Nutrition and Aging in Dogs and Cats.

Aging is often associated with chronic inflammation and declining health. Both veterinarians and owners of aging dogs and cats are interested in nutritional solutions and strategies to prevent signs of age-related disease, increase longevity, and improve quality of life. Physiological decreases in muscle mass, decreased immunity, and a decrease in sense acuity are some of the changes often seen in otherwise healthy senior pets; however, there may also be an increase in risk for pathologies such as renal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neoplastic diseases. Aging may also lead to cognitive decline and even cognitive dysfunction. Some nutritional strategies that may be helpful with the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases include supplementation with ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant nutrients that can help modulate inflammation and benefit osteoarthritis, renal disease, cancer, and more. Supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides shows promise in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction as these may be metabolized to ketone bodies that are utilized as an alternative energy source for the central nervous system. Additionally, a high intake of dietary phosphorus in soluble and bioavailable forms can lead to renal disease, which is of greater concern in senior pets. There are no published guidelines for nutritional requirements specific to senior pets and as a result, products marketed for senior dogs and cats are highly variable.

Heritability and genome-wide association study of vaccine-induced immune response in Beagles: A pilot study.

Both genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to individual variation in the immune response to vaccination. Understanding how genetic background influences variation in both magnitude and persistence of vaccine-induced immunity is vital for improving vaccine development and identifying possible causes of vaccine failure. Dogs provide a relevant biomedical model for investigating mammalian vaccine genetics; canine breed structure and long linkage disequilibrium simplify genetic studies in this species compared to humans. The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of the antibody response to vaccination against viral and bacterial pathogens, and to identify genes driving variation of the immune response to vaccination in Beagles. Sixty puppies were immunized following a standard vaccination schedule with an attenuated combination vaccine containing antigens for canine adenovirus type 2, canine distemper virus, canine parainfluenza virus, canine parvovirus, and four strains of Leptospira bacteria. Serum antibody measurements for each viral and bacterial component were measured at multiple time points. Heritability estimations and GWAS were conducted using SNP genotypes at 279,902 markers together with serum antibody titer phenotypes. The heritability estimates were: (1) to Leptospira antigens, ranging from 0.178 to 0.628; and (2) to viral antigens, ranging from 0.199 to 0.588. There was not a significant difference between overall heritability of vaccine-induced immune response to Leptospira antigens compared to viral antigens. Genetic architecture indicates that SNPs of low to high effect contribute to immune response to vaccination. GWAS identified two genetic markers associated with vaccine-induced immune response phenotypes. Collectively, these findings indicate that genetic regulation of the immune response to vaccination is antigen-specific and influenced by multiple genes of small effect.

Efficacy of moxidectin, using various dose regimens, against JYD-34, a macrocyclic lactone resistant isolate of Dirofilaria immitis.

BACKGROUND: Macrocyclic lactones (MLs) are the only class of drugs currently commercially available that are effective for preventing heartworm disease. The data presented in this article provide information on the efficacy of oral moxidectin against JYD-34, a known ML-resistant Dirofilaria immitis isolate, when dogs are treated under various dosing regimens. METHODS: Fifty-two purpose-bred Beagle dogs were used in five laboratory studies. All dogs were inoculated with 50 D. immitis third-stage larvae (L3) (JYD-34 isolate) 30 days prior to the first treatment. Dogs were randomized to treatment (four to five animals in each group) with one, three, or five monthly doses of oral moxidectin ranging from 6 to 100 µg/kg body weight. In each study, control dogs were not treated. Five to 6 months after L3 inoculation, dogs were euthanized, and adult worms were counted to evaluate efficacy of the dosing regimens. RESULTS: Adult heartworms were recovered from all control dogs, with an overall geometric mean of 29.7 worms (range 15.2 to 38.0, individual counts ranged from 8 to 51). Five monthly doses of 6 µg/kg provided 83.3% and 90.2%, efficacy, and the same number of monthly doses of 9 µg/kg demonstrated 98.8% and 94.1% efficacy. Three monthly doses of 30 and 50 µg/kg demonstrated 97.9% and 99.0% efficacy, respectively, while a single dose of 100 µg/kg demonstrated 91.1% efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Five monthly doses of 9 µg/kg provided similar or only marginally lower efficacy against JYD-34, a known ML-resistant isolate, compared to substantially higher doses administered for 3 months. This underscores the importance of duration of exposure to moxidectin when facing ML-resistant isolates. Repeated administration of lower doses of moxidectin are an alternative to higher doses in the prevention of heartworm disease associated with less susceptible or resistant isolates.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in companion animal surgery: A scoping review for European Network for Optimization of Antimicrobial Therapy (ENOVAT) guidelines.

