Efficacy and safety of a hydrocortisone aceponate-containing ear spray solution in dogs with erythemato-ceruminous otitis externa: A randomised, multicentric, single-blinded, controlled trial.

Background: Erythemato-ceruminous otitis externa (ECOE) is frequently seen in dogs affected with an allergic skin disease, with recurrent secondary bacteria and yeast overgrowths (detected on cytological examination).

Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of an ear spray containing only hydrocortisone aceponate glucocorticoid diester (HCA) to a control product (CTRL), an approved otic formulation containing prednisolone-miconazole-polymyxin combination, in dogs with ECOE.

Animals: In total, 97 and 104 dogs with ECOE were respectively randomly assigned to the tested ear treatment product group (HCA) or the commercially available ear treatment control product group (CTRL).

The use of recombinant omega interferon therapy in canine atopic dermatitis: a double-blind controlled study.

This double-blind controlled study assessed whether reduced doses of omega interferon (rFeIFN-omega) (Virbagen Omega) could improve the clinical signs of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) over a 6-month period, in comparison with cyclosporin. Thirty-one dogs diagnosed with CAD were entered in the study. Complicating infections were treated prior to entry.

Diagnosis of flea allergy dermatitis: comparison of intradermal testing with flea allergens and a FcepsilonRI alpha-based IgE assay in response to flea control.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of in vivo and in vitro tests in the diagnosis of flea allergy dermatitis in comparison with history, clinical signs and response to flea control. Intradermal testing using four different sources of flea allergens and FcepsilonRIalpha-based immunoglobulin (Ig)E assays were performed in 15 flea-allergic dogs, 15 atopic dogs and 15 dogs infested with fleas but showing no clinical signs of skin disease. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value and accuracy were calculated for all five tests and results varied greatly.

Prevention of sand fly attack by topical application of a permethrin/pyriproxyfen combination on dogs.

Dogs are the primary domestic reservoir of Leishmania infantum, the parasite responsible for most cases of human visceral leishmaniasis. A strategy for the control of leishmaniasis would be to inhibit the sand fly bite. A study was designed to measure the prevention of the sand fly attack by spraying a combination of permethrin and pyriproxyfen on dogs artificially exposed to the vector of leishmaniasis.