Longitudinal assessment of thyroid function in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism: Clinical outcomes and prevalence of autoantibodies.

Background: Knowledge about primary hypoadrenocorticism coexisting with immune-mediated thyroiditis (Schmidt's syndrome) in dogs is limited.

Objective: To evaluate thyroid function in dogs with naturally occurring hypoadrenocorticism before and during treatment.

Animals: Sixty-six client-owned dogs.

Clinical features and long-term management of cats with primary hypoadrenocorticism using desoxycorticosterone pivalate and prednisolone.

Background: Primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH) is rare in cats and knowledge about treatment is sparse.

Objective: To describe cats with PH with a focus on long-term treatment.

Animals: Eleven cats with naturally occurring PH.

Effects of ACTH-Induced Long-Term Hypercortisolism on the Transcriptome of Canine Visceral Adipose Tissue.

Cushing’s syndrome, or hypercortisolism (HC), a common endocrinopathy in adult dogs, is caused by chronic hypercortisolemia. Among different metabolic disorders, this syndrome is associated with enhanced subcutaneous lipolysis and visceral adiposity. However, effects of HC in adipose tissue, especially regarding visceral adipose tissue (VAT), are still poorly understood.

Serum Lipidome Signatures of Dogs with Different Endocrinopathies Associated with Hyperlipidemia.

Hyperlipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia) is a common finding in human and veterinary patients with endocrinopathies (e.g., hypothyroidism and hypercortisolism (Cushing's syndrome; CS)).

Modified-Live Feline Calicivirus Vaccination Elicits Cellular Immunity against a Current Feline Calicivirus Field Strain in an Experimental Feline Challenge Study.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common cat virus associated with oral ulcerations and virulent-systemic disease. Efficacious FCV vaccines protect against severe disease but not against infection. The high genetic diversity of FCV poses a challenge in vaccine design.

Modified-Live Feline Calicivirus Vaccination Reduces Viral RNA Loads, Duration of RNAemia, and the Severity of Clinical Signs after Heterologous Feline Calicivirus Challenge.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common cat virus causing clinical signs such as oral ulcerations, fever, reduced general condition, pneumonia, limping and occasionally virulent-systemic disease. Efficacious FCV vaccines protect against severe disease but not against infection. FCV is a highly mutagenic RNA virus whose high genetic diversity poses a challenge in vaccine design.

Salivary cortisol in healthy dogs: a randomized cross-over study to evaluate different saliva stimulation methods and their effects on saliva volume and cortisol concentration.

Background: Salivary cortisol collected at home is a useful test to diagnose and monitor Cushing's syndrome in humans. The main problem in dogs is to retrieve a sufficient amount of saliva. The aim of this study was to evaluate different salivary collection methods and compare their effects on volume, pH and cortisol concentration of saliva.

Evaluation of symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine in dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism receiving long-term mineralocorticoid replacement therapy.

Objectives: To investigate kidney function by determining serum symmetric dimethylarginine (sSDMA) and serum creatinine (sCr) concentrations in dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH) receiving long-term mineralocorticoid replacement therapy.

Methods: Dogs with PH receiving a minimum of 12 months of either desoxycorticosterone pivalate or fludrocortisone acetate were included in the study provided that banked frozen serum samples were available for sSDMA analysis. sCr concentrations were retrieved from the medical records.

Glycemic variability in newly diagnosed diabetic cats treated with the glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue exenatide extended release.

Background: Glycemic variability (GV) is an indicator of glycemic control and can be evaluated by calculating the SD of blood glucose measurements. In humans with diabetes mellitus (DM), adding a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue to conventional therapy reduces GV. In diabetic cats, the influence of GLP-1 analogues on GV is unknown.

Serum lipidome analysis of healthy beagle dogs receiving different diets.

Introduction: Food and dietary ingredients have significant effects on metabolism and health.

Objective: To evaluate whether and how different diets affected the serum lipidomic profile of dogs.

Methods: Sixteen healthy beagles were fed a commercial dry diet for 3 months (control diet).

Prevalence, Geographic Distribution, Risk Factors and Co-Infections of Feline Gammaherpesvirus Infections in Domestic Cats in Switzerland.

Recently, a gammaherpesvirus was described in domestic cats (FcaGHV1). The goal of the present study was to investigate the presence of FcaGHV1 in Swiss domestic cats and analyze potential risk factors. Blood samples from 881 cats presented to veterinarians in all Swiss cantons and from 91 stray cats and neoplastic tissue samples from 17 cats with lymphoma were evaluated.

Changes in the Canine Plasma Lipidome after Short- and Long-Term Excess Glucocorticoid Exposure.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are critical regulators of metabolic control in mammals and their aberrant function has been linked to several pathologies. GCs are widely used in human and veterinary clinical practice as potent anti-inflammatory and immune suppressive agents. Dyslipidaemia is a frequently observed consequence of GC treatment, typified by increased lipolysis, lipid mobilization, liponeogenesis, and adipogenesis.

Evaluation of a low-dose desoxycorticosterone pivalate treatment protocol for long-term management of dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism.

