Publications by authors named "Roura X"

Background: Meglumine antimoniate is used to treat canine leishmaniosis. In humans, it has been associated with pancreatitis. Although a few case reports have described acute pancreatitis secondary to antimonial treatment in dogs, some studies have concluded that pancreatitis is not an adverse effect of this medication.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The current standard treatment for canine leishmaniosis (CanL), N-methylglucamine antimoniate (MGA) given with allopurinol, is not fully effective and may cause adverse effects and drug resistance. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that nucleotides, administered alone or with AHCC, offer benefits in the treatment of CanL. This study examines the effects of a new immunomodulatory treatment protocol in which dietary nucleotides and AHCC are added to the recommended standard treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a prevalent acquired disorder affecting the blood clotting process primarily in dogs and less frequently in cats, leading to significant health risks in both species.
  • ITP can be classified into primary (autoimmune) and secondary (triggered by other diseases), but there is a lack of systematic evaluation regarding which underlying conditions trigger secondary ITP.
  • A comprehensive study developed guidelines through a structured review of literature, expert input, and consensus-building processes to create diagnostic algorithms and screening recommendations for ITP in dogs and cats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 10-year-old neutered male Maltese dog was presented for an investigation of lymphocytosis. The dog was up-to-date on vaccinations and deworming. Physical examination did not reveal any significant abnormalities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) has been used in canine medicine in several disorders, above all, to evaluate levels of inflammation. This study evaluated the ESR in canine leishmaniosis (CanL) and other inflammatory conditions. Three groups of dogs were examined: CanL affected dogs without clinical signs (INFECTED group, #25) or with clinical signs (SICK group, #43) and dogs affected by acute or acute-on-chronic conditions (OTHER DISEASE group, #65).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 14-year-old intact female diabetic dog presented with seizures and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome. Radiographs revealed gas-filled tubular structures in the right and left caudal abdomen, raising concerns of emphysematous pyometra or small intestinal ileus. Ultrasonography played a pivotal role in confirming emphysematous pyometra, a technique previously documented only once in veterinary practice.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 7-month-old intact female bearded collie dog was admitted after a 2-week history of progressive cough, inappetence, and lethargy, with no response to previous treatment with doxycycline and steroids. Mild attenuation of lung sounds in the right middle hemithorax was the only abnormality detected on physical examination. Abdominal ultrasound and thoracic radiographs were performed and revealed multifocally distributed nodules and masses, well-circumscribed and of variable size in the kidneys and pulmonary parenchyma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An 11-year-old neutered female Golden Retriever was referred for investigation of marked increases in liver enzyme activities. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a large pedunculated liver mass. Diagnosis of hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) was made when the mass was excised after a first unsuccessful attempt through ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Wolbachia is a type of bacteria found in certain arthropods and nematodes, like Dirofilaria immitis, and may trigger a specific immune response (Th1) that could be important for combating Leishmania infantum infections in dogs.* -
  • In a study of 187 clinically healthy dogs, various tests were conducted to quantify Wolbachia and L. infantum DNA, as well as assess cytokine levels, revealing that a significant proportion of dogs positive for D. immitis were also positive for Wolbachia.* -
  • The findings indicated a complex relationship between D. immitis and Wolbachia, with cytokine levels differing among groups; notably,
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To report the presence of tick-borne diseases in dogs living in the United Kingdom.

Materials And Methods: Dogs with a final diagnosis of tick-borne diseases made between January 2005 and August 2019 at seven referral institutions in the United Kingdom were included in the study.

