Assessment of the effect of long-term serum storage for retrospective serologic diagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis).

There is currently sparse information on the possible effect of long-term storage of serum specimens for the retrospective serodiagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME). The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between the original serologic outcome and the results of a repeat indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay for the detection of IgG antibodies against E. canis.

Discordance between ABC blood phenotype and genotype in a domestic short-haired cat.

An adult domestic short-haired feline leukemia virus-infected cat was referred for kidney failure and worsening anemia requiring transfusions. ABC blood typing was performed with an immunochromatographic strip assay at different occasions. Gel column systems were used for the major and minor crossmatching tests, and anti-A and anti-B titers were determined.

Association of Paraoxonase-1 and NT-proBNP with Clinical, Clinico-Pathologic and Echocardiographic Variables in Dogs with Mitral Valve Disease.

The objective of the present study was to measure the concentration of Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and N-terminal-prohormone-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), in the serum of dogs with degenerative Mitral Valve Disease (MVD), in order to identify their association with the clinical stage and specific clinico-pathologic and echocardiographic findings.Eighty dogs diagnosed with MVD and staged according to the ACVIM (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine) consensus statement (B1, B2, C and D), based on their clinical, radiographic, and echocardiographic findings, were included in the study. NT-proBNP was measured only in stage B1 and B2 dogs.

Clinical and Clinicopathologic Discriminators Between Canine Acute Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis due to Ehrlichia canis (aCME), and primary immune thrombocytopenia (pITP) are major differentials for dogs presented with thrombocytopenia, and the two diseases may clinically overlap. The aim of this study was to compare dogs diagnosed with naturally occurring aCME and pITP, to establish potentially useful clinical and clinicopathologic discriminators. A clinical record-based retrospective study was performed in 35 dogs diagnosed with aCME and 29 dogs with pITP.

A comparison of cytologic quality in fine-needle specimens obtained with and without aspiration from superficial lymph nodes in the dog.

Objectives: To assess the impact of aspiration on cytologic quality of fine-needle specimens obtained from lymph nodes of dogs and to compare the level of agreement of the cytologic diagnosis between the two sampling techniques.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-three client-owned dogs were prospectively enrolled. Client-owned dogs were prospectively enrolled in the study if cytologic examination of lymph nodes was indicated in the course of their clinical diagnostic work-up.

Jackson-Henderson technique for the revision surgery following PDA rupture in a dog.

A 3-month-old female intact Maltese dog, was referred for further investigation and management of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which was diagnosed with a grade V murmur during thoracic auscultation and a palpable thrill in the left third intercostal space during routine vaccination. Echocardiographic findings included left ventricle dilatation, high velocity continuous ductal flow in the pulmonary valve and a patent ductus arteriosus. Hematological and biochemical abnormalities were not detected.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia canis in a hospital canine population.

Background: Ehrlichia canis (E canis) infection has been documented in a few small canine case series in Greece. However, there is limited information on the prevalence of exposure to, or the potential risk factors associated with E canis seroreactivity in a large native canine population.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate E canis seroprevalence in dogs admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital, and to investigate the potential association between seropositivity and signalment, health status, the serologic assays used, and selected clinical and clinicopathologic abnormalities.

Hereditary methemoglobinemia in a cyanotic cat presented for ovariohysterectomy.

A 1-year-old, female, domestic shorthair cat with a history of cyanotic mucous membranes for several months was referred for ovariohysterectomy. Blood samples exhibited a noticeably brownish discoloration, while laboratory screening revealed mild-to-moderate erythrocytosis and near normal partial arterial oxygen pressure. Blood methemoglobin content was 41% of total hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocytic methemoglobin reductase activity was < 1% compared with control samples.

Canine and feline dirofilariosis in a highly enzootic area: first report of feline dirofilariosis in Greece.

Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) is enzootic in many areas of the world and quite prevalent in southern European countries. Although dogs are the main host of the parasite, cats may also be infected, and the prevalence of feline dirofilariosis is associated with the respective prevalence of canine infection in any given area. The aim of the present study was to investigate the proportion of D.

Occurrence and characterization of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in healthy household dogs in Greece.

Extended-spectrum cephalosporin- and/or carbapenem-resistant (ESC and/or Carb) Enterobacteriaceae constitute a public health hazard because of limited treatment options and are endemic among humans in Greece. Recently, ESC and CarbEnterobacteriaceae have been increasingly isolated from companion animals, stressing their potential role as a reservoir for humans. However, the presence of ESC bacteria in companion animals within Greek households has not been determined yet.

Cardiac troponin I concentrations, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables remained unchanged in dogs experimentally infected with Ehrlichia canis.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME, Ehrlichia canis) has occasionally been associated with myocardial injury. The aim of the present study was to serially measure and evaluate cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in dogs with experimentally induced acute and subclinical CME and to evaluate potential associations between cTnI concentration and an array of echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters. Serum cTnI concentration and simultaneous echocardiographic and electrocardiographic recordings were evaluated in 12 healthy Beagle dogs prior to experimental infection and on days 20 and 90 post-inoculation with E.

Interspecies spread of Staphylococcus aureus clones among companion animals and human close contacts in a veterinary teaching hospital. A cross-sectional study in Greece.

Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) prevalence among companion animals and veterinary personnel (VP) was investigated. Strains' molecular characteristics were evaluated in order to assess S.

Acute phase protein and antioxidant responses in dogs with experimental acute monocytic ehrlichiosis treated with rifampicin.

There is currently lack of information on the changes of acute phase proteins (APP) and antioxidant markers and their clinical relevance as treatment response indicators in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME). The objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), ferritin and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) during treatment of dogs with acute CME with rifampicin. Blood serum samples from ten Beagle dogs with experimental acute CME were retrospectively examined.

