Clinical, Parasitological, and Serological Follow-Up of Dogs with Sarcoptic Mange Treated Orally with Lotilaner.

Canine sarcoptic mange is a highly pruritic and contagious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis. This case series describes the clinical, parasitological, and serological follow-up of a cohort of eight adult Saint Bernard dogs with confirmed sarcoptic mange, treated orally with lotilaner. Dogs were evaluated initially and after 14 days and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 months for skin lesions, pruritus severity, presence of parasites, and Sarcoptes-IgG levels. A serological indoor allergy panel (IgE) was obtained for seven dogs at day 0 and repeated 12 months later in five dogs to assess potential cross-reactivity between S. scabiei and environmental allergens. Lotilaner was administered to each dog according to the manufacturer's instructions and was repeated after one and two months without any concurrent therapeutic measure or modification of the husbandry conditions. Pruritus ceased after two weeks. The cutaneous score was reduced by 47%, and skin scrapings were negative for all but three animals. All skin scrapings were negative after one month. Lesions were absent after two months. Serological levels decreased gradually, but more slowly than the skin lesions, and two dogs out of six remained positive in the absence of skin lesions or symptoms. All dogs initially tested positive for dust mites and/or storage mites. The IgE titres remained unchanged 12 months later in the five tested dogs. This case report demonstrates the efficacy of lotilaner on scabies in a cohort of infested dogs under natural conditions and the potential antigenic cross-reaction of S. scabiei with house dust and storage mites.

Antifungal susceptibility testing practices in mycology laboratories in France, 2018.

A survey of mycology laboratories for antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) was undertaken in France in 2018, to better understand the difference in practices between the participating centers and to identify the difficulties they may encounter as well as eventual gaps with published standards and guidelines. The survey captured information from 45 mycology laboratories in France on how they perform AFST (number of strains tested, preferred method, technical and quality aspects, interpretation of the MIC values, reading and interpretation difficulties). Results indicated that 86% of respondents used Etest as AFST method, with a combination of one to seven antifungal agents tested. Most of the participating laboratories used similar technical parameters to perform their AFST method and a large majority used, as recommended, internal and external quality assessments. Almost all the participating mycology laboratories (98%) reported difficulties to interpret the MIC values, especially when no clinical breakpoints are available. The survey highlighted that the current AFST practices in France need homogenization, particularly for MIC reading and interpretation.

PCR-terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism for direct detection and identification of dermatophytes in veterinary mycology.

The biological diagnosis of dermatophytosis in veterinary medicine usually relies on direct microscopic examination and inoculation of the samples on appropriate culture media. However, identification of dermatophytes needs expertise, and cultures which require from days to weeks to be conclusive, may lack of sensitivity because of the quite common overgrowth of contaminants. Here we developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), which may improve sensitivity of the biological diagnosis and reduce the delay for initiation of treatment. This study was first conducted on pure cultures of various dermatophytes (27 species), yeasts (14 species) and moulds (45 species). After DNA extraction, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-28S region of ribosomal DNA was amplified with primers targeting specifically pathogenic dermatophytes, and species of interest were identified by TRFLP with appropriate restriction enzymes. After validation, this assay was applied to veterinary samples and results were compared to those obtained by direct microscopic examination and cultures. All target species were correctly identified, and none of the yeast or mould species was amplified, demonstrating specificity of the assay. Regarding clinical samples, the causative agent was detected by PCR-TRFLP from 97.1% of the samples with both positive direct microscopic examination and cultures. No dermatophytes were detected when both conventional tests were negative. PCR-TRFLP developed here demonstrated to be highly sensitive and specific, allowing rapid detection and direct identification of dermatophytes in veterinary practice. Therefore, this assay is especially suitable for the biological diagnosis of dermatophytosis in different animal species.

Expression of Three Adipokines (Adiponectin, Leptin and Resistin) in Normal Canine Skin: a Pilot Study.

Adipokines are biologically active cytokines that are mainly produced in adipose tissue. There is evidence, in man and mice, that some adipokines may be secreted in other tissues including the vascular endothelium, epithelia and sebaceous glands. Moreover, modified serum levels of adipokines have been detected in people with acne vulgaris or psoriasis; it is suspected that adipokines could contribute to local and systemic inflammatory conditions. We aimed to evaluate the expression of three adipokines (i.e. leptin, adiponectin and resistin) in normal canine skin. Formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded punch biopsy samples were obtained from the sparsely-haired skin of the caudal ventral abdomen of a single clinically healthy dog with no history of skin disease. Immunohistochemistry was applied, using rabbit polyclonal primary antibodies specific for leptin, adiponectin and resistin. Adipokines were not expressed in normal canine dermis or hypodermis. In contrast, they were detected in the keratinocytes of all epidermal layers and hair follicle segments, sebocytes, apocrine gland cells and in the vascular endothelium. This is the first report on the expression of adipokines in normal canine skin, a first step in studying their role in the skin physiology and inflammatory skin diseases of dogs.

