Skin Lesions in Feline Leishmaniosis: A Systematic Review.

Feline leishmaniosis (FeL) is increasingly reported throughout the world and skin lesions predominate in the clinical picture. There are, however, few evidence-based data on cutaneous feline leishmaniosis and directions are strongly needed for a better management of the disease. In this study, we systematically reviewed what is currently known about the clinical dermatological presentation of FeL through analysis of the literature and, further, by adding unpublished cases managed by Italian veterinary dermatologists.

Influence of domperidone supplementation on short-term changes in C-reactive protein and paraoxonase-1 in dogs with leishmaniasis undergoing meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol therapy.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) might increase and decrease in canine leishmaniasis (CanL), , and both can rapidly normalize after therapy. Recently, supplementation of domperidone with conventional therapy , increasing the activity of cells involved in acute phase responses in vitro. This combined therapy has been recommended to treat mild forms of CanL; however, no studies have investigated the effects of domperidone supplementation on early CRP or PON1 changes in dogs with CanL.

Use of urinary γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) to monitor the pattern of proteinuria in dogs with leishmaniasis treated with N-methylglucamine antimoniate.

The aim of this study was to assess if the coupled analysis of the urinary protein to creatinine (UPC) ratio and of the GGT/UC ratio (the ratio between urinary γ-glutamyl transferase activity and urinary creatinine) may be used in treated leishmaniotic dogs to differentiate dogs with transient impairment of tubular function from dogs with persistent tubular damage. To this aim, 40 urine from 10 proteinuric and leishmaniotic dogs that at the first visit had high GGT/UC ratio, consistent with tubular damage, were collected and analyzed before treatments and 2, 4 and 6 weeks after treatment with N-methylglucamine antimoniate and allopurinol. Compared with pre-treatment values, at the end of the study period the UPC ratio decreased only in 5/10 dogs, which, however, were still proteinuric or borderline proteinuric.

Elusive Angiostrongylus vasorum infections.

Background: The parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum causes severe clinical signs in dogs. The disease is often challenging because infected animals are often presented with clinical signs overlapping those of other diseases.

Methods: The present article describes six angiostrongylosis cases (Cases 1-6) that represent key examples of how canine angiostrongylosis may be extremely confounding.

Serum concentration of high density lipoproteins (HDLs) in leishmaniotic dogs.

In order to assess whether the concentration of high density lipoproteins (HDLs) changes in leishmaniotic dogs before and after treatment, HDL cholesterol (HDL-Chol and HDL%), C reactive protein (CRP) and activity of the antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase (PON-1) were measured in sera from 10 controls and 10 leishmaniotic dogs. Seven of these latter were sampled also 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after treatment with antimonials and allopurinol. HDL-chol, and PON-1 were low in leishmaniotic dogs at admission and increased after treatment.

Gastric cylicospirurosis in a domestic cat from Italy.

A gastric nodule was found in a cat examined following a car accident. Cytological examination showed a mixed, mainly eosinophilic, inflammation with reactive fibroblasts and ovoidal elements resembling nematode eggs. The cat was euthanased because of rapid worsening of clinical signs due to secondary injuries, and the gastric nodule was excised for examination.

Haematological and biochemical reference intervals of four feline breeds.

Many feline breeds have been generated from a small number of ancestors. Thus, breed-specific peculiarities can be expected, which could include haematological and biochemical measurements. Despite this, there are only a few reports on breed-specific reference intervals (RI).