐skeletal tissues express the vitamin D receptor stimulated ...renewed interest in vitamin D and its wider physiological roles. Subsequently, a vast literature has emerged over the past three decades which has linked vitamin D deficiency to the development of many human diseases including cancer, autoimmune, infectious and cardiovascular disorders. In contrast, the role vitamin D plays in the physiology of non‐skeletal tissues in cats and dogs has received little attention. The situation is now starting to change with the publication of several studies that have indicated that vitamin D metabolism is deranged in numerous companion animal disorders. This article reviews the biology of vitamin D in companion animals and highlights some of the recent studies which have advanced understanding of vitamin D homeostasis in cats and dogs. Finally, the essay discusses how a “One Health” approach could further the understanding of vitamin D metabolism in mammals. Investigating vitamin D homoeostasis in companion animals offers many advantages compared to human studies in which vitamin D status is influenced by many more variables.
Background An accumulating body of research demonstrates that risk of suicide varies between occupational groups. Identification of the occupations at risk, and the factors that contribute to the ...increased risk of suicide in these groups is essential for the development of effective suicide prevention strategies. There is preliminary evidence to suggest that veterinary surgeons are a group at risk. Aims To conduct a systematic review of studies of rates and methods of suicide in the veterinary profession. Methods A systematic search of the international research literature was performed in May 2008. The data from the 19 studies of the prevalence of suicide in the veterinary profession were extracted by two independent reviewers and analysed. Results Between 0 and 43% of veterinary surgeon deaths were due to suicide. In all but one of the 15 studies presenting risk of suicide in veterinary surgeons with a comparison population, an elevated risk was found. The better quality studies with the lowest risk of bias indicated that in the UK, the rate of suicide in the veterinary profession was at least three times the general population rate. Studies of the methods of suicide veterinary surgeons use suggest that self-poisoning and firearms are particularly common. Conclusions There appears to be an elevated risk of suicide for veterinary surgeons in several countries. Access to means of suicide influences the methods used and may contribute to increased risk.
Vitamin D Receptor Expression in Dogs Cartwright, J.A.; Gow, A.G.; Milne, E. ...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine,
March/April 2018, Letnik:
32, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background
There is growing evidence linking low blood vitamin D concentration to numerous diseases in people and in dogs. Vitamin D influences cellular function by signaling through the vitamin D ...receptor (VDR). Little is known about which non‐skeletal tissues express the VDR or how inflammation influences its expression in the dog.
Objectives
To define which non‐skeletal canine tissues express the VDR and to investigate expression in inflamed small intestine.
Animals
Thirteen non‐skeletal tissues were collected prospectively from 6 control dogs. Thirty‐five dogs diagnosed with a chronic enteropathy (CE) and 24 control dogs were prospectively enrolled and duodenal biopsies were evaluated for VDR expression.
Methods
Prospective; blinded assessment of canine intestinal VDR. Dogs with CE were included once other identifiable causes of intestinal disease were excluded. Age matched controls were included with no intestinal clinical signs. VDR expression was assessed immunohistochemically in all samples, using a Rat IgG VDR monoclonal antibody. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was also used for duodenal biopsies.
Results
VDR expression as assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) was highest in the kidney, duodenum, skin, ileum and spleen, and weak in the colon, heart, lymph node, liver, lung, and ovary. Gastric and testicular tissue did not express the VDR. There was no statistical difference in duodenal VDR expression between the 24 healthy dogs and 34 dogs with CE when quantified by either qPCR (P = 0.87) or IHC (P = 0.099).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
The lack of down regulation of VDR expression in inflamed intestine contrasts with previous studies in humans. Our findings support future studies to investigate whether vitamin D and its analogues can be used to modulate intestinal inflammation in the dog.
Vitamin D metabolism and disorders in dogs and cats Clarke, K. E.; Hurst, E. A.; Mellanby, R. J.
Journal of small animal practice,
November 2021, 2021-11-00, 20211101, Letnik:
62, Številka:
11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating calcium metabolism and in the development and maintenance of skeletal health of companion animals. There is also a growing interest in understanding ...the role vitamin D plays in non‐skeletal health in both human and veterinary patients. This review provides an update of our current understanding of vitamin D biology in dogs and cats and gives an overview of how vitamin D metabolism can be assessed in companion animals. Congenital and acquired vitamin D disorders are then summarised before the review concludes with a summary of recent studies which have explored the role of vitamin D in the development and outcomes of non‐skeletal diseases of dogs and cats.
Sterilisation and rabies vaccination programs seek to manage free-roaming domestic dog (Canis familiaris) populations with the aim to reduce inter-species disease transmission and conflicts. As ...effective, permanent, remotely-administered options are not yet available for sterilisation, and oral vaccination is not yet commonly used; free-roaming dogs are typically captured for these interventions. There is a paucity of information describing how dog capture rates change over time within defined areas following repeated capture efforts. This data is needed to allow efficient dog capture programmes to be developed. Using spatial co-ordinates of dog capture, we characterise where dogs are more likely to be captured in six catch-sterilise-release campaigns, in Goa state, India. Combining capture numbers with population survey data collected in five sites, we document the increasing difficulty of catching entire (non-sterilised) dogs as sterilisation coverage increases and demonstrate how this leads to increased unit costs. Accounting for the extra resources required to capture dogs when sterilisation coverage is high will improve estimation of the resources required to manage free-roaming dog populations and assist in planning the most efficient intervention strategies.
