Biomedical subjects

J D Hoskins

Publications and source records attributed to J D Hoskins.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1993

Coronavirus infection in cats.

Cats are susceptible to natural infection with several strains of feline coronavirus that may result in either effusive and noneffusive FIP disease or in subclinical to severe enteritis. Investigators are still unsure of the routes by which strains of coronavirus are transmitted between cats. Excretion of coronavirus by infected cats into the environment occurs by way of feces, oronasal secretions, and, possibly, urine. FIP coronavirus remains stable outside the host for as long as 3 to 7 weeks and is rapidly inactivated by most household disinfectants. Clinical diagnosis of coronavirus infection is made by evaluating the presenting history, physical findings, laboratory results, coronavirus antibody titers, and by excluding analogous disease. The presence of coronavirus antibodies can be used to screen cats for the presence of coronavirus infection and as an adjunct in diagnosing clinical coronavirus infection. A intranasal TS-FIPV vaccine that protects against natural coronavirus challenge is available for healthy cats 16 weeks of age or older.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Ehrlichial diseases of dogs.

Ehrlichial diseases of dogs currently are recognized to be caused by Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia platys, Ehrlichia equi, and Ehrlichia risticii. Information on each disease's history, transmission, pathogenesis, clinicopathologic findings, diagnosis, therapy, and prevention is presented in this article. Ehrlichia canis is the most common cause of clinical illness. Case reports are included to illustrate common presentations of Ehrlichia canis infections.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Canine haemobartonellosis, canine hepatozoonosis, and feline cytauxzoonosis.

Although Lyme borreliosis (Lyme disease), ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis occur more frequently in dogs or cats, from a clinical standpoint, other tick-borne diseases such as canine haemobartonellosis, canine hepatozoonosis, and feline cytauxzoonosis are just as important to recognize. Information concerning these less common tick-borne diseases are discussed, including their causative agents and their relationship to disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Anaplasmataceae Infections↗

PubMed1991

Ixodid and argasid ticks. Keys to their identification.

Ticks of the Ixodidae family are important ectoparasites of humans and animals. Of the 80 or so species found in the United States, about 20 are of veterinary importance. Ticks are second only to mosquitoes as carriers of human pathogens. The ixodid (or hard) ticks are the most common and are represented by the genera Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Boophilus, Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Dermacentor. Accurate identification of the species of ixodid ticks within an area is a prerequisite to control and eradication. Therefore, veterinarians should have a working knowledge of the biology and identity of the more common mammalian-parasitizing ticks in the United States. In the United States, the argasid (or soft) ticks are less common than the ixodid (or hard) ticks. Argasids are represented by the genera Argas, Ornithodoros, and Otobius. Although the overall anatomy of the various species of argasids is similar, their functional approaches to feeding, reproduction, host finding and preference, tick-host behavior, tick relationship to their environment, and disease association vary among species. Accurate identification of the species of argasid ticks within an area is useful in their control.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Quantitative urinalysis in kittens from four to thirty weeks after birth.

To evaluate renal function and obtain reference values for measurements of urinary excretion of various substances, quantitative urinalysis was performed in healthy, growing kittens from 4 to 30 weeks after birth. Endogenous creatinine clearance, 24-hour urine protein excretion, and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio were determined. Additionally, fractional excretion to creatinine clearance was calculated for calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and chloride. Mean +/- SD endogenous creatinine clearance values (range, 3.80 +/- 0.48 to 4.74 +/- 0.61 ml/min/kg) were significantly (P less than 0.0001) higher in kittens 9 to 19 weeks old, compared with younger (range, 1.39 +/- 0.85 to 3.59 +/- 0.86 ml/min/kg) and older kittens (range, 2.69 +/- 0.40 to 3.46 +/- 0.37 ml/min/kg). Mean values for all kittens for 24-hour urine protein excretion (range, 2.54 +/- 1.81 mg/kg at 4 weeks to 11.39 +/- 7.61 mg/kg at 14 weeks) and for urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (range, 0.14 +/- 0.03 to 0.34 +/- 0.18) varied from week to week of age. The urine protein-to-creatinine ratio in kittens greater than or equal to 9 weeks old correlated well (R2 = 0.861) with 24-hour urine protein excretion. Urinary fractional excretion of calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and chloride in kittens varied among age groups, being significantly (P less than 0.01) different for potassium and calcium in young kittens (4 to 6 weeks) and older kittens (greater than or equal to 7 weeks).

