In vitro efficacy of a topical antimicrobial mousse and shampoo at proximal and distal hair locations against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi.

Background: Topical therapy is essential in assisting with the resolution of pyoderma.

Objectives: (i) Evaluate the in vitro efficacy and residual activity of two different hair segments treated with shampoo and mousse against meticillin-sensitive and meticillin-resistant staphylococci; (ii) compare proximal and distal hair portions treated with the products and (iii) describe a new disc diffusion method for assessing residual efficacy.

Animals: Eleven privately owned, medium-haired dogs.

The use of oclacitinib compared to azathioprine in the management of canine pemphigus foliaceus: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Oclacitinib (Apoquel; Zoetis) has been reported to be beneficial for treating immune-mediated disorders.

Hypothesis/objectives: This retrospective study evaluates in which group of dogs [oclacitinib (OC) or azathioprine (AZ)] remission of pemphigus foliaceus (PF) was more effectively achieved with matched induction dosing of glucocorticoids; it further evaluates which group had a higher glucocorticoid-sparing effect.

Animals: Review of 30 medical records of dogs diagnosed with PF presented to a private practice dermatological service.

An open-label clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of an elemental diet for the diagnosis of adverse food reactions in dogs.

Background: The diagnosis of cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFR) in dogs is dependent on a diet trial and provocative challenge.

Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of an elemental diet for the diagnosis of CAFR in dogs.

Animals: Sixty-two client-owned nonseasonally pruritic dogs.

Comparison of three canine nose guards for reduction of ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) solar radiation.

Background: Protection from solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is paramount for some dermatological conditions, yet there are no studies assessing UV nose guards for dogs.

Objectives: Compare the ability of three nasal guards to block solar UV radiation (UVR) from the canine nose, using two commercial products and one created by the authors.

Animals: Four fabric model dogs were used in this prospective controlled trial.

An explorative study comparing skin surface lipids in the West Highland white terrier dog with and without atopic dermatitis.

Background: The skin barrier is important in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and stratum corneum lipids have a critical role. Skin surface lipids have been largely overlooked but also contribute to barrier function. An untargeted approach was used to compare the skin surface lipids from atopic and non-atopic West Highland White terrier dogs (WHWT).

Evaluation of the use of paired modified Wright's and periodic acid Schiff stains to identify microbial aggregates on cytological smears of dogs with microbial otitis externa and suspected biofilm.

Background: Micro-organisms associated with canine otitis externa (OE) may cause biofilm-associated infections (BAI). A key component of biofilm is microbial aggregate and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) can stain polysaccharide EPS in human otitis media with effusion, but this has not been tested in canine OE.

Students in a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience Course Discovered Dramatic Changes in the Bacterial Community Composition Between Summer and Winter Lake Samples.

Course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) courses incorporate high-impact pedagogies that have been shown to increase undergraduate retention among underrepresented minorities and women. As part of the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity program at the University of Detroit Mercy, a CURE metagenomics course was established in the winter of 2019. Students investigated the bacterial community composition in a eutrophic cove in Lake Saint Clair (Harrison Township, MI, United States) from water samples taken in the summer and winter.

Development of multiple cutaneous and follicular neoplasms associated with canine papillomavirus type 3 in a dog.

A 12-year-old spayed English pointer dog developed multiple skin lesions including pigmented viral plaques, basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and trichoblastomas. Canine papillomavirus type 3 was detected in multiple lesions suggesting common aetiology.

Complete Genome Sequences of Cluster G Mycobacteriophage Darionha, Cluster A Mycobacteriophage Salz, and Cluster J Mycobacteriophage ThreeRngTarjay.

Mycobacteriophages Darionha, Salz, and ThreeRngTarjay are mycobacteriophages isolated using the host mc155. Following isolation from soil samples, all three siphoviridae phages were characterized, and their genomes were sequenced and annotated.

Development of a core outcome set for therapeutic clinical trials enrolling dogs with atopic dermatitis (COSCAD'18).

Background: For decades, the efficacy of interventions in clinical trials enrolling dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) relied on heterogeneous evaluations of skin lesions and pruritus using unvalidated tools. Although some instruments for clinical signs were validated later, there was little impact on standardizing outcome measures resulting in difficulties in comparing treatment efficacy between trials and impeding meta-analyses.

Results: Participants in the Outcome Measures subcommittee of the International Committee of Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA) collaborated for two years to develop a core outcome set (COS) for canine AD, the COSCAD.

A cross-sectional study of show English bulldogs in the United States: evaluating paw lesions, cytological findings, pruritic behaviours and gastrointestinal signs.

Background: English bulldogs (EBDs) are considered to commonly show signs of pododermatitis and gastrointestinal (GI) disease.

Hypothesis/objectives: To describe a population of presumed healthy EBDs: (i) evaluate dogs according to published criteria for health, (ii) describe paw lesions, if present, (iii) report pruritic behaviours and GI signs and compare to normal values, (iv) report pedal cytological findings, and (v) determine correlation between lesions, cytological results and pruritic behaviours.

