G. Cardini

Analytical performances of d-ROMs test and BAP test in canine plasma. Definition of the normal range in healthy Labrador dogs.

An high level of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), due to an increased production of oxidant species and/or a decreased efficacy of antioxidant system, can lead to oxidative stress, an emerging health risk factor involved in the aging and in many diseases, including inflammatory, infectious and degenerative disorders, either in humans or in animals. In the last years some assays panels have been developed to globally evaluate the oxidative balance by means of the concomitant assessment of ROS production and antioxidant system capability. In this report, the validation trials of d-ROMs (Reactive Oxygen Metabolites— derived compounds) and BAP (Biological Antioxidant Potential) tests in canine specie are described and also the specific referral ranges are calculated in a Labrador population. The results of linearity, precision and accuracy trials show that both tests exhibit good to excellent analytical performances. The possibility of measuring oxidative stress in vivo with simple, cheap and accurate tests, d-ROMs test and BAP test, provides for the veterinarians a very suitable tool to monitor oxidative stress and to correctly choice of eventual antioxidant supplementations in diseases proven related to oxidative stress in animals and particularly in dogs. Further studies will be useful to confirm this possibility.

Plasma lipoprotein concentrations in the dog: the effects of gender, age, breed and diet

Earlier studies of canine lipoprotein metabolism have frequently not taken into account such variables as age, gender, lifestyle or feeding status. In the last years, many changes to lifestyle and feeding of dogs have occurred. In this study, C-tot, C-HDL, C-LDL, triglycerides and lipoprotein fractions were determined in 251 healthy dogs by means of enzymatic methods and through the electrophoretic technique. All data were analysed by multifactor anova test to determine which factors (age, gender, breed and diet) have a statistically significant effect (p < 0.05) on the determined parameter and subsequently Bonferronis test was applied where necessary. Gender, age, breed and diet can significantly affect lipid metabolism, in particular lipoproteins involved in cholesterol plasma transport; on the contrary, triglycerides are not influenced by the same factors. The most important observation about age is the high level of C-LDL in puppies under 1 year of age. The highest cholesterol concentrations are found in Rottweiler but high values of plasma cholesterol are found also in Pyrenees Mountain dog and a great level of C-LDL in Labrador. Diet has shown a great influence on lipidic metabolism: dogs fed with different high-quality dry foods had significant differences in plasma cholesterol values (C-tot, C-HDL, C-LDL,), in particular, dogs fed with a diet rich in fish and fish-by-products have shown the lowest levels of C-tot, C-HDL and C-LDL.

Experimental infection of dogs with Borrelia burgdorferi

Four beagle dogs were inoculated subcutaneously with the BITs1 Italian strain of Borrelia burgdorferi. Only one dog became infected and B burgdorferi was isolated from its blood and urine three and four weeks after infection. B burgdorferi antibodies were detected by immunofluorescence from four to 11 weeks after infection. An uninoculated dog kept in the same run as the infected dog, developed a positive serological response, but none of the five dogs showed clinical signs.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in hunting dogs during exercise.

Exercise has been shown to increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to a point that can exceed antioxidant defenses, to cause oxidative stress. The aim of our trials was to evaluate oxidative stress and recovery times in trained dogs during two different hunting exercises, with reactive oxygen metabolites-derivatives (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) tests. A group of nine privately owned Italian hounds were included. A 20-min aerobic exercise and a 4-h aerobic exercise, after 30 days of rest, were performed by the dogs. Our results show an oxidative stress after exercise due to both the high concentration of oxidants (d-ROMs) and the low level of antioxidant power (BAP). Besides, the recovery time is faster after the 4-h aerobic exercise than the 20-min aerobic exercise. Oxidative stress monitoring during dogs exercise could become an interesting aid to establish ideal adaptation to training.

Evaluation of fungicidal efficacy of benzalkonium chloride (Steramina G u.V.) and Virkon-S against Microsporum canis for environmental disinfection

The aim of this study is to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of Steramina G u.v. (10% solution of alkyldimetylbenzylammonium chloride; Formenti Grünenthal) and Virkon-S (multipurpose system; Antec International) against Microsporum canis-infected hairs and spores. Samples were collected from a random sample of household cats and from subjects from catteries. Seventy M. canis-positive hairbrushes containing furs, keratin scales and other organic material were treated with each of the two disinfectants, using concentrations recommended by the manufacturers instructions (2% and 1% for Steramina G u.v. and Virkon-S, respectively). Each brush remained in contact with the antifungal solution for 10 min. After this period, the brushes were air-dried, then seeded into mycobiotic agar, and incubated for up to 21 days at 28°C. The disinfectants were considered effective if dermatophytes failed to grow. Steramina G u.v. was effective in 97.14% of samples and Virkon-S in 87.14%. The antifungal activity of Steramina G u.v. against M. canis was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of Virkon-S.

Evaluation of the JT and corrected JT intervals as a new ECG method for monitoring doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in the dog

A comparison was made of the sensitivity of ECG, ultrastructural heart pathology, and plasma enzymes CK-MB and alpha-HBDH as methods to assess doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in adult beagle dogs given doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 i.v. once a week for three times. A progressive increase in JT and QT intervals, in corrected JT (JTc) and QT (QTc) intervals as well as a reduction in both T wave amplitude and RR duration, were observed in doxorubicin-treated dogs; the electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities were associated with doxorubicin-induced ultrastructural changes in cardiac tissue, consisting of dilation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, multiform, flasklike invaginations of T-tubules containing electrondense material, and interruption of the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum, which became more severe as the observation period progressed. On the contrary, doxorubicin treatment was associated with transient changes in plasma CK-MB and alpha-HBDH, which were unrelated to the severity of chronic cardiotoxicity. Overall results suggest that the monitoring of the ECG parameters related to the repolarization of the cardiac muscle, and particularly JT and JTc, might be regarded as a noninvasive method for the study of doxorubicin cardiotoxocity in the dog.

Corneal crystalline stromal dystrophy and lipidic metabolism in the dog.

Corneal crystalline stromal dystrophy and lipidic metabolism in the dog G. Barsotti & A. Pasquini & L. Busillo & M. Senese & G. Cardini & G. Guidi Published online: 7 August 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008

Veterinary case history: forensic and medical legal aspects.

G. Signorini1, G. Biagi2*, E. Luchetti2, G. Cardini2 and R. Bernocchi3 1 Specialisation School in ‘‘L aw and Veterinary L egislation’’, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Parma, Italy; 2Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy; 3Department of Medical and Forensic Science, University of Parma, Italy *Correspondence: Dipartimento di Clinica Veterinaria – V iale delle Piagge, 2 – 56124 Pisa, Italy E-mail: biagi@vet.unipi.it