Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats: Age-related predisposition, symptomatic, and asymptomatic cyst shedding.

Background and Aim: Giardiasis is a protozoal disease that is globally prevalent in dogs and cats. The clinical manifestations vary, but asymptomatic cases have also been reported. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in domestic dogs and cats, characterize the age susceptibility to this disease, and determine the frequency of cases in which cysts are combined with stool changes. Materials and Methods: After centrifugation in a zinc sulfate solution (specific gravity = 1.32 g/cm3), feces of dogs (2761) and cats (1579) were examined microscopically. The age of the animals and the presence of coprological stool characteristics such as fecal odor, consistency, presence of mucus, and other pathological impurities were taken into account. Results: G. duodenalis infection rates were 18.2% (215/1182) in dogs aged 1-12 months and 3.8% (60/1579) in dogs older than 12 months. The infection rate was 7.8% (48/615) in cats aged 1-12 months and 3.35% (33/994) in cats aged >12 months. The most frequently observed coprological abnormalities in cyst-positive animals were soft and/or mushy stool and pungent odor. In dogs, the frequency of these symptoms was 24.4% (67/275), 27.6% (76/275), and 36.4% (100/275) for soft stools, mushy stools, and pungent fecal odor, and 37.8% (31/82), 25.6% (21/82), and 19.5% (16/82), respectively. No stool changes were found when G. duodenalis cysts were detected in dogs in 24.7% (68/275) of cases and in cats in 24.4% (20/82). Conclusion: G. duodenalis cysts are reported more frequently in domestic cats and dogs under 12 months of age than in dogs under 12 months of age. The presence of Giardia cysts is usually accompanied by a strong odor of feces and changes in their consistency. It can be concluded that it is necessary to conduct periodic surveillance for apparently healthy dogs and cats to rule out G. duodenalis infection.

Reduction of the nematode egg reappearance period in horses after anthelmintic therapy.

Background and Aim: Anthelmintics are used to control equine nematodes. However, helminth resistance to regularly used drugs is a well-known challenge. Among tests to assess effective control and monitor resistance, the most common is the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). In the absence of reliable FECRT results, the nematode egg reappearance period (ERP) is taken into account. This study aimed to examine horses from farms around the Moscow Region to assess nematode resistance through ERP after therapy. Materials and Methods: In the first stage, fecal samples from 280 horses were examined by the flotation method with a sodium nitrate solution. The eggs per gram (EPG) in feces were counted using the modified McMaster technique. One hundred and forty out of 280 horses were selected for further work. Five groups were formed: Two groups of horses infected with strongyles (n = 50) and three groups with Parascaris equorum (n = 90). Therapy against strongyles was performed with albendazole and ivermectin. Therapy for parascaridosis was performed with fenbendazole, ivermectin, and aversectin C. Samples from the horses in each group were taken on the 14th day (2 weeks), 28th day (4 weeks), 42nd day (6 weeks), 56th day (8 weeks), and 84th day (12 weeks) after treatment, and the amount of EPG in each sample was determined. Results: Overall, nematodes were found in 65% of the horses examined. P. equorum was most frequently recorded (42.1%) followed by Strongylidae gen. spp. (27.9%). The strongyles ERP after therapy with albendazole and ivermectin was estimated on 42 days (6 weeks). The growth of P. equorum eggs in the feces was observed from the 56th day (8 weeks) after therapy with fenbendazole, from the 42nd day (6 weeks) after therapy with ivermectin, and was observed from the 84th day (12 weeks) after the use of aversectin. Conclusion: Our study shows widespread reductions in nematode ERPs across the Moscow Region after ivermectin therapy in horses, suggesting that additional monitoring of these farms is needed for effective control of anthelmintic resistance.

Aptamers Targeting Cardiac Biomarkers as an Analytical Tool for the Diagnostics of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review.

