Donatella Gelli

Clinical use of deslorelin for the control of reproduction in the bitch.

This study was conducted to evaluate clinical efficacy of deslorelin for inhibiting reproduction in the bitch. Ten adult healthy bitches or bitches with mammary neoplasia for which owners were requesting suppression of cyclicity without performing gonadectomy were administered a 4.7- or a 9.4-mg deslorelin implant subcutaneously. The first implant of deslorelin was administered in anoestrus (n = 5) or in dioestrus (n = 5). Treatment was repeated every 5 months for as long as necessary based on the clinical situation of the dog and owners desires. Some of the bitches implanted in anoestrus came in heat within 4-15 days after treatment, while none of the bitches implanted in dioestrus showed heat during treatment. Suppression of reproductive cyclicity was successfully achieved in 6/10 bitches for 1-4 years. No behavioural and local/general side-effects were observed in any of the treated bitches. The 4.7-mg deslorelin implant may work well for suppression of cyclicity provided that it is administered in dioestrus and at intervals of 4.5 months. A 9.4-mg implant may be more suitable for this use although its efficacy may also be shorter than 12 months. Owner compliance is an important limiting factor.

Clinical Use of Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Oligozoospermic and Azoospermic Dogs

Clinical investigation of canine testicular function is complicated by the difficulty in the evaluation of seminiferous tubules. Until recently, testicular biopsy was the only diagnostic option for dogs with persistent oligo/azoospermia. In human andrology, testicular fine needle aspiration (TFNA) is currently considered a useful method in the evaluation of azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia, and has long replaced classical biopsy to evaluate spermatogenesis. In order to verify its diagnostic efficacy for the clinical approach to canine oligo- or azoospermia, TFNA was performed in seven adult (two oligozoospermic and five azoospermic) dogs. After sedation, a fine (21-23 gauge) butterfly needle connected to a 50-ml syringe was inserted into each testicle; strong suction was applied and the aspirated fluid squirted on a glass slide, smeared out, air-dried and stained with a modified May-Grunwald-Giemsa. Under light microscopy, Sertoli cells (all those found in each investigated field) and spermatogenic cells (n = 100) were counted on each smear in order to differentiate spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, early spermatids, late spermatids and spermatozoa, and calculate their relative percentages. Cytological analysis showed the following testicular pictures: normal spermatogenesis (compatible with obstruction of the seminal ducts), hypospermatogenesis, maturative disturbances and Sertoli cell-only syndrome. Two dogs with an obstructive lesion were treated with corticosteroids; one of them recovered and sired two litters of puppies.

Effect of an injectable cabergoline formulation on serum prolactin (PRL) and milk secretion in early postpartum Beagle bitches.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate effects on prolactin (PRL) concentration and mammary milk secretion of an injectable cabergoline formulation administered to five lactating Beagle bitches during early postpartum (PP). Bitches were bled twice daily (from PP day 3 to PP day 12) and then daily (from PP day 13 to PP day 16) to assay serum PRL. On PP day 6, a subcutaneous (SC) injection of 0.1 ml/kg of placebo was administered. On PP day 9, a SC 0.1 ml/kg dose of injectable cabergoline was administered. All bitches were checked for milk production, using a clinical scoring in order to quantify milk expression from each teat. A circadian variation of serum PRL was evident during the 6 days of pre-treatment monitoring. The day after cabergoline injection, an 80% decrease of PRL serum concentration was observed (p < 0.05). The circadian oscillatory pattern of PRL secretion disappeared after administration of cabergoline, and PRL values remained significantly lower than in the previous days for the first 60 h following treatment (p < 0.001). Milk production was drastically reduced when comparing pre-treatment to post-treatment scores (p < 0.001). A single dose of injectable cabergoline caused a significant reduction in serum PRL concentration and a significant reduction in milk flow. The injectable formulation of cabergoline appeared to be safe and well tolerated.

Correlation between γ-globulins and Encephalitozoon cuniculi immunoglobulins in suspected infected rabbits

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a parasite that can infect a variety of animals, including immune-compromised humans. Rabbits are prone to encephalitozoonosis but the subclinical course and high serum prevalence make it difficult to diagnose with certainty in live animals. Different approaches have been used to support the presence of an active infection in symptomatic rabbits: antibodies titers, IgM and IgG serum evaluation, electrophoresis, PCR in urine, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. In this study, 76 symptomatic rabbits were divided in three groups based on their Ig results: IgM+ IgG+, IgM-IgG+ and IgM-IgG-. By statistical analysis total serum protein was proved not to be effective in predicting an antibody response, in contrast the γ-globulin ranges from serum electrophoresis can predict whether the patient is positive for IgM and/or IgG. In fact, a significant quantitative correlation between percentage of γ-globulins and positive IgM and IgG serum for E. cuniculi was established in symptomatic rabbit. These values can be useful to perform a screening both for symptomatic and asymptomatic rabbits.

Postponement of puberty in queens treated with deslorelin

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy of deslorelin, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist marketed in Europe for the control of male dog reproduction, for the postponement of puberty in queens. Methods Nine prepubertal queens aged 3–9 months were selected for this study; their general and reproductive health was checked through clinical, haematological, vaginal cytology and hormonal tests. Following treatment with a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant, each cat received a monthly clinical examination and blood was collected for hormonal assay every third month. Cats were monitored for 14.1 ± 5.2 (range 7–23) months. Results All cats were in good body condition and normal health prior to treatment. Their health status remained unchanged throughout the study and no significant variation was observed with regard to serum progesterone or oestradiol. Seven days post-treatment, 1/9 queens showed signs of heat, and one other queen showed complete vaginal keratinisation. No other signs of heat were subsequently observed in any other queen. Five queens were lost during the study after 7, 7, 16, 17 and 18 months of observation (during which time they did not show signs of heat). By the end of the study, no sign of puberty was observed in the four remaining queens at 21–36 months of age. Conclusions and relevance A 4.7 mg deslorelin implant was able to suppress the feline pituitary–gonadal axis, leading to postponement of puberty for up to 21–36 months in the four queens that completed the study. Deslorelin can be considered as a safe method to postpone puberty in queens.