Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported.

Background: The mosquito-borne zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis continues to spread northwards in Europe. This parasite can cause potentially life-threatening heartworm disease in dogs and pulmonary dirofilariasis in humans and is, therefore, a major health concern in both the veterinary medicine and human medical fields. This is the first report of D.

Usefulness of cardiac biomarker screening to detect dilated cardiomyopathy in Dobermanns.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of two cardiac biomarker assays (N-terminal pro-BNP , Troponin I) in detecting dilated cardiomyopathy in Dobermanns.

Materials And Methods: Dobermanns undergoing cardiac biomarker testing were screened by echocardiography and Holter monitoring, then assigned to a group: normal, equivocal, arrhythmia form of dilated cardiomyopathy, echocardiographic form of dilated cardiomyopathy or both. Some were reassessed to identify final status.

Association of diet with left ventricular wall thickness, troponin I and IGF-1 in cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (sHCM) have elevated serum insulin and serum amyloid A concentrations correlating with the degree of cardiac hypertrophy. Diet might affect these and other cardiac variables.

Objective: Evaluate the effect of a complete, balanced diet with restricted starch and supplemented with eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA) on echocardiographic variables and cardiac biomarkers in cats with sHCM.

Associations among echocardiography, cardiac biomarkers, insulin metabolism, morphology, and inflammation in cats with asymptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and inflammation possibly are involved in cats with asymptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (aHCM).

Objectives: To evaluate echocardiography, morphology, cardiac and inflammatory markers, insulin and IGF-1 in cats with aHCM.

Animals: Fifty-one client-owned cats with aHCM.

Phenotypic description of cardiac findings in a population of Dogue de Bordeaux with an emphasis on atrial fibrillation.

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical phenotype of Dogue de Bordeaux (DdB) referred for cardiac investigation, with particular reference to the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and associated features. Review of canine medical records of two United Kingdom veterinary referral hospitals identified 64 DdB with available echocardiographic and electrocardiographic (ECG)/Holter data. Atrial fibrillation was documented in 25 (39%) dogs and supraventricular tachycardia was recorded in five (7.

Clinical findings and treatment outcomes for cats diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus in the UK: a retrospective study of 19 cases (2004-2012).

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is infrequently reported in cats and represents between 1-7.3 per cent of left to right shunting cardiac congenital anomalies. The objective of this study was to report the presenting complaints, clinical examination findings, diagnostic findings, treatment outcomes and survival times in cats diagnosed with a PDA in the UK.

Dirofilaria repens Microfilaremia in Three Dogs in Estonia.

In Europe, the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria repens continues to spread northward. We describe three likely autochthonous canine microfilaremic D. repens infections from Estonia, an European Union country located in the Baltic region of northern Europe.

Assessment of mitral regurgitation in dogs: comparison of results of echocardiography with magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: Echocardiography is used routinely to assess mitral regurgitation severity, but echocardiographic measures of mitral regurgitation in dogs have not been compared with other quantitative methods. The study aim was to compare echocardiographic measures of mitral regurgitation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging-derived mitral regurgitant fraction in small-breed dogs.

Methods: Dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease scheduled for magnetic resonance imaging assessment of neurological disease were recruited.

Association of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion with survival time in Boxer dogs with ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a useful estimate of right ventricular function in humans. Reference intervals for dogs have been generated, but the value of measuring TAPSE in other diseases, or investigating the association between TAPSE and outcome, is unknown.

Hypothesis: TAPSE is lower in Boxer dogs with ≥50 VPCs/24 h on Holter than in dogs with fewer ventricular ectopics, and lower TAPSE is associated with a shorter survival time.

Prognostic value of 24-hour ambulatory ECG (Holter) monitoring in Boxer dogs.

Background: Boxer dogs are reported to be predisposed to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), but the natural history has not been well characterized and inconsistent diagnostic criteria have been applied to identify affected dogs. Echocardiographic examination findings are unremarkable in many affected Boxer dogs, and in these dogs, 24-hour ambulatory ECG (Holter) monitoring often is used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, despite limited information available relating Holter findings to outcome.

Hypothesis/objectives: Boxers with complex ventricular arrhythmias at initial presentation will have shorter survival times.

Comparison of histopathologic findings in duodenal and ileal endoscopic biopsies in dogs with chronic small intestinal enteropathies.

Background: The current tendency when investigating dogs with chronic upper gastrointestinal signs is to perform endoscopy and biopsy only the duodenum. This approach could lead to overlooking important ileal lesions and affect the clinical management.

Objectives: To compare concurrent duodenal and ileal endoscopic biopsies in dogs with chronic enteropathies and evaluate their correlation with clinicopathologic findings.