Use of a particulate extracellular matrix bioscaffold for treatment of acquired urinary incontinence in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate use of a particulate bioscaffold consisting of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the urinary bladder from pigs for treatment of acquired urinary incontinence in dogs resistant to medical treatment. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 9 female dogs with acquired urinary incontinence. PROCEDURE: In 6 dogs, 30 mg of particulate ECM in 1.0 mL of a carrier consisting of glycerin and saline 10.9% NaCI) solution was injected into each of 3 equally spaced sites around the circumference of the internal urethral sphincter via an endoscopic technique. In the remaining 3 dogs (control dogs), 1.0 mL of the carrier alone was injected in 3 equally spaced sites around the circumference of the internal urethral sphincter in a similar manner. RESULTS: For dogs treated with the ECM, median duration of urinary continence following treatment was 168 days (range, 84 to 616 days), whereas for the control dogs, median duration of urinary continence following the procedure was 14 days (range, 7 to 31 days). Two of the 3 control dogs were treated with the ECM at the end of the study and were continent for 119 and 252 days. No adverse effects were observed in any dog. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that endoscopically guided injection of particulate ECM into the internal urethral sphincter may be useful for the treatment of acquired urinary incontinence in female dogs.     

Evaluation of prognostic factors, survival rates, and treatment protocols for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs: 151 cases (1993-2002)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prognostic factors, survival, and treatment protocols for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 151 dogs with IMHA not associated with underlying infectious or neoplastic disease. PROCEDURE: lnformation recorded from review of medical records included signalment at the time of initial evaluation; vaccination history; 30-, 60-, and 365-day follow-up outcomes; laboratory data; results of imaging studies; and necropsy findings. Dogs were grouped according to the presence of spherocytes, autoagglutination, a regenerative erythrocyte response, and treatments received (azathioprine, azathioprine plus ultralow-dose aspirin, azathioprine plus mixed-molecular-weight heparin [mHEP], or azathioprine plus ultralow-dose aspirin plus mHEP) for comparisons. All dogs received glucocorticoids. RESULTS: Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Schnauzers, neutered dogs, and female dogs were overrepresented. Alterations in certain clinicopathologic variables were associated with increased mortality rate. Rates of survival following treatment with azathioprine, azathioprine plus ultralow-dose aspirin, azathioprine plus mHEP, and azathioprine plus ultralow-dose aspirin plus mHEP were 74%, 88%, 23%, and 70%, respectively, at hospital discharge; 57%, 82%, 17%, and 67%, respectively, at 30 days; and 45%, 69%, 17%, and 64%, respectively, at 1 year. In comparison, mean survival rates at discharge and at 30 days and 1 year after evaluation collated from 7 published reviews of canine IMHA were 57%, 58%, and 34%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Treatment with a combination of glucocorticoids, azathioprine, and ultralow-dose aspirin significantly improved short- and long-term survival in dogs with IMHA.     

Disseminated protothecosis diagnosed by evaluation of CSF in a dog

A 5-year-old female spayed Shetland Sheepdog Mix dog was evaluated for a history of recent seizure activity, progressive hind limb ataxia, polyuria, and polydipsia and no history of gastrointestinal signs. Physical examination findings included conscious proprioceptive deficits, ataxia, and anterior uveitis along with a hypermature cataract in the right eye. Results of a CBC, serum biochemical profile, urinalysis, and computed tomography scan of the brain were unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed marked eosinophilic pleocytosis and rare organisms consistent with Prototheca spp within neutrophils and macrophages. On postmortem histologic examination, mononuclear inflammation and numerous intralesional algal organisms, similar to those seen on the cytologic preparation of CSF, were found in the brain, eyes, kidneys, and heart. Abnormalities were not detected on gross and histologic examination of the gastrointestinal tract. Cultures of CSF and subdural/olfactory bulb, but not intestinal tract, yielded growth of Prototheca spp, and PCR analysis and DNA sequencing confirmed the organism as Prototheca zopfii genotype 2. We have reported a rare case of disseminated protothecosis that was diagnosed by evaluation of CSF in a dog presented with neurologic signs and no overt enteric disease. Protothecosis should be considered as a rare cause of seizures, even in the absence of obvious enteric signs, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic pleocytosis.     

Treatment of demodicosis in dogs: 2011 clinical practice guidelines

Background and Objectives – These guidelines were written by an international group of specialists with the aim to provide veterinarians with current recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of canine demodicosis. Methods – Published studies of the various treatment options were reviewed and summarized. Where evidence in form of published studies was not available, expert consensus formed the base of the recommendations. Results – Demodicosis can usually be diagnosed by deep skin scrapings or trichograms; in rare cases a skin biopsy may be needed for diagnosis. Immune suppression due to endoparasitism or malnutrition in young dogs and endocrine diseases, neoplasia and chemotherapy in older dogs are considered predisposing factors and should be diagnosed and treated to optimize the therapeutic outcome. Dogs with disease severity requiring parasiticidal therapy should not be bred. Secondary bacterial skin infections frequently complicate the disease and require topical and/or systemic antimicrobial therapy. There is good evidence for the efficacy of weekly amitraz rinses and daily oral macrocyclic lactones such as milbemycin oxime, ivermectin and moxidectin for the treatment of canine demodicosis. Weekly application of topical moxidectin can be useful in dogs with milder forms of the disease. There is some evidence for the efficacy of weekly or twice weekly subcutaneous or oral doramectin. Systemic macrocyclic lactones may cause neurological adverse effects in sensitive dogs, thus a gradual increase to the final therapeutic dose may be prudent (particularly in herding breeds). Treatment should be monitored with monthly skin scrapings and extended beyond clinical and microscopic cure to minimize recurrences. Editor’s Note – A brief review article by R. Mueller has been published: Evidence‐based treatment of canine demodicosis, Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2011; 39: 419–24. This is not considered to constitute duplication of the article published here in Veterinary Dermatology.     

