Increased prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Bernese Mountain Dogs: a possible breed predisposition

BACKGROUND: Glomerulonephritis in dogs has been associated with B. burgdorferi infections. In Bernese Mountain Dogs with glomerulonephritis antibodies against B. burgdorferi were found in most dogs, raising the question if the breed is predisposed to infections with B. burgdorferi. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi sensu lato in a well defined population of Bernese Mountain Dogs and to compare this prevalence with data from dogs of other breeds. RESULTS: 160 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 62 control dogs (large breed dogs with long hair) were included. All dogs were considered healthy according to a questionnaire filled out by the owner, complete blood count, chemistry panel, urinalysis and urine culture. Bernese Mountain Dogs and control dogs were kept similar in similar environments. Seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi was assessed by ELISA and Western blot and was 58% in Bernese Mountain Dogs compared to 15% in control dogs. This difference was significant. Neither antibodies against leptospires nor vaccination or hair coat color influenced the results. CONCLUSIONS: The cause of the considerably higher prevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi in Bernese Mountain Dogs and its consequences are not known. A breed predisposition can be suspected

Follow-up of Bernese Mountain dogs and other dogs with serologically diagnosed Borrelia burgdorferi infection: What happens to seropositive animals?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data on the long-term outcome of <it>B. burgdorferi </it>infections in adult dogs are sparse. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Bernese Mountain dogs with serological evidence of natural <it>B. burgdorferi </it>infection more often develop signs such as lameness, azotemia or proteinuria during a follow-up period of 2.5 to 3.0 years. Seropositive Bernese Mountain dogs were compared to seronegative Bernese Mountain dogs and to seropositive and seronegative control dogs of other breeds.</p> <p>Dogs included in a previous study on the prevalence of antibodies against <it>B. burgdorferi </it>in Bernese Mountain dogs were re-evaluated. Antibodies against <it>B. burgdorferi </it>were determined using an ELISA with a whole-cell sonicate as antigen and results were confirmed using a Western blot assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-three Bernese Mountain dogs and 30 control dogs were re-evaluated. Re-evaluation was performed between 2.5 and 3.0 years (median 2.7 years) after the first assessment.</p> <p>The age of the dogs at the second evaluation ranged from 3 to 11 years (median 6 years). There were no significant differences with regard to poor general condition or lameness between the first and the second evaluation.</p> <p>At the first evaluation 22 (42%) of the Bernese Mountain dogs and 11 (37%) of the control dogs were considered positive for antibodies against <it>B. burgdorferi</it>. At the second evaluation 25 (47%) of the Bernese Mountain dogs and 12 (40%) of the control dogs were considered positive; 69% of the dogs showed the same serological result at both examinations and 31% were seroconverted or seroreverted. During the first examination, azotemia was diagnosed in 6 Bernese Mountain dogs and during the second examination in 11 Bernese Mountain dogs. No control dogs had azotemia in this study. In seropositive dogs there was no increase in lameness or signs of renal disease over time.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It may be concluded that antibodies against <it>B. burgdorferi </it>determined by whole cell ELISA and confirmed by Western blot were neither associated with the development of lameness nor with signs of renal disease like azotemia or proteinuria in dogs observed over a period of 2.5 to 3.0 years.</p

Severe portal and systemic acidosis during CO2-laparoscopy compared to helium or gasless laparoscopy and laparotomy in a rodent model: an experimental study

Background and aims: This experimental study assesses the influence of different gases and insufflation pressures on the portal, central-venous and peripheral-arterial pH during experimental laparoscopy. Methods: Firstly, 36 male WAG/Rij rats were randomized into six groups (n = 6) spontaneously breathing during anaesthesia: laparoscopy using carbon dioxide or helium at 6 and 12 mmHg, gasless laparoscopy and laparotomy. 45 and 90 min after setup, blood was sampled from the portal vein, vena cava and the common femoral artery with immediate blood gas analysis. Secondly, 12 animals were mechanically ventilated at physiological arterial pH during 90 min of laparotomy (n = 6) or carbon dioxide laparoscopy at 12 mmHg (n = 6) with respective blood gas analyses. Results: Over time, in spontaneously breathing rats, carbon dioxide laparoscopy caused significant insufflation pressure-dependent portal acidosis (pH at 6 mmHg, 6.99 [6.95-7.04] at 45 min and 6.95 [6.94-6.96] at 90 min, pH at 12 mmHg, 6.89 [6.82-6.90] at 45 min and 6.84 [6.81-6.87] at 90 min; p 0.05). Central-venous and peripheral-arterial acidosis was significant but less severely reduced during carbon dioxide laparoscopy. Laparotomy, helium laparoscopy and gasless laparoscopy showed no comparable acidosis in all vessels. Portal and central-venous acidosis during carbon dioxide laparoscopy at 12 mmHg was not reversible by mechanical hyperventilation maintaining a physiological arterial pH (pH portal 6.85 [6.84-6.90] (p = 0.004), central-venous 6.93 [6.90-6.99] (p = 0.004), peripheral-arterial 7.29 [7.29-7.31] (p = 0.220) at 90 min; Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test). Conclusion: Carbon dioxide laparoscopy led to insufflation pressure-dependent severe portal and less severe central-venous acidosis not reversible by mechanical hyperventilation. Keywords: Acidosis; Blood gases; Insufflation gas; Insufflation pressure; Laparoscop

The orbitofrontal cortex projects to the parvafox nucleus of the ventrolateral hypothalamus and to its targets in the ventromedial periaqueductal grey matter

Although connections between the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)—the seat of high cognitive functions—the lateral hypothalamus and the periaqueductal grey (PAG) have been recognized in the past, the precise targets of the descending fibres have not been identified. In the present study, viral tracer-transport experiments revealed neurons of the lateral (LO) and the ventrolateral (VLO) OFC (homologous to part of Area 13 in primates) to project to a circumscribed region in the ventrolateral hypothalamus, namely, the horizontally oriented, cylindrical parvalbumin- and Foxb1- expressing (parvafox) nucleus. The fine collaterals stem from coarse axons in the internal capsule and form excitatory synapses specifically with neurons of the parvafox nucleus, avoiding the rest of the hypothalamus. In its further caudal course, this contingent of LO/VLO-axons projects collaterals to the Su3- and the PV2 nuclei, which lie ventral to the aqueduct in the (PAG), where the terminals fields overlap those deriving from the parvafox nucleus itself. The targeting of the parvafox nucleus by the LO/VLO-projections, and the overlapping of their terminal fields within the PAG, suggest that the two cerebral sites interact closely. An involvement of this LO/VLO- driven circuit in the somatic manifestation of behavioural events is conceivable

Zu Vorkommen und Häufigkeit von Glomerulonephritis und Antikörpern gegen Borrelia burgdorferi beim Berner Sennenhund

