ACVIM consensus statement guidelines for the diagnosis, classification, treatment, and monitoring of pulmonary hypertension in dogs.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by increased pressure within the pulmonary vasculature, is a hemodynamic and pathophysiologic state present in a wide variety of cardiovascular, respiratory, and systemic diseases. The purpose of this consensus statement is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to guidelines for the diagnosis, classification, treatment, and monitoring of PH in dogs. Comprehensive evaluation including consideration of signalment, clinical signs, echocardiographic parameters, and results of other diagnostic tests supports the diagnosis of PH and allows identification of associated underlying conditions. Dogs with PH can be classified into the following 6 groups: group 1, pulmonary arterial hypertension; group 2, left heart disease; group 3, respiratory disease/hypoxia; group 4, pulmonary emboli/pulmonary thrombi/pulmonary thromboemboli; group 5, parasitic disease (Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus); and group 6, disorders that are multifactorial or with unclear mechanisms. The approach to treatment of PH focuses on strategies to decrease the risk of progression, complications, or both, recommendations to target underlying diseases or factors contributing to PH, and PH-specific treatments. Dogs with PH should be monitored for improvement, static condition, or progression, and any identified underlying disorder should be addressed and monitored simultaneously

Detection of specific bacterial agents by quantitative PCR assays in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of dogs with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy vs. dogs with chronic bronchitis and healthy dogs

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Biomolecular investigation for Capillaria spp. infections on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of owned domestic dogs presented for chronic cough in Belgium

peer reviewedThe trichuroid parasitic nematode Capillaria aerophila (syn. Eucoleus aerophilus) is responsible for lower respiratory infections and Capillaria boehmi (syn. Eucoleus boehmi) for sino-nasal infections in wild and domestic carnivores. Animals become infected by eating environmental embryonated eggs or earthworms. The adult worms live embedded in the epithelia of the bronchioles, bronchi, and trachea or in the nasal sinuses, respectively. Infections with C. aerophila can be sub-clinical or lead to chronic bronchial inflammation, rarely bronchopneumonia. C. boehmi may cause nasal discharge, sneezing or olfactory impairment. Knowledge about prevalence and distribution of both parasites beyond Eastern Europe and Mediterranean countries is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of C. aerophila infection in coughing, client-owned, domestic dogs in Belgium. Stored bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 125 dogs (median age 7.3 years, range: 0.3-17.2 years) from March 2018-2022 was retrieved. All dogs had history of chronic cough (> 2 weeks duration) and underwent BALF collection for microbiologic testing of common respiratory pathogens. DNA extracted from BALF samples was stored at -80°C until further analysis. A conventional polymerase chain reaction targeting a region internal to the cox1 gene of C. aerophila, a Capillarinae consensus sequence, was performed on BALF samples in duplicate and in batch analysis using previously published primers sequences. DNA of adult C. boehmi specimens was included as a positive control. Molecular grade water was used as a negative control. Neither DNA of C. aerophila nor C. boehmi were detected in the BALF samples. Sixty-seven dogs (54%) had a recent history of deworming against lungworms with either moxidectin or fenbendazole (deworming protocol not standardized), 9 dogs (7%) were not up to date with deworming therapy, and the remaining 49 dogs (39%) had unknown deworming status. Result of this study suggest that C. aerophila infection is not prevalent in Belgium in dogs with chronic cough. This might be explained by recent deworming therapy in half of the included dogs. Epidemiosurveillance of capillarid infection may be considered in wild canids, such as foxes, to determine whether these parasites are a potential risk for domestic animals

Variations in facial conformation are associated with differences in nasal microbiota in healthy dogs.

peer reviewedBackground: Extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to infuence nasal microbiota (NM) in humans. Very few studies investigated the association between nasal microbiota and factors such as facial/body conformation, age, and environment in dogs. The objectives are to investigate variations in NM in healthy dogs with diferent facial and body conformations. A total of 46 dogs of diferent age, living environment and from 3 diferent breed groups were recruited: 22 meso−/dolichocephalic medium to large breed dogs, 12 brachycephalic dogs and 12 terrier breeds. The nasal bacterial microbiota was assessed through sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (V1-V3 regions) amplicons. Results: We showed major diferences in the NM composition together with increased richness and α-diversity in brachycephalic dogs, compared to meso−/dolichocephalic medium to large dogs and dogs from terrier breeds. Conclusion: Healthy brachycephalic breeds and their unique facial conformation is associated with a distinct NM profle. Description of the NM in healthy dogs serves as a foundation for future researches assessing the changes associated with disease and the modulation of NM communities as a potential treatment

Angiostrongylosis in dogs with negative fecal and in-clinic rapid serological tests: 7 Cases (2013-2017)