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is widely used to reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSI), but there is uncertainty as to what the proportion of SSI reduction is. Therefore, it is difficult for surgeons to properly weigh the costs, risks and benefits for individual patients when deciding on the use of SAP, making it challenging to promote antimicrobial stewardship in primary practice settings. The objective of this study was to map the veterinary evidence focused on assessing the effect of SAP on SSI development and in order to identify surgical procedures with some research evidence and possible knowledge gaps. In October 2021 and December 2022, Scopus, CAB Abstracts, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase and MEDLINE were systematically searched. Double blinded screening of records was performed to identify studies in companion animals that reported on the use of SAP and SSI rates. Comparative data were available from 34 out of 39123 records screened including: eight randomised controlled trials (RCT), 23 cohort studies (seven prospective and 16 retrospective) and three retrospective case series representing 12476 dogs and cats in total. Extracted data described peri- or post-operative SAP in nine, and 25 studies, respectively. In the eight RCTs evaluating SAP in companion animals, surgical procedure coverage was skewed towards orthopaedic stifle surgeries in referral settings and there was large variation in SAP protocols, SSI definitions and follow-up periods. More standardized data collection and agreement of SSI definitions is needed to build stronger evidence for optimized patient care.

Mixed methods to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards rabies in central and remote communities of Moramanga district, Madagascar.

Control of dog-mediated rabies relies on raising awareness, access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and mass dog vaccination. To assess rabies awareness in Moramanga district, Madagascar, where rabies is endemic, two complementary quantitative and qualitative approaches were carried out in 2018. In the quantitative approach, a standardized questionnaire was administered to 334 randomized participants living in 170 households located less than 5 km from the anti-rabies treatment center (ARTC) located in Moramanga city (thereafter called the central area), and in 164 households located more than 15 km away from the ARTC in two rural communes (thereafter called the remote area). Logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors influencing knowledge and practice scores. The qualitative approach consisted in semi-structured interviews conducted with 28 bite victims who had consulted the ARTC, three owners of biting dogs, three ARTC staff and two local authorities. Overall, 15.6% (52/334) of households owned at least one dog. The dog-to-human ratio was 1:17.6. The central area had a significantly higher dog bite incidence (0.53 per 100 person-years, 95% CI: 0.31-0.85) compared to the remote area (0.22 per 100 person-years, 95% CI: 0.09-0.43) (p = 0.03). The care pathway following a bite depended on wound severity, how the dog was perceived and its owner's willingness to cover costs. Rabies vaccination coverage in dogs in the remote area was extremely low (2.4%). Respondents knew that vaccination prevented animal rabies but owners considered that their own dogs were harmless and cited access and cost of vaccine as main barriers. Most respondents were not aware of the existence of the ARTC (85.3%), did not know the importance of timely access to PEP (92.2%) or that biting dogs should be isolated (89.5%) and monitored. Good knowledge scores were significantly associated with having a higher socio-economic status (OR = 2.08, CI = 1.33-3.26) and living in central area (OR = 1.91, CI = 1.22-3.00). Good practice scores were significantly associated with living in central area (OR = 4.78, CI = 2.98-7.77) and being aware of the ARTC's existence (OR = 2.29, CI = 1.14-4.80). In Madagascar, knowledge on rabies was disparate with important gaps on PEP and animal management. Awareness campaigns should inform communities (i) on the importance of seeking PEP as soon as possible after an exposure, whatever the severity of the wound and the type of biting dog who caused it, and (ii) on the existence and location of ARTCs where free-of-charge PEP is available. They should also encourage owners to isolate and monitor the health of biting dogs. Above all, awareness and dog vaccination campaigns should be designed so as to reach the more vulnerable remote rural populations as knowledge, good practices and vaccination coverage were lower in these areas. They should also target households with a lower socio-economic status. If awareness campaigns are likely to succeed in improving access to ARTCs in Madagascar, their impact on prompting dog owners to vaccinate their own dogs seems more uncertain given the financial and access barriers. Therefore, to reach the 70% dog vaccination coverage goal targeted in rabies elimination programs, awareness campaigns must be combined with free-of-charge mass dog vaccination.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding zoonotic diseases among cat and dog owners in Bangladesh.