Berner Sennenhunde leiden häufiger an Glomerulonephritis als Hunde anderer Rassen. Als Ursache wurde eine Infektion mit Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato vermutet. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Prävalenz von Antikörpern gegen B. burgdorferi und die Häufigkeit von Proteinurie bei Berner Sennenhunden im Vergleich zu Hunden anderer Rassen in der Schweiz festzustellen. Zwischen Mai 2003 und Mai 2004 wurden von 160 klinisch gesunden Berner Sennenhunden und 62 Kontrollhunden Blutproben auf Antikörper gegen B. burgdorferi und Urinproben auf Proteinurie untersucht. Gleichzeitig wurden alle Berner Sennenhunde und alle Hunde mit Proteinurie, die an der Kleintierklinik der Universität Zürich vorgestellt wurden, untersucht. Zur Untersuchung der Proteinurie wurde ein Protein-Kreatinin-Quotient im Urin, ein Mikroalbuminurie-Test und eine Harnelektrophorese durchgeführt. Von 160 gesunden Berner Sennenhunden hatten 94 (59%), von den 62 Kontrollhunden 11 (18%) Antikörper gegen B. burgdorferi. Eine deutliche Proteinurie wurde bei 3 Berner Sennenhunden festgestellt und bei keinem der Kontrollhunde. Berner Sennenhunde wiesen signifikant häufiger Antikörper gegen B. burgdorferi auf als Hunde anderer Rassen, zeigten aber nicht häufiger eine Proteinurie. Trotzdem waren sie unter den an der Klinik mit Proteinurie vorgestellten Hunden (n=30) mit 12 (40%) signifikant übervertreten. Der Grund dafür ist unklar. Verlaufsstudien könnten einen möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen Glomerulonephritis und B. burgdorferi bei Berner Sennenhunden zeigen. Bernese Mountain Dogs suffer more often from glomerulonephritis than dogs of other breeds. B. burgdorferi sensu lato was suspected as a cause. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi and the occurrence of proteinuria in Bernese Mountain Dogs compared to dogs of other breeds. Between Mai 2003 and Mai 2004 blood from 160 healthy Bernese Mountain Dogs and 62 control dogs was tested for antibodies against B. burgdorferi and urine for proteinuria. At the same time all Bernese Mountain Dogs and all dogs with proteinuria presented to the Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Zurich were examined. To further evaluate proteinuria an in-clinic test for canine microalbuminuria and urine electrophoresis were performed. Out of the 160 Bernese Mountain Dogs 94 (59%) had antibodies against B. burgdorfei and of the 62 control dogs 11 (18%). Overt proteinuria was diagnosed in 3 Bernese Mountain Dogs and in no control dog. Bernese Mountain Dogs had significantly more often antibodies against B. burgdorferi compared to dogs of other breeds but proteinuria was not found more often. However in the group of dogs presented to the clinic with proteinuria (n=30) Bernese Mountain Dogs were significantly overrepresented with 12 dogs (40%). The reason for this is not clear. Follow-up studies are needed to establish a possible association between B. burgdorfei and glomerulonephritis in Bernese Mountain Dogs

Increased prevalence of infections in Bernese Mountain Dogs: a possible breed predisposition-1

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Increased prevalence of infections in Bernese Mountain Dogs: a possible breed predisposition"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/3/15</p><p>BMC Veterinary Research 2007;3():15-15.</p><p>Published online 12 Jul 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1959192.</p><p></p

Increased prevalence of infections in Bernese Mountain Dogs: a possible breed predisposition-0

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Increased prevalence of infections in Bernese Mountain Dogs: a possible breed predisposition"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/3/15</p><p>BMC Veterinary Research 2007;3():15-15.</p><p>Published online 12 Jul 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1959192.</p><p></p

Efferent connections of the parvalbumin-positive (PV1) nucleus in the lateral hypothalamus of rodents

A solitary cluster of parvalbumin-positive neurons – the PV1 nucleus – has been observed in the lateral hypothalamus of rodents. In the present study, we mapped the efferent connections of the PV1 nucleus using nonspecific antero- and retrograde tracers in rats, and chemoselective, Cre-dependent viral constructs in parvalbumin-Cre mice. In both species, the PV1 nucleus was found to project mainly to the periaqueductal grey matter (PAG), predominantly ipsilaterally. Indirectly in rats and directly in mice, a discrete, longitudinally oriented cylindrical column of terminal fields (PV1-CTF) was identified ventrolateral to the aqueduct on the edge of the PAG. The PV1-CTF is particularly dense in the rostral portion, which is located in the supraoculomotor nucleus (Su3). It is spatially interrupted over a short stretch at the level of the trochlear nucleus and abuts caudally on a second parvalbumin-positive (PV2) nucleus. The rostral and the caudal portions of the PV1-CTF consist of axonal endings, which stem from neurons scattered throughout the PV1 nucleus. Topographically, the longitudinal orientation of the PV1-CTF accords with that of the likewise longitudinally oriented functional modules of the PAG, but overlaps none of them. Minor terminal fields were identified in a crescentic column of the lateral PAG, as well as in the Edinger–Westphal, the lateral habenular, and the laterodorsal tegmental nuclei. So far, no obvious functions have been attributed to this small, circumscribed column ventrolateral to the aqueduct, the prime target of the PV1 nucleus