Background: Lowering the dose of desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) for the treatment of dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH) decreases costs and could lead to increased owner motivation to treat their affected dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a low-dose DOCP treatment protocol in dogs with PH.

Animals: Prospective study, 17 client-owned dogs with naturally occurring PH (12 newly diagnosed, 5 previously treated with fludrocortisone acetate [FC]).

Comparison of two prepill cortisol concentrations in dogs with hypercortisolism treated with trilostane.

Background: The ideal method for monitoring trilostane therapy in dogs with hypercortisolism is still open to debate. Recently, determination of the pre-trilostane (prepill) cortisol concentration has been proposed to be more repeatable than either post-trilostane or post-ACTH cortisol. The aim of this study was to compare two prepill cortisol concentrations in dogs with hypercortisolism during trilostane therapy.

Consecutive antibiotic treatment with doxycycline and marbofloxacin clears bacteremia in Mycoplasma haemofelis-infected cats.

Mycoplasma haemofelis is the most pathogenic feline hemoplasma species and a causative agent of infectious hemolytic anemia in cats. Current treatment protocols are effective in reducing M. haemofelis blood loads and clinical signs but consistent bacteremia clearance is rarely achieved.

Concurrent endocrine neoplasias in dogs and cats: a retrospective study (2004-2014).

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) is a well-known syndrome in human medicine, whereas only a few cases of concurrent endocrine neoplasias have been reported in dogs and cats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of concurrent endocrine neoplasias in dogs and cats at our clinic, identify possible breed and sex predispositions and investigate similarities with MEN syndromes in humans. Postmortem reports of 951 dogs and 1155 cats that died or were euthanased at the Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Zurich, between 2004 and 2014 were reviewed, and animals with at least two concurrent endocrine neoplasias and/or hyperplasias were included.

Effects of Trilostane on urinary Catecholamines and their metabolites in dogs with Hypercortisolism.

Background: Glucocorticoids influence the synthesis and metabolism of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) and metanephrines (metanephrine and normetanephrine). The aim of this study was to measure urinary catecholamines and metanephrines in dogs with hypercortisolism before and during trilostane therapy. Urine samples were collected during initial work up and during therapy with trilostane in 14 dogs with hypercortisolism and in 25 healthy dogs.

Passive immunization does not provide protection against experimental infection with Mycoplasma haemofelis.

Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) is the most pathogenic feline hemotropic mycoplasma. Cats infected with Mhf that clear bacteremia are protected from Mhf reinfection, but the mechanisms of protective immunity are unresolved. In the present study we investigated whether the passive transfer of antibodies from Mhf-recovered cats to naïve recipient cats provided protection against bacteremia and clinical disease following homologous challenge with Mhf; moreover, we characterized the immune response in the recipient cats.

Effects of contrast medium injection technique on attenuation values of adrenal glands in healthy dogs during contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Objective: To assess the effects of 3 contrast medium injection techniques on attenuation values for canine adrenal glands during contrast-enhanced CT.

Animals: 9 healthy Beagles.

Procedures: 3 protocols were evaluated in a randomized cross-over design study: 700 mg of iodine/kg at a constant injection rate over 20 seconds (full-dose constant rate), the same dose at a rate following an exponential decay curve over 20 seconds (full-dose decelerated rate), and 350 mg of iodine/kg at a constant injection rate over 10 seconds (half-dose constant rate).

Retroviral DNA--the silent winner: blood transfusion containing latent feline leukemia provirus causes infection and disease in naïve recipient cats.

Background: The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a gamma-retrovirus of domestic cats that was discovered half a century ago. Cats that are infected with FeLV may develop a progressive infection resulting in persistent viremia, immunodeficiency, tumors, anemia and death. A significant number of cats mount a protective immune response that suppresses viremia; these cats develop a regressive infection characterized by the absence of viral replication and the presence of low levels of proviral DNA.

Feline calicivirus and other respiratory pathogens in cats with Feline calicivirus-related symptoms and in clinically healthy cats in Switzerland.

Background: Cats with feline calicivirus (FCV)-related symptoms are commonly presented to veterinary practitioners. Various clinical manifestations have been attributed to FCV, i.e.

Lack of cross-protection against Mycoplasma haemofelis infection and signs of enhancement in "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis"-recovered cats.

"Mycoplasma haemofelis" and "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis" are feline hemoplasmas that induce hemolytic anemia. Protection from homologous re-challenge was recently demonstrated in cats recovered from primary infection. Here, we determined if cats recovered from "Cand.

Detemir insulin for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in dogs.

Objective: To investigate the effects of insulin detemir in dogs with diabetes mellitus.

Design: Prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial.

Animals: 10 client-owned dogs with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus.

No benefit of therapeutic vaccination in clinically healthy cats persistently infected with feline leukemia virus.

Therapeutic vaccinations have a potential application in infections where no curative treatment is available. In contrast to HIV, efficacious vaccines for a cat retrovirus, feline leukemia virus (FeLV), are commercially available. However, the infection is still prevalent, and no effective treatment of the infection is known.