Abundance of mRNA of growth hormone receptor and insulin-like growth factors-1 and -2 in duodenal and colonic biopsies of dogs with chronic enteropathies*

Repair processes of the inflamed intestine are very important for dissolution of chronic enteropathies (CE). Therefore, we examined the mRNA abundance of growth hormone receptor (GHR), insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-1 and -2 in duodenal and colonic biopsies of dogs with CE such as food-responsive diarrhoea (FRD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) before and after treatment as compared with each other and healthy dogs. A clinical score (Canine IBD Activity Index = CIBDAI) was applied to judge the severity of CE. Biopsies of duodenum and colon from client-owned dogs with CE were sampled before (FRD(bef), n = 5; IBD(bef), n = 5) and after treatment (FRD(aft), n = 5; IBD(aft), n = 5). Intestinal control samples were available from a homogenous control population (n = 15; C). Intestinal samples were homogenized, total RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed and analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure mRNA levels of GHR, IGF-1 and IGF-2. Results were normalized with glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase as housekeeping gene. The CIBDAI decreased during the treatment period in FRD and IBD (P < 0.01). In duodenum, GHR mRNA levels were higher in all groups than in C (P < 0.001). Duodenal IGF-1 mRNA levels in FRD(aft) and IBD(aft) tended to be higher than in C (P < 0.1). The IGF-2 mRNA abundance in FRD(aft) was higher than in C (P < 0.05) in duodenum. In colon, mRNA levels of IGF-1 in IBD(aft) were higher than in FRD(aft) (P < 0.05) and levels differed between IBD(aft) and C (P < 0.05). In conclusion, mRNA levels of GHR, IGF-1 and IGF-2 in the gastrointestinal tract were increased during CE when compared with gastrointestinally healthy dogs. The data suggest that GHR, IGF-1 and IGF-2 are involved in gastrointestinal repair processes.     

Chemotherapy of canine leishmaniosis

Visceral leishmaniosis is a widespread and potentially fatal disease of dogs and humans common in the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and South America. Canine leishmaniosis is most frequently treated with the drugs meglumine antimoniate, allopurinol, amphotericin B, or a combination of meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol. Therapy with the currently used drugs often achieves temporary clinical improvement and changes in immunologic parameters with restoration of the ability to mount parasite-specific cell mediated responses and decrease in anti-leishmanial antibody titers. However, treatment usually does not prevent relapse of disease or eliminate parasite carriage. Due to the current lack of an ultimate and effective therapy for canine leishmaniosis, new drugs, delivery systems and treatment strategies are necessary to achieve a consistent parasitological cure in infected dogs.     

Monocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs

Ehrlichiosis is the multiorgan infectious disease caused by small, intracellular rickettsias from the genus Ehrlichia. These microorganisms are known as an etiologic factor of infections world wide in humans and in different species of animals. Dog ehrlichiosis can be caused by several species of Ehrlichia attacking different groups of blood cells, but most often an infection by Ehrlichia canis is diagnosed with special relation to monocytes. A vector for E. canis are Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Ixodes ricinus, commonly occurring in Poland. Disease caused by E. canis is known as Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME). The disease most often has an asymptomatic course which can, in favourable circumstances, run into acute or chronic forms. The acute form of CME proceeds usually with fever, apathy, weakness and accompanying respiratory symptoms, lameness and disturbances in blood coagulation. In laboratory examinations thrombocytopenia, anemia and leucopenia are ascertained. The chronic form of CME proceeds among gentle, unspecific symptoms which may last even 5 years. The CME diagnosis is difficult and often demands parallel different diagnostic methods. A medicines of choice in the ehrlichiosis treatment are antibiotics from the group of tetracyclines, given at least for 28 days. They are largely efficient during treatment of the acute CME, causing the quick improvement. Instead, in the case of chronic form, answer for treatment can be weak, and cases of resistance to antibiotics ave known.     