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•Capture of free-roaming dogs is a crucial part of dog population management.•In sterilisation campaigns, more resources are needed to capture dogs in areas with a higher sterilisation coverage.•Accounting for this when planning dog population management strategies will allow more efficient use of scarce resources.
Measuring the size of free roaming dog populations quickly and accurately is critical in the implementation of numerous preventive health and population control interventions. However, few studies ...have investigated the relative performance of population size assessment tools when applied to dogs. The aim of this study was to compare the commonly used mark-resight methodology with distance sampling methods, which are less resource intensive, to estimate free-roaming dog abundance in Goa, India. Twenty-six working zones were surveyed along all roads twice by the same surveyor at the same time of day, following a vaccination campaign which included marking of vaccinated dogs with a coloured paint. The Chapman estimate was then used to evaluate the mark-resight abundance. Additionally, the number of dogs and perpendicular distance from the road for all dogs sighted was recorded. This was used to estimate dog density and abundance using distance sampling methods. The detection function was fitted based on goodness-of-fit and AIC.
The Chapman abundance estimate for the entire study area was 5202 dogs (95%CI 4733.8-5671.0), and the distance sampling method abundance estimate was 5067 dogs (95%CI 4454.3-5764.2). For individual working zones, after taking other factors into account in a mixed effects model, the average distance sampling estimate was 35% higher (95%CI 20-53%) than the Chapman estimate. There was also evidence of a difference in estimates between surveyors of 21% (95%CI 7-37%) and between days (22% lower on day 2, 95%CI 8-38%) for individual working zones.
Our study demonstrated that the distance sampling estimates were comparable overall to the Chapman method of abundance estimation of free roaming dogs across the entire study region but there was noticeable variation between the two methods when individual zones were compared. Consequently, distance sampling methods may be suitable to enumerate dogs over large areas in a more time efficient manner than the widely used mark-resight approach.
Background
Current tests for diagnosing liver disease in dogs are sub‐optimal. MicroRNA‐122 (miR‐122) is a sensitive and specific biomarker of liver injury in humans and rodents. Circulating miR‐122 ...could have utility in identifying dogs with liver disease.
Objective
Establish the reference interval for miR‐122 in healthy dogs and determine performance in a range of dog breeds with liver disease and control animals with non‐liver disease.
Animals
Stored serum from 120 healthy dogs, 100 dogs with non‐liver diseases, and 30 dogs with histologically confirmed liver disease was analyzed.
Methods
Retrospective study. Medical records of dogs with liver disease, non‐liver disease and healthy dogs were reviewed. Serum miR‐122 concentrations were measured by PCR and compared with the characteristics of the dogs and their conventional clinical measurements.
Results
In healthy dogs the 2.5th, 50th, and 97.5th quartiles of miR‐122 were 110 (90% CI 80‐114), 594 (505‐682), and 3312 (2925‐5144) copies/μL, respectively. There was no difference between healthy dogs and dogs with non‐liver disease (median ± IQR: healthy dogs 609 327‐1014 copies/μL; non‐liver disease 607 300‐1351 copies/μL). miR‐122 was higher in dogs with liver disease (11 332 4418‐20 520 copies/μL, P < .001 compared to healthy dogs). miR‐122 identified dogs with liver disease with high accuracy (receiver operating characteristic area under curve for comparison with healthy dogs: 0.93 95% CI 0.86‐0.99). The upper limit of normal for healthy dogs (3312 copies/μL) had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 97% for identifying liver disease.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance
Liver disease can be sensitively and specifically diagnosed in dogs by measurement of miR‐122.
BACKGROUND: Dogs with a chronic enteropathy (CE) have a lower vitamin D status, than do healthy dogs. Vitamin D status has been associated with a negative clinical outcome in humans with inflammatory ...bowel disease. OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations at diagnosis and clinical outcome in dogs with a CE. ANIMALS: Forty‐one dogs diagnosed with CE admitted to the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, Hospital for Small Animals between 2007 and 2013. METHODS: Retrospective review. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were compared between dogs which were alive at follow up or had died because of non‐CE‐related reasons (survivors) and dogs which died or were euthanized due to their CE (non‐survivors). A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine significant predictors of death in dogs with CE. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D at the time a CE was diagnosed were significantly lower in nonsurvivors (n = 15) (median nonsurvivors 4.36 ng/mL, interquartile range 1.6–17.0 ng/mL), median survivors (n = 26) (24.9 ng/mL interquartile range 15.63–39.45 ng/mL, P < .001). Serum 25(OH)D concentration was a significant predictor of death in dogs with CE (odds ratio 1.08 95% CI 1.02–1.18)). CONCLUSIONS: Serum 25(OH)D concentrations at diagnosis are predictive of outcome in dogs with CE. The role of vitamin D in the initiation and outcome of chronic enteropathies in dogs is deserving of further study.
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