Enfermedad intestinal inflamatoria en perros : 58 casos (2000-2003)

El objetivo de este estudio retrospectivo es evaluar la historia clínica, los hallazgos histopatológicos y la respuesta al tratamiento descritos en 58 perros durante el periodo 2000-2003

Therapy of ocular and visceral leishmaniasis in a cat

An 8-year-old, spayed female Domestic Short-haired cat was referred for further evaluation of chronic lymphocytic-plasmacytic stomatitis and bilateral ocular disease. The cat had been treated with systemic glucocorticoids for several months. Initial ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral deep stromal corneal ulcers, exudative panuveitis and secondary glaucoma. Mature mild neutrophilia and monocytosis were detected on complete blood cell count. Abnormalities in the serum profile were hyperglycemia, mild azotemia, hyperglobulinemia and moderate polyclonal gammapathy. Urinalysis revealed glucosuria without ketonuria. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed and treatment with long-acting insulin was started. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was highly positive for leishmaniasis, and treatment with allopurinol was started. Although specific topical treatment was applied, melting ulcers progressed to corneal perforation and both eyes were enucleated. Ocular histology showed large numbers of intracellular organisms compatible with amastigotes of the genus Leishmania located in the uveal tract, cornea, sclera and retina. Results of inmunohistochemistry staining on ocular samples were positive for Leishmania. Bone marrow cytology demonstrated numerous macrophages with intracytoplasmatic Leishmania. Polymerase chain reaction results on bone marrow for Leishmania were positive. Three weeks later, hypoglycemic episodes permitted withdrawal of the insulin therapy. To the authors' knowledge this is the first case of ocular and visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed in vivo and under systemic treatment in a cat

Serological evidence of exposure to Rickettsia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia spp. in healthy or Leishmania infantum infected dogs from Barcelona

Fifty dogs from the area around Barcelona, Spain, were evaluated for serologic evidence of exposure to vector-borne pathogens. Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichiacanis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Leishmania infantum, Bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffi, and Rickettsia rickettsii antigens were used for testing purposes. Seroreactivity was determined in 3 different groups of dogs that were categorized based upon their L infantum infection status: uninfected healthy dogs (group 1), L infantum-infected healthy dogs (group 2), and L infantum-infected dogs with clinical manifestations consistent with leishmaniasis (group 3). Of the 50 dogs included in this study, 49 had serologic evidence of exposure to at least 1 organism for which testing was performed