Building the National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network in Animals in Greece: A "One Health" Approach.

It is widely accepted that, in order to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance (AMR), surveillance systems across human, animal and environmental sectors need to be integrated, in a One Health approach. Currently, in Europe, there are surveillance networks established only for the human and food sector and, until now, there has been no organized effort to monitor AMR in bacterial pathogens derived from diseased animals in Europe. Since 2017, efforts to fill this gap have taken place by the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in a veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) initiative, included in the EU Joint Action on AMR and Healthcare-Associated Infections (EU-JAMRAI).

Intracellular IFN-γ and IL-4 levels of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the peripheral blood of naturally infected (Leishmania infantum) symptomatic dogs before and following a 4-week treatment with miltefosine and allopurinol: a double-blinded, controlled and cross-sectional study.

Background: Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a systemic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum with a wide spectrum of clinical signs, with cutaneous, ocular, renal and lymphoreactive conditions prevailing in the clinical setting. The immune system plays a pivotal role in the evolution of Leishmania infection and its response to antileishmanial treatment. Cytokines are important immune response mediators that are released by activated lymphocytes and less so by other immunocytes.

A Case of Feline Leishmaniosis with Panniculitis.

Leishmaniases are a group of diseases caused by protozoa of the genus and transmitted mainly by the bite of sand fly vectors. Cats are infected with at least 6 species of . Significant associations have been found between feline leishmaniosis and coinfections mainly with FIV and/or FeLV.

Molecular detection of Brucella spp. in ruminant herds in Greece.

Brucellosis is a worldwide distributed infectious disease. Ruminants and other animal species (swine, dogs, equids, etc.), as well as wild mammals, can be affected.

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.

Cutaneous Disease as Sole Clinical Manifestation of Protothecosis in a Boxer Dog.

is ubiquitous, saprophytic achlorophyllous algae that cause opportunistic infections in the dog and cat and disseminated disease usually in immunocompromised animals. In this report an uncommon case of canine cutaneous protothecosis is presented. A 6-year-old female boxer was brought in with skin lesions that consisted of nodules and generalized footpad hyperkeratosis, depigmentation, and erosion.

Cutaneous immune mechanisms in canine leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) caused by the parasite Leishmania infantum is a systemic disease with variable clinical signs. The disease is endemic in the Mediterranean countries and dogs are the main domestic reservoir of the parasite. The quite complicated immune response against the parasite is crucial for the evolution of CanL infection with the skin playing a major role in its immunopathogenesis.

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.

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.

First isolation of Legionella species, including L. pneumophila serogroup 1, in Greek potting soils: possible importance for public health.

A total of 21 Legionella isolates were recovered from six out of 22 samples of potting soil from the Athens area, Greece. Legionella pneumophila (serogroups 1 and 2-15) and species and serotypes included in the group of L. longbeachae serogroups 1 and 2, 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.

Epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) in a coati.

The aim of this report was to present a case of epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) in a coati. The animal was presented for evaluation of a non-pruritic nodule. Although the diagnosis of cutaneous histiocytoma was made histologically, plaques and erosions appeared in new areas of the skin along with rapid deterioration of body condition that led to euthanasia in less than one month following initial presentation.

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.

Cellular immunophenotyping of exfoliative dermatitis in canine leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum).

Lymphocyte subsets, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II expressing cells and number of amastigotes in the epidermis and dermis were investigated immunohistochemically in 48 dogs with patent leishmaniosis, with or without exfoliative dermatitis (ED) to study the immunopathogenesis of this common cutaneous form of the disease. Skin biopsies were obtained and compared for ED sites (group A, n = 26), normal-appearing skin from the same animals (group B, n = 24), and leishmanial dogs not exhibiting ED (group C, n = 22), and normal controls (group D, n = 22). The CD3+, CD45RA+, CD4+, CD8+ (CD8a+), CD21+, and MHC-II+ cells and leishmania amastigotes were identified immunohistochemically and counted with the aid of an image analysis system.

Adult-onset demodicosis in two dogs due to Demodex canis and a short-tailed demodectic mite.

Infestation with a short-tailed demodectic mite and Demodex canis was diagnosed in both a six-and-a-half-year-old and a four-year-old dog. The clinical picture was compatible with generalised demodicosis complicated by staphylococcal pyoderma (case 1), or localised demodicosis (case 2). In both cases, the short-tailed demodectic mite outnumbered D canis in superficial skin scrapings.