Clinical and inflammatory response to antiviral treatments in dogs with parvoviral enteritis.

BACKGROUND: Canine parvoviral enteritis (CPE) is a fatal disease worldwide. The treatment of CPE is based mainly on supportive and symptomatic treatment. Antiviral addition to the treatment may result in a higher survival. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effects of antiviral treatments with a standardized treatment (ST) on the clinical and inflammatory response of dogs with naturally occurring CPE. METHODS: Twenty-eight dogs with CPE caused by canine parvovirus type 2 were divided randomly into treatment groups. The ST group received fluid, antibiotic, antiemetic, and deworming treatments. The antiviral treatment groups received the same ST with an additional antiviral drug, recombinant feline interferon omega (rFeIFN-ω), oseltamivir (OSEL) or famciclovir (FAM). RESULTS: Compared to the healthy control, the tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-γ, haptoglobin, and C-reactive protein values were high (p < 0.05) on day zero. At presentation, mild lymphopenia, neutropenia, and a high neutrophil to lymphocyte (LYM) ratio (NLR) were also observed. Adding rFeIFN-ω to the ST produced the best improvement in the clinical score with a decreased NLR, while leucocytes remained low and inflammatory markers stayed high on day three. The survival rates of the groups were 85.7% in ST+IFN, 71.4% in ST+OSEL, 71.4% in ST+FAM, and 57.1% in ST groups on day seven. CONCLUSIONS: Antiviral drugs may be valuable in treating CPE to improve the clinical signs and survival. In addition, the decrease in NLR in favor of LYM may be an indicator of the early prognosis before the improvement of leukocytes, cytokines, and acute phase proteins in CPE.

Microscopic, serologic and molecular surveys on Dirofilaria immitis in stray dogs, Turkey.

The prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection was evaluated in stray dogs of Erzurum, Turkey. A total of 123 whole-blood and 93 sera samples were collected from stray dogs older than 6 months were lived in animal shelter. The PCR and direct microscopic examinations were used for the detection of microfilaria and indirect-ELISA was performed for the detection of anti-D. immitis antibodies. The prevalence of D. immitis in the canine population was 8.1% by PCR, 2.1% by ELISA. In addition, microfilaria burdens of Dirofilaria sp. was 4.8% by direct blood smear examination. There was a statistical difference (P=0.05) in the prevalence between males (10.5%) and females (2.3%) by direct blood smear examination. Similarly there was a statistical difference (P<0.05) in the prevalence between males (15.8%) and females (4.7%) by PCR. Dogs belonging to the 0.5-1 years old group showed the highest prevalence than 2-4 ages group with three tests. Among the 93 samples screened by the ELISA, two samples were positive for the D. immitis antibodies. Both positive dogs with ELISA were females.

Canine nonischemic left ventricular dysfunction: a model of chronic human cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of cardiac remodeling during chronic heart failure remain poorly defined. We sought to advance a chronic canine model of nonischemic cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male dogs (n = 6) received decremental right ventricular apical tachypacing (12 months) to achieve and maintain stable left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. After 10 months of tachypacing, 120 beats/min was sufficient to maintain stable LV dysfunction. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, and tissue Doppler imaging were done to evaluate electrophysiology, LV dimensions and function, and dyssynchrony during normal sinus rhythm. The 6-minute walk test was used to evaluate functional capacity. We observed increases in both QRS duration (P < .0001) and QRS amplitude (P < .0001). LV fractional shortening was reduced from a baseline of 38.0 +/- 1.4% to 11.2 +/- 1.4% (P < .0001). LV end-diastolic dimension increased from 3.8 +/- 0.1 cm at baseline to 5.3 +/- 0.3 cm (P < .0001); LV end-systolic dimension increased from 2.3 +/- 0.1 cm to 4.7 +/- 0.2 cm (P < .0001). LV mass increased from 85.9 +/- 3.5 g at baseline to 179 +/- 13.7 g (P < .0001). There was evidence of LV dyssynchrony (P < .04) during both normal sinus rhythm and right ventricular tachypacing, compared with control dogs. The distance a dog walked in 6 minutes was significantly less at 12 months compared with normal controls (540 +/- 32 m versus 277 +/- 64 m, P < .008). CONCLUSION: This nonischemic model of canine cardiomyopathy reproduces many aspects of chronic human heart failure including reduced fractional shortening, dilated ventricular dimensions, increased LV mass, decreased functional capacity, and dyssynchrony.

Molecular detection and characterization of Ehrlichia canis from dogs in Turkey.

Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis antibodies among dogs in Turkey were previously reported, however, the ehrlichial organism has never been characterized in this region. The current study examined dogs from Ankara with febrile illness for E. canis infection with E. canis-specific PCR. Three of the 12 blood specimens from dogs showing clinical signs compatible with canine ehrlichiosis were found to be positive by PCR using E. canis-specific primers. E. canis detected in one of the blood specimens was designated as Kutahya strain. The representative E. canis strain was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and Western blot analysis of the plasma sample from the dog infected with E. canis. The 16S rRNA sequence (1,388 bp) of the E. canis Kutahya was identical to that of Ehrlichia ovina from a sheep in Turkey and Venezuelan Dog Ehrlichia (VDE) and was closely related (99.9%) to that of type strain of E. canis, Oklahoma. The plasma of the dog infected with E. canis Kutahya was analyzed by Western blotting using the purified E. canis Oklahoma strain as antigen. The reactive antibody profiles of the dog infected with E. canis Kutahya was found to be similar to those of dogs infected with E. canis Oklahoma and VDE, suggesting the antigenic similarities among these strains. The findings in this study would help for a better understanding of epidemiology of canine ehrlichiosis. This is the first report of molecular detection and characterization of an ehrlichial agent in Turkey.

Acute effects of tacrolimus (FK506) on left ventricular mechanics.

Tacrolimus (FK506) is a macrolide antibiotic used to minimize transplant rejections. Several macrolides affect ventricular function, but the effects of tacrolimus are unknown. This study evaluated acute effects of escalating doses of tacrolimus on heart rate (HR), left ventricular inotropy, lusitropy, preload (end-diastolic short axis radius on a 2D directed M-mode echocardiogram), and afterload (product of end-diastolic radius and diastolic arterial pressure divided by end-diastolic wall thickness) in anesthetized dogs. Tacrolimus at 0.025 mg kg(-1) increased HR and inotropy with continued escalation up to a dose of 0.1 mg kg(-1) (p<0.01). Conversely, tacrolimus at 0.025 mg kg(-1) decreased lusitropy and preload, which never achieved steady states (p<0.05). Afterload tended to increase between doses of 0.0125 and 0.025 mg kg(-1), and tended to decrease at higher doses, achieving baseline at a dose of 0.1 mg kg(-1). Tacrolimus significantly prolonged the QT interval (QTc) between doses of 0.0125 (p<0.05) and 0.1mg kg(-1) (p<0.001). These effects are consistent with altered calcium kinetics leading to increased cytosolic calcium. Tacrolimus at a clinically relevant dose of 0.1 mg kg(-1) possesses profound, acute effects on left ventricular mechanics, suggesting that cardiovascular monitoring may be necessary in tacrolimus-treated patients. Potential adverse effects include myocardial stiffness, transient increase in systemic arterial pressure, and tendency for ventricular arrhythmia.