Mircea Mircean

Autochthonous canine leishmaniasis in Romania: neglected or (re)emerging?

Canine leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum. In Romania between 1955 and 2013, no cases of human autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis were reported. Data regarding canine leishmaniasis is similarly scarce. Since the first report of clinical autochthonous canine leishmaniasis in 1935, there were only three sporadic reports of positive dogs all without any clinical signs. Our study reports the first clinical case of autochthonous canine leishmaniasis in the last 80 years, stressing the importance of a targeted surveillance of Leishmania infection, as infected dogs act as the primary reservoir for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis.

The role of cervids (Cervus elaphus) in the ecobiology of some tick- borne diseases

The maintenance of tick-borne pathogens in nature follows a variety of patterns that are always involving ticks, reservoir hosts and pathogens. The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is the fourth-largest deer species and inhabits most of Europe in a wide variety of habitats. In the last 50 years the red deer (Cervus elaphus) population remained constant in Romania, with around 30,000 individuals and no significant fluctuations registered. These animals are one of the preferred hosts for Ixodes ricinus, a tick with vectorial capacity for a wide range of pathogens; they are reservoir hosts for many tick-borne diseases; due to their movement from sylvatic to synantropic environment and back they can influence the spreading of both ticks and pathogens. In Romania, studies about the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in wild animals, eminently in red deer are limited. In this frame, our study aimed to describe the diversity of ticks that are parasitizing Cervus elaphus and to evaluate the molecular prevalence of Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., Theileria spp., Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in ticks (I. ricinus) and tissues (heart, spleen, liver) by PCR. In September and October 2012 samples from 53 animals (24 bred in captivity; 29 wild) were collected. All animals originated from Harghita County that harbours 10% of red deer population from Romania. Ixodes ricinus was the dominant tick species (99.7%). Only three specimens of Dermacentor marginatus were identified. Samples (1007 ticks, 19 heart tissues, 12 spleen tissues and 21 liver tissues) were used for molecular diagnosis. Genomic DNA extraction was performed individually on all ticks and tissue samples, followed by PCR. In ticks samples, all investigated pathogens were present: Anaplasma spp. (6.5%), Ehrlichia spp. (2%), Theileria spp. (0.8%), Babesia spp. (0.6%) and Borrelia spp. (0.3%). From both heart and spleen tissue samples 3 pathogens were diagnosed: Anaplasma spp. (21%), Theileria spp. (15.8%), Ehrlichia spp. (5.3%) and Anaplasma spp. (16.7%), Theileria spp. (16.7%), Babesia spp. (8.3%), respectively. Only Theileria spp. (9.5%) and Ehrlichia spp. (4.8%) were present in liver samples. To our knowledge this is the first molecular study that evaluates the presence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks and tissues collected from Cervus elaphus in Romania, offering important eco-epidemiological data from public health perspective, stressing out the necessity of permanent surveillance. This research was partially supported by grant CNCSIS IDEI PCCE 7/2010.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with endoparasitic infection in dogs from Transylvania (Romania): A retrospective study

During six years (April 2010-April 2016) we examined individual feces samples collected from 1314 dogs located in Center and Northwest Romania (Transylvania). Stool samples were analyzed by saturated salt flotation, sedimentation technique and modified Ziehl-Nielsen staining method. The overall prevalence of endoparasitic infections was 66.6% (n=875). Sixteen species/genera of endoparasites were identified. The most prevalent species were Ancylostoma caninum/Uncinaria stenocephala (33.0%) (p=0.0001) followed by Trichocephalus vulpis (25.0%). Mixed infections, were significantly more frequent (p=0.0001) than single species infections. The age and the living condition/service of dogs were identified as the main risk factors for infection with endoparasites.

Clinical and pathological effects of Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis in a dog with a natural co-infection

Canine dirofilarioses are mosquito-borne zoonotic diseases with a continuous expansion of their geographical distribution, as a consequence of different climatic and ecological factors. Dirofilaria immitis, the aetiological agent of heartworm disease, has gained a major veterinary interest, mainly due to its severe clinical implication. In the last decades, D. repens, despite of being regarded as a less pathogenic species, regained attention due to its recognized zoonotic potential. Romania has been traditionally regarded as a non-endemic country, but recent epidemiological surveys are highlighting the presence of both D. repens and D. immitis. The present case report describes the clinical and pathological features of a natural co-infection with D. repens and D. immitis in 5year old male Boxer from north-western Romania. Based on clinical and laboratory investigations, a diagnosis of kidney failure and chronical cystitis was established. The parasites were identified by morphology and confirmed by PCR and sequencing. To the best of our knowledge this is the first worldwide report of the ectopic presence of D. repens adults in the pelvic cavity and mesentery by natural infection and first report of the ocular localization of this parasite for Romania. The clinical and paraclinical findings suggest the implication of D. repens microfilariae in the aetiology of histopathological lesions. Further investigations are needed in order to establish the actual pathogenic potential of D. repens, a frequently neglected parasite.

Influence of Electroacupuncture on Thermal Changes in a Soft Tissue Defect

This study investigated thermal changes in the skin at locations where soft tissue defects existed and acupuncture needles stimulated by using bipolar electroacupuncture (EA) had been inserted. Under general anesthesia (GA), experimental defects were made at the dorsum site of five New Zealand rabbits. Bipolar EA was used for 20 minutes to stimulate the experimental defects, and the skin temperature was monitored at the sites where the acupuncture needles had been inserted and the soft tissue defects existed. The initial thermography of those defects had the same trend as that of the negative pole of EA stimulation at the first acupoint. Skin thermography during the first 3 minutes of bipolar EA indicated a centrifugal vasoconstriction and a vasodilatation at the negative and positive poles, respectively. After that, the thermal change in soft tissue undergoing EA stimulation was not modified by a different EA polarity. The local temperature at the defect and its surroundings under both positive and negative electric loads was increased by 0.2-0.3 °C for vasodilatation. This study indicates that EA influences sympathetic modulation of soft tissue defects and that selective sympathetic modulation caused by bipolar EA is responsible for the clinical perception.

