Autochthonous Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens infection in dogs in Kuwait.

Human dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria repens is a rare but increasingly reported zoonosis in the Middle East. However, eligible animal reservoirs seldom have been investigated in the area until now. Seven (1.8 percent) out of 381 dogs examined in Kuwait carried D. repens microfilariae showing compatible cutaneous clinical signs and positive response to the adulticide and microfilaricide therapies. This study indicates that dogs from Kuwait are natural hosts of D. repens and therefore act as an animal reservoir for the zoonotic condition.

Efficacy of ivermectin (Ivomec) against intestinal capulariosis in falcons.

52 captive falcons out of 3,988 (1.3 %) raptors microscopically examined for intestinal parasites in the Middle East proved infested with hairworms (capillariid parasites). 26 of these (50 %) showed concurrent parasitoses. In the group of 26 falcons diagnosed with capillariosis as sole infestation (50 %) compatible clinical signs such as anorexia, weight loss, weakness, dyspnoea, regurgitation of food and blood, diarrhoea and dark tarry faeces, were recorded. These birds were treated intramuscularly with ivermectin at doses of 2 mg/kg. In fecal samples examined 10-15 days later, the eggs of capillariid parasites had disappeared, in association with complete clinical recovery.

Serratospiculosis in falcons from Kuwait: incidence, pathogenicity and treatment with melarsomine and ivermectin.

The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of the filarial avian nematode Serratospiculum seurati in falcons from Kuwait, report clinical signs and find an effective therapy. Naturally occurring S. seurati infestation was diagnosed in 149 (8.7%) out of 1,706 captive falcons examined between May 2003 and April 2005, and 140 of these were treated with melarsomine at dosage of 0.25 mg/kg injected intramuscularly for two days, and ivermectin, injected once at the dose of 1 mg/kg, 10 days later. Infestation was reportedly symptomatic in 107 (71.8%) and non-symptomatic in 42 (28.2%) falcons. Signs reported more often were dyspnoea (58.8%), reduced speed and strength in flight (56%), weight loss (38.3%), anorexia/poor appetite (22.4%) and lethargy (16.8%). After administration of melarsomine, signs disappeared within 1-10 days in symptomatic birds and improvement of flight performances was noted in non-symptomatic birds. Dead adult parasites were ejected in 22 cases. Embryonated eggs were not detected in coproscopic checks made 10 and 40 days after the end of therapy, in association with lasting clinical remission. The main conclusion is that Serratospiculum seurati is overall pathogenic for birds of prey in the Middle East and that melarsomine + ivermectin can be an effective protocol of therapy eliminating both clinical signs and parasites.

Microscopic and clinical evidence for Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum infection in Italian cats.

Fifteen cats from Italy with Ehrlichia-like inclusion bodies in their neutrophils were studied. They were diagnosed with Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum infection on the basis of cytological observation of morulae within 1 to 21 per cent of their neutrophils, clinical signs characteristic of ehrlichiosis and their response to doxycycline. The predominant signs of disease were anorexia, lethargy, hyperaesthesia, muscle and joint pain, lameness, neck rigidity, lymphadenomegaly, gingivitis/periodontitis, conjunctivitis, weight loss, incoordination, pale mucous membranes and hyperglobulinaemia. The cat with inclusions in 21 per cent of its neutrophils had suffered arthralgia, tachypnoea, neck rigidity, vomiting and thrombocytopenia for four months, but recovered promptly after treatment with doxycycline.

Trypanosoma avium incidence, pathogenicity and response to melarsomine in falcons from Kuwait.

Epidemiological and clinical studies on Trypanosoma avium are lacking in the Middle East. The aims of this study were to determine the T. avium incidence in falcons from Kuwait, report clinical signs and find an effective therapy. Blood smears from 921 diseased and 56 healthy falcons were examined between May 2003 and April 2004. 12 birds 11.3%) were found infected by T. avium and ten of these were treated with melarsomine (Cymelarsan) at a dosage of 0.25 mg/kg intramuscularly for four days. All affected birds presented clinical signs, including incapacity of flying high, poor appetite, lethargy, loosing weight, weakness, dyspnoea and death. Signs disappeared within 1-7 days after administration of melarsomine. Trypomastigotes were not detected in blood smears made 1-7 days after the end of therapy. This study suggests that T. avium induces disease in falcons and that melarsomine can be an effective therapy eliminating both clinical signs and circulating trypomastigotes.

Retrospective study on the presence and pathogenicity of Dirofilaria repens in 5 dogs and 1 cat from Aosta Vally.

