Skin and ear health in a group of English bulldogs in Finland - a descriptive study with special reference to owner perceptions

Background - Dermatological conditions are common in English bulldogs (EBs). Hypothesis/Objectives - This cross-sectional study describes the dermatological health status of a group of EBs and compares the results with owner perceptions and its possible impact on quality of life (QoL). Computed tomographic (CT) findings of the ear canals were compared between EBs and mesaticephalic dogs. Animals - Twenty-seven EBs participating in a health study in Finland. Methods and materials - A QoL questionnaire was completed for EBs with owner-reported clinical signs referable to the skin or ear. Clinical evaluation included recording the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, the Otitis Index Score, false paw pad grading and the presence of interdigital furunculosis. These were summed to form a total clinical score (TCS). The cross-sectional surface areas of the horizontal ear canals were measured from CT images and compared with respective images of 14 mesaticephalic dogs collected from a patient database. Results - All 27 EBs had abnormal findings on dermatological examination, but 37% of the owners had not recognized skin or ear signs. The median QoL score was 5.0 (range 0-12) and correlated with TCS (correlation coefficient = 0.507, P <0.05). English bulldogs had narrower horizontal ear canals than mesaticephalic dogs (P <0.001). Conclusions and clinical importance - All EBs had abnormal dermatological findings that were unnoticed or considered to be of minor significance to the QoL by most owners. Narrow ear canals were common, possibly related to the brachycephalic conformation of the breed.Peer reviewe

Genetic resistance determinants to fusidic acid and chlorhexidine in variably susceptible staphylococci from dogs

Abstract Background Concern exists that frequent use of topically-applied fusidic acid (FA) and chlorhexidine (CHX) for canine pyoderma is driving clinically relevant resistance, despite rare description of FA and CHX genetic resistance determinants in canine-derived staphylococci. This study aimed to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and investigate presence of putative resistance determinants for FA and CHX in canine-derived methicillin-resistant (MR) and -susceptible (MS) staphylococci. Plasmid-mediated resistance genes (fusB, fusC, fusD, qacA/B, smr; PCR) and MICs (agar dilution) of FA and CHX were investigated in 578 staphylococci (50 MR S. aureus [SA], 50 MSSA, 259 MR S. pseudintermedius [SP], 219 MSSP) from Finland, U.S.A., North (NUK) and South-East U.K. (SEUK) and Germany. In all isolates with FA MIC ≥64 mg/L (n = 27) fusA and fusE were amplified and sequenced. Results FA resistance determinants (fusA mutations n = 24, fusB n = 2, fusC n = 36) were found in isolates from all countries bar U.S.A. and correlated with higher MICs (≥1 mg/L), although 4 SP isolates had MICs of 0.06 mg/L despite carrying fusC. CHX MICs did not correlate with qacA/B (n = 2) and smr (n = 5), which were found in SEUK SA, and SP from NUK and U.S.A. Conclusions Increased FA MICs were frequently associated with fusA mutations and fusC, and this is the first account of fusB in SP. Despite novel description of qacA/B in SP, gene presence did not correlate with CHX MIC. Selection pressure from clinical use might increase prevalence of these genetic determinants, but clinical significance remains uncertain in relation to high skin concentrations achieved by topical therapy

Antimicrobial resistance in bacterial isolates from companion animals in Buenos Aires, Argentina: 2011–2017 retrospective study

The widespread use of antimicrobial therapy in companion animals could lead to increased levels of resistance. Monitoring these levels is critical to understand not only the zoonotic threat of resistant bacteria but also the interspecies transmission of resistance mechanisms. However, data on resistance levels in companion animals of urban areas in Latin America are lacking. In this retrospective study, we analysed 23,922 isolates recovered from clinical samples of dogs and cats between 2011 and 2017. Growing trends of resistance to fluoroquinolones were observed in most bacterial species of veterinary importance with zoonotic potential (Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus). Furthermore, an increase of resistance levels to third-generation cephalosporins was also detected in Enterobacterales. Currently, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. did not seem to represent a clinical challenge. A high proportion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales isolated from urine was reported. It is interesting to outline that resistance to amikacin was exceptional. This study might be considered as a baseline for prospective antimicrobial resistance surveillance in companion animals in our region.Fil: Rumi, María Valeria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Nuske, Ezequiel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Mas, Javier Diego. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Laboratorio de Análisis Clínico Diagnotest; ArgentinaFil: Argüello, Andrea. Laboratorio de Análisis Clínico Diagnotest; ArgentinaFil: Gutkind, Gabriel Osvaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Di Conza, José Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; Argentin