Simona Di Pietro

A Molecular Survey of Rickettsia felis in Fleas from Cats and Dogs in Sicily (Southern Italy)

Rickettsia felis, the agent of flea-borne spotted fever, has a cosmopolitan distribution. Its pathogenic role in humans has been demonstrated through molecular and serologic tests in several cases. The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is considered the main reservoir and the biological vector. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and occurrence of R. felis in fleas collected from dogs and cats in various sites of Palermo (Sicily). Between August and October 2012, 134 fleas were collected from 42 animals: 37 fleas from 13 dogs and 97 fleas from 29 cats. Two species of fleas were identified: 132 Ctenocephalides felis (98.51%) collected on all animals and only two C. canis (1.49%) on one dog. Out of 132 C. felis, 34 (25.76%), 12 from dogs (32.43%) and 22 (22.68%) from cats, were positive for R. felis DNA by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), confirmed by sequencing. The only two C. canis fleas were negative. About half of examined animals (47.62%, 20/42) were infested with at least one infected flea; in particular 46.15% of dogs (6/13) and 48.28% of cats (14/29). It seems that in the Palermo district there is a peri-domestic cycle, with a relatively high prevalence of R. felis infection in the cat flea, an insect widely diffused in home environments and which can frequently bite humans. The results also suggest that R. felis should be considered in the human differential diagnosis of any spotted-like fever or febrile illness without a clear source of infection in Sicily, especially if the patient is known to have been exposed to flea bites.

Comparison of daily distribution of rest/activity in companion cats and dogs

The aim of this study was to characterize cats and dogs’ locomotor activity patterns in relation to housing conditions and owner interaction. Five adult cats and five adult dogs belonging to ten different owners were enrolled in the study. Animals were housed in apartments having daily access to the garden. Total locomotor activity (TLA) was recorded for one week by means of Actiwatch-Mini®. The amount of activity was higher during the photophase than during the scotophase both in cats and dogs. Cats showed no daily rhythmicity of TLA, while dogs exhibited a daily rhythmicity with diurnal acrophase and high robustness values. We can claim that owner’s presence influenced TLA of two studied species in different way: dogs showed higher amount of TLA and robustness, while cats lost their rhythmicity.

Effects of size and location of regions of interest examined by use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography on renal perfusion variables of dogs

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of the size and location of regions of interest (ROIs) in the renal cortex of unsedated dogs on renal perfusion variables determined by use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). ANIMALS 12 client-owned adult (1.5 to 2 years old) Labrador Retrievers (8 males and 4 females; mean ± SD body weight, 27 ± 1.6 kg). PROCEDURES Each dog received 2 bolus injections of sulfur hexafluoride during CEUS. Three small oval ROIs (area of each ROI, 0.11 cm(2)) located in a row with a distance of 1 mm between adjacent ROIs and 1 large oval ROI (area, 1 cm(2)) that encompassed the 3 smaller ROIs were manually drawn in the renal cortex. The ROIs were located at a depth of 1.5 to 2.0 cm in the near field of the renal cortex. Software analysis of time-intensity curves within each ROI was used to identify peak enhancement, time to peak enhancement, regional blood flow, and mean transit time. RESULTS The location and size of the ROIs of unsedated dogs did not cause significant differences in the mean values of the renal perfusion variables. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The development of CEUS has provided a unique means for visually examining and quantifying tissue perfusion. Results of this study indicated that it was possible to use small or large ROIs during renal CEUS to evaluate renal perfusion in dogs.

Application of a combined global positioning and heart rate monitoring system in jumper horses during an official competition - A preliminary study.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a combined global positioning system (GPS)/heart rate (HR) monitoring system is a valuable tool to assess, step by step, the physiological response of HR and its relationship with speed in healthy horses competing in an official show jumping class. Six mares performing a standardised warm-up and jumping course were monitored using a HR/GPS device. Venous blood lactate (BL), assessed before and after exercise, showed a significant increase (P = 0.0004) following the physical effort. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant changes in HR throughout the experimental period. The analysis of HR data recorded during the warm-up jumping stage showed significantly higher HR (P = 0.001) in the recovery period compared to the related jumping phase. Shifting the fence height from 100 cm to 125 cm during the warm-up jumps was also found to cause a significant increase (P = 0.016) in HR. According to these preliminary results, the simultaneous logging of heart rate and speed has the potential to be a reliable and powerful technique for field testing that can help in the monitoring of the horses response to jumping effort during training and competition.

