Theodoros Petanides

Molecular Documentation of Bartonella Infection in Dogs in Greece and Italy

ABSTRACT This study reports the occurrence of “Bartonella rochalimae” in Europe and the presence of Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii genotypes II and III in dogs in southern Italy and provides DNA sequencing evidence of a potentially new Bartonella sp. infecting dogs in Greece and Italy.

Factors associated with the occurrence of epistaxis in natural canine leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum)

BACKGROUND Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a common cause of epistaxis in dogs residing in endemic areas. The pathogenesis of CanL-associated epistaxis has not been fully explored because of the limited number of cases reported so far. HYPOTHESIS Epistaxis in CanL could be attributed to more than 1 pathomechanism such as hemostatic dysfunction, biochemical abnormalities, chronic rhinitis, and coinfections occurring in various combinations. ANIMALS Fifty-one dogs with natural CanL. METHODS The allocation of 51 dogs in this cross-sectional study was based on the presence (n = 24) or absence (n = 27) of epistaxis. The potential associations among epistaxis and concurrent infections (Ehrlichia canis, Bartonella spp., and Aspergillus spp.), biochemical and hemostatic abnormalities, and nasal histopathology were investigated. RESULTS Hypergammaglobulinemia (P= .044), increased serum viscosity (P= .038), decreased platelet aggregation response to collagen (P= .042), and nasal mucosa ulceration (P= .039) were more common in the dogs with epistaxis than in those without epistaxis. The other significant differences between the 2 groups involved total serum protein (P= .029) and gamma-globulin (P= .013) concentrations, which were higher, and the percentage platelet aggregation to collagen, which was lower (P= .012) in the epistaxis dogs. CLINICAL IMPORTANCE CanL-associated epistaxis appears to be the result of multiple and variable pathogenetic factors such as thrombocytopathy, hyperglobulinemia-induced serum hyperviscosity, and nasal mucosa ulceration.

Thyroid function in 36 dogs with leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum before and during treatment with allopurinol with or without meglumine antimonate

Hypothyroidism may predispose to the development of canine leishmaniosis or it may appear during the course of the latter due to infiltration and destruction of the thyroid gland by infected macrophages. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate thyroid function through measurement of serum total thyroxin (tT₄), free thyroxin (fT₄), and canine thyroid stimulating hormone (cTSH) concentrations in 36 dogs with leishmaniosis, before and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment with allopurinol with or without meglumine antimonate. Before treatment 27/36 (75%) dogs had serum tT₄ concentrations below the lower limit of the reference interval but only 2 of them had concurrently serum fT₄ concentrations below the lower limit of the reference interval and none had increased serum cTSH concentrations. During treatment there were no significant changes in serum tT₄ or fT₄ concentrations, whereas a significant increase in serum cTSH was observed. Two dogs had decreased serum tT₄ and fT₄ but normal cTSH concentrations before treatment and two other dogs had decreased serum tT₄ and increased cTSH, but normal fT₄ concentrations during the treatment period. Although hypothyroidism could not be definitively excluded in these dogs it is considered unlikely based on their overall hormonal profile, clinical presentation, and response to treatment. Therefore, hypothyroidism does not appear to be an important predisposing disease or a frequent complication of canine leishmaniosis.

Giant Hypertrophic Gastritis (Ménétrier’s-like Disease) in an Old English Sheepdog

An 11-year-old, male Old English sheepdog was admitted for weight loss and intermittent vomiting of 1 months duration. A cranioventral abdominal mass, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and hypoalbuminemia were the prominent abnormal findings. Imaging studies identified a remarkably thickened gastric wall with multilobulated folds protruding into the gastric lumen. Gastrotomy revealed the presence of giant cerebriform rugal folds arising from the fundus and body of the stomach. Pronounced gastric glandular hyperplasia and lack of evidence of cellular atypia were suggestive of giant hypertrophic gastritis. The dog was treated with prednisolone, cimetidine, and hyoscine butylbromide, only to experience a short-term remission.

Comparison of two commercial rapid in-clinic serological tests for detection of antibodies against Leishmania spp. in dogs

Antibodies against Leishmania spp. are detected in most dogs with clinical signs of leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum. Accurate, rapid in-clinic serological tests may permit immediate confirmation of the diagnosis and implementation of therapeutic measures. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 2 commercial, rapid in-clinic serological tests for the detection of anti-Leishmania antibodies in sera of dogs, the Snap Canine Leishmania Antibody Test kit (IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Westbrook, Maine) and the ImmunoRun Antibody Detection kit (Biogal Galed Labs, Kibbutz Galed, Israel), using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) as the reference method. A total of 109 sera collected from 65 seropositive and 44 seronegative dogs were used. The sensitivities of the Snap and ImmunoRun kits were 89.23% (95% confidence interval: 79.05–95.54%) and 86.15% (95% confidence interval: 75.33–93.45%), respectively, and the specificity of both tests was 100%. A good agreement between each of the rapid in-clinic serological tests and IFAT and between the 2 rapid in-clinic serological tests was witnessed. Both rapid in-clinic serological tests showed an adequate diagnostic accuracy and can be used for the fast detection of antibodies against L. infantum in dogs.

