Clinical efficacy of sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy in 22 cats with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been deployed in humans and dogs; to the best of the authors' knowledge, there are no published studies about the use of SLIT in cats.

Objectives: Evaluate the clinical efficacy of SLIT in atopic cats sensitized to dust and storage mites, assessing immunological changes associated with SLIT treatment.

Animals: Twenty-two client-owned cats with clinical signs compatible with feline atopic dermatitis (fAD) and serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E against house dust and storage mites.

Effect of an anti-inflammatory pomegranate otic treatment on the clinical evolution and microbiota profile of dogs with otitis externa.

Background: Canine otitis externa (OE) is a common disease characterised by inflammation of the epithelial tissue of the external ear canal. Secondary infections are frequent, and Malassezia pachydermatis and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius are routinely isolated and treated with antifungal and antibiotic compounds.

Hypothesis/objectives: To analyse the otitis ear microbiome before and after a treatment with prednisolone plus pomegranate or antimicrobial drugs ANIMALS: 15 dogs with nonpurulent OE.

Specific Dermatophagoides farinae extract for canine immunotherapy.

Background: Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a pruritic allergic skin disease most often caused by Dermatophagoides farinae. Differences in the sensitization profile to D. farinae have been reported between people and dogs.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy in dogs with atopic dermatitis: is owner compliance the main success-limiting factor?

Background: While the efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) to treat canine atopic dermatitis has been well established, it remains unclear why not all dogs show the same response to treatment. The goal of the study was to determine the relationship between duration of ASIT and two measurements of success: disease severity and concomitant medication sparing effect.

Methods: Data were retrospectively compiled for 145 dogs with atopic dermatitis treated with ASIT.

An investigation of cross-reactivity between the poultry red mite and house dust and storage mites in dogs with contact with chickens infested with red mites.

Background: The European poultry red mite (PRM) Dermanyssus gallinae, a common ectoparasite of laying chickens and pigeons; it also can feed on other birds, humans and domestic animals, causing clinical signs ranging from mild discomfort to severe dermatitis. Little is known about possible hypersensitivity to PRM or cross-sensitization with house dust or storage mites.

Hypothesis/objectives: Knowledge on possible PRM immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy and possible cross-sensitization with house dust and storage mites may facilitate the clinical approach.

Topical polyhydroxy acid treatment for autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis in the golden retriever: a prospective pilot study.

Background: Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) in golden retrievers is due to a PNPLA1 gene mutation, which plays a role in epidermal lipid organization and metabolism. Topical therapies are used to reduce scaling; however, there are few published efficacy studies.

Objectives: To examine the efficacy of topical treatment based on gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid with known beneficial effects on stratum corneum structure.

Immunoproteomic characterization of a Dermatophagoides farinae extract used in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis.

Background: Canine atopic dermatitis is a pruritic allergic skin disease. House dust mites have been identified as the main non-seasonal responsible agent. Unlike in human allergic patients, groups 1 and 2 antigens have been described as minor allergens in dogs, while groups 15 and 18 are considered the major allergens.

Proficiency monitoring of monoclonal antibody cocktail-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E in dogs.

The purpose of our study was to document the continued comparative proficiency of different laboratories that perform a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (macELISA) for detection of allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E in dogs. Replicate samples of 18 different sera pools were independently evaluated in a single blinded fashion by each of 16 different operators functioning in 10 different laboratories. The average intra-assay variance among reactive assay calibrators in all laboratories was 6.

Development and characterization of an equine skin-equivalent model.

Background: There is increasing interest in the biological and pathological study of equine skin owing to the high prevalence of cutaneous diseases in horses. However, knowledge of equine skin cell biology and cultures is limited by the low number of in vitro studies in the literature.

Hypothesis/objectives: The objective of the study was to develop and characterize an in vitro equine skin equivalent.

Efficacy of a new topical cyclosporine A formulation in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs.

Topical treatment with cyclosporine A (CsA) has recently become possible with the development of novel nanotechnology pharmaceutical formulations of CsA able to penetrate through the epidermis providing good absorption and dermal action. The aim of this multicentre, blinded, parallel, randomized, placebo controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a new topical CsA formulation in dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). Dogs (n=32) with severe and moderate clinical signs of non-seasonal AD, but few localized lesions, were randomly allocated to receive topical CsA (17 dogs) or placebo (15 dogs) and were treated twice a day for 6 weeks.

Inhibitory effect of topical adelmidrol on antigen-induced skin wheal and mast cell behavior in a canine model of allergic dermatitis.