Animals: Thirty four EBDs participating in a dog show.

Comparison of two ear cytological collection techniques in dogs with otitis externa.

Background: Canine otitis externa is a common disease. Cytological evaluation of otic exudate is a useful diagnostic test to direct and monitor treatment for otitis externa. One method of collecting ear cytological specimens utilizes a cotton-tipped swab inserted into the vertical ear canal.

Trichographic features of hair from normal black Dobermann pinscher dogs.

Background: Dobermann dogs are predisposed to colour dilution alopecia and follicular dysplasia. Limited information is available regarding the trichographic features of normal canine hair shafts, including those from Dobermanns, with no studies of inter-observer agreement for canine trichographic features.

Objectives: To characterize the trichographic features of normal black Dobermann hair shafts evaluating the following variables; gross appearance, primary versus secondary hairs, colour change, tip structure, curling, twisting, bending, cuticle changes (breaks, compression, loss or abnormal overlapping), fractures and variations in hair diameter.

Comparison of the intradermal irritant threshold concentrations of nine allergens from two different manufacturers in clinically nonallergic dogs in the USA.

Background: The intradermal irritant threshold concentration for many allergens is unknown.

Objective: To determine the intradermal irritant threshold concentration (ITC) of nine allergens from two different manufacturers.

Animals: Twenty privately owned clinically nonallergic dogs.

Determination of threshold concentrations of plant pollens in intradermal testing using fluorescein in clinically healthy nonallergic cats.

Background: Currently the same allergen concentrations for canine intradermal testing (IDT) are recommended for feline IDT. Feline skin reactions are subtle and more difficult to read than canine reactions. This difference may be due to suboptimal allergen concentrations used for IDT in cats.

Residual antibacterial activity of canine hair treated with topical antimicrobial sprays against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in vitro.

Background: Topical antimicrobial therapy is increasingly important in the treatment of canine pyoderma as the incidence of multidrug resistance has risen. However, little information is reported on the persistence of activity of topical antimicrobial products.

Objective: To determine the residual antibacterial activity of canine hairs treated with antimicrobial sprays.

Confirmatory field study for the evaluation of ciclosporin at a target dose of 7.0 mg/kg (3.2 mg/lb) in the control of feline hypersensitivity dermatitis.

Objectives This study was designed to confirm the efficacy and tolerability of a daily dose of 7.0 mg/kg (3.2 mg/lb) ciclosporin (CsA) in the treatment of feline hypersensitivity dermatitis (HD), as this includes some of the most frequently suspected skin diseases in cats and recent publications have reported the successful use of CsA in the treatment of feline HD.

Canine atopic dermatitis: detailed guidelines for diagnosis and allergen identification.

Background: Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, genetically predisposed, inflammatory and pruritic skin disease. The variation in clinical presentations, due to genetic factors, extent of the lesions, stage of the disease, secondary infections, as well as resemblance to other non-atopic related skin diseases, can complicate a diagnosis of canine AD. A sub-group of the International Committee for Allergic Diseases in Animals (ICADA) was tasked with the development of a set of practical guidelines that can be used to assist practitioners and researchers in the diagnosis of canine AD.

Owner assessment of pruritus and gastrointestinal signs in apparently healthy dogs with no history of cutaneous or noncutaneous disease.

Background: Determining the cause of pruritus relies on establishing the pattern of abnormal pruritus. The presence of gastrointestinal (GI) disease has also been helpful in determining the cause of pruritus. No study has systematically evaluated typical GI signs and pruritic behaviours in apparently healthy dogs.

LD-aminopterin in the canine homologue of human atopic dermatitis: a randomized, controlled trial reveals dosing factors affecting optimal therapy.

Background: Options are limited for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) who do not respond to topical treatments. Antifolate therapy with systemic methotrexate improves the disease, but is associated with adverse effects. The investigational antifolate LD-aminopterin may offer improved safety.

Clinical efficacy of low-level laser therapy on localized canine atopic dermatitis severity score and localized pruritic visual analog score in pedal pruritus due to canine atopic dermatitis.

Background: Canine atopic dermatitis is a genetically predisposed inflammatory skin disease often requiring multimodal treatment. There is a need to find further low-risk adjunctive therapies.

Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate the localized effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the paws of dogs with atopic dermatitis using a localized canine atopic dermatitis severity score (LCADSS) and owner localized pruritic visual analog score (LPVAS) in comparison to treatment with a placebo.

Reproducibility of a quantitative cutaneous cytological technique.

Background: Cutaneous cytology is a valuable tool for diagnosis of canine superficial pyoderma. Current published reproducible techniques are semiquantitative.

Hypothesis/objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of a quantitative method for skin surface cytology in dogs with superficial pyoderma.

Validation of the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-4, a simplified severity scale for assessing skin lesions of atopic dermatitis in dogs.

Background: Severity scales are used to grade skin lesions in clinical trials for treatment of dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). At this time, only two scales have been validated, namely the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-3 and the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index (CADLI). However, the high number of assessed sites makes the CADESI-3 impractical.