The close relationship between human and companion animals like cats and dogs raises public health concerns regarding the potential transmission of zoonotic diseases in Bangladesh. The study aimed to evaluate the cat and dog owners' knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception concerning zoonotic diseases for designing effective interventions and reducing disease transmission. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 480 pet owners in various region of Bangladesh. For data collection, a structured, closed-ended questions were implemented. The data collection was anonymous and individuals were chosen through a random selection method. Responses were classified to evaluate comprehensive knowledge, using a threshold value of ≥65%. Quantitative score was created to measure Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices, and these scores were divided into categories of good and poor knowledge, positive and negative attitudes, as well as correct and incorrect practices. The analysis included the application of both descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The findings showed that females made up more than half of the survey participants (55.2%), with the predominant pet owned being cats (73.1%). Overall, only a small portion (21.25%) of the survey respondents demonstrated good knowledge about the topic as measured by a dichotomous outcome. A larger proportion of participants (84.58%) exhibited a positive attitude towards zoonotic diseases. However, when it came to correct practices, about one-third (29.79%) of performed satisfactorily. It is noteworthy that 90.4% of the participants exhibited a high level of understanding regarding the transmission of rabies through dog bites. The knowledge and practices of owners were markedly impacted by their education, occupation, and geographic location. Furthermore, 48.1% identified 'social media' as their primary source of information, and 80.0% regarded vaccination as a preventive measure. The study reveals gaps in knowledge and practices of risks regarding zoonotic diseases among pet owners in Bangladesh. It is crucial to implement focused educational initiatives and preventative measures to effectively tackle gaps in knowledge concerning zoonotic diseases and to avert potential infections.

Dose regimen optimization of cephalothin for surgical prophylaxis against Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci in dogs by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling.

First generation cephalosporins such cephalothin of cefazolin are indicated for antimicrobial prophylaxis for clean and clean contaminated surgical procedures because its antimicrobial spectrum, relative low toxicity and cost. Anesthesia and surgery could alter the pharmacokinetic behavior of different drugs administered perioperative by many mechanisms that affect distribution, metabolism or excretion processes. Intravenous administration of the antimicrobial within 30 and 60 min before incision is recommended in order to reach therapeutic serum and tissue concentrations and redosing is recommended if the duration of the procedure exceeds two half-life of the antimicrobial. To the author's knowledge there are no pharmacokinetic studies of cephalothin in dogs under anesthesia/surgery conditions. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cephalothin in anesthetized dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy by a nonlinear mixed-effects model and to determine the effect of anesthesia/surgery and other individual covariates on its pharmacokinetic behavior; (2) to determine the MIC and conduct a pharmacodynamic modeling of time kill curves assay of cephalothin against isolates of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from the skin of dogs; (3) to conduct a PK/PD analysis by integration of the obtained nonlinear mixed-effects models in order to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of changing concentrations on simulated bacterial count; and (4) to determine the PK/PD endpoints and PK/PDco values in order to predict the optimal dose regimen of cephalothin for antimicrobial prophylaxis in dogs. Anesthesia/surgery significantly reduced cephalothin clearance by 18.78%. Based on the results of this study, a cephalothin dose regimen of 25 mg/kg q6h by intravenous administration showed to be effective against Staphylococcus spp. isolates with MIC values ≤2 µg/mL and could be recommended for antimicrobial prophylaxis for clean surgery in healthy dogs.

