Comparative spatiotemporal analysis of the intrathecal immune response in natural listeric rhombencephalitis of cattle and small ruminants

This study examined the spatiotemporal immune response in listeric rhombencephalitis of ruminants in situ. Our data support the view that astrocytes facilitate the containment of infectious lesions. Results on the natural disease recapitulate observations in experimental rodent models and suggest that the mounted adaptive lymphocytic response of ruminants is effective in eliminating Listeria monocytogenes (LM). However, our data indicate earlier participation of the adaptive immune response, a stronger B lymphocyte contribution and a more protracted macrophage infiltration in the natural disease than it has been deduced from experimental models. Therefore, such models should be complemented by studies in natural host systems. Various macrophage and microglia subsets are involved in listeric rhombencephalitis and their differential contribution may account for species differences in clinical course and outcome of infection as might species differences in the B-cell response. Future functional ex vivo and in vitro studies are necessary to further investigate the findings obtained in the present study.     

Pharmacologic management in veterinary behavioral medicine.

As our knowledge expands, behavioral pharmacology plays an increasingly important role in behavioral medicine. Drugs traditionally categorized as anxiolytics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and hormones may be used to help manage a range of animal behavioral problems. Knowledge of how these agents act in the body and interact with other agents is imperative for safe and efficacious use.     

A comparison of the clinical manifestations of feeding whole and hydrolysed chicken to dogs with hypersensitivity to the native protein

Twenty‐six dogs with known adverse food reactions were fed whole chicken for 14 days. From this group, 12 dogs with cutaneous manifestations following exposure to chicken meat were selected and randomly divided into two groups (n = 6). Each group was then fed hydrolysed chicken or hydrolysed soy for 14 days in a blinded crossover design with a 17‐day washout period between each diet. Assessments of a CADESI (Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index) score and pruritus were performed throughout the entire study, and combined in a global score (GS). Serum was collected weekly for the measurement of chicken‐ and soy‐specific IgG and IgE. Dogs displayed the most severe clinical response when eating whole chicken compared to baseline (P < 0.001). The GS was significantly reduced in 11 of the 12 dogs when fed hydrolysed chicken were compared to those fed whole chicken (3.58 ± 2.81 versus 20.38 ± 14.65, P < 0.01). Serum immunoglobulin G and E responses were variable and did not show relationship with specific dietary exposure.     

Real-time PCR-based prevalence study, infection follow-up and molecular characterization of canine hemotropic mycoplasmas

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) have been reported in several mammalian species including dogs. Infections may lead to hemolytic anemia, but investigations in the dog had been hampered by the lack of adequate diagnostic methods. Only recently sensitive PCR-based assays were reported for the two canine hemoplasmas, Mycoplasma haemocanis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum. By applying these assays, 15.4% of 460 dogs from the south of France tested hemoplasma positive. It was hypothesized that this high prevalence may be associated with the presence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus, a proposed vector for canine hemoplasmas. To address this hypothesis and expand the PCR-based knowledge on canine hemoplasmosis, we investigated dogs in a climatic zone that does not allow for the permanent establishment of R. sanguineus. Blood samples were collected throughout a year from 889 dogs in Switzerland: 1.2% of the dogs tested real-time PCR positive. The infection status was not significantly associated with anemia, age or gender. Phylogenetic analyses of Candidatus M. haematoparvum and M. haemocanis isolates revealed > or =99.8% identity to published sequences. All samples collected from three infected dogs throughout a follow-up period of < or =13 months tested PCR positive. Interestingly, the majority of the infected dogs either had been imported from or had visited regions where R. sanguineus is indigenous. Thus, canine hemoplasma prevalence was found to be low in a country with a climate incompatible with frequent occurrence of R. sanguineus. Nonetheless, veterinarians may expect hemoplasma infections in dogs with a travel history and/or after potential tick vector exposure.     

Nasopharyngeal turbinates in brachycephalic dogs and cats

This retrospective study reports the presence and incidence of nasal turbinates in the nasopharynx (nasopharyngeal turbinates) in a population of brachycephalic dogs and cats exhibiting signs of upper respiratory disease. Medical records were reviewed for 53 brachycephalic dogs and 10 brachycephalic cats undergoing upper airway endoscopy. Nasopharyngeal turbinates were identified in 21% of brachycephalic animals, including 21% of dogs and 20% of cats. Pugs accounted for 32% of all dogs in the study population and 82% of dogs with nasopharyngeal turbinates. The presence of nasopharyngeal turbinates may play a role in upper airway obstruction in the brachycephalic airway syndrome.     