The detection of cardiac biomarkers is used for diagnostics, prognostics, and the risk assessment of cardiovascular diseases. The analysis of cardiac biomarkers is routinely performed with high-sensitivity immunological assays. Aptamers offer an attractive alternative to antibodies for analytical applications but, to date, are not widely practically implemented in diagnostics and medicinal research. This review summarizes the information on the most common cardiac biomarkers and the current state of aptamer research regarding these biomarkers. Aptamers as an analytical tool are well established for troponin I, troponin T, myoglobin, and C-reactive protein. For the rest of the considered cardiac biomarkers, the isolation of novel aptamers or more detailed characterization of the known aptamers are required. More attention should be addressed to the development of dual-aptamer sandwich detection assays and to the studies of aptamer sensing in alternative biological fluids. The universalization of aptamer-based biomarker detection platforms and the integration of aptamer-based sensing to clinical studies are demanded for the practical implementation of aptamers to routine diagnostics. Nevertheless, the wide usage of aptamers for the diagnostics of cardiovascular diseases is promising for the future, with respect to both point-of-care and laboratory testing.

Dog walking brings Toxocara eggs to people's homes.

To find out the transmission routes for Toxocara infection, the possibility of transfer of Toxocara eggs from the soil on the paws of animals and on the shoes of people was explored. For this purpose, a study was conducted to find helminth eggs in washings from the paws of dogs after walking, from the shoes of their owners, as well as non-dog owners. Toxocara eggs were detected in 19.4% of the dogs' paws washings and in 11.4% of washings from the shoes of their owners. The number of eggs found on the paws was about twice as high as on the shoes. The mean number of eggs in the sample was 2.9 in washings from the paws and 1.8 from the shoes. In the samples, Toxocara cati eggs prevailed both in occurrence and in abundance. Out of the total number of positive samples, the eggs of T. cati were found in 83%, and T. canis in 42%. 79% of the found eggs belonged to T. cati and 21% to T. canis. In the washings from shoes of people that do not own dogs, the eggs of parasites were not found. This study demonstrates that the helminth eggs can be transferred from contaminated soil to people's homes on the paws and shoe soles. Even animals without a patent infection may take part in propagation of infection causing risks of human toxocariasis. In dogs, in addition, the transferred on paws T. canis eggs can serve as a causative agent of permanent, cumulative subclinical infection with a deferred manifestation in posterity. It is supposed that infestation "through the paws" is one of the probable routes of transmission of toxocariasis in dogs.

Efficacy and safety of IncobotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of platysmal bands of the aging neck: an open-label, prospective pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: IncobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®/Xeomeen®/Bocouture®/XEOMIN Cosmetic™; botulinum toxin type A, free from complexing proteins [150 kDa], NT 201; Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany) is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for a variety of facial wrinkles. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of incobotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of platysmal bands. METHODS: Women, 35-65 years of age, with platysmal bands scoring 2 or 3 on the validated 5-point Merz dynamic platysmal bands scale received a total of 60 U incobotulinumtoxinA divided between four platysmal bands (20 U in both medial bands and 10 U in both lateral bands). Investigator assessments according to the 5-point scale were made at baseline and from standardized clinical photographs taken at follow-up visits 14 ± 2, 56 ± 7 and 84 ± 7 days after treatment. The global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) and a novel questionnaire were used to assess subject treatment satisfaction. Adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-five women (mean age 51.8 years) were included in the study. With a responder defined as a subject with at least a 1-point improvement from baseline on the dynamic platysmal bands scale, the response rate at maximum contraction was 100% at Day 14 as assessed by the investigator. By the same definition, a high response rate (96%) was maintained at maximum contraction at Day 84. Subjects reported that, at Day 84, 86.3% of the maximal effect (defined as the effect on Day 14) persisted. Subject-reported satisfaction was high, as indicated by the self-assessment on the GAIS and results from the subject satisfaction questionnaire. Treatment- related adverse events were mild and reversible. CONCLUSION: IncobotulinumtoxinA is an effective, well-tolerated treatment for platysmal bands, with a high percentage of the treatment effect maintained at 3 months after treatment. Investigator and subject assessments both indicated high levels of treatment satisfaction.