Aosta Valley is the only region of Italy free of reported human cases of dirofilariosis due to Dirofilaria repens. Nonetheless, the retrospective analysis of five locally acquired D. repens infections in dogs, seems to indicate that an animal reservoir exist in the area. A feline case imported from Camargue, France, is also described. The most common dermatological signs were erythema, alopecia, crusting, papulae and nodules. All patients had lesional pruritus and dogs were affected by concurrent babesiosis. Eradication of the underlying condition, followed by a therapy with the specific adulticide and microfilaricide drugs led to a complete recovery of microfilaraemia. Increased pet travel and ecological changes are extending the ranges of vector borne, parasitic and zoonotic diseases. This fact pose a unique diagnostic challenge for the veterinarian, since the index of suspicion may be absent outside endemic areas.

Immunological anomalies and thrombocytopenia in 117 dogs and cats diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Retrospective analysis of immune dysfunctions found in 55 dogs and 62 cats diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), revealed leukopenia in 11% of dogs (n = 6) and 22.5% of cats (n = 14), lymphopenia in 14.5% of dogs (n = 8) and 10% of cats (n = 6), hypogammaglobulinaemia in 9% of dogs (n = 5) and 13% of cats (n = 8) and thrombocytopenia in 20% of dogs (n = 11) and 68% of cats (n = 42). All patients had creatine kinase enzyme levels above the normal range (CK = 5-100 IU/L) and carried micrococcus-like organisms on erythrocytes. Blood cultures proved positive for Staphylococcus spp. in 16 cases. After low-dosage arsenic-based therapy (thiacetarsamide sodium) all animals experienced complete clinical remission. Subsequent controls demonstrated immune restoration in 4 representative FIV-FeLV negative cats, previously diagnosed with CFS associated with leukopenia, lymphopenia, hypogammaglobulinaemia and thrombocytopenia. The main conclusion is that a CFS-like disease in dogs and cats, characterised by the common hallmarks of high CK levels, absence of known causes of chronic fatigue in animals and presence of micrococcus-like organisms in the blood, can be associated with humoral and/or cellular immune deficiencies in 9-22.5% of cases and with thrombocytopenia in 20-68% of cases. Considerations are made on the possible role of micrococci in the aetiology of the condition and on the similarities with CFS in humans.

Canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (CGE) in Italy.

Medical records of thirty-five consecutive cases of canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (CGE) diagnosed cytologically in Central Italy in 1995-2000 were analysed retrospectively. Tick exposure was reported in 16 dogs (45.7%) and concurrent babesiosis in 19 dogs (54.3%). Ehrlichia-like inclusion bodies were found in neutrophils in a percentage varying from 0.5% to 11%. Frequently recorded clinical signs included anorexia (71.4%), lethargy (45.7%), conjunctivitis (31.4%), fever (25.7%), lameness (20%) and ataxia (20%). Among the 16 representative dogs in which protein, electrophoresis was performed, 10 (62.5%) showed high globulin levels and 6 (37.5%) had concurrent high total protein levels. During treatment with doxycycline, all associated symptoms, including those unusually described, such as pyoderma intertrigo, erythema, apparent blindness and oral papillomatosis, progressively disappeared in 31 (89%) out of 35 dogs. The efficacy of treatment was marked in dogs simultaneously treated twice with imidocarb dipropionate: among the 14 dogs in which a fast recovery was noted, 11 (80%) were concurrently affected by babesiosis and consequently treated with the specific medicament leading to excellent outcomes. The main conclusion is that CGE is present among dogs from Central Italy and should be included in the differential diagnosis of possible zoonotic agents affecting the canine population.

Dermatitis associated with Dirofilaria repens microfilariae in three dogs in Saudi Arabia.

The presence of microfilariae of the zoonotic nematode Dirofilaria repens is reported in three dogs from Saudi Arabia, manifesting as pruritic dermatitis with signs including erythema, alopecia, papules, crusting and hyperkeratosis. All dogs were found to have concurrent babesiosis. Specific treatments against the two conditions led to complete clinical recovery and disappearance of microfilariae from the blood one month later.

A possible relationship between bumblefoot responsive to potassium arsenite and micrococci in the blood of three birds of prey.

Pododermatitis (bumblefoot) is a major health problem of falcons world-wide because healing processes in the talons are difficult and lengthy. A peregrine (Falco peregrinus), a merlin (Falco columbarius) and a saker falcon (Falco cherrug) with bumblefoot at different stages ranging from III to V, were all found to be carriers of micrococcus-like organisms in the blood and two of them were successfully treated with 0.5% potassium arsenite in low dosage given intravenously. A number of considerations are made on the immune dysfunction aspects of bumblefoot in birds of prey and on the emerging role of arsenic-based medicaments in the treatment of animal and human immune dysfunction syndromes.