Comparison of oral prednisone and prednisone combined with metronidazole for induction therapy of canine inflammatory bowel disease: a randomized-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although prednisone and metronidazole are commonly used to treat canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), no randomized-controlled trials have been performed. HYPOTHESIS: Combination drug therapy with prednisone and metronidazole will be more effective than prednisone alone for treatment of canine IBD. Reduction in disease severity will be accompanied by decreased canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI) scores and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. ANIMALS: Fifty-four pet dogs diagnosed with IBD of varying severity. METHODS: Dogs were randomized to receive oral prednisone (1 mg/kg; n = 25) or prednisone and metronidazole (10 mg/kg; n = 29) twice daily for 21 days. Clinical (CIBDAI) scores and serum CRP were determined at diagnosis and after 21 days of drug therapy. The primary efficacy measure was remission at 21 days, defined as a 75% or greater reduction in baseline CIBDAI score. RESULTS: Differences between treatments in the rate of remission (both exceeding 80%) or the magnitude of its change over time were not observed. CRP concentrations in prednisone-treated dogs were increased because of many dogs having active disease. Both treatments reduced CRP in comparison with pretreatment concentrations. An interaction between CIBDAI and CRP was identified in 42 of 54 dogs (78%), whereas 8 of 54 dogs (15%) showed disagreement between these indices. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Prednisone is as effective as combined treatment with prednisone and metronidazole for induction therapy of canine IBD. CRP may be normal or increased in dogs with IBD and may be useful in assessing the response of individual dogs to treatment along with changes in the CIBDAI.

Development and validation of an endoscopic activity score for canine inflammatory bowel disease.

The aim of this study was to develop and prospectively validate a simple endoscopic score of disease activity for dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Archived endoscopic still images and video recordings of gastric, duodenal, and colonic endoscopic examinations were displayed to novice and experienced endoscopists for assessment of inflammatory activity using established descriptions. The mucosal appearances evaluated were normal tissue, erosions, friability, increased granularity, lymphangiectasia (duodenum), and mass (colon). Fleiss and Cohen's Kappa statistics were used to estimate the inter-observer agreement of the index. For duodenal assessment, there were statistically significant (P <0.05) differences in inter-observer agreement, with experienced endoscopists performing better than novice endoscopists in the accurate identification of mucosal appearance of the duodenum. In contrast, there was no significant difference between novice and experienced endoscopists in their interpretation of gastric (P = 0.10) and colonic (P = 1.0) mucosal appearances. Validation studies using endoscopic video clips to assess the same endoscopic parameters by quantitative (lesion number and severity) and qualitative (presence of mucosal lesions) methods showed moderate-to-substantial agreement between experienced endoscopists. Based on the observations that the quantitative and qualitative scores of mucosal appearances are virtually identical, and that qualitative assessment was performed more quickly and objectively than quantitative assessment, we propose a simple endoscopic activity score based on qualitative criteria alone in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.

Computed tomographic appearance of canine thyroid tumours.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the computed tomography features of canine thyroid tumours. METHODS Retrospective study of records of dogs with a thyroid tumour and neck computed tomography. Neck computed tomographies were evaluated for tumour characteristics. Thoracic radiographs and computed tomographies were evaluated for lung nodules. RESULTS: Of 19 identified cases, 17 were carcinomas and 2 were adenomas; 12 had mineralisation, 16 had heterogeneous attenuation and 16 were unilateral. Tumours were located from the temporomandibular joint to C5. Sixteen had well-defined margins postcontrast. Tumours were ovoid and mean volume was 57·4 cm(3) . By computed tomography, eight had definitive or possible invasion into surrounding structures; all eight were histopathologically invasive carcinomas. Five histopathologically non-invasive tumours and two adenomas had no computed tomography invasion into surrounding structures. Four had complete palpable mobility (two adenomas and two histopathologically invasive carcinomas); one had computed tomography evidence of possible invasion. The sensitivity of palpable mass mobility to determine histopathological invasion was 71% with 0% specificity. The sensitivity of computed tomography invasion to determine histopathological invasion was 70% with 100% specificity. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Computed tomography scans revealed several common features. Palpable mass mobility was not definitive for lack of histopathological invasion. Computed tomography invasion was specific but not very sensitive for histopathological invasion.

Gene expression profiling demonstrates differential expression of osteopontin in follicular thyroid carcinomas compared to normal thyroid tissue in dogs.

Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is an aggressive tumour in dogs with little known about its molecular pathogenesis. The overall goal of this study was to examine FTC and normal thyroid tissue gene expression. Microarray analysis was performed on a pilot group of five FTC-affected dogs and four healthy dogs, and then osteopontin validated with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of thyroid tissue from non-invasive FTC, invasive FTC and healthy dogs. On microarray analysis, 489 transcripts were differentially expressed between FTC and normal thyroid: 242 transcripts were down-regulated and 247 were up-regulated. Osteopontin expression was markedly increased in tumour tissue compared to normal thyroid tissue. Quantitative PCR and IHC confirmed differential expression of osteopontin in both tumour types (invasive and non-invasive) compared to normal thyroid tissue. There is justification for further investigation of osteopontin as a potential molecular marker for screening and monitoring of canine FTC.

Endoscopic assessment of the duodenum in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopy is performed for direct inspection of the mucosa and acquisition of biopsies in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). AIM: To evaluate the interobserver agreement in the endoscopic assessment of duodenal mucosa in dogs with IBD. METHODS: Thirty-five archived endoscopic images of grossly normal (n = 6) and inflamed (n = 29) duodenal mucosa were displayed to 3 expert and 5 trainee endoscopists. Each image was assessed independently by endoscopists for mucosal abnormalities using established indices (of hyperemia, granularity, friability, lymphatic dilatation, and erosions) or interpreted as normal mucosa (trial 1). A repeated trial (trial 2) was performed with the same images presented in random order 1 month later, and accompanied by a visual template. RESULTS: There was slight interobserver agreement in initial mucosal assessment for expert and trainee endoscopists in trial 1 (kappa ≤ 0.02, P > .05). Interobserver agreement improved in trial 2 for both expert and trainee endoscopists (kappa = 0.2, P > .05) for experts and (P < .05) for trainees. There was a significant (P < .01) improvement in trainee endoscopy scores of lesions from trial 1 to trial 2. Regression analysis showed a significant (P < .01) difference between expert versus trainee endoscopy scores in trial 1. Repeat lesion assessment aided by use of a visual template (trial 2) improved the overall scores of trainee endoscopists to near that of expert endoscopists (P = .06). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Interobserver agreement of IBD mucosal appearance from endoscopic findings benefitted from operator experience.

Effects of freezing on the viability of nine pathogens from quarters with subclinical mastitis.

Milk samples from 45 quarters containing mastitis pathogens were collected from lactating cows to determine the viability of those pathogens after freezing. An initial bacteria count was conducted, and samples were divided into 2-ml portions and frozen. Weekly bacteria counts were conducted for 6 wk. Viability after freezing was determined on five isolates of nine bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hyicus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus xylosus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Corynebacterium bovis, and Escherichia coli. Bacteria counts were converted to logarithm base 10, and analysis of variance was conducted to determine alterations in viability over the 6-wk period. Freezing of quarter milk samples for 6 wk did not affect viability of any of these pathogens.