Investigation of comorbidities in dogs with leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum.

In endemic areas, dogs with leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum frequently have comorbidities, including mostly neoplastic, infectious, and parasitic diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of comorbidities among dogs that are not infected by L. infantum, dogs that are infected but do not present leishmaniosis, and dogs with leishmaniosis, and to examine if certain comorbidities are independent risk factors for the infection by L. infantum and/or for the development of canine leishmaniosis (CanL). A total of 111 dogs, older than 1-year and non-vaccinated against CanL, were allocated into three groups: group A (n = 18) included dogs that were not infected by L. infantum, group B (n = 52) included dogs that were infected by L. infantum but did not present CanL, and group C (n = 41) included dogs with CanL. Signalment and historical data were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Laboratory examinations included complete blood count, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, fecal parasitology, modified Knott's test, microscopic examination of capillary blood, buffy coat, lymph node, bone marrow and conjunctival smears, qualitative serology for Dirofilaria immitis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum/A. platys, Borrelia burgdorferi and E. canis, IFAT for L. infantum, ELISA for Babesia spp. and Neospora caninum, and real-time PCR for L. infantum in bone marrow, skin biopsies and conjunctival swabs. A variety of comorbidities were found in all three groups. No independent risk factors for infection by L. infantum were found. On the contrary, among dogs infected by L. infantum, being a mongrel [odds ratio (OR): 11.2], not receiving prevention for dirofilariosis (OR: 26.5) and being seropositive to N. caninum (OR: 17.1) or to Babesia spp. (OR: 37.6), were independent risk factors for presenting CanL. Although no comorbidities influence the probability of canine infection by L. infantum, certain comorbidities may be precipitating factors for the transition from the subclinical infection by L. infantum to the overt CanL.

Repeatability and reproducibility of microscopic examination of adhesive tape strip cytology slides for the quantification of Malassezia spp. in canine skin.

BACKGROUND: The optimal microscopic magnification and number of optical fields of adhesive tape strip cytological slides that should be examined when searching for Malassezia yeasts on canine skin are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine the optimal magnification and the minimum number of optical fields that should be examined to maximise intraobserver repeatability and interobserver reproducibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven experienced examiners counted, twice, the number of yeasts in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 optical fields of 40 slides at ×400 and ×1000 magnification. RESULTS: The number of yeasts per unit surface area was significantly higher at ×1000 compared to ×400 magnification. Repeatability and reproducibility for counting the yeasts was very poor. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Adhesive tape strip cytological slides should be examined microscopically for Malassezia spp. at ×1000 magnification. The repeatability of this examination for counting the yeasts is poor.

Contexte - Le grossissement microscopique optimal et le nombre de champs optiques des lames cytologiques de bandes adhésives à examiner lors de la recherche de levures Malassezia sur la peau de chien sont inconnus. Objectifs - Déterminer le grossissement optimal et le nombre minimal de champs à examiner pour maximiser la répétabilité intra-observateur et la reproductibilité inter-observateur. Matériels et méthodes - Sept examinateurs expérimentés ont compté, deux fois, le nombre de levures dans 10, 20, 30, 40 et 50 champs de 40 lames aux grossissements ×400 et ×1 000. Résultats - Le nombre de levures par unité de surface était significativement plus élevé au grossissement ×1 000 par rapport au grossissement ×400. La répétabilité et la reproductibilité du comptage des levures étaient très médiocres. Conclusions et pertinence clinique - Les lames cytologiques de bandes adhésives doivent être examinées au microscope pour Malassezia spp. à un grossissement ×1 000. La répétabilité de cet examen de comptage des levures est faible.

