Evaluation of C-reactive protein as an inflammatory marker of pemphigus foliaceus and superficial pyoderma in dogs.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute phase protein in dogs and may be an inflammatory marker of autoimmune diseases.

Hypothesis/objectives: To measure pre- and post-treatment CRP levels in dogs with superficial pyoderma (SP) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) compared to normal dogs; to evaluate possible correlation between CRP values, indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), and pemphigus foliaceus extent and severity index (PEFESI) scores.

Animals: Fifty nine dogs divided into three groups: Group I (control, n = 31), Group II (SP, n = 14) and Group III (PF, n = 14).

Development of enzyme immunoassays (ELISA and Western blot) for the serological diagnosis of dermatophytosis in symptomatic and asymptomatic cats.

Dermatophytosis is the most common fungal infection in cats worldwide and plays an important role in both animal and human health due to their high zoonotic potential. Effective screening is a strong preventive measure and the fungal culture is quite useful but requires full laboratorial experience and it takes a long time to obtain the result. A rapid and accurate screening test for dermatophytosis in cats is crucial for the effective control of disease outbreaks.