Postoperative pain in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy: Comparison of the analgesic activity of buprenorphine and tramadol

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the analgesic activity of buprenorphine and tramadol for the management of postoperative pain after hemilaminectomy because of acute intervertebral disc extrusion in dogs. This is a randomized, blinded, and prospective clinical trial. The study was carried out on 50 dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy. After diagnosis, the dogs were divided randomly into 2 groups: group A (n = 25 dogs) received 3 mg/kg−1 of tramadol intramuscularly and group B (n = 25 dogs) received 0.02 mg/kg−1 of buprenorphine intramuscularly 10‐15 minutes before the end of surgery and, then, every 8 and 6 hours, respectively, for 48 hours. Using the short form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale at 4 time points (before and 2, 12, and 24 hours after surgery), the dogs were clinically monitored and scored by the same operator who was blinded to the treatment. Data were analyzed using Mann‐Whitney U tests. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Both drugs showed a good analgesic activity. There were significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to the short form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale scores: buprenorphine showed a faster and greater analgesic effect. None of the 2 molecules showed any side effects, such as respiratory depression. Buprenorphine and tramadol can be used safely and effectively to control postoperative pain in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy for acute disc extrusion, thus contributing to animal welfare. Buprenorphine might be better than tramadol during the first stage of hospitalization, but tramadol might represent a good alternative for the pursuance of the treatment, considering its lower incidence of side effects, both contributing to improve animal welfare.

Cortisol levels and leukocyte population values in transported and exercised horses after acupuncture needle stimulation

ABSTRACT Road transport and physical exercise represent stressful stimuli that can lead to homeostasis disruption with direct effect on health status, welfare, and physical performance of the athletic horse. Acupuncture is recognized as a practice modulating the physical well‐being of athletes. In this study, the effect of acupuncture treatment on some hematochemical parameters was evaluated in 5 thoroughbred horses after road transport and exercise. Horses competed in 2 official races. For each race, animals were transported from their stables to the racetrack. Horses transported and competed in the first race represent the control group. Two weeks later, the same horses competed in the second race. Before road transport, they were treated with acupuncture (acupuncture group). From animals, blood samples were collected at rest (TPRE); after unloaded (TPOST); 30 minutes after unloaded (TPOST30); at rest in the transit stall (RPRE); at the end of the race (RPOST); and 30 minutes after the race (RPOST30). The effect of transport, exercise, and acupuncture was evaluated on cortisol concentration, white blood cell (WBC) count, and leukocytes population including lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. A significant effect of transport (P < 0.01) and exercise (P < 0.001) was found on cortisol, WBC, lymphocyte, and neutrophil values in both groups. Transported and exercised horses subjected to acupuncture treatment showed statistically significant lower cortisol, WBC, and lymphocyte values (P < 0.01). The results found in this study showed that transport and exercise are potential stressors for the athlete horse that may affect its welfare and physical performance. The data suggest that acupuncture practice influences animals psychological perception of a stressful condition, probably, by modulating the neural, immune, and endocrine control systems.

Lipid and lipoprotein profile changes in newborn calves in response to the perinatal period

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamic changes of serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles in 6 newborn calves during the first five days of life. From each calve blood sampling was performed daily starting from day 1 (after colostrum intake) until day 5 of life. Blood samples collected from each animal were tested for serum total lipids, phospholipids, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), triglycerides, very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs), total cholesterol (Total-Chol), high density lipoproteins (HDLs) and low density lipoproteins (LDLs). One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine the effect of days of life on the studied parameters in calves. A statistically significant effect of days of life was found on all serum lipid and lipoprotein indices measured in calves with the exception of NEFAs that showed unchanged values throughout the monitoring period. The changes observed in calves during the early postnatal period are most likely due to the transition in energy sources, from a maternal nutrient supply comprising mainly carbohydrates and amino acids to the colostrum and milk diet rich in fat.

Prevalence, type, and prognosis of ocular lesions in shelter and owned-client dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum.

Aim: The point prevalence of ocular lesions due to leishmaniasis was evaluated in 127 dogs living in a municipal shelter placed in a highly endemic area (Sicily, Italy). Moreover, the period prevalence, the type, and prognosis of lesions due to leishmaniasis were evaluated in 132 dogs with ocular pathologies referred to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) in the same endemic area over a 3-year period. Materials and Methods: All the dogs were submitted to ophthalmological examination. The diagnosis of leishmaniasis was made by cytological, serological (immune-fluorescent antibody test), and molecular (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) tests. Results: The point prevalence of ocular lesions in 45 shelter dogs with leishmaniasis was 71.11% (45/127 dogs). The most frequent ocular lesion was blepharitis (50%) while anterior uveitis was observed in only 9.37% of cases. The period prevalence of ocular lesions due to leishmaniasis in the VTH group was 36.36% (48/132 dogs). In both groups, most of the lesions were bilateral and involved the anterior segment. Anterior uveitis was the most frequent ophthalmic finding in client-owned dogs (37.50%), but it occurred in only 9.37% of the shelter dogs. Keratouveitis often occurred during or after antiprotozoal treatment (14.58%; 7/48). In this study, the healing of eye injury following systemic antiprotozoal treatment was recorded in about half of cases (48%; 12/25 dogs), in which follow-up was possible. In more than 1/3 of cases (36%; 9/25), there was an improvement, but it was necessary to associate a long-term topical treatment; most of them, as well as those who had not responded to systemic therapy (16%; 4/25), had anterior uveitis or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Conclusions: Ocular manifestations involve up to 2/3 of animals affected by canine leishmaniasis and lesions account for over 1/3 of ophthalmic pathologies observed at a referral clinic in an endemic area. The occurrence of anterior uveitis is more frequent in client-owned dogs than in shelter dogs. The onset of keratouveitis during or after antiprotozoal treatment could be attributed to the treatment or to a recurrence of the systemic form. The post-treatment uveal immune reaction, already observed in humans, could explain the difference in the frequency of keratouveitis between client-owned and shelter dogs, which have never been treated.

Anatomical evaluation of the organs in the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, by diagnostic ultrasound examination

We describe the ultrasound examination of the cephalothorax and pleon in red swamp crayfish. Real-time B-mode, Color and Power Doppler examinations were performed on 10 crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852). We envisage that use of this technique will provide baseline information for further imaging studies to investigate the cardiovascular and digestive physiology and can be applied to identify disorders in crayfish, to say nothing of use in other crustaceans.

Quantitative evaluation of canine urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

BackgroundIn veterinary medicine, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography allowed the accurate quantification of liver, splenic and kidney vascularization in healthy dogs and the differentiation between malignant and benign hepatic, renal, and splenic nodules in dogs and cats based on perfusion patterns. The utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in other applications is still under study.The aim of this study was to develop diagnostic criteria by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in 8 client-owned adult dogs affected by urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma with definitive diagnosis made by cytopathologic evaluation after suction biopsy. The contrast enhancement pattern and the quantification of blood flow parameters of this tumor were reported.ResultsExaminations with B-mode, Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were performed in all not sedated dogs. Assessments of bladder masses and bladder wall infiltration were performed. Each dog received 2 bolus injections of sulfur hexafluoride during the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Quantitative analysis of the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography images were performed. For each dog, one region of interest was manually drawn around the entire tumor. Software analysis of contrast-enhanced time-intensity curves was used to identify peak enhancement, time to peak enhancement, regional blood volume, regional blood flow, and mean transit time.Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography showed an avid enhancement of the tumour tissue, with a heterogeneous or homogeneous pattern. The exam also showed the loss of planes between the lesion and the muscular layer. The presence of vascularized tissue through the bladder wall confirms the infiltrative feature of the tumour. Post-processing quantitative analysis showed a time-intensity curve with a rapid wash-in, a low level of signal intensity and a slow wash-out.ConclusionsContrast-enhanced ultrasonography provided useful clinical information and defined a vascular enhancement patterns and calculated parameters associated with TCC. It may be a useful, noninvasive and reproducible tool for detecting these tumors in dogs.