The Role of Autoantibodies in Companion Animal Cardiac Disease.

Clinical studies exploring the role of autoimmune diseases in cardiac dysfunction have become increasingly common in both human and veterinary literature. Autoantibodies (AABs) specific to cardiac receptors have been found in human and canine dilated cardiomyopathy, and circulating autoantibodies have been suggested as a sensitive biomarker for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in people and Boxer dogs. In this article, we will summarize recent literature on AABs and their role in cardiac diseases of small animals. Despite the potential for new discoveries in veterinary cardiology, current data in veterinary medicine are limited and further studies are needed.

Prospective study of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs eating nontraditional or traditional diets and in dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have investigated dogs with presumed diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (daDCM), but prospective studies of multiple breeds are needed. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate baseline features and serial changes in echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers in dogs with DCM eating nontraditional diets (NTDs) or traditional diets (TDs), and in dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities (SCA) eating NTD. ANIMALS: Sixty dogs with DCM (NTD, n = 51; TDs, n = 9) and 16 dogs with SCA eating NTDs. METHODS: Echocardiography, electrocardiography, and measurement of taurine, cardiac troponin I, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were performed in dogs with DCM or SCA. Diets were changed for all dogs, taurine was supplemented in most, and echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers were reassessed (3, 6, and 9 months). RESULTS: At enrollment, there were few differences between dogs with DCM eating NTDs or TDs; none had low plasma or whole blood taurine concentrations. Improvement in fractional shortening over time was significantly associated with previous consumption of a NTD, even after adjustment for other variables (P = .005). Median survival time for dogs with DCM was 611 days (range, 2-940 days) for the NTD group and 161 days (range, 12-669 days) for the TD group (P = .21). Sudden death was the most common cause of death in both diet groups. Dogs with SCA also had significant echocardiographic improvements over time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with DCM or SCA previously eating NTDs had small, yet significant improvements in echocardiographic parameters after diet changes.

Considerações sobre os sete primeiros casos de fasciolose humana encontrados no Vale do Paraíba, Estado de São Paulo / Human fascioliasis in the Paraíba Valley, considerations on the first seven cases described in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

A elevada incidência da Fasciola hepatica em bovinos do Vale do Paraíba (10%) encontrada por Ildeo França, em 1967, despertou-nos a atenção para a possibilidade da ocorrência de casos humanos nesta região. Assim, em poucos meses foi possível diagnosticar sete casos humanos de Fasciola hepática, todos autóctones do Vale do Paraíba. Anteriormente, no Brasil, apenas um caso havia sido assinalado por Luis Rey em Mato Grosso (1958). Os diagnósticos foram feitos através do encontro de ovos de Fasciola hepatica em exames de fezes e reforçados pelos exames da bile e pela reação intradérmica a antígenos específicos. Todos os pacientes referem ter residido por alguns anos em fazendas da região onde frequentemente comiam agrião (Naturtium officinale) e bebiam água de valetas ou regatos. Estes achados sugerem uma avaliação em maior escala para estimar a intensidade da disseminação da doença em nosso país, e evitar disseminação maior. (AU)

The high incidence (10%) of Faeciola hepatica in cattle in the Paraíba River Valley found by Ildeo França,1967, suggested the possibility of occurence of human cases in this region. In a few months it was possible to diagnose seven cases of Fasciola hepatica all of them autoctones of the Paraíba Valley. Formerly in Brazil only a case had been described by Luis Rey, 1958, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The diagnosis was made on faeces examination reinforced by billis examination and intradermal reaction to specific antigens. The patients have lived in this region for many years and used to eat water-cress (nasturtium officinale) and drínk water from drains or brooks. These fíndíngs suggested a Iarger scale survey to evaluate the incidence of fascioliasis in Brazil, in ordem to prevent its dissemination. (AU)