Conditioning Program Prescribed from the External Training Load Corresponding to the Lactate Threshold Improved Cardiac Function in Healthy Dogs.

This research focuses on the adjustments in systolic and diastolic functions that are not fully understood in dogs submitted to athletic training. Beagle dogs carried out an endurance training program (ETP) prescribed from the external training load, corresponding to 70-80% of the lactate threshold (VLT) velocity. Eighteen dogs were randomly assigned to two groups: control (C, n = 8), active dogs that did not perform any forced exercise, and trained (T, n = 10), submitted to the ETP during eight weeks. All dogs were evaluated before and after the ETP period using two-dimensional echocardiography, M-mode, Doppler, and two-dimensional speckle tracking. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the echocardiographic variables was performed. The ETP improved the left ventricular internal dimension at the end of diastole (LVDd), the left ventricular internal dimension at the end of diastole to aorta ratio (LVDd: Ao), and the strain rate indices. PCA was able to capture the dimensionality and qualitative echocardiography changes produced by the ETP. These findings indicated that the training prescribed based on the lactate threshold improved the diastolic and systolic functions. This response may be applied to improve myocardial function, promote health, and mitigate any injuries produced during heart failure.

Aortic valve endocarditis due to Bartonella clarridgeiae in a dog in Brazil / Endocardite de válvula aórtica por Bartonella clarridgeiae em um cão no Brasil

Abstract We report the first documented case of endocarditis associated with Bartonella clarridgeiae in a dog in Latin America. Infective vegetative valvular aortic endocarditis was diagnosed in a 10-year-old male mixed breed dog. The dog presented grade V/VI systolic and diastolic murmur, hyperthermia, and progressive weight loss. Cardiomegaly and presence of diffuse alveolar pattern in the lung fields were observed in the thorax radiography evaluation. Irregular and hyperechogenic structures adhered to the aortic leaflets, causing obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract and severe aortic insufficiency, were observed in the echocardiography evaluation. A vegetative, whitish, hardened structure measuring 1.0 cm in diameter was observed in aortic semilunar valve at necropsy. Based on a combination of pre-enrichment insect-based medium liquid culture, quantitative real-time and conventional PCR assays based on nuoG and gltA genes, respectively, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic inferences, B. clarridgeiae DNA was detected in the patient's aortic valve lesions. Clinical, echocardiographic, anatomopathologic and molecular features supported the diagnosis of severe aortic vegetative endocarditis possibly caused by B. clarridgeiae in a dog in Brazil.

Resumo Relatamos o primeiro caso documentado de endocardite associada à Bartonella clarridgeiae em um cão na América Latina. Endocardite aórtica valvar vegetativa infecciosa foi diagnosticada em um cão sem raça definida de 10 anos de idade. O cão apresentou sopro sistólico e diastólico de grau V / VI, hipertermia e perda progressiva de peso. Cardiomegalia e presença de padrão alveolar difuso nos campos pulmonares foram observados na avaliação radiográfica do tórax. Estruturas irregulares e hiperecogênicas aderidas aos folhetos aórticos, causando obstrução da via de saída do ventrículo esquerdo e insuficiência aórtica grave, foram observadas na avaliação ecocardiográfica. À necropsia, foi observada uma estrutura vegetativa, esbranquiçada e endurecida medindo 1,0 cm de diâmetro na válvula semilunar aórtica. Por meio de uma combinação de cultura líquida baseada em meio de pré-enriquecimento de inseto, ensaios de PCR quantitativa em tempo real e convencional baseados nos genes nuoG e gltA, respectivamente, seguidos de sequenciamento e inferências filogenéticas, DNA de B. clarridgeiae foi detectado no tecido valvular lesionado do paciente. O diagnóstico de endocardite vegetativa aórtica grave, possivelmente causado por B. clarridgeiae em um cão no Brasil, foi apoiado por características clínicas, ecocardiográficas, anatomopatológicas e moleculares.

Aortic valve endocarditis due to Bartonella clarridgeiae in a dog in Brazil.

We report the first documented case of endocarditis associated with Bartonella clarridgeiae in a dog in Latin America. Infective vegetative valvular aortic endocarditis was diagnosed in a 10-year-old male mixed breed dog. The dog presented grade V/VI systolic and diastolic murmur, hyperthermia, and progressive weight loss. Cardiomegaly and presence of diffuse alveolar pattern in the lung fields were observed in the thorax radiography evaluation. Irregular and hyperechogenic structures adhered to the aortic leaflets, causing obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract and severe aortic insufficiency, were observed in the echocardiography evaluation. A vegetative, whitish, hardened structure measuring 1.0 cm in diameter was observed in aortic semilunar valve at necropsy. Based on a combination of pre-enrichment insect-based medium liquid culture, quantitative real-time and conventional PCR assays based on nuoG and gltA genes, respectively, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic inferences, B. clarridgeiae DNA was detected in the patient's aortic valve lesions. Clinical, echocardiographic, anatomopathologic and molecular features supported the diagnosis of severe aortic vegetative endocarditis possibly caused by B. clarridgeiae in a dog in Brazil.