Aging↗

PubMed1991

Disseminated infection with Neospora caninum in a ten-year-old dog.

Naturally-occurring neosporosis with multiple organ involvement was identified in a 10-year-old neutered male Basset hound dog. Clinical signs were first noticed 3 weeks prior to referral and consisted of crouched stance and mild pelvic limb ataxia. Dexamethasone administration had provided transient improvement. On presentation to the teaching hospital, clinical signs included depression, pelvic limb ataxia, inability to stand without assistance, and pain on deep palpation of the cervical and lumbar vertebral column. Lesions were found in the myocardium, liver, spleen, adrenal glands, brain, and spinal cord. Tachyzoites of Neospora caninum were found in the myocardium and adrenal glands. Organisms stained with anti-Neospora caninum, but not to anti-Toxoplasma gondii serum in an immunohistochemical test.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Germfree technique for the rearing of kittens--a research tool.

Techniques to derive and rear germfree kittens (Felis catus) for biomedical research were explored and refined. The isolator units, equipment, sterilization procedures, husbandry techniques, and safety issues are discussed. This method proved to be successful for the surgical derivation and hand-rearing of germfree kittens.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1991

Tick-borne zoonoses: Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The primary health risk for veterinary staff and companion pet owners is exposure to ticks in the wooded/pasture areas or to ticks brought indoors by their pets. There are no proven cases of direct animal to human transmission for Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Direct inoculation of blood from a bacteremic animal, eg, by needle stick is a theoretical, but, so far, undocumented health risk. However, veterinarians should record needle sticks or other inoculation-type injuries that occur in their practices. Prevention of Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other tick-borne diseases depends on the avoidance of tick-infested areas and proper use of repellents and acaricides.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Temporal study of staphylococcal species on healthy dogs.

During a 1-year period, specimens were obtained monthly from 5 hair coat and 7 mucous membrane sites of 11 healthy dogs. Among 804 isolates of staphylococci, 13 species were identified. Staphylococcus intermedius was the most frequently isolated (40.2% of total isolates) coagulase-positive species, and S xylosus was the most frequently isolated (17.3%) coagulase-negative species. Moreover, S intermedius was the most frequently isolated species from the 12 sites evaluated and was isolated persistently from 8 of the 9 dogs that completed the 1-year study. On the basis of a commercial identification system, 14 profile numbers were identified for isolates of S intermedius. However, 2 profile numbers accounted for a majority (70.9%) of the isolates. Specific S intermedius biotypes identified on the basis of hemolysis, coagulase production, beta-lactamase activity, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were found repeatedly in 3 dogs. Seemingly, S intermedius was a resident of the normal bacterial microflora of these dogs; however, the inability to isolate S intermedius from 1 dog during the study year indicated that not all dogs harbor S intermedius as a resident microorganism.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Comparative morphology of esophageal mucosa and submucosa in dogs from 1 to 337 days of age.

Scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and morphometric analyses were used to examine the morphology of the tunica mucosa-tela submucosa of the cervical, thoracic, and abdominal parts of the esophagus of healthy dogs from birth to 337 days of age from 3 litters of dogs whelped and reared under controlled conditions. Apart from the absence of a lamina muscularis mucosae from the cervical part of the esophagus of all dogs examined, little regional variation was detected. However, morphologic variation associated with age was observed. The number and complexity of microplicae on surface epithelial cells, as observed with the scanning electron microscope, increased with age, particularly between 1-day-old and 21-day-old dogs. Although scanning electron microscopy revealed typical duct openings from the submucosal glands in 1-day-old dogs, light microscopy revealed few functional glands. These glands gradually developed into a complex strata of tubules and acini during the time that secretory activity and the volume fraction of the tunica mucosa-tela submucosa occupied by glands increased with age. The presence of ciliated cells in the esophagus of 1-day-old dogs was apparent with scanning electron and light microscopes. Ciliated cells were always most abundant in the abdominal part of the esophagus. Finally, morphometric analyses revealed a significant increase in epithelial and connective tissue compartment thicknesses, as well as a marked increase in the volume fraction occupied by glands between 1 day and 161 days after dogs were whelped. A smaller decrease in all 3 measures occurred between 161 and 337 days after the dogs were whelped.