Equine atopic skin disease and response to allergen-specific immunotherapy: a retrospective study at the University of California-Davis (1991-2008)

This retrospective study reports on the clinical presentation of equine atopic skin disease and evaluates response to treatment with allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) based on intradermal testing and/or serum testing. Computerized medical records from January 1991 to December 2008 yielded 54 horses included in the study. Presenting clinical signs (CS) included urticaria (n=28), pruritus (n=8) or both (n=18). Forty-one of 54 horses received ASIT, and response to ASIT (n=32) was evaluated via telephone survey. Eighty-four per cent (n=27) of owners reported that ASIT reduced their horse's CS; 59% (n=19) were able to manage CS by ASIT alone. Three horses (9%) were managed with ASIT in combination with doxepin and discontinued use of corticosteroids. There was no statistical significance between type of test performed and reported success of ASIT (χ(2) analysis, P=0.53). Ninety-three per cent (n=30) of owners reported use of antipruritic medications prior to starting ASIT; 57% (n=17) of these owners reported discontinuing those medications due to success of ASIT. Adverse effects were limited to swelling at the injection site, seen in 16% (n=5). Seventy-five per cent (n=24) of owners elected to discontinue ASIT after 6 months to 8 years (mean 2.2 years): 15 due to resolution of CS, six due to persistent CS, two because the horse was sold, and one due to cost. Ten owners reported no recurrence of CS after discontinuing ASIT; five had recurrence within a median of 2 years of discontinuing ASIT (range 1-12 years). Allergen-specific immunotherapy is a safe and effective way to manage equine atopic skin disease.     

Feline calicivirus

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is an important and highly prevalent pathogen of cats. It belongs to the family Caliciviridae which includes other significant pathogens of man and animals. As an RNA virus, high polymerase error rates convey upon FCV a high genome plasticity, and allow the virus to respond rapidly to environmental selection pressures. This makes the virus very adaptable and has important implications for clinical disease and its control. Being genetically diverse, FCV is associated with a range of clinical syndromes from inapparent infections to relatively mild oral and upper respiratory tract disease with or without acute lameness. More recently, highly virulent forms of the virus have emerged associated with a systemic infection that is frequently fatal. A proportion of FCV infected cats that recover from acute disease, remain persistently infected. In such cats, virus evolution is believed to help the virus to evade the host immune response. Such long-term carriers may only represent a minority of the feline population but are likely to be crucial to the epidemiology of the virus. Vaccination against FCV has been available for many years and has effectively reduced the incidence of clinical disease. However, the vaccines do not prevent infection and vaccinated cats can still become persistently infected. In addition, FCV strain variability means that not all strains are protected against equally. Much progress has been made in understanding the biology and pathogenesis of this important feline virus. Challenges for the future will necessarily focus on how to control the variability of this virus particularly in relation to emerging virulent strains and vaccination.     

Antibody titres to lamb rotavirus in colostrum and milk of vaccinated ewes.

Ewes were vaccinated two to three weeks prior to mating with a formalin-treated preparation of lamb rotavirus. The colostrum and milk produced by vaccinated ewes after the subsequent pregnancy were shown to contain significantly higher titres of antibody to the virus than did mammary secretions from non-vaccinates. The virus neutralising antibody activity was associated with IgG in both colostrum and milk. However, IgG concentrations in the mammary secretions of vaccinates and non-vaccinates did not differ. It is suggested that vaccination of the dam may be of value in protecting the suckled neonatal lamb against rotavirus infection.     

Endoscopic sex determination and gonadal manipulation in Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi).

Seventeen Gulf of Mexico sturgeons (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) underwent endoscopic sex determination, gonadal biopsy, and various reproductive surgeries as part of a conservation development plan. The fish were anesthetized with tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) buffered with sodium bicarbonate and maintained on a recirculating water anesthesia circuit. A 6-mm Ternamian EndoTip Cannula, placed through the ventral midline, midway between pectoral and pelvic fins, permitted the introduction of a 5-mm telescope. Swim bladder aspiration and CO2 insufflation of the coelomic cavity provided excellent observation. Second and third cannulae were placed under direct visual control, lateral and cranial or caudal to the telescope cannula. Sex determination was successfully performed in all fish; however, five of 17 sturgeons (29%) required endoscopic gonadal biopsy to confirm sex. Bilateral ovariectomy or orchidectomy was successfully performed in three males and four females. Unilateral ovariectomy and bilateral ligation of the müllerian ducts using an extracorporeal suturing technique was accomplished in an additional three females. No apparent morbidity was associated with the anesthesia or endoscopic surgery in any fish. The ability to safely perform minimally invasive reproductive surgery in fish may have important management and conservation benefits.     

TB diagnosis in non-human primates: comparison of two interferon-gamma assays and the skin test for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

To examine the effect of recombinant bovine interferon-gamma (rbIFN-gamma) on cattle persistently infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV), BLV-infected cattle were inoculated intraperitoneally with IFN-gamma. All cattle were febrile after inoculation with IFN-gamma and then recovered within 48 h. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were decreased for 2-3 days and then their numbers were recovered. The number of gammadelta T cells increased after the fever. In contrast, the number of IgM+ lymphocytes remained low for about 1 week. Moreover, the numbers of syncytia produced by peripheral blood lymphocytes decreased and remained low compared to that before IFN-gamma administration. These results suggest that IFN-gamma induces the up-regulation of gammadelta T cells, decreases the number of IgM+ lymphocytes and suppresses the growth of BLV in BLV-infected cattle in vivo.