犬特应性皮炎及其治疗药物的研究进展

犬特应性皮炎是一种具有遗传倾向的过敏性皮肤病。由于近年来我国养犬数量不断增加,犬特应性皮炎成为宠物临床上的常见疾病,严重危害了宠物犬的身体健康。该病病因复杂,大致可概括为遗传因素、环境因素、皮肤屏障功能失调、免疫功能失调和微生物菌群失调五个方面,且由于其临床症状与其他过敏反应、炎症反应相似,难以确诊,需要通过多种临床反应共同判定。随着小动物诊疗的不断发展,犬特应性皮炎治疗在以往基础疗法上又增加了使用抗炎止痒药物、JAK通路抑制药物、生物制品药物和PED-4 选择性抑制剂等治疗方式。本文综述了近年来犬特应性皮炎的病因、临床症状、诊断方法和治疗方法方面的研究进展,以期为犬特应性皮炎的治疗提供借鉴和参考。     

Perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody and response to treatment in diarrheic dogs with food responsive disease or inflammatory bowel disease

The goal of this study was to investigate the correlation between perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (pANCA) and clinical scores before and after treatment in diarrheic dogs with food-responsive disease (FRD) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). pANCA serology was evaluated prospectively by indirect immunofluorescence in 65 dogs with signs of gastrointestinal disease, and if positive, pANCA antibody titers were determined. Thirty-nine dogs with FRD responded to a novel diet, and 26 dogs with IBD were treated with corticosteroids. The severity of clinical signs was scored by means of a canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI). At initial examination, a significantly (P = .002) higher percentage of dogs were pANCA-positive in the FRD group (62%) compared with the IBD group (23%). pANCA titers were significantly higher (P = .003) before treatment in the FRD group (median titer 100) compared with the IBD group (median titer 1). However, there was no difference in pANCA titers between the groups after respective treatments because dogs in the IBD group had a significant increase in pANCA titer after treatment. The CIBDAI score decreased significantly (P < .001) after treatment in both groups (74% moderate to severe in FRD dogs before versus 8% after treatment; 85% moderate to severe in IBD dogs before versus 32% after treatment). There was no correlation between pANCA status in FRD or IBD dogs before treatment and scores for CIBDAI, endoscopy, or histopathology before or after treatment, except for the endoscopic duodenal score in dogs with FRD after treatment (P = .03). A positive pANCA test before therapy may aid in the diagnosis of FRD.     

Chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases of the horse

A review of reported cases of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) of horses for which no etiology was identified included cases of granulomatous enteritis (GE), multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease (MEED), lymphocytic-plasmacytic enterocolitis (LPE), and idiopathic eosinophilic enterocolitis (EC). The terms EC and MEED were both used to describe a disease in horses characterized by infiltration of intestine and extraintestinal tissues with eosinophils. We use EC to describe IBD characterized by only intestinal infiltration by eosinophils. Horses with GE, MEED, or LPE are usually examined because of weight loss and depression, but horses with EC are usually examined because of signs of abdominal pain. Typically, horses with IBD have low concentrations of serumal proteins, especially albumin, and fail to adequately absorb glucose or xylose. Antemortem diagnosis of IBD can only be made by histologic examination of affected intestine. In some cases, antemortem diagnosis is made from histologic examination of rectal mucosa obtained by biopsy. Suspected causes of IBD in the horse include abnormal immune response to bacterial, viral, parasitic, or dietary antigens. Most horses with IBD do not survive, but horses with EC are more likely than those with LPE, MEED, or GE to respond to treatment. Successful treatments of horses with IBD include resection of grossly affected intestine and administration of corticosteroids.     

Comparative pathophysiology and management of protein‐losing enteropathy

Protein‐losing enteropathy, or PLE, is not a disease but a syndrome that develops in numerous disease states of differing etiologies and often involving the lymphatic system, such as lymphangiectasia and lymphangitis in dogs. The pathophysiology of lymphatic disease is incompletely understood, and the disease is challenging to manage. Understanding of PLE mechanisms requires knowledge of lymphatic system structure and function, which are reviewed here. The mechanisms of enteric protein loss in PLE are identical in dogs and people, irrespective of the underlying cause. In people, PLE is usually associated with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia, suspected to arise from genetic susceptibility, or “idiopathic” lymphatic vascular obstruction. In dogs, PLE is most often a feature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and less frequently intestinal lymphangiectasia, although it is not proven which process is the true driving defect. In cats, PLE is relatively rare. Review of the veterinary literature (1977‐2018) reveals that PLE was life‐ending in 54.2% of dogs compared to published disease‐associated deaths in IBD of <20%, implying that PLE is not merely a continuum of IBD spectrum pathophysiology. In people, diet is the cornerstone of management, whereas dogs are often treated with immunosuppression for causes of PLE including lymphangiectasia, lymphangitis, and crypt disease. Currently, however, there is no scientific, extrapolated, or evidence‐based support for an autoimmune or immune‐mediated mechanism. Moreover, people with PLE have disease‐associated loss of immune function, including lymphopenia, severe CD4+ T‐cell depletion, and negative vaccinal titers. Comparison of PLE in people and dogs is undertaken here, and theories in treatment of PLE are presented.     

Validation of CADESI-03, a severity scale for clinical trials enrolling dogs with atopic dermatitis

In dogs, atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and chronic allergic skin disease that often necessitates treatment with pharmacological interventions. In the last 30 years, numerous clinical trials testing the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs have been reported, but there has been a lack of consistency in the assessment of outcome measures. Several clinical scales have been employed over time, but none of these scoring systems were ever tested for validity and reliability. A committee of the International Task Force on Canine Atopic Dermatitis evaluated the currently available scales used to assess disease morbidity in humans and dogs with AD, and a third version of the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-03) was designed. This version was expanded from previous ones by redistribution and increase in body sites tested, the use of an additional lesion reflecting underlying pruritus (e.g. self-induced alopecia) and an increase in the numerical range of severity for each lesion. The CADESI-03 scale was tested for validity and reliability in a cohort of 38 dogs with AD. Overall, this revised version of the CADESI was found to exhibit acceptable content, construct, criterion, and inter- and intra-observer reliability and sensitivity to change. As a result, this scale is recommended as a validated tool for assessment of disease severity in clinical trials testing the efficacy of interventions in dogs with AD.     

Possible causal association of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease with thrombocytopenia in the dog

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are commonly observed in humans but are poorly documented in companion animals. Thrombocytopenia is an uncommon but well-documented extraintestinal hematological abnormality in humans; however, there are no previous reports of IBD and concurrent thrombocytopenia in the veterinary literature. Seven dogs having idiopathic IBD and concurrent thrombocytopenia were identified and evaluated retrospectively (this represents an incidence of 2.5% in the authors' IBD population). Obvious known causes for thrombocytopenia were eliminated by diagnostic testing as deemed appropriate by the clinician of record. Thrombocytopenia resolved with treatment for the IBD in some but not all patients. This is similar to reports in humans. Thrombocytopenia typically appears to be subclinical, and the severity does not correlate with the degree of intestinal inflammation defined histopathologically. However, quantitative platelet counts should be monitored during IBD therapy, as additional immunosuppression may be required to treat thrombocytopenia, despite resolution of gastrointestinal signs. It is speculated that thrombocytopenia may be causally associated with canine IBD, possibly secondary to immune stimulation from lumenal bacterial antigens, altered immunological regulation, or both.     

Diagnostic problems posed by respiratory infections of dogs

The following viruses as well as bacteria and mycoplasma have been isolated from dogs with contagious respiratory disease: canine distemper virus; Canine adenoviruses (type 1 and 2); Parainfluenza type 2 (SV5); Reovirus type 1; Canine Herpesvirus; Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococcus, Pasteurella, Staphylococcus and Mycoplasma. The occurrence of these agents can be in direct relationship with: the evolution of a systemic disease; respiratory disorders being a regular or inconsistant symptom of this disease; the evolution of a disease restricted to the respiratory tract; the tropism of the bacterial or viral agent is exclusively respiratory; secondary bacterial complications to a primary viral infection; saprophyte state or latency without pathologic significance. These various infectious agents are implicated alone or in mixed infections and the wide variety of clinical symptoms don't allow to precise a clinical diagnosis. We will try to bring some bases allowing, by the help of laboratory an etiologic diagnosis. This diagnosis is essential for providing an efficient prevention. We will approach some parameters which we have been confronted with as regards Canine Distemper and Canine Adenovirosis. Our purpose is, through these examples of the canine pathology, to confirm and complete some other similar situations which can appear in other animal species.     

犬瘟热的临床诊断技术与疫苗研究进展

犬瘟热是由犬瘟热病毒引起的犬科、鼬科和浣熊科等动物的一种高度接触性烈性传染病。该病在临床上可根据临床症状和流行特点作出初步诊断,结合病原学检查和血清学诊断即可确诊。目前一直缺少治疗犬瘟热的有效药物,所以犬瘟热的预防主要依靠接种疫苗。结合已有研究报道,总结了犬瘟热的临床诊断技术和犬瘟热疫苗方面的研究进展,以期为兽医同仁提供参考。     

Comparison of Oral Prednisone and Prednisone Combined with Metronidazole for Induction Therapy of Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized‐Controlled Trial

Background: Although prednisone and metronidazole are commonly used to treat canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), no randomized‐controlled trials have been performed. Hypothesis: Combination drug therapy with prednisone and metronidazole will be more effective than prednisone alone for treatment of canine IBD. Reduction in disease severity will be accompanied by decreased canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI) scores and serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Animals: Fifty‐four pet dogs diagnosed with IBD of varying severity. Methods: Dogs were randomized to receive oral prednisone (1 mg/kg; n = 25) or prednisone and metronidazole (10 mg/kg; n = 29) twice daily for 21 days. Clinical (CIBDAI) scores and serum CRP were determined at diagnosis and after 21 days of drug therapy. The primary efficacy measure was remission at 21 days, defined as a 75% or greater reduction in baseline CIBDAI score. Results: Differences between treatments in the rate of remission (both exceeding 80%) or the magnitude of its change over time were not observed. CRP concentrations in prednisone‐treated dogs were increased because of many dogs having active disease. Both treatments reduced CRP in comparison with pretreatment concentrations. An interaction between CIBDAI and CRP was identified in 42 of 54 dogs (78%), whereas 8 of 54 dogs (15%) showed disagreement between these indices. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Prednisone is as effective as combined treatment with prednisone and metronidazole for induction therapy of canine IBD. CRP may be normal or increased in dogs with IBD and may be useful in assessing the response of individual dogs to treatment along with changes in the CIBDAI.     

Biologic behavior of canine uroliths

Canine uroliths may form rapidly or slowly, progressively increase or decrease in size, or become inactive. Associated clinical signs are usually dependent on their locations but may also be influenced by underlying causes. Recurrence of uroliths is unpredictable, being influenced by several variables. Recurrent uroliths are usually, but not invariably, similar in mineral composition to those present during the initial episode.     

Atypical forms of canine leishmaniosis

Canine leishmaniosis is a common disease in the Mediterranean area, but sporadic cases in dogs having travelled through endemic regions are also reported. The disease's evolution is usually chronic and symptoms are either non-specific (fever, weight loss, lethargy, enlarged lymph nodes), dermatological, renal or ocular. The purpose of this article is to review the literature and to describe our own experience of certain atypical forms of canine leishmaniosis. These include specific skin lesions, monoclonal gammopathy, renal failure (without any other signs), chronic colitis, haemostatic problems and disorders of the cardiovascular, respiratory and musculo-skeletal systems.     