Results: Seventy-six dogs were included: 25 were diagnosed with ehrlichiosis, 23 with babesiosis, eight with Lyme borreliosis and six with anaplasmosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The emergence of drug-resistant strains of the parasite infecting dogs and humans represents an increasing threat. genomes are complex and unstable with extensive structural variations, ranging from aneuploidies to multiple copy number variations (CNVs). These CNVs have recently been validated as biomarkers of concerning virulence, tissue tropism, and drug resistance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Large populations of unowned cats constitute an animal welfare, ecological, societal and public health issue worldwide. Their relocation and homing are currently carried out in many parts of the world with the intention of relieving suffering and social problems, while contributing to ethical and humane population control in these cat populations. An understanding of an individual cat's lifestyle and disease status by veterinary team professionals and those working with cat charities can help to prevent severe cat stress and the spread of feline pathogens, especially vector-borne pathogens, which can be overlooked in cats.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Chronic diarrhea is a clinical sign associated with canine leishmaniosis, varying from 3 % to 30 % of prevalence. However, its occurrence in dogs has been mostly associated with chronic kidney or liver disease. Leishmania organisms can cause inflammation of the digestive tract with chronic diarrhea as the only clinical manifestation, although it has been poorly documented in dogs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: There is limited information about feline leishmaniosis (FeL) management in clinical practice. Leishmania infantum is the species of Leishmania most frequently reported in both dogs and cats in countries of the Mediterranean region (henceforth 'Mediterranean countries'), Central and South America, and Iran. This study was conducted to provide veterinary clinicians with an updated overview of evidence-based information on leishmaniosis in cats.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * It involved 46 dogs with CCLR and 16 control dogs, analyzing blood and joint fluid samples for various pathogens and inflammatory markers.
  • * Results showed similar rates of VBP in both groups (around 19.6% for CCLR and 18.8% for controls) and no significant differences in joint inflammation patterns, suggesting VPB do not play a role in CCLR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Xanthinuria is a significant adverse effect in dogs on long-term allopurinol for treatment of leishmaniosis. The study aims to investigate how the Iberian veterinary community (IVC) identifies, manages, and proactively prevents xanthinuria secondary to allopurinol treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey, translated into two languages, and disseminated to the IVC via social networking forums.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated urine protein-to-creatinine (UPC) values in 112 cats, split between healthy cats on annual check-ups and sick cats showing signs of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • Results showed that 54.5% of the cats had increased UPC values, indicating borderline proteinuria or proteinuria, with higher rates among sick cats.
  • The findings suggest that UPC measurement is vital for detecting and managing CKD, even in apparently healthy cats during routine health checks, regardless of their age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Immunotherapeutic drugs, such as domperidone, have been shown to be promising treatments against canine leishmaniosis (CanL), but limited data are available. The aim of this pilot study (therapeutic, prospective and non-controlled) was to evaluate the effect of domperidone on serum antibody titers of Leishmania infantum, globulins, gamma globulins, acute-phase proteins (e.g.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Renal maldevelopment (RM) has been proposed to replace the old and sometimes misused term "renal dysplasia" in dogs. Although renal dysplasia has been described in Boxers, hereditary transmission has only been hypothesized. This study reports clinical and renal histological findings in Boxer dogs with RM, proposing a possible mode of inheritance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common clinical concern in dogs. However, incidence of feline UTI is much lower than in dogs although an increasing prevalence has been registered. The main objective of the present study was to describe and characterize the prevalence of urinary tract pathogens in urine samples of dogs and cats with urinary clinical signs throughout different Spanish provinces.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Companion Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD) World Forum is a working group of leading international experts who meet annually to evaluate current scientific findings and future trends concerning the distribution, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and prevention of vector-borne infections of dogs and cats. At the 14th Symposium of the CVBD World Forum in Trieste, Italy (March 25-28, 2019), we identified the need to (i) bring attention to the potential spread of parasites and vectors with relocated dogs, and (ii) provide advice to the veterinary profession regarding the importance of surveillance and treatment for parasites and vector-borne infections when rehoming dogs. This letter shares a consensus statement from the CVBD World Forum as well as a summary of the problem faced, including the role of veterinary professionals in parasite surveillance, causal issues, and the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in addressing the problem.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There are several topical ectoparasiticides, drugs, supplements and vaccines that protect dogs against sand fly bites and/or reduce the risk of Leishmania infantum infection. This large variety of products and the absence of comparative studies mean that veterinarians are often faced with uncertainty. The aim of the study was to characterise the attitudes of veterinarians towards leishmaniosis prevention in client-owned dogs in Italy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study examined the prevalence of various canine vector-borne pathogens in dogs from northern Spain, testing 556 dogs across multiple regions over two years.
  • The results showed an overall prevalence of 11.33% for any tested pathogen, with Leishmania infantum being the most common (8.99%) and present across all regions.
  • Specific health signs and lifestyle factors (like age, outdoor access, and living environment) were linked to higher risks of certain infections, particularly Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF