Prevalence of Dog Erythrocyte Antigen 1 in 7, 414 Dogs in Italy

The study aim was to establish the prevalence of DEA 1, the most immunogenic and clinically important blood group in canine blood transfusion, in 7,414 dogs from Italy. The potential sensitization risk following a first transfusion and the acute reaction risk following a second transfusion given without a cross-matching and blood typing test were also calculated. Dogs tested were purebred (4,798) and mongrel (2,616); 38.8% were DEA 1 negative and 61.2% were DEA 1 positive. High prevalence for DEA 1 positive blood type was found in Ariegeois and English Setter, whereas German Shepherd and Boxer had higher DEA 1 negative blood type. Breeds with blood type never reported before included French Brittany Spaniel and Pug showing a high prevalence of DEA 1 positive type, while French Bulldog and West Highland White Terrier were more often DEA 1 negative. Just 48.8% of purebred and 13.9% of mongrel dogs were considered as prospective blood donors based upon their blood type.Most of the breeds had a sensitization risk of 20.0–25.0%. Rottweiler and Ariegeois had less risk of sensitization (9.4 and 4.2%) and the minor risk of an acute transfusional reaction (0.9–0.2%).The prevalence of DEA 1 positive and negative dogs in Italy agrees withmost of the data already reported in the literature

Abnormal findings in haemograms of Dachshund puppies: Presumptive (Immunodeficiency) familial disease

In a litter of seven Dachshund puppies, one subject was stillborn and six presented with diffuse skin infections characterized by dermatitis, abscessation, pustules, crusts and ulcers. Two of the puppies were referred for further evaluation. One male puppy was referred at four months of age and a sister litter mate was referred two months later. A complete blood count, biochemical and histological examination were performed on these puppies to identify the pathologic process. Clinical, biochemical, haematological and histological evaluation of subjects. This report characterizes quantitative and qualitative haematological abnormalities in two puppies that resulted in a diagnosis of dysmyelopoiesis. The existence of a familial immunodeficiency syndrome was speculated. This is the first report of such a syndrome in Dachshund puppie

INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA IN LYMPHOMA: A COMPARISON IN HEALTY DOGS AND DOGS WITH NON HODGKIN LYMPHOMA

Background and objectives Animal models play a key role in understanding the importance of gut microbiome in immune development and composition as well as to reinforce the relationship between the microbiota and health and disease. Intestinal bacteria have been implicated in several types of cancer. Regardless, microbes influence immune cells directly, indirectly, or both, and increased lymphocyte proliferation can lead to a higher chance of aberrant DNA replication. This particularly occurs with some B lymphocytes which are innately vulnerable to genetic instability and activation. Methods We analyzed the microbiome (by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and qPCR assays) of naturally voided fecal samples from 12 healthy and 12 Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) dogs in order to evaluate the microbiota composition using a dysbiosis index. An index value greater than 2 indicates dysbiosis, while below 0 indicates normal microbiota. Results. Significant differences were observed when comparing the fecal microbiota structure of all healthy dogs vs NHL dogs (ANOSIM; P<0.05). Specifically, differences were observed for Faecalibacterium (P<0.001) with concentrations higher in healthy vs NHL dogs. The dysbiosis index was significantly lower (p=0.007) in healthy vs NHL dogs (mean, SD: H2.6, 2.0 vs 1.7, 3.2), respectively. Conclusion Interestingly, lower levels of Fecalibacterium prausnitzii were recently found in humans with some chronic colonic conditions as well as colorectal cancer (P < 0.001) compared with healthy subjects. This study showed that NHL have a increased dysbiosis index, indicating dysbiosis. Animal models of cancer can be critical in order to demonstrate a link between the microbiome and carcinogenesis

Fecal microbiota differences in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) affected dogs: preliminary results.

Animal models play an essential role in understanding the importance of gut microbiome in immune development and composition, and play a key role to reinforce the relationship between the microbiome and health and disease [3]. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematopoietic malignancy in dogs, caused by clonal proliferation of lymphocytes in solid organs [2]. Whether microbes influence immune cells directly, indirectly, or both, increased lymphocyte proliferation can lead to a higher chance of aberrant DNA replication, particularly in some B lymphocytes which are innately vulnerable to genetic instability and activation. Oxidative stress caused by intestinal microbiota, either directly or indirectly through the immune system, can also affect tumorigenesis, thus, the microbiota can affect several pathways associated with lymphomagenesis [4]. The optimal responses to cancer therapy require an intact commensal microbiota that mediates its effects, by modulating myeloid derived cell functions in the tumour microenvironment [1]. In our study design we analysed the microbiome (by using 16S rRNA gene 454-pyrosequencing and qPCR assays) of naturally voided fecal samples from 6 healthy dogs, 8 NHL dogs before and 4 NHL (of the eight) dogs after induction phase of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone) plus probiotics (Sivoy TM). Several statistical significances were observed compared the fecal microbiome of healthy dogs vsNHL dogs before chemotherapy. In particular, differences were observed for Bifidobacteria (p=0.0001), Lactobacillus (p=0.0001), Faecalibacterium (p=0.0005), Bacteroidetes (p=0.0480), and Fusobacterium (p=0.0025), which concentrations were higher in healthy dogs compared to NHL dogs. On the contrary, the concentration of Clostridium perfrigens was greater in NHL dogs compared to healthy dogs (p=0.0326). No statistical differences for total bacteria, Escherichia coli, Blautia, and Ruminococcaceae were found. Microbiome shift (total bacteria, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacterium, Escherichia coli, Blautia, Ruminococcaceae, and Clostridium perfrigens) of fecal samples were also compared before and after induction phase of chemotherapy plus probiotics (Sivoy TM probiotic mix Slab51, containing 8 strains of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria dosed at 200 billion per stick) but no statistical significance was found. In order to understand microbiome’s changes in NHL affected dogs treated with standard protocol plus probiotics, a larger number of stool samples before and after treatment, from a greater number of animals, should be investigated. The fact that an increased number of lymphomas are becoming associated with bacterial infections underscores the need for more studies involving microbes and lymphoma and about the use of probiotics to restore normal microbiota in affected dogs

Fluorescence Biomodulation for Canine Interdigital Furunculosis: Updates for Once-Weekly Schedule

Interdigital furunculosis is a common multifactorial, inflammatory disease of the canine interdigital skin in which lesions commonly become secondarily infected. Fluorescence biomodulation (FBM) administered twice weekly has shown to effectively control clinical manifestation as adjunct therapy to systemic antibiotic. Since twice weekly regimen could be unaffordable for some pet owners, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of once weekly application of FBM in combination with systemic antibiotic on clinical manifestations of canine interdigital pyoderma, comparing the results to those present in literature. Twelve dogs diagnosed with interdigital pyoderma received antibiotic plus once weekly FBM application. Dogs were scored until complete healing based on global lesion score and neutrophil engulfing bacterial score. The results obtained demonstrated that once weekly application of FBM exerts the same beneficial effect on interdigital furunculosis healing as per twice weekly, indicating that once weekly regimen is well tolerated and is yielding similar results to twice weekly applications