Background: Angiostrongylosis is considered as emerging disease in dogs in Belgium. Detection of first-stage larvae in feces using the Baermann method has an imperfect sensitivity. Objectives: Investigation of efficacy of noninvasive blood and fecal diagnostic tests in comparison with PCR on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) material in a small series of coughing or dyspnoeic dogs naturally infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum. Animals: Seven dogs with angiostrongylosis. Methods: Retrospective study. Dogs with cough, exercise intolerance and dyspnea of 2- to 8-week duration. Diagnostic methods used included Baermann analysis, AngioDetect rapid assay, ELISAs for detection of circulating antigen and specific antibodies and qPCR on BAL material. Results: Baermann analysis, AngioDetect rapid assay, antigen ELISA, antibody ELISA, and qPCR on BAL material were positive in 3/7, 2/7, 3/6, 6/6, and 7/7 dogs, respectively. ELISA for antibodies or qPCR on BAL material were essential for definitive diagnosis in 3 dogs. Relative sensitivities of AngioDetect rapid assay, Baermann analysis, and ELISA for antigen detection were lower than 50% compared with ELISA for antibodies or qPCR on BAL material. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: In this small clinical series, Baermann analysis and AngioDetect rapid assay failed to confirm the diagnosis in some dogs. Therefore, ELISA for antibody detection and qPCR on BAL material should strongly be considered in clinically suspected dogs when antigen detection methods (AngioDetect or ELISA) and Baermann analysis are negative. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.Peer reviewe

Assessment of SPP1 and FN1 in serum, BALF and lung tissue samples from dogs affected with CIPF

Background: Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) is a chronic disease affecting West Highland white terriers (WHWTs)1,2. Osteopontin (SPP1) and fibronectin (FN1) are associated with pulmonary fibrosis in men3-6 and are overexpressed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) macrophage clusters in CIPF7. Study premise: The aim is to investigate whether these molecules are potential disease markers. SPP1 and FN1 serum and BALF concentrations were measured using canine ELISA kits in CIPF WHWTs (n=24), healthy aged-matched WHWTs (n=13) and healthy terriers (n=15). Proteins were also localized in lung tissue by immunohistochemistry. Results: SPP1 serum concentrations were higher in CIPF compared with healthy WHWTs and terriers, and in healthy WHWTs compared with terriers. There were negatively correlated with PaO2 in WHWTs. Higher SPP1 BALF concentrations were found in CIPF and healthy WHWTs compared with terriers. Intense labelling was reported in all groups in ciliated epithelial cells, smooth muscular cells surrounding large vessels and some macrophages. Moreover, in all CIPF WHWTs, the pneumocytes II and the extra cellular matrix were labelled, while it was the case in only 57% of healthy WHWTs and not present in terriers. FN1 serum concentrations were lower in CIPF and healthy WHWTs compared with terriers. No difference was found between groups in BALF. There was no evidence of differences in FN1 labelling. Conclusions: The results suggest that SPP1 is involved in CIPF pathogenesis and could predispose that breed to the disease. However, further studies are required to determine its interest as biomarker or potential therapeutic target

The Middle Ear Microbiota in Healthy Dogs Is Similar to That of the External Ear Canal

peer reviewedOtitis media can be a consequence of chronic otitis externa and could represent a perpetuating factor. While the microbiota of the EEC in healthy dogs and in the presence of otitis externa has been described, only sparse information is available concerning the normal microbiota of the middle ear. The objective was to compare the tympanic bulla (TB) with the external ear canal (EEC) microbiota in healthy dogs. Six healthy experimental Beagle dogs were selected based on the absence of otitis externa, negative cytology and bacterial culture from the TB. Samples from the EEC and TB were collected directly after death using a total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy. The hypervariable segment V1–V3 of the 16S rDNA was amplified and sequenced with a MiSeq Illumina. The sequences were analyzed by the Mothur software using the SILVA database. No significant differences between the EEC and TB microbiota for the Chao1 richness index (p = 0.6544), the Simpson evenness index (p = 0.4328) and the reciprocal Simpson alpha diversity (p = 0.4313) were noted (Kruskal-Wallis test). A significant difference (p = 0.009) for the Chao1 richness index between the right and left EEC was observed. The microbiota profile was similar in the EEC and the TB of the Beagles

Antimicrobial discontinuation in dogs with acute aspiration pneumonia based on clinical improvement and normalization of C-reactive protein concentration.

peer reviewed[en] BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding optimal treatment duration in dogs with aspiration pneumonia (AP) and the role of thoracic radiographs (TXR) and lung ultrasonography (LUS) in the long-term follow-up of affected dogs is lacking. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a reliable acute phase protein to monitor bacterial pneumonia in dogs. HYPOTHESIS: Investigate the safety of antimicrobial discontinuation based on clinical improvement and serum CRP normalization, as well as the usefulness of TXR and LUS for follow-up. ANIMALS: Dogs diagnosed with AP and treated with antimicrobials. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Antimicrobials were discontinued based on clinical improvement and serum CRP normalization after 1, 3, or 5 weeks. At each consultation, a quality-of-life questionnaire, physical examination, serum CRP, TXR, and LUS were assessed. Short- (2 weeks) and long-term (>1 month) follow-ups after treatment discontinuation were performed to monitor for possible relapses. RESULTS: Seventeen dogs were included. Antimicrobials were discontinued after 1 week in 12 dogs (70.6%) and 3 weeks in the remaining 5 dogs (29.4%). Short-term relapse was not observed in any dog and long-term relapse was diagnosed in 3 dogs. Thoracic radiographs and LUS were useful for diagnosis, but did not add additional information during follow-up, because image normalization lagged behind clinical improvement and serum CRP normalization. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with AP can be safely and effectively treated using a short-term antimicrobial regimen discontinued after clinical improvement and serum CRP normalization. Imaging might still be useful for complicated cases with a less favorable response to treatment