Evaluation of the efficacy of Simparica Trio® in the prevention of the transmission of Babesia canis by infected Dermacentor reticulatus to dogs.

BACKGROUND: Babesia canis is a clinically relevant vector-borne pathogen in dogs, and its presence is expanding. The efficacy of Simparica Trio® (Zoetis) in the prevention of B. canis transmission was evaluated at the minimum recommended label dose of 1.2 mg/kg sarolaner, 24 µg/kg moxidectin and 5 mg/kg pyrantel per kg bodyweight. METHODS: Twenty-four (24) dogs were randomly allocated to either a placebo-treated group or one of two treatment groups with Simparica Trio. Dogs were infested with B. canis-infected Dermacentor reticulatus ticks 21 or 28 days after treatment administration. Blood samples for antibody and DNA detection were collected from each dog prior to tick infestation until 28 days after infestation. A dog was defined as being B. canis positive if it tested positive by both an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and PCR at any time during the study. RESULTS: No treatment-related adverse reactions were recorded during the study. All placebo-treated animals displayed clinical signs due to babesiosis and tested positive on both IFA and PCR. None of the Simparica Trio-treated animals displayed any clinical symptoms or tested positive, resulting in a 100% efficacy in the prevention of canine babesiosis (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A single treatment with Simparica Trio at the minimum recommended label dose of 1.2 mg/kg sarolaner, 24 µg/kg moxidectin and 5 mg/kg pyrantel per kg bodyweight prevents the transmission of B. canis by infected D. reticulatus to dogs for at least 28 days.

An innovative strategy for deworming dogs in Mediterranean areas highly endemic for cystic echinococcosis.

BACKGROUND: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a zoonotic parasitic disease of economic and public health importance worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean area. Canids are the main definitive hosts of the adult cestode contaminating the environment with parasite eggs released with feces. In rural and peri-urban areas, the risk of transmission to livestock as well as humans is high because of the free-roaming behavior of owned/not owned dogs. Collecting data on animal movements and behavior using GPS dataloggers could be a milestone to contain the spread of this parasitosis. Thus, this study aims to develop a comprehensive control strategy, focused on deworming a dog population in a pilot area of southern Italy (Campania region) highly endemic for CE. METHODS: Accordingly, five sheep farms, tested to be positive for CE, were selected. In each sheep farm, all shepherd dogs present were treated every 2 months with praziquantel. Furthermore, 15 GPS dataloggers were applied to sheep and dogs, and their movements were tracked for 1 month; the distances that they traveled and their respective home ranges were determined using minimum convex polygon (MCP) analysis with a convex hull geometry as output. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean daily walking distances traveled by sheep and dogs did not significantly differ. Over 90% of the point locations collected by GPS fell within 1500 mt of the farm, and the longest distances were traveled between 10:00 and 17:00. In all the sheep farms monitored, the area traversed by the animals during their daily activities showed an extension of < 250 hectares. Based on the home range of the animals, the area with the highest risk of access from canids (minimum safe convex polygon) was estimated around the centroid of each farm, and a potential scheme for the delivery of praziquantel-laced baits for the treatment of not owned dogs gravitating around the grazing area was designed. CONCLUSIONS: This study documents the usefulness of geospatial technology in supporting parasite control strategies to reduce disease transmission.

[Current prevalence and control strategies of visceral leishmaniasis in Sichuan Province: A review].

Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by Phlebotomus chinensis that poses a great threat to human health. Historically, visceral leishmaniasis was predominantly prevalent in northwestern regions of Sichuan Province. Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, large-scale integrated interventions had been implemented in visceral leishmaniasis-endemic areas of Sichuan Province, including identification and treatment of visceral leishmaniasis patients, elimination of infected dogs, Ph. chinensis control and health education. This review summarizes the prevalence of visceral leishmaniasis, discusses the control strategy of visceral leishmaniasis and analyzes the challenges of elimination of visceral leishmaniasis based on the One Health concept in Sichuan Province, so as to provide insights into elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in the province.