Prospective evaluation of serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity and troponin I concentrations in Leishmania infantum-infected dogs treated with meglumine antimonate☆

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) caused by Leishmania infantum is an important zoonotic disease. One of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of CanL is meglumine antimonate. Drugs of this class have been associated with pancreatitis and cardiotoxicity in humans infected with Leishmania spp. The aim of this study was to measure serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (Spec cPL) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in dogs with leishmaniosis during treatment with meglumine antimonate, and to compare them with those of dogs with leishmaniosis not treated with this drug. A total of 30 non-uremic dogs with leishmaniosis, living in Greece, were prospectively enrolled into the study. Of the 30 dogs, 20 (Group A) were treated with a combination of meglumine antimonate (100mg/kg, SC, q24 h) and allopurinol (10mg/kg, PO, q12h) for 28 days, while 10 dogs (Group B) were treated with allopurinol alone (10mg/kg, PO, q12h) for 28 days. Blood samples were collected at timepoint 0 (before treatment) and at 14 and 28 days after the initiation of treatment. None of the dogs treated with meglumine antiomonate had a Spec cPL concentration suggestive of pancreatitis (≥ 400 μg/L) or clinical signs suggestive of pancreatitis at any of the timepoints. Similarly, none of the dogs treated with meglumine antiomonate had a serum cTnI concentration above the upper limit of the reference range (>0.5 ng/mL) or clinical evidence of cardiotoxicity at any of the 3 timepoints. In the present study, meglumine antimonate treatment in dogs with leishmaniosis did not result in clinical or laboratory evidence of either pancreatitis or cardiotoxicity.

Intestinal obstruction due to sand in a dog

FOREIGN bodies constitute the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in small animal practice, and foreignbody-induced intestinal obstruction is a common indication for emergency laparotomy in small animals. A large variety of radiopaque and non-opaque foreign bodies may be seen in dogs (Clark 1968, Capak and others 2001). Radiopaque foreign bodies can be easily recognised on plain radiographs, but it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose the presence of nonopaque foreign bodies. This short communication describes a case of intestinal obstruction in a dog caused by the ingestion of a large quantity of sand. A 10-month-old intact male labrador cross weighing 21·5 kg was presented for investigation and treatment with a history of anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea of four days’ duration. According to the history, the dog had been taken to the seashore four days previously. On physical examination the dog was depressed and mildly dehydrated. Abdominal palpation revealed the presence of impacted intestinal loops. A complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis and urinalysis were unremarkable. Plain abdominal radiographs were obtained; they demonstrated small intestinal dilation due to an accumulation of radiopaque material, which resembled contrast medium, in the intestinal lumen. The radiopaque material had a granular, speckled appearance, which was more evident at the periphery of the intestinal lumen (Fig 1). Gas-filled intestinal loops, compatible with obstruction, were also evident. The dog was put on lactated Ringer’s solution as intravenous fluid therapy. Cefazolin (Vifazolin; Vianex) was given intravenously at a dose of 30 mg/kg as antimicrobial prophylaxis, at the time of anaesthetic induction. The dog was premedicated with pethidine and acepromazine (Calmivet; Vétoquinol); anaesthesia was induced by 2·5 per cent thiopentone sodium (Pentothal Sodium; Abbott) and maintained with a mixture of halothane (Fluothane; Zeneca) and oxygen in a closed system. A ventral midline laparotomy was performed and a foreign body obstruction of the jejunum and ileum was apparent. A 25 cm length of the intestine was found to be impacted with sand. Two intestinal clamps were placed either side of the impacted region and a 5 cm enterotomy was made at the ileum distal to the obstruction (Fig 2). The sand was removed by a combination of intestinal milking and lavage of the intestinal lumen with 1 litre of warm saline, delivered by a soft catheter inserted through the incision. Approximately 350 g of sand mixed with blood was removed. The dog recovered uneventfully and was reported to be well four months after surgery. To the authors’ knowledge and according to two retrospective studies (Clark 1968, Capak and others 2001) this is the first report of such a case, although young dogs are more prone to ingesting this type of foreign body. Radiological examination of the present case revealed the presence of a highly opaque foreign material of speckled appearance, mimicking barium contrast medium, which outlined the bowel. However, contrast materials given orally do not have a speckled appearance. Lavage of the intestinal lumen with copious saline helped to loosen and mobilise the sand and allowed easy removal, avoiding the need for multiple enterotomy incisions. Small amounts of sand are usually easily passed along the intestine without causing problems. However, large amounts may result in partial intestinal obstruction, as was observed in the present case. It is believed that the sand may have caused intestinal mucosa ulceration, haemorrhage and secondary motility alteration. However, no haemorrhagic diarrhoea was reported in the dog before or after surgical intervention.

Synovial fluid cytology in experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis)

Evidence-based information of a cause-and-effect relationship between Ehrlichia canis infection and polyarthritis in naturally- or experimentally-infected dogs is currently lacking. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether synovial fluid cytological evidence of arthritis could be documented in dogs with acute monocytic ehrlichiosis. Direct synovial fluid cytology smears from eight Beagle dogs experimentally infected with E. canis were examined prior to, and on 21, 35 and 63 days post-inoculation. The cytological variables assessed included cellularity, percentages of mononuclear cells and neutrophils, macrophage reactivity and evidence of E. canis morulae. The median cellularity and percentages of mononuclear cells and neutrophils prior to inoculation did not differ when compared to post-inoculation cytological evaluation. Increased cellularity, E. canis morulae or cytological evidence of arthritis or macrophage reactivity were not observed throughout the course of the study. In the present study, no cytological evidence of arthritis was found in dogs with experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, suggesting that E. canis infection should be considered a rather uncommon cause of arthritis in dogs.