The effect of a raw vs dry diet on serum biochemical, hematologic, blood iron, B12, and folate levels in Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Background To date, very few studies have compared the effects of different types of feeding practices on canine physiology, such as feeding exclusively dry, raw, or homemade foods. Objectives We aimed to report the changes in hematologic, serum biochemical, plasma folate, B-12, and whole blood iron levels in dogs fed two different diets. Methods A pilot study was developed to compare the effects of a heat-processed high carbohydrate (HPHC) and nonprocessed high-fat (NPHF) diet. A total of 33 client-owned Staffordshire Bull Terriers were used; 18 had canine atopic dermatitis, seven were healthy, and eight were grouped as "borderline" dogs since they did not fulfill at least six of Favrot's criteria. The comparisons were made between the diet groups at the end visit of the diet intervention, as well as within the diet groups during the study. Results Significant differences between and within the diet groups were observed, although the majority of outcomes remained within the RIs. The median time of diet intervention was 140 days. Red blood cell counts, mean cell hemoglobin concentrations, and platelet counts were significantly higher, and mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell volume, alkaline phosphatase, inorganic phosphorus, and cholesterol were significantly lower in the dogs fed the NPHF diet compared with those fed the HPHC diet after the diet trial was completed. In addition, folate, B-12, and iron decreased significantly in the NPHF diet group. Conclusions This pilot study indicated that diet had an impact on blood values, although most remained within RIs, pointing out the need for further studies.Peer reviewe

Immunophenotypic features of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes from mammary carcinomas in female dogs associated with prognostic factors and survival rates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The immune system plays an important role in the multifactorial biologic system during the development of neoplasias. However, the involvement of the inflammatory response in the promotion/control of malignant cells is still controversial, and the cell subsets and the mechanisms involved are poorly investigated. The goal of this study was to characterize the clinical-pathological status and the immunophenotyping profile of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and their association with the animal survival rates in canine mammary carcinomas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifty-one animals with mammary carcinomas, classified as carcinomas in mixed tumors-MC-BMT = 31 and carcinomas-MC = 20 were submitted to systematic clinical-pathological analysis (tumor size; presence of lymph node and pulmonary metastasis; clinical stage; histological grade; inflammatory distribution and intensity as well as the lymphocytic infiltrate intensity) and survival rates. Twenty-four animals (MC-BMT = 16 and MC = 8) were elected to the immunophenotypic study performed by flow cytometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data analysis demonstrated that clinical stage II-IV and histological grade was I more frequent in MC-BMT as compared to MC. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the intensity of inflammation (moderate/intense) and the proportion of CD4⁺(≥ 66.7%) or CD8⁺T-cells (<33.3%) were not associated with worse survival rate. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only lymphocytic infiltrate intensity ≥ 600 (<it>P </it>= 0.02) remained as independent prognostic factor. Despite the clinical manifestation, the lymphocytes represented the predominant cell type in the tumor infiltrate. The percentage of T-cells was higher in animals with MC-BMT without metastasis, while the percentage of B-lymphocytes was greater in animals with metastasized MC-BMT (<it>P </it>< 0.05). The relative percentage of CD4⁺T-cells was significantly greater in metastasized tumors (both MC-BMT and MC), (<it>P </it>< 0.05) while the proportion of CD8⁺T-cells was higher in MC-BMT without metastasis. Consequently, the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ratio was significantly increased in both groups with metastasis. Regardless of the tumor type, the animals with high proportions of CD4⁺and low CD8⁺T-cells had decreased survival rates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The intensity of lymphocytic infiltrate and probably the relative abundance of the CD4⁺and CD8⁺T-lymphocytes may represent important survival prognostic biomarkers for canine mammary carcinomas.</p

Puppyhood diet as a factor in the development of owner-reported allergy/atopy skin signs in adult dogs in Finland

Background The increased prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in dogs necessitates research in its disease etiology. Objectives To explore the association between puppyhood dietary exposures and prevalence of owner-reported allergy/atopy skin signs (AASS) after the age of 1 year. Animals Four thousand and twenty-two dogs were eligible, 1158 cases, and 2864 controls. Methods This cross-sectional hypothesis-driven observational study was extracted from the DogRisk food frequency questionnaire. Forty-six food items and the ratio of 4 major diet types were tested for their association with AASS incidence later in life. Potential puppyhood dietary risk factors for AASS incidence were specified using binary multivariable logistic regression. The model was adjusted for age and sex. Results Eating raw tripe (odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals OR, 95% CI = 0.36, 0.16-0.79; P = .01), raw organ meats (OR, 95% CI = 0.23, 0.08-0.67; P = .007), human meal leftovers, and fish oil supplements as well as eating more that 20% of the diet as raw and/orPeer reviewe

