Cross-Sectional Serosurvey and Factors Associated with Exposure of Dogs to Vector-Borne Pathogens in Greece.

Blood samples from 2620 dogs living in 7 different areas were used for the detection of antibodies against and and antigen. Previously published seropositivity data against from the same samples were also used to identify multiple-pathogen seropositivity. The associations between seropositivity against each pathogen and gender, age, utility, hair length, and region of residence were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Fatal human anaplasmosis associated with macrophage activation syndrome in Greece and the Public Health response.

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a tick-borne disease caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum that has the potential to spread in new geographical areas. The first fatal case of HGA in Greece is presented. Fever of unknown origin, renal and respiratory insufficiency and development of macrophage activation syndrome characterized the clinical presentation.

Effects of pre-analytical handling on selected canine hematological parameters evaluated by automatic analyzer.

To assess the effects of pre-analytical handling (storage time and temperature) on selected hematological parameters, whole blood samples were collected in EDTA coated tubes from each of 30 clinically normal male adult beagle dogs. Each sample was separated in 2 aliquots, of which one was stored in ambient temperature (25 ˚C) and the other one was refrigerated (2 to 4 ˚C). Complete blood counts were performed in 1, 2.

Detection of intracellular IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a systemic zoonotic disease the clinical manifestations of which can range from self-healing cutaneous lesions to disseminated visceral disease. Effective activation of cellular immunity is the cornerstone of resistance against Leishmania infantum in infected dogs. The aim of this cross-sectional, controlled study was the intracellular detection of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 40 dogs naturally infected with L.

Diagnostic performance of a rapid in-clinic test for the detection of Canine Parvovirus under different storage conditions and vaccination status.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is one of the most common causes of acute haemorrhagic enteritis in young dogs, while clinical diagnosis is often indecisive. The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of an in-clinic rapid test in the detection of CPV infection in dogs. To this end, we compared the Rapid Diagnostic Kit of Canine Parvovirus, Coronavirus and Rotavirus antigen (Quicking(®)) to PCR, which is considered as the most reliable diagnostic method.

Rabies in Greece; historical perspectives in view of the current re-emergence in wild and domestic animals.

Greece has been rabies free since 1987 while no human cases have been seen since 1970. The re-emergence of rabies in Northern Greece during 2012-2013 in wild and domestic animals prompted a systematic review of historical evidence of the presence of the disease in the country from ancient years till the present. Historical data is presented along with efforts to prevent disease in animals and humans especially during the high prevalent periods in the country in the mid-20th century.

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of aminosidine after repeated administrations using an optimal dose regimen in healthy dogs and in dogs with leishmaniosis.

Optimisation of dose schedules of aminoglycosides is required in order to increase efficacy and prevent their toxicity. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and the safety of aminosidine in dogs with naturally occurring leishmaniosis and in healthy dogs after once daily administration. Six young-adult, male, healthy, Beagle dogs and 12 dogs with clinical signs of canine leishmaniosis without azotemia and proteinuria were included in the study.

Re-emergence of animal rabies in northern Greece and subsequent human exposure, October 2012 - March 2013.

Greece has been rabies-free since 1987 with no human cases since 1970. During 2012 to 2013, rabies has re-emerged in wild and domestic animals in northern Greece. By end March 2013, rabies was diagnosed in 17 animals including 14 red foxes, two shepherd dogs and one cat; 104 subsequent human exposures required post-exposure prophylaxis according to the World Health Organization criteria.

Efficacy of rifampicin in the treatment of experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of rifampicin in achieving clinical and haematological recovery and clearing infection in dogs with experimentally induced acute monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Methods: Five Ehrlichia canis-infected Beagle dogs were treated with rifampicin (10 mg/kg/24 h orally for 3 weeks), nine E. canis-infected dogs received no treatment (infected untreated dogs) and two dogs served as uninfected controls.

Association of genome variations in the renin-angiotensin system with physical performance.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the genotype distribution and allelic frequencies of ACE (I/D), AGTR1 (A +1166 C), BDKRB2 (+9/-9) and LEP (G-2548A) genomic variations in 175 Greek athletes who excelled at a national and/or international level and 169 healthy Greek adults to identify whether some particular combinations of these loci might serve as predictive markers for superior physical condition.

Results: The D/D genotype of the ACE gene (p = 0.034) combined with the simultaneous existence of BDKRB2 (+9/-9) (p = 0.

Treatment of canine leishmaniosis with aminosidine at an optimized dosage regimen: a pilot open clinical trial.

Leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum (Syn: L. chagasi) is one of the most common diseases of dogs in Mediterranean countries and also has zoonotic potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an optimized dosage regimen of aminosidine for the treatment of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) in terms of clinical remission, restoration of clinicopathological abnormalities, evolution of antibody titer, lymph node and bone marrow parasitic density and of PCR-based parasitological cure.

A cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study of canine leishmaniasis in Greek mainland.

Canine leishmaniasis is endemic in Greece as in other countries of the Mediterranean basin. In this study, the regional prevalence of canine seropositivity to Leishmania spp. in Greek mainland was simultaneously assessed in 7 different regions.

Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in wild rodents (Rattus norvegicus) in Greece.

Leishmania infantum and Leishmania tropica are the species responsible for visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis respectively. In Greece, both diseases are endemic. The dog is considered the main reservoir of L.

Determination of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of dogs with leishmaniosis before and after prolonged allopurinol monotherapy.