[Effectiveness of the central government-funded echinococcosis control programme in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the central government-funded echinococcosis control programme in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, so as to provide insights into echinococcosis control. METHODS: Administrative villages were sampled using a multi-stage cluster random sampling method from Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, and all residents at ages of 12 years and older in the sampled villages were screened for echinococcosis, and schools were sampled using a cluster sampling method, and all children at ages of 12 years and older in the sampled schools were screened for echinococcosis. Domestic dogs were sampled using a systematic random sampling method, and one domestic dog stool sample was collected from each household. Stray dog stool samples were collected outside the villages, and Echinococcus coproantigens were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in domestic and stray dogs. In addition, echinococcosis was screened in sheep and cattle in designated slaughterhouses in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County. The trends in the prevalence of echinococcosis in humans and livestock and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens in dogs were examined with the Cochran-Armitage trend test. In addition, individuals screened for echinococcosis were randomly sampled from 2007 to 2022 for survey on the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge. RESULTS: A total of 290 356 person-times were screened for echinococcosis among residents at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 1 094 residents detected with cystic echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a gradual decline over years (χ2 = 358.602, P < 0.001). A total of 32 931 person-times were screened for echinococcosis among children at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 296 children detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a gradual decline over years (χ2 = 267.673, P < 0.001). A total of 33 230 domestic dog stool samples were tested for Echinococcus coproantigens in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 1 777 Echinococcus coproantigens-positive samples tested, and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens appeared a tendency towards a decline in domestic dogs over years (χ2 = 2 210.428, P < 0.001), while the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens showed a tendency towards a rise in domestic animals from 2016 to 2022 (χ2 = 37.745, P < 0.001). The positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens remained relatively stable in stray dogs in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2019 to 2022 (χ2 = 0.315, P = 0.575). A total of 10 973 sheep were screened for echinococcosis in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County from 2007 to 2022, with 334 sheep detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline in sheep over years (χ2 = 53.579, P < 0.001); however, there was no significant change in the detection of echinococcosis during the period from 2015 through 2022 (χ2 = 1.520, P = 0.218). A total of 2 400 cattle were screened for echinococcosis in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County from 2017 to 2022, with 231 cattle detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis showed a tendency towards a decline over years (χ2 = 5.579, P < 0.05). The awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge increased from 44.37% in 2007 to 94.00% in 2022 among residents at ages of 12 years and older and from 52.50% in 2007 to 92.50% in 2022 among children at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a reduction in the detection of echinococcosis in humans and domestic animals and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens in dogs and a rise in the awareness of the echinococcosis control knowledge following the implementation of the central government-funded echinococcosis control programme in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province; however, integrated echinococcosis control measures are still required for further control of the prevalence of echinococcosis.

Cystoisospora spp. infection at a dog breeding facility in the Madrid region: Infection rate and clinical management based on toltrazuril metaphylaxis.

Canine coccidiosis caused by Cystoisospora canis and Cystoisospora ohioensis-complex is common in kennels. While often underestimated, coccidiosis may cause severe clinical signs in puppies and sometimes even lead to death, so preventative measures are important. This study examines Cystoisospora spp. infection at a Labrador retriever breeding facility in Madrid, Spain. To identify environmental factors associated with infection, dams were examined throughout a reproductive cycle (from oestrus to 60 days postpartum) and their puppies during their first 60 days of life. Also assessed was the efficacy of combined treatment with emodepside (0.9 mg/ml) and toltrazuril (18 mg/ml) at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg of weight, equivalent to 0.45 mg/kg and 9 mg/kg, respectively, in puppies on day 35 of life. Oocyst shedding was detected in 4.6-18.6% of 45 dams examined and in 2.2-9.1% of their litters (315 puppies). In both cases, peak opg elimination was recorded on day 30 postpartum/of life. The species of Cystoisospora detected were C. canis (91.3%) and C. ohioensis-complex (8.7%). While in both dams and puppies opg counts were higher in autumn when rainfall was at its highest, correlation between opg and rainfall emerged as significant only in puppies (p = 0.031). The treatment of 35 day-old puppies with toltrazuril was 100% effective in controlling this infection in the kennel. Our findings therefore suggest the need for a strict hygiene regime and the use of toltrazuril as blanket treatment to reduce Cystoisospora transmission in dog breeding facilities.