Introducción- se desconoce el aumento microscópico óptimo y el número de campos ópticos de los portaobjetos citológicos en tiras de cinta adhesiva que deben examinarse al buscar levaduras Malassezia en la piel canina. Objetivos- determinar el aumento óptimo y el número mínimo de campos ópticos que deben examinarse para maximizar la repetibilidad intraobservador y la reproducibilidad interobservador. Materiales y métodos- siete examinadores experimentados contaron dos veces el número de levaduras en campos ópticos de 10, 20, 30, 40 y 50 de 40 portaobjetos con aumentos de x ×400 y ×1000. Resultados- el número de levaduras por unidad de superficie fue significativamente mayor con un aumento de ×1000 en comparación con un aumento de ×400. La repetibilidad y reproducibilidad para contar las levaduras fue muy pobre. Conclusiones y relevancia clínica - Los portaobjetos citológicos en tiras de cinta adhesiva deben examinarse microscópicamente para detectar Malassezia spp. con un aumento de ×1.000. La repetibilidad de este examen para contar las levaduras es pobre.

Contexto - A ampliação microscópica ideal e o número de campos ópticos das lâminas citológicas de fita adesiva que devem ser examinados nas pesquisas de leveduras do gênero Malassezia em cães são desconhecidos. Objetivos - Determinar a magnificação ideal e o número mínimo de campos ópticos que devem ser examinados para maximizar a repetibilidade intraobservador e a reproducibilidade interobservador. Materiais e métodos - Sete examinadores experientes contaram duas vezes o número de leveduras em 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50 campos ópticos de 40 lâminas nas magnificações de x400 e x1000. Resultados - O número de leveduras por unidade de área de superfície foi significativamente maior em x1000 em comparação com a ampliação de x400. A repetibilidade e a reprodutibilidade para a contagem de leveduras foi muito pobre. Conclusões e relevância clínica - Lâminas de citologia por fica adesiva devem ser examinadas microscopicamente para Malassezia spp a uma magnificação de x1.000. A repetibilidade deste exame para contagem de leveduras foi pobre.

Evaluation of serum symmetric dimethylarginine as a biomarker of kidney disease in canine leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL)-associated chronic kidney disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Mediterranean countries. Novel renal biomarkers, such as serum symmetric dimethylarginine (sSDMA), may be useful surrogates for the detection of renal functional impairment. The objectives of this study were to investigate sSDMA concentrations in dogs with CanL, with and without azotemia, and to establish any potential association with the prevalence and severity of proteinuria, with the prevalence of decreased urine specific gravity and with the LeishVet clinical stages of CanL. Serum samples from 68 dogs with CanL (50 nonazotemic and 18 azotemic) and 17 healthy dogs were retrospectively examined. Increased sSDMA was documented in 26 % of dogs with CanL without azotemia and in 83.3 % of dogs with azotemia. Serum SDMA was significantly higher in azotemic compared to nonazotemic dogs and was associated with the presence and severity of proteinuria, the decreased urine specific gravity and the advanced clinical stages of CanL. The results of the present study indicate that sSDMA may be a useful adjunct to serum creatinine and urine protein/creatinine ratio for the detection of CanL-associated nephropathy, but it is of limited value for distinguishing among the LeishVet clinical stages of CanL.

Prospective evaluation of serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity and troponin I concentrations in Leishmania infantum-infected dogs treated with meglumine antimonate.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) caused by Leishmania infantum is an important zoonotic disease. One of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of CanL is meglumine antimonate. Drugs of this class have been associated with pancreatitis and cardiotoxicity in humans infected with Leishmania spp. The aim of this study was to measure serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (Spec cPL) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in dogs with leishmaniosis during treatment with meglumine antimonate, and to compare them with those of dogs with leishmaniosis not treated with this drug. A total of 30 non-uremic dogs with leishmaniosis, living in Greece, were prospectively enrolled into the study. Of the 30 dogs, 20 (Group A) were treated with a combination of meglumine antimonate (100mg/kg, SC, q24 h) and allopurinol (10mg/kg, PO, q12h) for 28 days, while 10 dogs (Group B) were treated with allopurinol alone (10mg/kg, PO, q12h) for 28 days. Blood samples were collected at timepoint 0 (before treatment) and at 14 and 28 days after the initiation of treatment. None of the dogs treated with meglumine antiomonate had a Spec cPL concentration suggestive of pancreatitis (≥ 400 µg/L) or clinical signs suggestive of pancreatitis at any of the timepoints. Similarly, none of the dogs treated with meglumine antiomonate had a serum cTnI concentration above the upper limit of the reference range (>0.5 ng/mL) or clinical evidence of cardiotoxicity at any of the 3 timepoints. In the present study, meglumine antimonate treatment in dogs with leishmaniosis did not result in clinical or laboratory evidence of either pancreatitis or cardiotoxicity.