Urinary Aldosterone/Creatinine Ratio After Fludrocortisone Suppression Consistent with PHA in a Cat.

A 9 yr old cat was presented with clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities attributed to arterial hypertension (mean systolic arterial pressure, 290 mm Hg). Plasma aldosterone concentration was increased at the time of admission (651 pmol/L), but serum creatinine and potassium concentrations were within the reference range. A second increased aldosterone (879 pmol/L) and normal plasma renin activity (1.

Correlation of serum cardiac troponin I and acute phase protein concentrations with clinical staging in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease.

Background: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) correlates with severity of myocardial injury. Nonspecific inflammation in congestive heart failure (CHF) could be assessed by C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), and ceruloplasmin (Cp) measurements.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether serum cTnI, CRP, Hp, and Cp concentrations differ among various stages of mitral valve disease (MVD) in dogs.

Molecular identification of Bartonella species in dogs with leishmaniosis (leishmania infantum) with or without cytological evidence of arthritis.

Recent evidence suggest that Bartonella species may cause polyarthritis and lameness in dogs. Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is a multi-systemic disease often occurring in association with arthritis. We hypothesized that concurrent Bartonella infection may be a contributing factor for the development of arthritis in dogs with CanL.

Serial analysis of serum cardiac troponin I changes and correlation with clinical findings in 46 dogs with mitral valve disease.

Background: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a biomarker correlated with the severity of myocardial injury. It is hypothesized that serial assessment of cTnI could provide information about the disease progression in chronic heart failure.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to correlate serial serum cTnI concentrations with clinical scoring and select diagnostic imaging findings in dogs managed for mitral valve degeneration (MVD) for a period of 6 months.

Serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in experimentally induced and naturally occurring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis).

Ehrlichia canis infection causes multisystemic disease in dogs (canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, CME) which is associated with variable morbidity and mortality. Atypical clinical manifestations, including gastrointestinal signs, may occasionally occur in CME and approximately 10-15% of dogs are presented with historical or clinical evidence of vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal discomfort. The objective of this study was to investigate if there are any alterations in serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) in dogs with experimentally induced or naturally occurring monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Pathologic mechanisms underlying the clinical findings in canine leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum/chagasi.

In dogs with symptomatic or asymptomatic leishmaniasis, Leishmania infantum appears to induce a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response that in the sick dog may eventually result in tissue damage via different pathomechanisms, notably granulomatous inflammation (eg, nodular dermatitis, osteomyelitis), immune complex deposition (eg, glomerulonephritis), and/or autoantibody production (eg, polymyositis). This is a compensatory but detrimental mechanism generated mainly because of the insufficient killing capacity of macrophages against the parasite in the susceptible dog. Clinical disease is typically exemplified as exfoliative and/or ulcerative dermatitis, with or without nasodigital hyperkeratosis and onychogryphosis, glomerulonephritis, atrophic myositis of masticatory muscles, anterior uveitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, epistaxis, and/or polyarthritis, appearing alone or in various combinations.

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.

Serum cardiac troponin I concentrations in naturally occurring myelosuppressive and non-myelosuppressive canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.

The aim of this study was to determine whether serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration measured on admission was associated with the clinical severity of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and was predictive of clinical outcome (death or survival) in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis. Serum cTnI concentration was compared among 22 dogs with non-myelosuppressive ehrlichiosis (NME), 22 dogs with myelosuppressive ehrlichiosis (ME) and 10 healthy dogs. Unlike healthy dogs, 45.

Claw histopathology and parasitic load in natural cases of canine leishmaniosis associated with Leishmania infantum.

Histological lesions and the presence of Leishmania spp. amastigotes in claw tissues were investigated in 40 dogs with leishmaniosis, with (16/40--group A) or without (24/40--group B) generalized onychogryphosis. Following euthanasia, the entire third phalanx with intact claw was amputated, formalin fixed, decalcified in a formic acid solution, embedded in paraffin, sectioned longitudinally and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and acid orcein-Giemsa.

Primary gastric choriocarcinoma in a dog.

Primary gastric choriocarcinoma (PGC) is a rare neoplasm to date only reported in humans. This report describes a canine gastric tumour with microscopical, histochemical and immunohistochemical features of PGC. The tumour diffusely infiltrated the submucosa and muscularis propria of the pylorus and anterior duodenum, and metastasized to the gastric lymph node.

Factors associated with the occurrence of epistaxis in natural canine leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum).

Background: Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a common cause of epistaxis in dogs residing in endemic areas. The pathogenesis of CanL-associated epistaxis has not been fully explored because of the limited number of cases reported so far.

Hypothesis: Epistaxis in CanL could be attributed to more than 1 pathomechanism such as hemostatic dysfunction, biochemical abnormalities, chronic rhinitis, and coinfections occurring in various combinations.

Regional parasite density in the skin of dogs with symptomatic canine leishmaniosis.

In canine leishmaniosis, the parasitic density of the skin may be important for the infection of sandflies, and increased accumulation of inflammatory cells infected with Leishmania is believed to occur in dermal areas subjected to mechanical trauma. Parasite density and inflammatory responses in the upper and lower dermis of three body sites: flank (control site), dorsal muzzle (sandfly feeding site), and footpads (mechanical stress sites) were thus investigated in 15 dogs with symptomatic leishmaniosis. Parasite density did not differ between the control and tested sites or between the upper and lower dermis, apart from the footpads where it was higher in the upper dermis, and there was no correlation with severity of the macroscopic lesions or inflammatory infiltrate, except for the lower footpad dermis.