'We have 'Tinder' tools to solve the health issues caused by pedigree dog breeding'.

Technology and estimated breeding values are the key to breeding dogs that will live long and have desired behaviour and good health and welfare, argue Aashild Roaldset and Eva Breuer Hustoft.

Dog ecology and rabies knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia.

In 2021, a comprehensive dog demographic questionnaire combined with a KAP survey were conducted in the northern communal areas (NCAs) of Namibia with the aim of gaining a better understanding of dog populations, owner behaviour, and knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to rabies. The survey of 3,726 households across the eight regions of the NCAs provided insights that will inform interventions in order to improve human rabies prevention and Namibia's dog rabies control strategy. The results showed a relatively low average human/dog ratio (HDR) of 5.4:1 indicating a surprisingly high dog population of at least 272,000 dogs in the NCAs, 93% of which appear to be owned but are free-roaming. Data analysis revealed opportunities but also highlighted needs for improvements in rabies surveillance and mass dog vaccinations. Although knowledge, attitude, and practice scores towards epidemiologic and clinical aspects, human rabies prevention, and dog rabies vaccination were deemed to be acceptable, the survey nevertheless revealed deficiencies in certain aspects in some of the population. Interestingly, data seemed to indicate relatively high dog bite incidences per 100,000 people, ranging between 262 and 1,369 and a certain number of unreported human rabies cases. Despite the very high number of dogs, only 50% of dog-owning households reported having vaccinated their dogs. In order to address these issues, the planning, announcement, and implementation of mass dog vaccination campaigns needs to be adapted to achieve adequate vaccination coverage. Another focus needs to be on rabies awareness and education if Namibia is to be significantly contributing to the global goal of "Zero by 30".

Essential oil pharmaceuticals for killing ectoparasites on dogs.

BACKGROUND: External parasites, particularly ticks and fleas, are among the most common problems affecting dogs. Chemical medicines are commonly used to prevent and eliminate such external parasites, but their improper use can cause adverse reactions, and the toxins they contain may remain in the environment. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro efficacy of Zanthoxylum limonella, citronella, clove, peppermint, and ginger essential oils against dog ticks and fleas and to test the sensitivity of dogs' skin to these essential oils. METHODS: The five essential oils were tested for in vitro efficacy against ticks and fleas, and the two most effective essential oils were then tested on the dogs' skin. RESULTS: The results revealed that these five essential oils at 16% concentrations effectively inhibited the spawning of female engorged ticks. In addition, all five essential oils had a strong ability to kill tick larvae at concentrations of 2% upward. Furthermore, 4% concentrations of the five essential oils quickly eliminated fleas, especially clove oil, which killed 100% of fleas within 1 h. A 50%, 90%, and 99% lethal concentration (LC50, LC90, and LC99) for the essential oils on tick larvae in 24 h were found to be low values. LC50, LC90, and LC99 for the essential oils on flea in 1 h was lowest values. Clove oil at 16% concentration was the most satisfactory essential oil for application on dogs' skin, with a low percentage of adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the effectiveness of essential oils for practical use as tick and flea repellents and eliminators. Essential-oil-based pharmaceutical can replace chemical pesticides and provide benefits for both consumers and the environment.

LaSap vaccine: Immunotherapy and immunochemotherapy associated with allopurinol in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic zoonosis that has a profound impact on public health in countries where it is endemic. Chemotherapeutic treatments cannot keep dogs stable for long periods, and the risk of generating parasitic resistance must be considered. Forty-four symptomatic and naturally infected dogs with Leishmania infantum were tested with two treatment protocols (i) immunotherapy with LaSap vaccine and (ii) immunochemotherapy with LaSap vaccine plus allopurinol. At 90 days after the end of the treatment, it was verified that, although both protocols had generated significant clinical improvements with a greater production of IFN-γ/IL-10, in relation to the parasite load, mainly in the skin, the dogs treated only with immunotherapy maintained the same profile. These results indicate that LaSap is a good strategy to control dog parasitism.

Efficacy and safety of geranium-oregano-thymol formulations to control of dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato under laboratory and field conditions.

