The gut microbiome in dogs with congestive heart failure: a pilot study.

Compromised gut health and dysbiosis in people with heart failure has received a great deal of attention over the last decade. Whether dogs with heart failure have a similar dysbiosis pattern to what is described in people is currently unknown. We hypothesised that dogs with congestive heart failure have quantifiable dysbiosis compared to healthy dogs that are similar in sex and age.

Lack of susceptibility of Ehrlichia canis to imidocarb dipropionate in vitro.

In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing was used to compare the efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate and doxycycline on the growth of Ehrlichia canis in DH82 cell cultures. Over a 9-day period there were no significant differences (p < 0.01) in the growth of E.

Exposure of cats in southern Africa to Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever.

Recently, the domestic cat has been implicated in numerous outbreaks of Q fever in humans. To determine if cats in southern Africa are infected with the agent of Q fever we tested sera from cats in South Africa and Zimbabwe by indirect fluorescence for antibodies reactive with phase II Coxiella burnetii antigen (Nine Mile strain). Reactive antibodies were detected at titres of > or = 1/40 in sera from cats in South Africa (1/52, 2%) and Zimbabwe (15/119, 13%).

Domestic cats as indicators of the presence of spotted fever and typhus group rickettsiae.

Using indirect immunofluorescence assays, sera from cats in Zimbabwe (n = 119) and South Africa (n = 52) were found to contain antibodies reactive with Rickettsia conorii (34% and 19% respectively) and R. typhi (7% and 10% respectively). These results indicate that cats may become infected with members of the spotted fever and typhus groups of rickettsiae and that cats can, therefore, be used as indicators of the presence of these organisms.

Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae in southern Africa--evidence for infections in domestic cats and implications for veterinarians.

Substantial evidence has recently accumulated showing domestic cats to be the principal reservoirs of Bartonella henselae, the aetiological agent of human diseases including cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis and a febrile bacteraemia syndrome. To determine the prevalence of antibodies reactive with Bartonella henselae in cats from southern Africa, indirect fluorescent antibody assays were carried out on feline sera from South Africa and Zimbabwe. Overall, 23% (39/171) of cats had antibody titres > or = 1/64, with cats from Zimbabwe (24%; 28/119) having higher seroprevalences than those from South Africa (21%; 11/52) although this difference was not statistically significant.

Intestinal permeability and function in dogs with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been reported to occur commonly in dogs with signs of chronic intestinal disease. There are usually few intestinal histological changes, and it is uncertain to what extent bacteria cause mucosal damage. The aim of this study was to apply a differential sugar absorption test for intestinal permeability and function to the objective assessment of intestinal damage in dogs with SIBO.

Rickettsia africae sp. nov., the etiological agent of African tick bite fever.

We propose the name Rickettsia africae sp. nov. (with type strain Z9-Hu) for a distinct species of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae that is the etiological agent of African tick bite fever in humans.

Prevalence of rickettsia-like organisms and spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Zimbabwe.

The prevalence of rickettsia-like organisms in ticks from Zimbabwe was determined using the hemolymph test. Amblyomma hebraeum had the highest prevalence of rickettsia-like organisms. Other species with rickettsia-like organisms included Amblyomma sparsum, Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Ripicephalus simus, Haemaphysalis leachi, Amblyomma rhinocerotis, and Hyalomma truncatum.

Ultrasonography of pancreatic neoplasia in the dog: a retrospective review of 16 cases.

The history, clinical signs and radiographic and ultrasonographic findings in 16 dogs with pancreatic neoplasia were reviewed retrospectively. Thirteen of the dogs had islet cell carcinoma compatible with insulinoma, one had a pancreatic adenocarcinoma and two had secondary invasion of the pancreas, one by a gastric carcinoma and one by an intestinal lymphoma. The clinical signs in the 13 dogs with insulinoma included collapse in 10 dogs, ataxia in seven, weakness in five, and seizures in two.

Further evidence for the efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate in the treatment of Ehrlichia canis infection.

Three dogs experimentally infected with Ehrlichia canis developed thrombocytopaenia and high antibody titres to E. canis in indirect fluorescent antibody tests. One dog also became leukopaenic.

A new pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsia from Africa.

A spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsia was isolated in Zimbabwe from a patient with tick-bite, fever, headache and regional lymphadenopathy. A further six isolates were obtained from Amblyomma hebraeum ticks collected in Zimbabwe. These human and tick isolates were indistinguishable from each other, and from an Ethiopian SFG rickettsia, by microimmunofluorescence (MIF), sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blotting and polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP).

