Publications by authors named "A S Loeffler"
Fungal dysbiosis following antibacterial monotherapy in canine otitis externa.
J Small Anim Pract
November 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate whether treating refractory bacterial otitis in dogs with specific topical antibiotics leads to an increase in yeast overgrowth, particularly Malassezia.
- Twenty-nine dogs were treated with either fluoroquinolone or a combination of piperacillin and tazobactam, and ear swabs were taken to measure bacterial and yeast levels before and after treatment.
- Results showed a significant reduction in bacterial infections after treatment, but a notable increase in yeast (especially in dogs treated with piperacillin/tazobactam), highlighting the importance of monitoring for yeast overgrowth during antibacterial treatment.
Brain Microphysiological Systems including neural organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells offer a unique lens to study the intricate workings of the human brain. This paper investigates the foundational elements of learning and memory in neural organoids, also known as Organoid Intelligence by quantifying immediate early gene expression, synaptic plasticity, neuronal network dynamics, and criticality to demonstrate the utility of these organoids in basic science research. Neural organoids showed synapse formation, glutamatergic and GABAergic receptor expression, immediate early gene expression basally and evoked, functional connectivity, criticality, and synaptic plasticity in response to theta-burst stimulation.
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- Alopecia X, a type of hair cycle arrest, is common in Pomeranian dogs, and this study explores whether these dogs also suffer from hair fragility, evidenced by hair shaft abnormalities.
- The research compared 8 alopecic Pomeranians with 36 unaffected ones, revealing significantly higher hair fragility events (66 occurrences per 10 mg) in the affected dogs compared to a reference limit of 9.75 in normal coats.
- The findings suggest that veterinarians should check for hair abnormalities in Pomeranians with HCA, indicating a need for further investigation into the causes and treatments of hair fragility in these dogs.
Article Synopsis
- Antimicrobial resistance, particularly from ESBL- and AmpC-producing Enterobacterales, is rising in companion animals, posing a health threat to humans in contact with these animals.
- A study in Portugal and the UK examined the transfer of these resistant strains between infected pets and their owners through fecal samples and nasal swabs.
- The findings showed significant rates of resistant bacteria in both animals and humans, with evidence of transmission in multiple households, underscoring the need for better antimicrobial surveillance and public health strategies.