Twenty-year evolution of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs in Valdeorras (Galicia, Northwestern Spain): implication of climatic factors and preventive measures.

Background: Abiotic factors play a significant role in the evolution of Leishmania infantum infection due to its vectorial nature. This study aims to assess the evolution in the detection of new L. infantum infection cases in Valdeorras (Ourense, Northwestern Spain) over a 20-year period and how different climatic variables and preventive measures may have affected it.

Assessment of Acute-Phase Protein Response Associated with the Different Pathological Forms of Bovine Paratuberculosis.

In this study, the concentrations of two acute-phase proteins (APPs), haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA), were quantitatively assessed in serum samples from cattle naturally infected with paratuberculosis (PTB). APP profiles were compared across 190 animals classified according to the different pathological forms associated with infection: uninfected ( = 59), with focal lesions ( = 73), multifocal lesions ( = 19), and diffuse paucibacillary ( = 11) and diffuse multibacillary lesions ( = 28). Our results showed a significant increase in both APPs in infected animals compared to the control group, with differences depending on the type of lesion.

Effects of doxycycline on haematology, blood chemistry and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of healthy dogs and dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), caused by Ehrlichia canis, is a vector-borne disease with a worldwide distribution. It has been proposed that the pathogenesis, clinical severity and outcome of disease caused by Ehrlichia spp. can be attributed to the immune response rather than to any direct rickettsial effect.

Effects of Meloxicam on Hematologic and Plasma Biochemical Analyte Values and Results of Histologic Examination of Kidney Biopsy Specimens of African Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus).

In this study we evaluated the effects of meloxicam administered at 0.5 mg/kg IM q12h for 14 days on hematologic and plasma biochemical values and on kidney tissue in 11 healthy African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). Before treatment with meloxicam, blood samples were collected and renal biopsy samples were obtained from the cranial portion of the left kidney from each of the birds.

Evaluation of lymphocyte populations in dogs naturally infected by Ehrlichia canis with and without clinical signs.

Immune response elicited by the host during ehrlichial infections could influence the clinical signs and laboratory and pathological findings. Twenty-eight dogs naturally infected by Ehrlichia canis were included in this study. Twenty of them presented only laboratory findings traditionally associated with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), whilst 8 dogs also showed clinical signs classically associated with CME (pale mucous membranes, fever, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, anorexia, lethargy or signs attributable to bleeding tendencies).

Evaluation of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in family-owned dogs naturally infected by Ehrlichia canis.

Previous research suggested that clinical manifestations, histopathological lesions, and even infection maintenance in the course of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) are directly related to the immune response developed by the host. In the present study, blood lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry in 37 dogs with naturally occurring CME and 47 healthy dogs used as controls. T, T helper (Th), T cytotoxic (Tc), B, non-T, non-B lymphocytes and those that express MHC class II were characterized in every dog.

Immunophenotypic evaluation of working Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherd dogs living in the same environment.

Multiparametric flow cytometry was used to compare peripheral blood lymphocyte subset distribution between healthy working police Labrador Retrievers (LRs; n=12) and German Shepherd dogs (GS; n=11) living in the same environment. The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in LR than in GS because of the lower percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes in LR. GS showed the highest relative percentage of CD3-/CD21- lymphocytes, whereas LR had the highest percentages of MHC II+ lymphocytes.

Detection of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and antinuclear antibodies in the diagnosis of canine inflammatory bowel disease.

In recent years, serologic markers for diagnosis and classification of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been used in human medicine. Perinuclear, antineutrophil, cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) are the most important of these markers. Because of their similar pattern of fluorescence, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) could cause misleading interpretations.

Serologic and molecular evaluation of Leishmania infantum in cats from Central Spain.

Infection by different Leishmania spp. in cats has been reported in many countries. In Spain, since the first Leishmania infection described in 1933, sporadic clinical cases in cats have been reported.

Comparison between different polymerase chain reaction methods for the diagnosis of Ehrlichia canis infection.

The aim of this study was to compare different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for the detection of Ehrlichia canis in blood samples and to relate these results to clinical findings and serology to E. canis using the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Nine seropositive and nine seronegative dogs were included in this study.

Immunophenotype of dogs with subclinical ehrlichiosis.

The purpose of this study was the characterization of the different subsets of lymphocyte cells in dogs with subclinical ehrlichiosis in order to contribute to the knowledge of the immune response developed in the course of this disease. Thirty-eight dogs with subclinical ehrlichiosis and 15 unaffected dogs from two shelters in the area of Valencia (eastern Spain) were included in the study. The study of lymphocyte populations was made by flow cytometry.

Results from an indirect fluorescent antibody test using three different strains of Ehrlichia canis.

An indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test is usually performed to detect antibodies in dogs naturally infected by Ehrlichia canis. In this work, results obtained using three different E. canis strains as antigen (a commercial antigen, the E.

Serological reactivity to Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neorickettsia risticii, Borrelia burgdorferi and Rickettsia conorii in dogs from northwestern Spain.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the seroprevalence against Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap), Neorickettsia risticii (Nr), Rickettsia conorii (Rc), and Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) in two different clusters of canine samples from Northwestern Spain. Cluster 1 included 479 dogs presented at veterinary clinics located in Ourense and Pontevedra. Cluster II included 170 dogs from the public kennel of Ourense.

Development of a sensitive and specific indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on a baculovirus recombinant antigen for detection of specific antibodies against Ehrlichia canis.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on baculovirus recombinant P30 protein of Ehrlichia canis and the 1BH4 anticanine IgG monoclonal antibody was developed and evaluated by examining a panel of 98 positive and 157 negative sera using the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test as the reference technique. The P30-based ELISA appeared to be sensitive and specific (77.55% and 95.

Serological evaluation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in livestock in northwestern Spain.

A total of 1,098 serum samples were analyzed against Anaplasma phagocytophilum by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test. These serum samples belonged to four different populations distributed throughout two provinces of Galicia (Ourense and Pontevedra) located in northwestern Spain: bovine population (456 samples); ovine population (389 samples); caprine population (207 samples); and equine population (46 serum samples, all from Pontevedra). The seroprevalence against A.

Genetic characterization of Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) platys in dogs in Spain.

This paper reports the first genetic characterization of Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) platys in Spain from a naturally infected dog. The dog presented clinical signs compatible with canine ehrlichiosis. After DNA extraction and PCR amplification, 16S rRNA gene and citrate synthase gene ( gltA) of this agent were amplified.

First report of an intraerythrocytic small piroplasm in wild Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus).

A wild injured Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) was taken from the Sierra Morena population. During the health check small intraerythrocytic piroplasms, morphologically indistinguishable from other feline piroplasms, were observed in Wright-Giemsa-stained blood films. Amplification by polymerase chain reaction of a portion of the 18S nuclear small subunit (NSS) rRNA gene and sequencing revealed similarity of the unknown organism with sequences obtained from Pallas's cat from Mongolia and from a domestic cat in Spain.

Major plasma proteins in pig serum during postnatal development.

The time-course of changes in the levels of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha(1)-protease inhibitor (alpha(1)-antitrypsin), alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, haptoglobin, transferrin, IgG and the major acute-phase protein (Pig-MAP) in the blood sera of pigs during the first days and weeks of life was investigated by quantitative radial immunodiffusion. The serum of newborn pigs before suckling was characterised by a very low concentration of total proteins (approximately 25 mg mL(-1)), low levels of albumin and transferrin and the lack of immunoglobulins. In contrast, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein and fetuin are present at high levels (approximately 12 and 5 mg mL(-1) respectively).

Seroprevalence of Leishmania infantum in northwestern Spain, an area traditionally considered free of leishmaniasis.

Northwestern Spain has traditionally been considered to be free from leishmaniasis. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis in this area and to assess the influence of several risk factors on the incidence of this disease. A total of 479 dogs attended at different veterinary clinics in northwestern Spain were tested for L.

Assessment of feline ehrlichiosis in central Spain using serology and a polymerase chain reaction technique.

Antibodies to Ehrlichia spp. and inclusion bodies compatible with Ehrlichia spp. in feline blood cells have been previously detected in Spain.

First isolation and molecular characterization of Ehrlichia canis in Spain.

This paper reports the first isolation and culture of Ehrlichia canis in Spain from a naturally infected dog using the DH82 cell line. After DNA extraction and PCR amplification, a nearly complete (1412bp) sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the new E. canis strain was obtained.

Distribution and relationships between clinical and biopathological parameters in canine leishmaniasis.

Although the lesions, clinical signs and biochemical alterations observed in the course of canine leishmaniasis have been amply described a thorough definition and characterisation of the affected populations is important in order to detect relationships between parameters which may be involved in the development of this disease and to correctly assess further studies. This study included 61 dogs diagnosed with naturally acquired canine leishmaniasis by means of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). At diagnosis, dogs were classified according to the following qualitative and quantitative variables: gender, breed, age, clinical picture, antibody titre, serum protein electrophoretogram, haemogram (CBC), urea, creatinine and ALT.

Standardization of the diagnostic criteria for canine ehrlichiosis. Towards a universal case definition.

Canine ehrlichiosis is a highly variable syndrome presenting a significant differential diagnostic difficulty. It imitates many metabolic and infectious diseases and lacks standardized diagnostic criteria, common reagents, and database resources. A clinical diagnosis of canine ehrlichiosis may be based on the manifestation of fever, thrombocytopenia, anorexia, nasolacrimal discharge, epistaxis, and exclusion of autoimmune and common canine vector borne diseases.