Thyroid function in 36 dogs with leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum before and during treatment with allopurinol with or without meglumine antimonate.

Hypothyroidism may predispose to the development of canine leishmaniosis or it may appear during the course of the latter due to infiltration and destruction of the thyroid gland by infected macrophages. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate thyroid function through measurement of serum total thyroxin (tT4), free thyroxin (fT4), and canine thyroid stimulating hormone (cTSH) concentrations in 36 dogs with leishmaniosis, before and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment with allopurinol with or without meglumine antimonate. Before treatment 27/36 (75%) dogs had serum tT4 concentrations below the lower limit of the reference interval but only 2 of them had concurrently serum fT4 concentrations below the lower limit of the reference interval and none had increased serum cTSH concentrations. During treatment there were no significant changes in serum tT4 or fT4 concentrations, whereas a significant increase in serum cTSH was observed. Two dogs had decreased serum tT4 and fT4 but normal cTSH concentrations before treatment and two other dogs had decreased serum tT4 and increased cTSH, but normal fT4 concentrations during the treatment period. Although hypothyroidism could not be definitively excluded in these dogs it is considered unlikely based on their overall hormonal profile, clinical presentation, and response to treatment. Therefore, hypothyroidism does not appear to be an important predisposing disease or a frequent complication of canine leishmaniosis.

Severe hypoglycaemia in a cat with primary hypoadrenocorticism.

This case report describes a 3-year-old, castrated male, mixed-breed cat with historical, clinical and laboratory findings compatible with primary hypoadrenocorticism, confirmed by adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test. Severe but asymptomatic hypoglycaemia was an unexpected biochemical finding and resolved after fludrocortisone acetate and prednisolone treatment. This case demonstrates that hypoadrenocorticism should be included in the differentials list of severe hypoglycaemia in cats.

Relative sensitivity of hair pluckings and exudate microscopy for the diagnosis of canine demodicosis.

This study was designed to compare the sensitivity of deep skin scraping, hair plucking, and exudate microscopy for the diagnosis of canine demodicosis. Sixty-seven dogs diagnosed with demodicosis were enrolled in the study. Thirty dogs had localized and 37 had generalized demodicosis. Twenty-seven of the 67 dogs had complicated (secondarily infected) and 40 had noncomplicated form. On each dog, a single lesion was randomly selected to obtain one deep skin scraping, hair plucking, and, when present (n = 13) exudate. For skin scraping and exudate microscopy, an area under a cover slip measuring 2.2 x 2.2 mm was examined, while trichography included the evaluation of 100 hair shafts. At least one parasitic element was found in 85.1% of trichograms, and 100% of exudate preparations. The number of parasitic elements was higher in skin scrapings compared to the other two methods. The diagnostic sensitivity of skin scrapings was higher than that of hair pluckings for the total number of samples (P = 0.002) and for those obtained from dogs with the localized (P = 0.004) and the noncomplicated (P = 0.002) forms of the disease. The diagnostic sensitivity of hair pluckings was higher in generalized and complicated demodicosis compared to the localized and noncomplicated variants. Based on these results, exudate microscopy may be equally sensitive to deep skin scrapings, and trichography may be of value in generalized and complicated demodicosis, although a negative result cannot rule it out.