Aging↗

PubMed1985

Detection of beta-lactamase produced by Staphylococcus intermedius.

One iodometric, 2 chromogenic, and 3 acidometric methods were compared for the detection of beta-lactamase produced by Staphylococcus intermedius (n = 105) isolated from dogs. Of 575 tests performed, using the 6 methods evaluated, 316 (55.0%) were positive for beta-lactamase production. The iodometric method was the reference method. With the exception of a high correlation (r = 0.962) between 1 acidometric method and 1 chromogenic method, the 5 commercial methods had correlation coefficients less than 0.900 when comparisons were made among them. The 6 methods were in agreement for 69 (65.7%) of the isolates. Based on the findings of this study, an inexpensive, laboratory-prepared, paper strip iodometric method was as reliable as 5 commercial methods for beta-lactamase detection and is recommended for routine use in clinical laboratories.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Comparative evaluation of a commercial microdilution method and a conventional disk diffusion method for determination of antibiograms of gram-positive cocci.

A commercial broth microdilution system for testing the antimicrobial susceptibility of gram-positive cocci was compared with the standardized disk agar-diffusion method by testing 254 clinical strains of staphylococci and streptococci using both methods. A total of 2,794 parallel determinations were made with 92.3% complete agreement between the 2 methods; of the discrepancies encountered, 3.0% were minor, 2.5% were major, and 2.1% were very major. The results indicate that the commercial microdilution system may provide a reliable quantitative method for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of clinical isolates from animals.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1985

Comparison of coagulase test methods for identification of Staphylococcus intermedius from dogs.

Staphylococcus intermedius isolates from dogs were tested for coagulase activity by 6 commercial methods and by conventional methods, using rabbit and dog plasma. When compared with the conventional tube method using rabbit plasma, none of the 6 commercial methods was suitable for identification of S intermedius, although the 6 tests performed well using strains of S aureus. Use of rabbit plasma identified more S intermedius isolates than did use of dog plasma.

Agglutination Tests↗

PubMed1985

Distribution of staphylococcal species on clinically healthy cats.

Among 827 isolates derived from 113 clinically healthy cats, 12 species of staphylococci were identified. Staphylococci were isolated from each cat and from 54.9% of the anatomic sites evaluated. A mode of 6 (range = 2 to 11) of the 11 anatomic sites evaluated per cat yielded staphylococci. A mode of 8 (range = 2 to 12) isolates were found per cat. Staphylococcus simulans was the most isolated (43.9% of total) coagulase-negative species. Moreover, S simulans was the most isolated species from each of the 11 sites evaluated and, except for the mouth and haircoat, comprised greater than 50% of the isolates from each site. Staphylococcus intermedius was the most isolated (13.5% of the total) coagulase-positive species. Three other species (S epidermidis, S xylosus, and S aureus) comprised 32.2% of the isolates, and 7 species (S haemolyticus, S hominis, S hyicus, S capitis, S warneri, and S saprophyticus) comprised 10.4% of the isolates. Six species (S intermedius [96 of 112 isolates], S haemolyticus [20 of 22], S sciuri [17 of 18], S warneri [10 of 13], S hyicus [10 of 10], and S capitis [7 of 8]) were isolated primarily from household cats. Only 1 species, S xylosus (75 of 87), was isolated primarily from cattery cats. Haircoat specimens (n = 452) yielded 508 isolates (61.4% of the total) distributed among all 12 staphylococcal species and included greater than 50% of the isolates of all species other than S simulans and S sciuri. A more heterogeneous population of staphylococci was isolated from household cats than was isolated from cattery cats.

Anal Canal↗

PubMed1985

Complications following thiacetarsamide sodium therapy in Louisiana dogs with naturally-occurring heartworm disease.