Gastric Smooth Muscle Hamartomas Mimicking Polyps in a Dog: A Case Description and a Review of the Literature

This report presents a case of two smooth muscle hamartomas of the stomach in a 10-year-old male Boxer. The clinical history of the animal was of chronic vomiting, weight loss, and intermittent gastric distension, and it died because of chronic and congestive heart failure. Gross, histology, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) exams were performed. On necropsy, in the pyloric region of the stomach, two closely related polypoid growths between 10 and 15 mm in diameter were identified. On the cut sections, both polyps presented white to gray color, with homogenous architecture and well-defined limits. The thickness of the submucosal layer was seen to be increased to 1 cm. No other gastric alterations were identified by the necropsy exam. Histologically, both masses growth consisted of hyperplastic glands lined by foveolar epithelium, arranged in a papillary or branching pattern, and supported by a core of well-vascularised and marked smooth muscle tissue interspersed between glands. No dysplastic cells and mitotic figures were observed in these lesions. Immunohistochemistry revealed a strong cytoplasm labelling for smooth muscle actin of the bundles around the mucosal glands. To our knowledge, this is the first report of smooth muscle hamartomas mimicking multiple gastric polyps in dogs.

Ocular thelaziosis due Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida: Thelaziidae) in Romania: first report in domestic cat and new geographical records of canine cases

Thelazia callipaeda has been regarded in Europe in the last few decades as a “new” agent of an ocular disease in dogs, cats, several wild species, and not least in humans. After the first European description in Italy, in 1989, the parasite has been reported in many other countries, showing a widespread distribution of this parasite. The first case of canine thelaziosis in Romania has been reported in 2015, and it has been followed by other studies confirming the presence of the nematode in dogs or broadening the host spectrum with some wild carnivore species that have been found positive. Despite being considered suitable primary hosts for T. callipaeda, infection with T. callipaeda in domestic cat is rarely reported in Europe, probably due to some behavioral and physical particularities of this host. This study describes the first autochthonous report of T. callipaeda infection in a domestic cat from Romania. Additionally, to these findings, new geographical records of canine thelaziosis are being revealed, confirming the increased risk of this emerging vector-borne zoonosis.

Paraclinical Investigations of Electroacupuncture Analgesia in a Rabbit Ovariohysterectomy

The aim of this study is to investigate paraclinical changes in glycemia, serum cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) due to electroacupuncture analgesia (EAA) in a rabbit undergoing an ovariohysterectomy. Seven clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. Local and systemic analgesia was represented by EAA. Blood samples were collected at preoperative, operative, and postoperative times. At the operative time, increased cortisolemia does not promote a proportional increase in glycemia even though it is correlated with an increased level of ACTH. EAA follows the stress mechanism, which is coordinated by neuroendocrine activity. EAA in a rabbit ovariohysterectomy underscores the crucial involvement of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis with a direct influence on paraclinical changes, including changes in glycemia, cortisol, and ACTH, which are specific for stress changes.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEFT VENTRICULAR FRACTIONAL SHORTENING AND INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF STEM CELLS IN LABORATORY RABBITS PRESENTING CHRONIC MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Background and aims The present study conducted from March 2012 to July 2013 aimed to evaluate from echocardiographic point of view the effects of peripheral intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in laboratory rabbits presenting 30 days old chronic myocardial infarction. Material and methods 30 days after the induction of an acute myocardial infarction in 40 laboratory rabbits by direct ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery at about 10 mm from the apex, we injected 1×106 MSCs in the auricular vein in a group of 30 rabbits, and a group of 10 rabbits were used as controls. 30 days after the injection of stem cells the left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening (FS) was evaluated by echocardiography and compared with the control rabbits. Results In control rabbits, echocardiography revealed akinesis of apex, interventricular septum kinetics was also impaired, FS being approximately 6%. In 80% (24 rabbits) of the injected rabbits the FS of the LV was significantly greater than in the witness group (26+/−2%, p<0.0001). At 13.3% (4 rabbits) of the injected rabbits the FS of the LV showed no improvement in comparison with the control group (6.5+/−1%). Conclusion An improvement of LV SF 30 days after MSCs were injected(p<0.0001) was noted. We have to further determine if this improvement of the LV function is correlated with any histopathological changes and if it is not lost in time. Also, further studies needs to evaluate if there is any significant change in the overall mortality.

PERITONEAL DIALYSIS IN DOGS AND CATS

Renal diseases represent one of the more frequent affections mostly in aged animals. Even, if we talk about acute or chronic renal suffering in this time the excretion renal function must be replaced. Peritoneal dialysis represent an easier, cheaper and relative safe way to excrete the toxic metabolism products. Peritoneal dialysis principle is represented by osmosis principle which means the capacity of small molecules to pass through semipermeable membranes until the concentration become equal on the each side of these membrane. Scope. Testing the efficiency of a non-commercial peritoneal dialysis solution, compound of one part Ringer’s solution and ¼ parts 20 % dextrose. Pacients. 6 cats and dog with different sex, age and breed which have had a kidney disease. Results. As follow as peritoneal dialysis used we obtained: Decrease of blood urea nitrogen with 14.8 % / dialysis cycle; Decrease of serum creatinine with 7.2 % / dialysis cycle. Conclusion Peritoneal dialysis represent an easy, facil and safe way to excrete the toxic metabolism products until the excretion renal function will be recovered