Background: Adelmidrol is a semisynthetic derivative of azelaic acid and analogue of the anti-inflammatory compound palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). Based upon its physicochemical properties, adelmidrol is suitable for topical application. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a topical adelmidrol emulsion on early and late inflammatory responses in hypersensitive dogs.

Intra and inter-laboratory reproducibility of a monoclonal antibody cocktail based ELISA for detection of allergen specific IgE in dogs: proficiency monitoring of macELISA in six laboratories.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of results yielded using a monoclonal antibody based ELISA for detection of allergen specific IgE when run in six separate affiliated laboratories. On two separate occasions, duplicate samples of 15 different sera pools were independently evaluated by each laboratory in a single blinded fashion. The average intra-assay variance among reactive assay calibrators in all laboratories was 6.

Effects of palmitoylethanolamide on the cutaneous allergic inflammatory response in Ascaris hypersensitive Beagle dogs.

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous lipid mediator with anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic properties. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PEA on the cutaneous allergic inflammatory reaction induced by different immunological and non-immunological stimuli in hypersensitive dogs. Six spontaneously Ascaris hypersensitive Beagle dogs were challenged with intradermal injections of Ascaris suum extract, substance P and anti-canine IgE, before and after a single oral administration of PEA at doses of 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg.

Importance of house dust and storage mites in canine atopic dermatitis in the geographic region of Galicia, Spain.

Sensitisation to mites is frequent in atopic dogs. The main mite genus involved in canine atopic dermatitis is Dermatophagoides. The importance of storage mite allergens in dogs has been controversial.

Evaluation of storage mite contamination of commercial dry dog food.

Storage mites may be considered important allergens in dogs with atopic dermatitis. High sensitization rates to Tyrophagus, Acarus, and Lepidoglyphus species have been reported in atopic dogs, and dry pet food has been suggested as a potential source of storage mite exposure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate commercial dry dog food for contamination with storage mites, and how storage time and conditions could influence the risk of contamination.

Development and characterization of a canine skin equivalent.

The development of a complex cellular model, which incorporates the basic cell components of the dog skin, would be a useful tool to investigate the biology and pathology of canine skin and also to replace animal testing partially. The aim of the present study was to develop and characterize a canine skin equivalent. Epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts were freshly isolated from skin biopsies from healthy dogs.

Assessment of IgE binding to native and hydrolyzed soy protein in serum obtained from dogs with experimentally induced soy protein hypersensitivity.

Objective: To assess binding of IgE to native, whole hydrolyzed, and separated hydrolyzed fractions of soy protein in serum obtained from dogs with experimentally induced soy protein hypersensitivity.

Animals: 8 naïve Beagles (6 experimentally sensitized to native soy protein and 2 control dogs).

Procedures: 6 dogs were sensitized against soy protein by administration of allergens during a 90-day period.

Dermal microdialysis in the dog: in vivo assessment of the effect of cyclosporin A on cutaneous histamine and prostaglandin D2 release.

Dermal microdialysis, a relatively noninvasive technique, allows investigation of the changes in cellular mediators released during cutaneous allergic responses. This technique was used to evaluate the effect of cyclosporin A, an immunosuppressive drug used for treatment of canine atopic dermatitis, on the cutaneous release of two pro-inflammatory mediators following intradermal allergen challenge. Four beagle dogs spontaneously sensitized to Ascaris suum were treated for 1 month with oral cyclosporin A.

Immunologic responses against hydrolyzed soy protein in dogs with experimentally induced soy hypersensitivity.

Objective: To assess whether dogs with experimentally induced type I hypersensitivity against soy protein would respond to soy hydrolysate and develop cutaneous or gastrointestinal tract reactions after intradermal and oral challenge exposure.

Animals: 12 naïve Beagle pups (9 sensitized and 3 control dogs).

Procedure: 9 dogs were sensitized against soy protein by administration of allergens during a 90-day period.

Evaluation of cell-surface IgE receptors on the canine mastocytoma cell line C2 maintained in continuous culture.

Objective: To assess expression and function of cell-surface IgE receptors on the canine mastocytoma cell line C2 maintained in continuous culture.

Sample Population: C2 cells maintained in medium lacking IgE for up to 10 passages before being stored at -80 C.

Procedure: Cells were thawed, cultured in medium without IgE for 1 to 3 passages, sensitized for 7 days with IgE-rich serum from dogs naturally sensitized to Ascaris suum, and stimulated with antigen Asc S1 from A suum, goat polyclonal anti-canine IgE, or calcium ionophore and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA).