12 research outputs found
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Prednisolone therapy for chronic hepatitis in English springer spaniels: a prospective study of 12 cases.
BACKGROUND: English springer spaniels (ESS) show an increased risk of chronic hepatitis (CH). In a previous study of 68 ESS with CH, in which only one dog received corticosteroids, a median survival time of 189 days was noted. Some ESS with CH appear to improve with prednisolone treatment; therefore, we aimed to investigate the response to prednisolone in this breed. PARTICIPANTS: ESS with histologically confirmed idiopathic CH were treated with prednisolone 1-2 mg/kg/day. Nine female and three male ESS were enrolled (median age at diagnosis of five years). Patients were monitored clinically and had biochemistry samples taken to assess markers of hepatocellular damage and function. RESULTS: The mean starting dose of prednisolone was 1.1 mg/kg/day. All symptomatic patients showed an initial clinical improvement. Two cases were euthanased while receiving prednisolone. The median time since diagnosis is 1715 days (range: 672-2105 days) and the remaining patients are clinically well, with seven patients still receiving a mean dose of 0.4 mg/kg prednisolone every other day. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant (P<0.05) reductions in serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and bilirubin following 2-4 weeks of prednisolone treatment. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates improved clinical and biochemical parameters when some ESS with CH are managed with prednisolone and standard supportive treatments
Retrospective evaluation of thoracic computed tomography ļ¬ndings in dogs naturally infected by Angiostrongylus vasorum
Angiostrongylus vasorum (A. vasorum) is an important emerging disease of canidae. Cardiorespiratory signs are common in affected dogs, therefore thoracic imaging is critical for diagnosing andmonitoring disease. Descriptions of thoracic computed tomography (CT) ļ¬ndings in dogs naturallyinfected with A. vasorum are currently lacking. Aims of this multicenter, retrospective study were to describe thoracic CT ļ¬ndings in a group of dogs with conļ¬rmed disease, determine whether any changes were consistent among dogs, and propose standardized terms for describing thoracic CT ļ¬ndings. Nine UK-based referral centersā clinical and imaging databases were searched for dogs that had a conļ¬rmed diagnosis of A. vasorum, and had undergone thoracic CT examination. Eighteen dogs, from seven of the centers, fulļ¬lled the inclusion criteria. The lung lobes were divided into the following three zones and the CT changes described in each: pleural (zone 1), subpleural (zone 2), and peribronchovascular (zone 3). The predominent abnormality was increased lung attenuation due to poorly deļ¬ned ground-glass opacity or consolidation. There were regions of mosaic attenuation due to peripheral bronchiectasis. Nine/18 (50%) dogs showed hyperattenuating nodules of varying sizes with ill-deļ¬ned margins. The distribution always affected zones 1and 2 with varied involvement of zone 3; this resulted in clear delineation between zones 2 and 3.Tracheobronchial lymphadenomegaly was frequently noted. Findings were nonspeciļ¬c and there was considerable overlap with other pulmonary conditions. However, authors recommend that A. vasorum be considered a likely differential diagnosis for dogs with a predominantly peripheral distribution of lung changes
Resting and postprandial serum bile acid concentrations in dogs with liver disease
Abstract: Background: Serum bile acids (SBAs) are frequently measured in dogs. However, there is limited data comparing SBAs in different liver diseases diagnosed according to standardized histological criteria. Objectives: To compare resting and postprandial SBAs, and determine their sensitivity and specificity, for various liver diseases in dogs. Animals: Three hundred and fortyāone clientāowned dogs with suspected liver disease that had a liver biopsy and SBAs measured. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study. Cases were classified according to standardized histological criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of resting and postprandial SBAs for the diagnosis of each liver disease, and all liver diseases combined, were calculated. Results: The median resting SBAs were highest in dogs with cirrhosis (98.8 Ī¼mol/L; range, 6ā135) and congenital circulatory anomalies (CCa; 79.45 Ī¼mol/L; 0.3ā705). The highest median postprandial concentrations were found in CCa (126 Ī¼mol/L; 0ā726) and chronic hepatitis (CH; 54.3 Ī¼mol/L; 0ā260). Using the cutāoff value of 10 Ī¼mol/L, the highest sensitivities of resting SBAs were recorded in dogs with CCa (87.5%; 95% confidence interval, 76.8ā94.4) and CH (81.1%; 71.5ā88.6). The sensitivities of postprandial SBAs were the highest in cholangitis (100%; 47.8ā100.0) and CCa (91.1%; 78.8ā97.5). The specificities of resting and postprandial SBAs for all diseases were 49.3% (37.6ā61.1) and 29.7% (15.9ā47.0), respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Postprandial SBAs are more sensitive but less specific than resting SBAs for the diagnosis of liver disease. There were dogs in all categories of liver disease with resting SBAs 90 Ī¼mol/L. Therefore, careful interpretation of both normal and elevated values is required
Metagenomic study of the viruses of African straw-coloured fruit bats: detection of a chiropteran poxvirus and isolation of a novel adenovirus
Viral emergence as a result of zoonotic transmission constitutes a continuous public health threat. Emerging viruses such as SARS coronavirus, hantaviruses and henipaviruses have wildlife reservoirs. Characterising the viruses of candidate reservoir species in geographical hot spots for viral emergence is a sensible approach to develop tools to predict, prevent, or contain emergence events. Here, we explore the viruses of Eidolon helvum, an Old World fruit bat species widely distributed in Africa that lives in close proximity to humans. We identified a great abundance and diversity of novel herpes and papillomaviruses, described the isolation of a novel adenovirus, and detected, for the first time, sequences of a chiropteran poxvirus closely related with Molluscum contagiosum. In sum, E. helvum display a wide variety of mammalian viruses, some of them genetically similar to known human pathogens, highlighting the possibility of zoonotic transmission
Description of neurological mimics presented to the neurology service of a small animal referral hospital
Background: Clinicians observe that cats and dogs referred to neurology services often do not have an underlying neurological disorder. There has been no analysis of the frequency or categorisation of these neurological mimics.
Methods: Retrospective study of 520 cases was carried out. Data on signalment, presenting clinical signs, neurological examination findings and final diagnosis were collected. Final diagnoses were classified as primary neurological, non-neurological in origin but with neurological clinical manifestation, completely non-neurological (neurological mimics) or undiagnosed. Presenting clinical signs and neurological examination results were compared between neurological mimics and primary neurological cases using Chi-square or Fischer exact test. Relative risk (RR) was calculated for significant associations.
Results: A total of 74% were primary neurological conditions, 8% neurological mimics, 3% non-neurological with neurological manifestation and 15% undiagnosed. An animal referred for lameness was approximately five times more likely to be diagnosed as a neurological mimic than as a primary neurological disorder (RR = 5.42, p < 0.001). Cases with a normal neurological examination were approximately 15 times more likely to be a neurological mimic (RR = 14.97, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Thorough examination with consideration of alternative diagnoses is important when a neurological condition is suspected in an animal that presents with lameness or normal neurological examination
DLA class II alleles and haplotypes are associated with risk for and protection from chronic hepatitis in the English Springer spaniel.
Chronic hepatitis (CH) is common in dogs in the United Kingdom. An increased prevalence of the disease is seen in the English Springer spaniel (ESS), and this breed suffer from a severe form with young to middle aged female dogs being predisposed. The disease shares histological features with those of human viral hepatitis, although the specific aetiological agent has not yet been identified. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether dog leucocyte antigen (DLA) class II alleles and haplotypes are associated with susceptibility/resistance to CH in the ESS. Sequence-based genotyping of the polymorphic exon 2 from DLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 class II loci were performed in 66 ESSs with CH and 84 healthy controls. There was a significant difference in the distribution of the protective alleles DRB1*00501 (3.0% vs. 12.0%, odds ratio [OR]ā=ā0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]ā=ā0.06ā0.74) and DQB1*00501 (3.8% vs. 12.0%, ORā=ā0.29, 95% CIā=ā0.09ā0.85) between cases and controls. The haplotype DLA-DRB1*00501/DQA1*00301/DQB1*00501 was present in 11.9% of controls and 3.0% of cases and was significantly associated with protection against disease development (ORā=ā0.26, 95% CIā=ā0.08ā0.80). There was a significant difference in the distribution of the risk alleles DRB1*00601 (14.4% vs. 6.5%, ORā=ā2.40, 95% CIā=ā1.10ā5.63) and DQB1*00701 (14.4% vs. 6.5%, ORā=ā2.40, 95% CIā=ā1.10ā5.63) between cases and controls. A risk haplotype (DLA-DRB1*00601/DQA1*005011/DQB1*00701) was present in 14.4% of cases and 6.5% of controls and conferred an elevated risk of developing CH with an OR of 3.13 (95% CIā=ā1.20ā8.26). These results demonstrate that DLA class II is significantly associated with risk and protection from developing CH in ESSs
Resting and postprandial serum bile acid concentrations in dogs with liver disease
Abstract Background Serum bile acids (SBAs) are frequently measured in dogs. However, there is limited data comparing SBAs in different liver diseases diagnosed according to standardized histological criteria. Objectives To compare resting and postprandial SBAs, and determine their sensitivity and specificity, for various liver diseases in dogs. Animals Three hundred and fortyāone clientāowned dogs with suspected liver disease that had a liver biopsy and SBAs measured. Methods Multicenter retrospective study. Cases were classified according to standardized histological criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of resting and postprandial SBAs for the diagnosis of each liver disease, and all liver diseases combined, were calculated. Results The median resting SBAs were highest in dogs with cirrhosis (98.8 Ī¼mol/L; range, 6ā135) and congenital circulatory anomalies (CCa; 79.45āĪ¼mol/L; 0.3ā705). The highest median postprandial concentrations were found in CCa (126āĪ¼mol/L; 0ā726) and chronic hepatitis (CH; 54.3 Ī¼mol/L; 0ā260). Using the cutāoff value of 10 Ī¼mol/L, the highest sensitivities of resting SBAs were recorded in dogs with CCa (87.5%; 95% confidence interval, 76.8ā94.4) and CH (81.1%; 71.5ā88.6). The sensitivities of postprandial SBAs were the highest in cholangitis (100%; 47.8ā100.0) and CCa (91.1%; 78.8ā97.5). The specificities of resting and postprandial SBAs for all diseases were 49.3% (37.6ā61.1) and 29.7% (15.9ā47.0), respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Postprandial SBAs are more sensitive but less specific than resting SBAs for the diagnosis of liver disease. There were dogs in all categories of liver disease with resting SBAs 90āĪ¼mol/L. Therefore, careful interpretation of both normal and elevated values is required
Recommended from our members
Resting and postprandial serum bile acid concentrations in dogs with liver disease
Abstract: Background: Serum bile acids (SBAs) are frequently measured in dogs. However, there is limited data comparing SBAs in different liver diseases diagnosed according to standardized histological criteria. Objectives: To compare resting and postprandial SBAs, and determine their sensitivity and specificity, for various liver diseases in dogs. Animals: Three hundred and fortyāone clientāowned dogs with suspected liver disease that had a liver biopsy and SBAs measured. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study. Cases were classified according to standardized histological criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of resting and postprandial SBAs for the diagnosis of each liver disease, and all liver diseases combined, were calculated. Results: The median resting SBAs were highest in dogs with cirrhosis (98.8 Ī¼mol/L; range, 6ā135) and congenital circulatory anomalies (CCa; 79.45 Ī¼mol/L; 0.3ā705). The highest median postprandial concentrations were found in CCa (126 Ī¼mol/L; 0ā726) and chronic hepatitis (CH; 54.3 Ī¼mol/L; 0ā260). Using the cutāoff value of 10 Ī¼mol/L, the highest sensitivities of resting SBAs were recorded in dogs with CCa (87.5%; 95% confidence interval, 76.8ā94.4) and CH (81.1%; 71.5ā88.6). The sensitivities of postprandial SBAs were the highest in cholangitis (100%; 47.8ā100.0) and CCa (91.1%; 78.8ā97.5). The specificities of resting and postprandial SBAs for all diseases were 49.3% (37.6ā61.1) and 29.7% (15.9ā47.0), respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Postprandial SBAs are more sensitive but less specific than resting SBAs for the diagnosis of liver disease. There were dogs in all categories of liver disease with resting SBAs 90 Ī¼mol/L. Therefore, careful interpretation of both normal and elevated values is required
Frequencies of three locus DLA class II haplotypes in 66 ESSs with CH and 84 healthy controls.
<p>A total of 11 different haplotypes with frequencies >1% were identified. DLA-DRB1*00601/DQA1*005011/DQB1*00701 (haplotype four) had an increased frequency in cases and DLA-DRB1*00501/DQA1*00301/DQB1*00501 (haplotype eight) was significantly more frequent in controls, both numbers shown in bold. A p value for significance was set at 0.05 for comparison of haplotype frequencies.</p