What can aquatic gastropods tell us about phenotypic plasticity? A review and meta-analysis.

There have been few attempts to synthesise the growing body of literature on phenotypic plasticity to reveal patterns and generalities about the extent and magnitude of plastic responses. Here, we conduct a review and meta-analysis of published literature on phenotypic plasticity in aquatic (marine and freshwater) gastropods, a common system for studying plasticity. We identified 96 studies, using pre-determined search terms, published between 1985 and November 2013. The literature was dominated by studies of predator-induced shell form, snail growth rates and life history parameters of a few model taxa, accounting for 67% of all studies reviewed. Meta-analyses indicated average plastic responses in shell thickness, shell shape, and growth and fecundity of freshwater species was at least three times larger than in marine species. Within marine gastropods, species with planktonic development had similar average plastic responses to species with benthic development. We discuss these findings in the context of the role of costs and limits of phenotypic plasticity and environmental heterogeneity as important constraints on the evolution of plasticity. We also consider potential publication biases and discuss areas for future research, indicating well-studied areas and important knowledge gaps.

Straelensiosis in two cats and ten dogs from Israel.

Straelensiosis is uncommonly described outside Europe. This report describes straelensiosis in two cats and in ten dogs diagnosed with the disease outside Europe. Both cats displayed erythematous macules or nodules on the abdominal skin. One cat was extremely pruritic, while in the other the lesions were incidental findings when the cat was presented for neutering. The mites were noted in skin scrapings in both cats and histopathologically in one cat. All dogs showed a general distribution of papules, and intense pruritus was noted in six dogs. The diagnosis in all dogs was based on histopathology. Treatment of the animals in this study varied, and among the various administrated treatments, amitraz showed promising results.

Optimization of an immunohistochemical method to assess distribution of tight junction proteins in canine epidermis and adnexae.

Epidermal tight junctions (TJs) have been well characterized in human medicine. Abnormality of these structures is involved in skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. There is little information about the expression and distribution of TJ proteins in the canine skin. The aim of this study was to develop an optimal immunohistochemical method for assessment of the expression of TJ proteins in the skin of healthy dogs. Formalin-fixed and paraffin wax-embedded skin biopsy samples from healthy human and canine patients were used. Canine skin samples were from the inguinal region and the nasal planum. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin and claudin-1, -4 and -7. Heat-induced antigen retrieval with EDTA (pH 9.0) yielded the best labelling of TJ proteins. ZO-1 and occludin were expressed in the cytoplasm and along the keratinocyte membrane, while claudin-1 and -4 were mainly membrane in distribution. ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1 were detected in all epidermal layers with the exception of the stratum corneum, while claudin-4 expression was restricted to the stratum granulosum. Expression of claudin-7 was difficult to evaluate. There was no difference in labelling pattern between inguinal and nasal planum skin.

Characterisation of dog sensitisation to grass pollen in western France from 1999 to 2010.

Very few studies have investigated the seasonal aspect of grass pollen sensitisation or its evolution in the allergic canine population. The aim of this study was to evaluate both these aspects. A study of canine grass pollen sensitisation was performed throughout the statistical analysis of 261 intradermal skin testings (IDT=25 allergens tested on average) performed from January 1999 to December 2010. IDTs were performed on dogs with pruritic allergic skin disease. χ(2) Tests were used for statistical analysis. Two hundred and thirteen dogs (81.6 per cent) were sensitised to at least one allergen, and 56 (21.5 per cent) to at least one grass pollen. No increase in the rate of positive IDT was recorded over three periods: 1999-2002, 2003-2006 and 2007-2010. No statistical correlation was detected between sex, age or birth month and grass sensitisation. Moreover, no link was found between the season in which the IDT was performed and sensitisation, indicating that there is no seasonality to the sensitisation. However, considering the grasses tested over these three periods (grass mix and rye grass), a clear and significant increase in the percentage of dogs sensitised to grass pollen was observed between 1999-2002 and 2007-2010 (14.4 per cent and 27.7 per cent, respectively). The possible reasons for this sensitisation increase of dogs to grass pollen are discussed.

Gastrointestinal hemodynamics in dogs with nonfood induced atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Canine atopic dermatitis can be a result of exposure to aeroallergens or trophallergens. Hemodynamic alterations occur in dogs with food hypersensitivity. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if hemodynamic alterations occur in dogs with NFICAD with lowered resistance to diastolic flow at fasting, after feeding, or both. ANIMALS: Ten healthy dogs and 22 dogs with NFICAD were included from the hospital population. METHODS: Blinded prospective study. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), mean velocity (MV), pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI) and PSV/EDV ratio were measured at fasting for both arteries (cranial mesenteric artery [CMA], celiac artery [CA]) and at 40 minutes after feeding in CMA and at 60 minutes in CA. The results were analyzed statistically with a mixed model. RESULTS: There was no difference detected between groups of dogs for any variable except EDV during fasting (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: There is no decrease in resistance in NFICAD to diastolic flow. This observation could be explained by the absence intestinal inflammation in NFICAD.