Reactivity of sera collected from dogs in Mutare, Zimbabwe, to antigens of Ehrlichia canis and Cowdria ruminantium.

Six of 20 sera from apparently healthy dogs in Mutare, Zimbabwe, contained antibodies which were reactive with Cowdria ruminantium and Ehrlichia canis in indirect fluorescent antibody tests at similar titres. In Western blots these sera recognised the immunodominant antigen bands of the two organisms. Sera with high titres (> 1/80) recognised additional antigen bands of each organism.

Serological evidence for antigenic relationships between Ehrlichia canis and Cowdria ruminantium.

The sera from dogs experimentally infected with Ehrlichia canis reacted at very similar titres in indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests with E canis and Cowdria ruminantium antigen. In Western blots these sera reacted strongly with the immunodominant antigens of E canis (27 kDa) and C ruminantium (25 and 32 kDa). The dogs experimentally infected with C ruminantium showed no clinical evidence of infection, though the presence of organisms in the blood was demonstrable, for up to two weeks after inoculation, by a polymerase chain reaction.

Infections with Babesia canis and Ehrlichia canis in dogs in Zimbabwe.

Of 105 dogs examined at a veterinary hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, 52 per cent had antibodies reactive with Ehrlichia canis in indirect fluorescent antibody tests, 26 per cent had Babesia canis parasites in peripheral blood smears and 17 per cent had both infections. None of the dogs with serological evidence of ehrlichiosis had typical E canis morulae detectable in blood smears. The infections were regarded as incidental findings not readily related to the reasons for examination in 46 per cent of the dogs with antibodies to E canis and 17 per cent of the dogs with both infections.

Reactions of sera from laboratory, domestic and wild animals in Africa with protein A and a recombinant chimeric protein AG.

An ELISA was developed to determine the reactivity of peroxidase labelled Protein A and a recombinant Protein A + Protein G construct, to sera from a variety of laboratory, domestic and wild animals from Africa. There was variability in the binding capacity of sera from individuals of the same species, but four groups could be recognized. Sera from birds and crocodiles were at most weakly reactive with either Protein A or the chimeric construct.

Western blot and indirect fluorescent antibody testing for antibodies reactive with Ehrlichia canis in sera from apparently healthy dogs in Zimbabwe.

Sera were collected from apparently healthy dogs in 3 major centres in Zimbabwe to establish the prevalence of antibodies reactive with Ehrlichia canis by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) testing at titres of 1/20 or greater. The overall seroprevalence was 42% (39/93) with dogs from Mutare (40%) and Harare (33%) having similar rates which were lower than those for Bulawayo (68%). The majority of the IFA positive dogs from Harare (67%) had no haematological or biochemical evidence of canine ehrlichiosis.

Q fever in Zimbabwe. A review of the disease and the results of a serosurvey of humans, cattle, goats and dogs.

Sera from 494 humans, 180 cattle, 180 goats and 27 dogs, collected from different regions of Zimbabwe, were examined by indirect fluorescence for antibodies reactive with phase II Coxiella burnetii antigen. Overall, 37% of humans were reactive at a titre of 1/40 or greater, and there was no evidence of age- or sex-related differences in seroprevalence. A review of clinical and epidemiological features of Q fever is presented in order to alert health workers to this infection, which apparently occurs frequently in Zimbabwe even though clinical cases have not been reported.

Pathogens in dog bite wounds in dogs in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Over a year swabs were taken from 87 untreated bite wounds in dogs seen by veterinary practitioners in Harare, Zimbabwe. Swabs were also taken from normal skin adjacent to the wound site, and gingival swabs were collected from normal dogs coming to the same clinics. The swabs were cultured aerobically for pathogens, particularly Staphylococcus intermedius, and the antibiotic sensitivities of the pathogens were determined by disc diffusion assay.

Experimental infection of dogs with a Zimbabwean strain of Rickettsia conorii.

Seroconversion was demonstrated in dogs artificially infected with a Zimbabwean strain of Rickettsia conorii. No haematological or biochemical abnormalities were found and the only clinical signs observed were pain, erythema and oedema at the inoculation site and regional lymphadenopathy. Intermittent rickettsaemia was detected using the centrifugation shell vial technique up to 10 days post inoculation.