Canine leishmaniosis (CL) is a common systemic parasitic disease that is endemic in many Mediterranean countries including Greece. The immune reaction to the parasite is critical to the outcome of the infection and the response to treatment. Some studies have shown a reduction of circulating CD4+ T cells and of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in dogs with CL and these changes normalised following treatment with meglumine antimoniate or amphotericin B.

Determination of intracellular cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-4 in canine T lymphocytes by flow cytometry following whole-blood culture.

This report describes a whole-blood flow cytometric method for the determination of intracellular cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-4 in canine T lymphocyte subpopulations. Conjugated anti-cytokine antibodies and commercially available reagents for cell fixation and permeabilization were used. Canine peripheral blood was cultured with a combination of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin to promote cytokine synthesis in each cell, along with monensin to increase the sensitivity of the method by retaining IFN-gamma and IL-4 within the cell to detectable levels.

Evaluation of a serum-based PCR assay for the diagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.

The aim of this study was to estimate the relative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in the serum of dogs with naturally occurring non-myelosuppressive canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), and to investigate the association between PCR positivity and immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) titres for Ehrlichia canis. Serum samples obtained from 38 dogs with non-myelosuppressive CME and 12 healthy dogs were analyzed retrospectively. Each serum sample was analyzed in triplicate using an E.

Some microbiological aspects of rats captured alive at the port city of Piraeus, Greece.

The aim was to investigate the presence of leptospira infection and the antibiotic resistance of Enterobacteriaceae among wild rats living in a densely populated area. For this purpose 3-4 large traps were placed daily across the commercial port-front of Piraeus for the duration of two months. The rats captured were transferred in the laboratory alive, where samples were freshly collected.

Providencia stuartii infection in a dog with severe skin ulceration and cellulitis.

The aim of this report is to present a case of severe skin ulceration and cellulitis in a seven year old mongrel dog following cystitis. The Providencia stuartii strain was the only isolate from skin lesions. This bacterium is a Gram-negative rod belonging to the family of Enterobacteriaceae.

Cytologic patterns of lymphadenopathy in dogs infected with Leishmania infantum.

Background: Lymphadenopathy in canine leishmaniosis has been reported as reactive lymphoid hyperplasia or granulomatous (histiocytic) lymphadenitis. However, we are unaware of information on the effect of latent Leishmania infection on lymph node cytology compared with clinically affected dogs.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate cytologic patterns of lymphadenopathy in dogs with clinical and subclinical forms of leishmaniosis and to correlate cytologic findings with the density of Leishmania amastigotes in fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears.

Evaluation of lymph node and bone marrow cytology in the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum) in symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs.

The sensitivity and specificity of lymph node and bone marrow smear microscopy for the diagnosis of Leishmania infantum-infected dogs was evaluated in 79 dogs with leishmaniasis (Group A), 52 asymptomatically infected dogs (Group B), and 44 healthy noninfected dogs (Group C). Light microscopy examination included 10 to 1,000 oil immersion fields, and the density of Leishmania amastigotes was scored by a 0 to +6 scale. Using polymerase chain reaction as the gold standard, the specificity of lymph node and bone marrow cytology was 100%, whereas sensitivity ranged from 7.

Periodic administration of allopurinol is not effective for the prevention of canine leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum) in the endemic areas.

A total of 95 clinically healthy and seronegative for Leishmania infantum dogs, residing an area highly endemic for canine leishmaniosis (CL) and living an outdoor life-style, were split into positive and negative groups, and then were randomly assigned to receive allopurinol (n=51; 20 mg/kg once daily), or placebo (n=44) for 1 week per month, from April to November. Forty per cent (38/95) of these dogs were not reexamined and retested at the end of the trial for reasons unrelated to CL. None of the remaining 57 dogs exhibited the symptomatic form of the disease at the end of the 1-year follow-up period.

Chronic canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis): a retrospective study of 19 natural cases.

Nineteen dogs from Greece with chronic ehrlichiosis were studied. The dogs exhibited bicytopenia or pancytopenia, bone marrow hypoplasia, seroreactivity to Ehrlichia canis (E. canis) antigens, and had no history of drug or radiation exposure.

Evaluation of cytology in the diagnosis of acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis): a comparison between five methods.

The purpose of this study was the comparison of the diagnostic sensitivity between buffy coat (BC), peripheral blood (PB), lymph node (LN), bone marrow (BM) and short-term culture (P-D) cytology that has been based on the detection of Ehrlichia canis morulae, in the acute phase of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME). Their cellular localization, total numbers and microscopic differentials were also investigated. The highest sensitivities were achieved after evaluating 1000 oil immersion fields (OIFs) in BC (66%) and an equal number in LN (60.

A cross-sectional study of Leishmania spp. infection in clinically healthy dogs with polymerase chain reaction and serology in Greece.

A total of 73 clinically healthy hunting dogs, experiencing an outdoor lifestyle and originating from an area where canine leishmaniasis is endemic, were included in the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for Leishmania spp. were done on bone marrow and serum samples, respectively, obtained from all 73 dogs, just before the beginning of the sandfly season.

Relation of clinical signs to pathological changes in 19 cases of canine distemper encephalomyelitis.

In an attempt to associate the clinical neurological syndromes with the neuropathological features of canine distemper (CD), 19 spontaneous cases with neurological involvement were examined, before and after euthanasia. Seventeen dogs were less than one year of age and all except two (89.4%) were unvaccinated against CD.