Directions for the diagnosis, clinical staging, treatment and prevention of canine leishmaniosis.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is a life threatening zoonotic disease with a wide distribution in four continents and importance also in non-endemic regions. The purpose of this report is to present a consensus of opinions on the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention of CanL in order to standardize the management of this infection. CanL is a disease in which infection does not equal clinical illness due to the high prevalence of subclinical infection among endemic canine populations. The most useful diagnostic approaches include serology by quantitative techniques and PCR. High antibody levels are associated with severe parasitism and disease and are diagnostic of clinical leishmaniosis. However, the presence of lower antibody levels is not necessarily indicative of disease and further work-up is necessary to confirm CanL by other diagnostic methods such as cytology, histopathology and PCR. We propose a system of four clinical stages, based on clinical signs, clinicopathological abnormalities and serological status. Suitable therapy and expected prognosis are presented for each of the stages. The combination of meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol constitutes the first line pharmaceutical protocol. However, although most dogs recover clinically after therapy, complete elimination of the parasite is usually not achieved and infected dogs may eventually relapse. Follow-up of treated dogs with blood counts, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, serology and PCR is essential for prevention of relapses. Protection against sand fly bites by topical insecticides is effective in reducing infection, and recent development of vaccines has indicated that prevention by vaccination is feasible.

Upregulation of TNF-alpha production by IFN-gamma and LPS in cultured canine keratinocytes: application to monosaccharides effects.

Activated keratinocytes play a key role in the cutaneous immune system by their interactions with other cell types through the production of cytokines with both autocrine and paracrine activity. But there is little knowledge about epidermal cytokines in the dog. In this study, cultured canine keratinocytes were stimulated by human recombinant interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cell supernatants were tested for tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentration using a cell viability assay on a murine cell line. We show that IFN-gamma in combination with LPS significantly increases TNF-alpha secretion by canine keratinocytes. The best stimulations were obtained using confluent cultures and the association of IFN-gamma (400 ng/ml) and LPS (40 microg/ml). The experimental protocol we describe represents a new method for studying keratinocyte activation and its modulation in the dog. We provide an example of application of our method: the study of the effects of different monosaccharides on canine keratinocyte activation.

Intradermal skin tests in equine dermatology: a study of 83 horses.

Allergic diseases are often diagnosed clinically in the horse without performing diagnostic tests. The purpose of this work was to contribute to the validation of intradermal skin tests in the horse. Eighty-three horses, 14 showing skin or respiratory signs of supposed allergic origin, were subjected to an intradermal skin test using 6 different allergens, positive and negative controls. The tests were read for all animals after 20 min, and for 29 horses after 1 and 4 h. Additionally, 19 horses were tested a few months apart. The comparison after 20 min of the cutaneous reactions to allergens and to positive and negative controls allowed us to propose a threshold of positivity; skin reactions with a diameter above or equal to 15 mm, or with at least a 13 mm diameter and a skin thickness similar to the positive control. There was a marked difference between the healthy group and the allergic group for Culex pipiens and Dermatophagoides farinae, although positive reactions were not rare in the healthy group. Tabanus sp. gave positive reactions in both healthy and allergic animals. There was no significant variation in the reactions observed after 20 min and after 60 min. After 4 h, the progression of the reactions was highly variable and negative controls showed a certain number of positive reactions, which negated their reliability at the point in time, and made it difficult to interpret the other allergens. Finally, the repeatability of intradermal skin tests reactions after 20 min was poor, and probably related to the influence of seasonality for some of the allergens. Further studies are required, notably with others allergens, to interpret intradermal skin tests' responses in clinical practice.

Zinc-responsive dermatosis in dogs: 41 cases and literature review.

Forty-one cases of zinc-responsive dermatosis in the dog are described. The Siberian husky was the predominant breed affected. Periocular crusts were the most common clinical sign and parakeratosis was noted in the skin biopsy specimens of all dogs. Treatment with oral zinc ameliorated the clinical signs in most dogs, but cases necessitating other treatments such as parenteral zinc or retinoids are reported. The authors recommend a starting dose of 2-3 mg kg-1 elemental zinc per day in the treatment of this disorder.

Epidemiosurveillance of antimicrobial compound resistance of Staphylococcus intermedium clinical isolates from canine pyodermas.