Diagnosis and management of malabsorption in dogs

Malabsorption can result from interference with either the degradation or absorption phases in the handling of dietary constituents and represents an important cause of weight loss and diarrhoea in dogs. Effective treatment depends on identification and understanding of the underlying disease which could affect the functional capacity of the exocrine pancreas or small intestine. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) can be identified by a low concentration of trypsin-like immunoreactivity in serum and results in serious malabsorption due to interference with degradation of carbohydrate, protein and fat. Treatment with oral pancreatic extract complemented by a low fat, high quality protein diet, is effective in many cases. Refractory cases may need additional treatment with an oral antibiotic for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and H₂-receptor blockers to help prevent denaturation of the pancreatic extract by stomach acid. The pancreas plays a key role in the normal absorption of cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂) in dogs and malabsorption of cobalamin in EPI may not resolve with treatment so that cobalamin may need to be given parenterally. Small intestinal disease may result in interference with the number or functioning of individual enterocytes, in some cases accompanied by cellular infiltration of the mucosa. Diagnosis depends on indirect assessment of intestinal damage, for example by assay of serum vitamins and determination of intestinal absorption and permeability, and in selected cases followed by endoscopic examination, intestinal biopsy and culture of duodenal juice. Treatment depends on the disease and may include oral antibiotic for SIBO and immunosuppressive drugs for infiltrative disease. Dietary management is also important, for example with a restricted fat diet containing highly digestible carbohydrate and high quality protein, and when a dietary sensitivity is suspected a restriction diet of a selected protein source may be needed.     

犬血丝虫病诊疗病例

犬血丝虫病是由犬血丝虫寄生于犬类动物右心室或肺动脉引起的犬类动物的一种重要的寄生虫病,以循环障碍、呼吸困难、贫血为主要特征。犬血丝虫又叫犬心丝虫或犬恶丝虫,犬为其终末宿主,蚊、蚤等吸血昆虫是中间宿主。当寄生的虫体影响心脏器质功能（比如三尖瓣或肺动脉瓣功能不全）时,患犬会出现呼吸困难、胸腹水、下体浮肿等较为严重的临床症状,甚至发生急性死亡。诊断本病以外周血中查到犬血丝虫的幼虫微丝蚴为主。治疗本病则以驱虫为主,补血、输液等对症治疗作为辅助措施。     

Canine nasal aspergillosis

Chronic nasal discharge is a common clinical sign of disease in dogs. Canine sinonasal aspergillosis is a relatively common disease in dogs. The three hallmarks of canine nasal aspergillosis are a profuse mucoid to hemorrhagic chronic nasal discharge that may alternate with periods of epistaxis, ulceration of the external nares with crusting, and pain or discomfort in the facial region. Diagnostic imaging (preferably computed tomography, CT) of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is an important component of the evaluation of dogs with signs of nasal disease. Rhinoscopy is an important part of both the diagnosis and the therapy for nasal aspergillosis. Therapeutic recommendations for sinonasal aspergillosis have included surgery and the use of several systemic and topical antifungal drugs.     

犬细小病毒病研究进展

犬细小病毒病是由犬细小病毒感染幼犬所引起的一种急性传染病。临床上有两种表现型,出血性肠炎型以剧烈的呕吐、出血性肠炎和白细胞显著减少为主要特征;心肌炎型则以突然死亡为特征。无论那种类型的临床表现,均以发病率高、死亡率高和传染性强为特点,是危害养犬业最为严重的传染病之一,可造成严重的经济损失。论文从病毒生物学特性、基因组结构、病原的检测方法,流行病学、发病机理及病理变化、临床症状以及疫苗研制等角度对犬细小病毒病近年来的研究进展做以概述。