Effect of dietary supplementation with ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide in maintaining remission in cats with nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis: a double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Background Feline nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis (NFHD) is a frequent cause of over-grooming, scratching and skin lesions. Multimodal therapy often is necessary. Hypothesis/Objectives To investigate the efficacy of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA-um) in maintaining methylprednisolone-induced remission in NFHD cats. Animals Fifty-seven NFHD cats with nonseasonal pruritus were enrolled originally, of which 25 completed all study requirements to be eligible for analysis. Methods and materials Cats were randomly assigned to PEA-um (15 mg/kg per os, once daily; n = 29) or placebo (n = 28) while receiving a 28 day tapering methylprednisolone course. Cats responding favourably to methylprednisolone were then administered only PEA-um (n = 21) or placebo (n = 23) for another eight weeks, followed by a four week long treatment-free period. Cats were maintained in the study until relapse or study end, whichever came first. Primary outcome was time to relapse. Secondary outcomes were pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS), SCORing Feline Allergic Dermatitis scale (SCORFAD) and owner Global Assessment Score (GAS). Results Mean relapse time was 40.5 days (+/- 7.8 SE) in PEA-um treated cats (n = 13) and 22.2 days (+/- 3.7 SE) for placebo (n = 12; P = 0.04). On Day 28, the severity of pruritus was lower in the PEA-um treated cats compared to placebo (P = 0.03). Mean worsening of pruritus at the final study day was lower in the PEA-um group compared to placebo (P = 0.04), whereas SCORFAD was not different between groups. Mean owner GAS at the final study day was better in the PEA-um than the placebo-treated group (P = 0.05). Conclusion and clinical importance Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide could represent an effective and safe option to delay relapse in NFHD cats

A retrospective histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular study of the presence of Leishmania spp. in the skin of cats with head and neck ulcerative dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Head and neck ulcers in cats can arise from allergic and nonallergic disorders, including feline leishmaniosis (FeL). It is important to rule out this aetiological agent in regions that are endemic for canine leishmaniosis, because the drugs used to treat immune-mediated disorders of cats can be contraindicated in the setting of infection. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the skin of cats with ulcerative dermatitis of the head or neck for evidence of Leishmania infection using combined immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). An IHC for tissue histiocytes was also utilized because leishmaniosis may provoke a histiocytic inflammatory response. ANIMALS: Twenty seven cats with head and/or neck ulcers. METHODS: Skin biopsy specimens were examined for the presence of Leishmania spp. by routine histopathological evaluation and IHC using a polyclonal anti-Leishmania antibody, and by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (IBA-1) antibody was used to immunolocalize histiocytes. Selected history and clinical data were recorded. RESULTS: All specimens showed a superficial mid-perivascular mixed inflammatory infiltrate. The presence of histiocytes was confirmed in 23 of 27 cases with the IBA-1 antibody. Immunohistochemistry and qPCR techniques confirmed the absence of Leishmania in all cases. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Leishmania did not seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of feline ulcerative dermatitis of the head and neck in the subjects studied, despite a lifestyle potentially associated with infection. Histiocytic infiltration of tissue is not a specific marker for Leishmania infection in this population

Immunohistochemical and molecular investigation on the presence of Leishmania spp. in the skin of cats with head and neck ulcers

Background: Head and neck ulcers in cats are frequently due to allergic disorders but are also reported in feline leishmaniosis, a disease in which drugs used to treat allergy are contraindicated. Prevalence of Leishmania infection in cats from endemic regions is not negligible and parasitic DNA, but not amastigotes, was recently demonstrated in diseased and normal feline skin. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate, through immunohistochemical and molecular techniques, the presence of Leishmania in skin of cats with head and neck ulcers. Methods: A retrospective histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular study was conducted on paraffinembedded skin samples from 29 cats, most of them living in areas of Italy at potential risk for leishmaniosis, presenting head and neck ulcerative dermatitis. Specimens were routinely stained with haematoxylin-eosin, immunostained using a polyclonal anti-Leishmania antibody and subjected to real-time Leishmania qPCR, including an internal reference. Along with other historical and clinical data, living conditions and sampling season were recorded. Results: All specimens showed perivascular-to-interstitial, predominantly mastocytic, and to a lesser extent eosinophilicneutrophilic inflammatory infiltrate, with moderate-numerous macrophages in 19 samples. Immunostaining and PCR were all Leishmania-negative. Eighteen cats lived in Central-Southern Italy, 23 had outdoor access and 15 were sampled in Spring-Summer. Conclusion: Despite lifestyle potentially associated with infection, Leishmania was not detected in skin lesions and parasites didn’t seem to play a contributory role to head and neck ulcers in studied cats

Prevenzione della leishmaniosi canina: cosa è utile sapere prima di raccomandare un prodotto topico attivo contro la puntura dei flebotomi?

In questo articolo vengono presi in esame gli ectoparassiticidi per uso topico attualmente disponibili in Italia utili per proteggere i cani dalla puntura dei flebotomi e quindi prevenire la trasmissione di Leishmania. Al medico veterinario che opera in attivit\ue0 correlate con la prevenzione della leishmaniosi canina vengono fornite informazioni scientifiche e pratiche relative ai seguenti ambiti: i) principi attivi e meccanismi d\u2019azione di questi ectoparassiticidi; ii) criteri di valutazione dell\u2019efficacia; iii) prodotti disponibili; iv) loro applicazione e v) potenziale tossicit\ue0 ed effetti avversi.In this paper, topical ectoparasiticides currently available in Italy useful for protection of dogs against sand-fly bites and prevention of Leishmania transmission have been covered. The present paper provides veterinary practitioners operating in the field of prevention of canine leishmaniasis with scientific information and guidance relative to: i) active ingredients and modes of action of these ectoparasiticides, ii) criteria for the efficacy evaluation, iii) available products, iv) their application, and v) potential toxicity and adverse effects. \ua9 2018 SCIVAC (Societa Culturale Italiana Veterinari per Animali da Compagnia)

Prognosi e monitoraggio della Leishmaniosi Canina

In questa rassegna sono illustrate le raccomandazioni del Gruppo di Studio sulla Leishmaniosi Canina (GSLC) sulla prognosi e il monitoraggio dei cani con leishmaniosi. Le raccomandazioni sono state elaborate tenendo conto delle recenti pubblicazioni scientifiche e sulla base dell’esperienza professionale dei membri del GSLC. La prognosi della leishmaniosi canina è oggi più favorevole rispetto al passato e non deve più essere considerata ineluttabilmente infausta, specie in assenza di gravi problemi renali e se la malattia viene trattata e monitorata correttamente. Formulare una prognosi in cani con leishmaniosi infetti o malati è comunque complesso perché le pubblicazioni disponibili sono scarse e mancano studi controllati che valutino specificamente i fattori prognostici. Per quanto riguarda l’infezione, il monitoraggio protratto nel tempo è essenziale al fine di identificare rapidamente l’insorgenza della malattia, cosa che può verificarsi anche a distanza di anni dal momento in cui è stata diagnosticata l’infezione. La prognosi della malattia dipende, in larga misura, dalla gravità delle alterazioni clinico-patologiche, in particolare dei danni renali, e dalla risposta individuale del paziente alla terapia. Altrettanto fondamentale è il monitoraggio dei pazienti per valutare sia il raggiungimento della remissione clinica sia l’adeguatezza della risposta al trattamento specifico