Diagnóstico de alterações neurológicas compressivas da medula espinal de cães com o uso da Tomografia Computadorizada (TC) Helicoidal

Alterações neurológicas em cães são comuns na rotina da clínica médica, sendo necessário identificar o sítio de lesão quando da ocorrência de neuropatias por compressão em estruturas do Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC). O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo epidemiológico das alterações neurológicas compressivas em medula espinal de cães domiciliados em Salvador e região metropolitana: Discopatias, Neoplasias e Traumas identificadas através da Tomografia Computadorizada (TC). Foram avaliados 17 cães de diversas raças com idade entre 2 e 10 anos e de ambos os sexos, atendidos na rotina de dois serviços médicos-veterinários e encaminhados para realização do exame conforme indicação clínica. Imagens em cortes com espessura variando de 0,5 a 2mm em rotação foram produzidas com o Tomógrafo. Dos animais que apresentaram discopatia 12/17 (70,58%), por mielopatia extradural 6/12 (50 %), foram da raça Dachshund com idade média 7,33±1,97 anos e para todos os outros a ocorrência foi pontual; 23,53 % de osteopatias vertebrais, neoplasias ósseas e fraturas, e 5,89% correspondente a neoplasia de medula. Houve uma maior frequência de lesões nos segmentos C4-C6 3/12 (25%), T12-T13 (25 %) e L2-L3 (25 %) dos casos

A minimally invasive approach to spleen histopathology in dogs: A new method for follow-up studies of spleen changes in the course of Leishmania infantum infection

Severe forms of zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis (ZVL) are associated with disruption of the spleen structure. However, the study of spleen histology requires splenectomy or necropsy. In this work, we present a minimally invasive cell-block technique for studying spleen tissue histology in dogs with ZVL. We examined 13 dogs with and seven dogs without Leishmania infantum infection. The dogs with Leishmania infection had a lower frequency of lymphoid follicles (2/13, Fisher's test, P<0.02) and a higher density of plasma cells (score 3, Fisher's test, P<0.02) than uninfected dogs (5/7 exhibiting lymphoid follicles and a plasma cell score of 1). The dogs with Leishmania infection also presented with granulomas (8/13) and infected macrophages (5/13). These differences in the histological presentations of spleen tissue from infected and uninfected dogs corresponded to changes observed in conventional histology. Hence, the cell-block technique described here may be used in the follow-up care and study of dogs with ZVL and other diseases in both clinical practice and research488792CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DA BAHIA - FAPESB400905/2013-223038.006718/2013-19PET0053/201

Tumor-associated macrophage is correlated with survival and SOCS protein expression in canine mammary carcinoma

ABSTRACT: The inflammatory infiltrate in the tumor microenvironment, particularly in mammary tumors, has aroused great interest in oncology, to play different roles in the progression or tumor regression dependent on the types and cell subsets involved. The present study aimed to evaluate (1) the occurrence and intensity of macrophage infiltration in the mammary carcinoma microenvironment, (2) the expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 proteins in tumor associated macrophages, (3) any association between these parameters and tumor development, as well as survival rates in female dogs. Twenty-two female dogs diagnosed as carcinoma arising in a mixed tumor (CMT) by histopathology were divided into two groups following mastectomy: dogs without metastasis (CMT(-)=11) and those with metastasis (CMT(+)=11). The following parameters were analyzed: tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, histological grade, distribution and intensity of inflammatory infiltrate, tumor macrophage quantification by immunohistochemical analysis of SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression, and immunophenotyping of peripheral blood leukocytes by flow cytometry. Dogs with the higher proportions of macrophages in the inflammatory infiltrate (≥400/tumor) also had higher survival rates in comparison with dogs with less macrophages. Immunostaining revealed higher proportions of SOCS3-positive macrophages in dogs without lymph node metastasis, while SOCS1-positive macrophages were predominant in dogs with metastasis (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis found associations between survival rate and clinical staging (p=0.025), histological grade (p=0.007), and the expression of MHC-CI in circulating monocytes (p=0.018). Higher SOCS3 expression in activated macrophages within the inflammatory infiltrate were considered indicative of an antitumor immune response, improved clinicopathological parameters and longer survival, whereas SOCS1-related activation was associated with tumor progression, metastasis development and reduced survival in female dogs with mammary carcinomas