The present study evaluated, in laboratory and field, the efficacy and safety of formulations of Pelargonium graveolens (geranium - G), Origanum majorana (oregano - O) commercial essential oils (EO) and thymol (T) to control of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. In the laboratory, three formulas (A: 2% tween 80%, B: powder and C: nanoemulsion) by a mixture of these components (GOT) were prepared and evaluated, and the best one was used to assess its safety and field application against R. sanguineus s. l. on naturally infested dogs. Besides the major compounds of the EO used were identified. The results of the lab study showed that formula A (2.5 g of each G + O + T + 2% tween 80 to complete 100 mL) was significantly more effective than the other two formulas tested and exhibited highly effective adulticidal, larvicidal, and ovicidal activity against R. sanguineus s.l. Significant LC50 and LC90 values of GOT were evaluated (13.4 and 21.5 mg/mL, respectively) for the adulticidal activity, (2.81 and 4.46 mg/mL, respectively) for ovicidal activity and (2.44 and 4.45 mg/mL, respectively) for larvicidal activity. The safety of formula A has been proven by the absence of its cytotoxicity on a cell line of human epidermoid carcinoma. Citronella and carvacrol were the major compounds identified in the commercial essential oils of P. graveolens and O. majorana, respectively. Formula A was used in a field control trial for almost 8 months, during the tick infestation season (April to November, 2022). Fourteen naturally infested dogs were divided into two groups, each with seven dogs. One group received formula A spraying five times during an experiment that continued for 8 months, while the other group received treatment with commercially available malathion acaricide. The animals were sprayed on five occasions throughout the experiment (April, June, July, August, and September). The results showed a substantial percentage of effectiveness after the first application of formula A with a 99.3% reduction in tick count at day 28 post-application (PA). In the case of severe infestation 60 days after the first application of formula A (more than 180 ticks per dog), the second application was done, achieving an efficacy of 54.9% at day 3 PA, so an emergency spray was done at day 5 PA to combat the rest of the tick infestation, achieving efficacy of 99% after 3 days. Consequently, a regular spray (third, fourth, and fifth application) was done every 35 days. This regular spray revealed 100% effectiveness at 14 days PA. Biochemical parameters of treated dogs were evaluated to confirm the safety of formula A. Creatinine, ALT, and albumin of the dogs treated with formula A were within the normal range of dogs, while urea and AST were higher than the normal range. In conclusion, formula A can safely treat R. sanguineus s.l. infestations in dogs with regular application every 5 weeks.

Early administration of canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody prevented mortality after experimental challenge.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody (CPMA) as a treatment against canine parvovirus (CPV-2)-induced mortality and to support USDA product licensure. ANIMALS: 28 purpose-bred Beagle dogs aged 8 weeks were randomized to the treated (n = 21) or control (7) group. METHODS: Dogs were challenged intranasally with 104.2 TCID50 virulent CPV-2b on Day 0 and monitored for 14 days for fecal viral shed and clinical disease. All dogs began shedding CPV-2 on Day 4 and were treated intravenously with a single dose of either CPMA (0.2 mL/kg) or saline (equal volume). No additional treatments were given to either group. Feces and sera were collected for quantitative analysis of fecal viral shed (hemagglutination) and antibody responses (hemagglutination inhibition and dot-blot ELISA), respectively. Dogs were monitored twice daily for parameters including lymphopenia, fever, vomiting, abnormal feces, inappetence, and lethargy. Humane endpoints triggered euthanasia by a veterinarian masked to treatment groups. The primary outcome variable was prevention of mortality as compared to controls. RESULTS: Mortality was prevented in all CPMA-treated dogs compared to 57% mortality in the control group (P = .0017, Fisher exact test). Canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody-treated dogs also experienced less severe and/or shorter durations of diarrhea, fever, vomiting, CPV-2 shedding in feces, and lymphopenia. Both groups showed similar immunoglobulin M responses as measured by semiquantitative analysis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intravenous administration of CPMA can effectively improve clinical outcome when administered early in CPV-2 disease. Canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody treatment after proven infection does not interfere with adaptive immunity.