In a retrospective study, 131 Staphylococcus intermedius strains isolated from apparently healthy dogs, and 187 Staphylococcus intermedius strains isolated from dog pyodermas in the clinical microbiology laboratory at the National Veterinary School in Nantes, during three successive periods: 1986-87, 1992-93 and 1995-96, were investigated and compared for their antimicrobial susceptibility. Results indicated that 60% to 65% of the strains were susceptible to Chloramphenicol and Doxycyclin, 65% to 80% of the strains were susceptible to macrolides (Erythromycin, Lincomycin and Clindamycin) and to Trimethoprim/Sulfonamide association. More than 95% of the strains were susceptible to three betalactamins tested: Oxacillin, Amoxycillin/Clavulanic acid, Cephalexin, to Gentamicin, to Fucidic Acid and to two quinolones: Enrofloxacin and Marbofloxacin. This last group is made up of choice antibacterials for the treatment of dog pyoderma. Many different resistance patterns were observed in each period with no really predominant profile, because of low plasmidic vs chromosomal balance of the genetic basis of antibacterial resistance in Staphylococcus intermedius. However, the proportion of multiresistant (> or = 3 drugs) strains increased from 10.8% in the first period, to 28% in the third period. This increased frequency of resistance suggests strongly that, as in Staphylococcus aureus human infections, the prescription of antibiotic compounds increases the prevalence of resistant strains.

[Cercarial dermatitis in Europe: a new public health problem?]. / La dermatite cercarienne en Europe: un problème de santé publique nouveau?

Cercarial dermatitis is a parasitic impasse that has worldwide distribution. The condition manifests itself as a highly pruriginous skin rash and is due to penetration of the dermis by larval stages (furcocercariae) of avian trematodes. Many species may be responsible for this disease. In Europe the genus Trichobilharzia is widely represented, in particular by the species T. ocellata; the definitive host is the duck (Anas platyrhinchos); the intermediate hosts are snails of the genus Lymnea (L. ovata or L. stagnalis). In France, cases of cercarial dermatitis were reported in June and July 1994 to the health authorities of three départements in the Pays de la Loire Region (western France). The epidemiological situation, common to the three maintained ponds that were concerned, is as follows: high level of eutrophication of the sites, colonization of the ponds by L. ovata, and settlement by many duck colonies. The simultaneous occurrence of these three phenomena, combined with long hours of sunshine in the summer, is responsible for most of the foci of cercarial dermatitis recently described in Europe. Control of this condition is difficult, requiring strict maintenance of bodies of water and if necessary the use of molluscicides such as niclosamide. The use of praziquantel in baits for treating the definitive hosts appears to interrupt the natural cycle of the avian Schistosomatidae. In the light of the observations reported here and the analysis of recent publications, cercarial dermatitis may be regarded as an emerging disease. Its public health impact needs to be evaluated at the global level.

[Treatment of venous thromboembolic disease in patients with cancer]. / Traitement de la maladie thromboembolique veineuse (MTE) chez les patients cancéreux.

Results of classical anticoagulant therapy in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism (VT) are highly discussed. We retrospectively analysed the outcome of 43 patients with VT and cancer: 32% developed specific complications during either i.v. heparin therapy (10 +/- 0.9 days) or treatment by antivitamin K (106 +/- 14.9 days). Recurrence of thromboembolism (16%) and/or hemorrhages (16%) were much more frequent than in patients without cancer, underlying need for alternative therapy in cancer patients with VT.

Ciguatoxic fish in the French West Indies.

An epidemiological study on ciguatera fish poisoning in the French West Indies on St-Barthelemy, St-Martin and Anguilla was conducted in the years 1985-1986-1987 and 1991-1992. A study on the toxicity of coral fish was realized. The toxicity of 700 fish belonging to 57 species was evaluated by bio-assays. 430 mosquito-bio-assays were performed on individual fish (flesh or liver) and 19 on pools (flesh or liver; with 4 to 24 fish). A second group was evaluated on liver by the chick feeding-test (33 individual and 64 on pools with 2 to 24 fish). The results showed that many species are involved in the toxic food chain. At least 25% may have a high level of toxicity, 32.5% are intermediate and 10% are doubtful. Major results concern: (1) high risk species (Caranx bartholomaei, C. lugubris, Lutjanus apodus, L. jocu, Gymnothorax funebris, G. moringa, Mycteroperca venenosa, M. tigris, Epinephelus morio, Sphyraena barracuda); (2) intermediate species (Caranx latus, C. ruber, Lutjanus buccanella); (3) low risk species (Balistes vetula, Haemulon album, Priacantus arenatus, Alphestes afer). Occasionally other species or new species are involved Etelis oculatus, Lutjanus analis, Pristipomoides macrophtalmus, Rhomboplites aurorubens, Haemulon album, Scarus vetula.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)