Four hundred and sixteen dogs with naturally-occurring heartworm disease were evaluated for complications following thiacetarsamide sodium therapy. Of these, 109 dogs (26.2%) experienced complications. Increased lung sounds was the most commonly seen complication, followed by fever and coughing. In dogs with complications, 83.5% of them presented without clinical evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism or heart failure. There were no statistically significant differences between the age, sex, breed and body size of dogs that experienced complications following thiacetarsamide therapy and dogs that did not. Complications were most frequently seen 5 to 9 days following thiacetarsamide therapy although some dogs experienced initial complications as late as 28 days. Thirty-three of 109 dogs (33.0%) with complications responded to exercise restriction. The remaining 76 dogs with complications prior to or following thiacetarsamide required adjunct drug therapy. Of these, 35 dogs responded favorably to anti-inflammatory doses of prednisolone or prednisone. Five dogs died or were euthanatized because of the complications experienced. Eighteen of 416 dogs (4.3%) presented with clinical evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism or heart failure prior to the thiacetarsamide therapy. All 18 dogs experienced complications in spite of adjunct drug therapy and exercise restriction prior to, during, and following thiacetarsamide therapy. Survival rate following resolution of the thiacetarsamide-induced complications was greater than 98%.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1984

Effect of beta-lactamase of Staphylococcus intermedius on disk agar diffusion susceptibility tests.

Clinical strains of canine Staphylococcus intermedius (n = 120) were tested for susceptibility to beta-lactam antimicrobics (n = 6) by the standardized disk agar diffusion method and for beta-lactamase (BL) production. Significant differences between susceptibilities for BL producing (n = 68) and non-producing (n = 52) strains were found for penicillin G and ampicillin. Zone sizes of BL producing strains were significantly smaller than those of non-producers for penicillin G, ampicillin, cephalothin, carbenicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid but not for methicillin. However, all strains were sensitive to cephalothin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid; only one strain was resistant to methicillin; and one strain was intermediate in susceptibility to carbenicillin. Although 62 (52%) strains were sensitive to penicillin G and ampicillin based on established zone size interpretive criteria, 15 (24%) of these strains produced BL. Zone size measurements obtained with beta-lactam antimicrobics that are highly susceptible to inactivation by BL are not reliable and should be disregarded for canine S. intermedius which produce BL.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Species of Staphylococcus isolated from animal infections.

One hundred randomly selected clinical strains of staphylococci were identified by species using a commercial micromethod system. Eight species of staphylococci were identified. Staphylococcus intermedius was the most frequent (n = 74) species identified and accounted for 70/74 (94.6%) of the coagulase-positive strains and 70/79 (88.6%) of the total isolates from dogs. Other species identified, in order of their frequency, included S. epidermidis (8), S. aureus (7), S. simulans (4), S. sciuri (2), S. xylosus (2), S. hyicus (2) and S. saprophyticus (1). These results show that at least 8 different species of staphylococci can be recovered from animal infections and that coagulase-positive species such as S. intermedius may be more common than S. aureus. The relative significance of these other species in animal infections needs to be assessed.

Animal Diseases↗

PubMed1984

Antimicrobial susceptibility of coagulase-positive staphylococci isolated from Louisiana dogs.

Disk diffusion susceptibility tests were done on 1,178 clinical strains of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) isolated from dogs during a 7-year period. Relative decreases of 7% to 33% were found in the percentages of CPS sensitive to 8 antimicrobics. Relative percentages of CPS sensitive to 9 other antimicrobics were increased or decreased less than 5%. Sensitivity to the beta-lactam antibiotics showed the least relative change. Regression analysis demonstrated that the greatest change in percentage sensitivity of CPS occurred to gentamicin and cephalothin and the least change occurred to penicillin and ampicillin. Recent canine clinical isolates of CPS, specifically identified as Staphylococcus intermedius (n = 109), were uniformly sensitive to novobiocin, amikacin, tobramycin, spectinomycin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Twenty-two isolates were also sensitive to 17 other antimicrobics. Eighty-seven isolates were resistant to 1 or more antimicrobics tested. Resistance was most common to sulfonamides, penicillin G, ampicillin, tetracycline, and streptomycin. Differences in susceptibility results between S intermedius and unspecified CPS were not statistically significant.

Animals↗