Plasma volume and electrolyte changes following intravenous infusion of hypertonic hydroxyethyl starch versus mannitol in healthy dogs

In a prospective cross-over study, the duration and magnitude of effect on the electrolyte and plasma volume changes of intravenous (IV) hypertonic hydroxyethyl starch (hyperHES) (7.5%/6%) and mannitol (20%) were compared. Eight Beagle dogs received an IV infusion of 4mL/kg hyperHES (group H) and 4mL/kg mannitol 20% (group M) on separate occasions. Urine and blood samples were taken in the first (T(60)) and second (T(120)) hour after infusion. Significant increases in plasma volume at each time point in group H and M were noted when compared to baseline (start of infusion=T(0)) level. There was no significant difference between groups. Both fluids resulted in diuresis, although no significant difference between groups was noted. A significant increase in plasma sodium (Na) was demonstrated in group H between T(0) and T(60) with a significant increase in the Na and chloride (Cl) fractional excretion (FE) between T(0), T(60) and T(120). In group M no changes in plasma electrolyte concentrations were detected, although FE of Na, Cl and K was increased significantly between T(0) and T(60). In conclusion, hyperHES and mannitol appear to have a volume expanding effect lasting at least 120 min. The hypernatraemia induced by hyperHES was minimal compared to previous reports of hypertonic saline use, and no clinical side effects were noted. HyperHES showed comparable effects to mannitol in increasing plasma volume and diuresis and could be considered for these applications.     

EFFICACY AND TOXICITY OF AN ACCELERATED HYPOFRACTIONATED RADIATION THERAPY PROTOCOL IN CATS WITH ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common feline oral tumor. Standard radiation protocols have been reported to achieve tumor control durations of 1.5–5.5 months (45–165 days). The purpose of this study was to describe the efficacy and toxicity of an accelerated hypofractionated radiation therapy protocol in cats with oral SCC. Twenty‐one cats with histologically confirmed oral SCC and T1‐3N0M0 were treated with 10 once‐daily fractions (Monday–Friday) of 4.8 Gy. Seventeen cats had macroscopic disease and four were microscopic after incomplete excision. Acute toxicity consisted of grade 2 mucositis in all cats and this was effectively managed using esophageal or gastric tube feeding, pain medication, and antibiotics. Late toxicity effects for cats with available follow‐up data included alopecia (4 cats), leukotricia (6), tongue ulceration (1), and oronasal fistula (1). Response could be assessed in 17 cats (seven complete response and five partial response). Four cats (19%) developed metastatic disease without evidence of local progression. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 105 days (1 year PFS of 23%), median local progression‐free survival (LPFS) was 219 days (1 year LPFS of 41%), and median overall survival (OS) was 174 days (1 year OS of 29%). Only tumor stage was prognostic, with T1 having a median PFS of 590 days. Findings indicated that this accelerated hypofractionated radiation therapy protocol was well tolerated in cats with oral SCC, with manageable adverse events. Tumor response was observed in most cats and long tumor control durations were achieved in some cats.     

Molecular evidence for cosmopolitan distribution of platyhelminth parasites of tunas (Thunnus spp.)

Global distribution of platyhelminth parasites and their host specificities are not well known. Our hypothesis was that platyhelminth parasites of large pelagic fishes are common around the world. We analysed molecular variation in three different taxa of platyhelminth parasites infecting four species of tunas: yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares, Scombridae) from Western Australia, southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii, Scombridae) from South Australia, Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis, Scombridae) from Pacific Mexico and northern bluefin tuna (T. thynnus, Scombridae) from two localities in the Mediterranean (Spain and Croatia). Comparisons of ITS2 and partial 28S rDNA demonstrated two congeneric species of blood flukes (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) from multiple hosts and localities: Cardicola forsteri from southern bluefin and northern bluefin tunas, and Cardicola sp. from Pacific bluefin and northern bluefin tunas; and a gill fluke, Hexostoma thynni (Polyopisthocotylea: Hexostomatidae), from yellowfin, southern bluefin and northern bluefin tunas. Partial 28S rDNA indicates that a second type of fluke on the gills, Capsala sp. (Monopisthocotylea: Capsalidae), occurs on both southern bluefin and Pacific bluefin tunas. This appears to be the first report of conspecific platyhelminth parasites of teleosts with a wide‐ranging geographical distribution that has been confirmed through molecular approaches. Given the brevity of the free‐living larval stage of both taxa of flukes on the gills (H. thynni and Capsala sp.), we conclude that the only feasible hypothesis for the cosmopolitan distribution of these flatworms is migrations of host tunas. Host migration also seems likely to be responsible for the widespread occurrence of the two species of blood flukes (Cardicola spp.), although it is also possible that these were translocated recently by the spread of infected intermediate hosts.