INVESTIGATION OF CRP AND OTHER HEMATIC INFLAMMATION MARKERS IN DOGS

The systemic reaction to acute inflammation, also known as acute phase response, induces some hemato-biochemical changes, which can be evidenced in laboratory findings. The C Reactive Protein (CRP) is a main acute phase response protein elective in dogs to detect inflammatory disease. Other blood parameters have been described as useful inflammation markers i.e. Fibrinogen and Leukocytes (1, 2, 3). The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the CRP values in comparison to Fibrinogen (Fib), Albumin (Alb), and Iron (Fe) values, total White Blood Cell (WBC), Segmented Neutrophil (NeuSeg) and Band Neutrophil (Band) counts, and the occurrence of Toxic Neutrophils (Neu TOX), Activated Monocytes (Mon ATT), and Reactive Lymphocytes (Linf REA) in blood smears. For this purpose, data of 1,837 blood samples was collected over a three-year period (2012-2015). Data collected for each sample included: Fib, Alb, Fe, WBC, NeuSeg, Band, Neu TOX, Mon ATT, Linf REA and CRP, as well as information regarding dog’s age, breed, and gender. Blood samples were divided into 2 groups: "inflammatory";; CRP ≥0.30 mg/dL (#1080) and non-inflammatory;; CRP ≤0.29 mg/dL (#757). The 2 groups were compared using: Chi squared for sex, breed, and age; Relative risk (RR) for age; Spearman Rank correlation test (SRct) for all parameters studied; Multiple regression (MR) to assess the relationship between CRP and other inflammation markers; Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves for diagnostic accuracy of each parameter in comparison to CRP (MedCalc®, 14.8). Dogs belonging to inflammatory group were significantly older (>7 years old) than those of non-inflammatory group (P<0.05), (RR, 1.38). Low yet significant (p<0.01) correlations between CRP and the other markers were noted using the SRct (R): CRP/Fib, +0.26; CRP/NeuSeg, +0.26; CRP/WBC, +0.24; CRP/Alb, -0.21; CRP/Band, +0.14; CRP/Fe, -0.08; CRP/NeuTOX, +0.23; MonATT, +0.22. On the contrary, the MR analysis did not show any relationship between CRP and other markers (R2: 0.05 for CRP ≥ 0.30 mg/dL;; 0.02 for CRP ≤ 0.29 mg/dL). ROC analysis of the parameters yielded the following results: NeuSeg is a moderately accurate inflammation marker with Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.71. The other parameters are less accurate markers of inflammation (AUC) compared to CRP: WBC, 0.70; Fib, 0.67; Alb, 0.64; Fe, 0.64; Band, 0.59. The markers with the best combination of Sensitivity (SS) and Specificity (SP) were: Fib (SS, 52.7; SP, 77.5 for 400 mg/dL cut-off) and Band (SS, 17.6; SP, 98.0 for 0.3 K/μL cut-off). The correlation between CRP and all the parameters studied, except Linf REA, is significant but low because they are affected by many conditions aside from inflammation. None of them is able to predict CRP values. The diagnostic accuracy of each single inflammatory marker is lower in comparison to CRP. In order to increase the diagnostic accuracy of inflammation markers, an evaluation of several parameters simultaneously is warranted, particularly in the absence of CRP measurement

Neospora caninum oocyst shedding in a naturally infected dog from Italy

Although the seroprevalence of Neospora caninuminfection in dogs can be relatively high, there are fewreports of dogs naturally shedding N. caninum oocysts. Worldwide, the prevalence of Neospora excretion in canine faeces ranges from 0.03% to 4.9%. A mixed-breed male household dog of about 8 years in age living in the district of Pisa (Tuscany, Central Italy) was referred for dysorexia, weakness and general lymph node enlargement. Clinical pathology demonstrated mild normocytic and normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypoproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia. Serology for Leishmania, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum was negative. From lymph node and bone marrow analysis, T cell lymphoma, high grade, pleomorphic type, clinical stage V, was diagnosed. The dog was treated with a chemotherapy induction protocol with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone for 8 weeks. A faecal sample collected from the dog 7 days after the beginning of the treatment and analysed by flotation test and a McMaster method, revealed the presence of 300 OPG N. caninum-like unsporulated oocysts of about 10–11 μmin diameter. An aliquot of the same faecal sample analysed by PCRwith species-specific primer pairs Np6+/Np21+ was positive for N. caninum DNA, while specific serology performed on sera collected at the first visit and a month later by IFAT, were positive with a titer of 1: 50 and 1:400, respectively. Soon after the dog died. Naturally occurring systemic illness or iatrogenic immunosuppression may predispose dogs to proliferation of the parasite. The dog was receiving chemo-immunosuppressive treatment for T cell lymphoma. For this reason it is possible to suppose that emission of Neospora oocysts in this dog was caused by reactivation of a latent infection