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Prevalence and clinical characterization of gastric Helicobacter species infection of dogs and cats in Korea.

This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characterizations of gastric Helicobacter spp. infection of dogs and cats in Korea. The prevalence of Helicobacter spp. infection of dogs and cats determined by urease test was 78.4% and 64%, respectively, although Helicobacter genus-specific PCR assay showed that it was 82.3% and 84%. Urease mapping results based on urease test showed that total positive rate of tested tissues from clinically abnormal dogs was significantly higher than that from clinically normal dogs (p=0.0018; Odds ratio = 6.118; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.96-19.103). These findings were consistent with the results of Helicobacter genus-specific PCR assay which showed that positive rate of the fundus (100%) and the antrum (100%) of clinically abnormal dogs was significantly higher than that of same gastric regions of clinically normal dogs (77.5 and 67.5% respectively). In comparison of gastric regions between clinically normal dogs and abnormal dogs, positive rate of urease test for the fundus (100%) and body (90.9%) in clinically abnormal dogs was significantly higher than that of abnormal dogs (72.5% and 57.5% respectively; p<0.05). The results of urease mapping in dogs and cats also indicated that Helicobacter colonization in the fundus was more dense compared with the density in the body and antrum. In Helicobacter species-specific PCR assay for dogs, 32 of 42 fundic tissues (76.2%) were positive for H. heilmannii and two (4.8%) were positive for H. felis. In cats, 18 of 21 fundic tissues (85.7%) were positive for H. heilmannii and 2 (9.5%) were positive for H. felis. Gastritis scores of fundic tissues from clinically abnormal infected dogs were similar to that from noninfected dogs and evidence of upregulation of IL-1beta, IL-8, and TNF-alpha mRNA was not detected in gastric fundic tissues from clinically abnormal infected dogs. This study suggested that Helicobacter spp. infection in domestic dogs including private owned pet dogs and cats is highly prevalent usually with no clinical sign but high density of colonization can be related to gastrointestinal signs

Animals↗

Efficacy of three dose volumes of topically applied 65% permethrin against Ctenocephalides felis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus on dogs weighing 30 kg or more.

Twenty-five dogs were evenly and randomly allocated by weight to five treatment groups: untreated control, 2 ml 65% permethrin (dogs weighing 15 to 29 kg, "average dogs"), and 2, 3, or 4 ml 65% permethrin (dogs weighing > or = 30 kg, "big dogs"). Each dog was infested with 125 unfed, adult cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, and 50 unfed, adult brown dog ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, on Days -3 (ticks only), -2 (fleas only), 3, 7, 14, 17, 21, 24, and 28. Fleas and ticks were counted 1 and 3 or 4 days after each infestation. The duration of efficacy (defined as >90%) against C. felis was 28 to 31 days. The efficacy against fleas 31 days after application of 2, 3, or 4 ml on big dogs ranged from 79.1% (2 ml) to 100% (4 ml). Big dogs that received either 3 or 4 ml of 65% permethrin had significantly (P < or = .05) fewer fleas at several evaluations between 15 and 31 days after treatment. The duration of efficacy against R. sanguineus was 15 (2 ml for big dogs) to 28 (2 ml for average dogs) days. The efficacy against R. sanguineus 28 days after treatment ranged from 79.1% (2 ml on big dogs) to 94.1% (2 ml on average dogs). Significantly (P < or = .05) fewer ticks were present at several evaluations after treatment on big dogs that received 3 or 4 ml than were present on big dogs treated with 2 ml. No significant differences were detected between the 3- and 4-ml groups from Days 10 to 31; however, the geometric mean number of ticks in the group treated with 4 ml was numerically lower than that for dogs treated with 3 ml on several occasions. These data indicate that a dose volume of 3 or 4 ml of 65% permethrin is needed to obtain an adequate level and duration of efficacy against both C. felis and R. sanguineus on dogs weighing 30 kg or more.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Pituitary tumor size, neurologic signs, and relation to endocrine test results in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism: 43 cases (1980-1990).

Pituitary neoplasm was identified in 43 dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism via necropsy (n = 33), diagnostic imaging with computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (n = 5), or diagnostic imaging and necropsy (n = 5). All dogs had clinical signs and clinicopathologic test results typical of hyperadrenocorticism. Thirty-seven dogs had grossly visible pituitary tumors, and 6 dogs had microscopic pituitary tumors. Fifteen dogs had developed neurologic signs typical of those resulting from an enlarging pituitary mass. Twenty-three dogs had pituitary tumors greater than or equal to 1 cm in diameter. Provocative testing of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis was performed on all dogs. Dogs with grossly visible pituitary tumors and dogs with neurologic signs had significantly (P less than 0.05) higher mean plasma endogenous ACTH concentrations, compared with values from dogs with microscopic tumors and dogs without neurologic signs, respectively. Dogs with grossly visible pituitary tumors and dogs with tumors greater than or equal to 1 cm in diameter had significantly (P less than 0.05) lower adrenocortical responsiveness to exogenous ACTH, compared with dogs with microscopic pituitary tumors and dogs with tumors less than 1 cm in diameter, respectively. Despite these differences, there was overlap between test results among dogs. On the basis of endocrine test results, it would appear difficult to distinguish dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and large pituitary tumors from those with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and microscopic pituitary tumors prior to onset of neurologic signs.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Prevalence of nephrotoxicosis associated with a short-term saline solution diuresis protocol for the administration of cisplatin to dogs with malignant tumors: 61 cases (1987-1989).

The study reported here was undertaken to determine the nephrotoxicosis associated with the administration of cisplatin, an antineoplastic agent, to dogs when administered during 6-hour saline solution diuresis. Cisplatin (70 mg/m2 of body surface, IV, every 21 days) was given to 61 dogs with malignant neoplasia with a total of 185 doses in 1 (n = 9 dogs), 2 (n = 26 dogs), 3 (n = 4 dogs), 4 (n = 9 dogs), 5 (n = 2 dogs), and 6 (n = 11 dogs) treatments. The cisplatin was given over a 20-minute period after 0.9% NaCl solution (saline solution) was administered IV for 4 hours at a rate of 18.3 ml/kg of body weight/h. After the cisplatin infusion, saline solution diuresis was continued at the same rate for 2 hours. Before each treatment with cisplatin, dogs were evaluated with at least a physical examination, CBC, determination of serum urea nitrogen concentration, and in most cases, determination of serum creatinine concentration and urine specific gravity. Four of the 61 dogs (6.6%) developed clinically evident renal disease after 2 (1 dog), 3 (2 dogs), and 4 (1 dog) doses of cisplatin were administered. Three of the 4 dogs had preexisting disease of the urinary tract prior to the start of treatment. The survival time in dogs that developed renal disease (median, 145 days; range, 15 to 150 days) was similar to that of all dogs in this study (median, 154 days; range, 30 to 500 days), with 13 dogs still alive at the conclusion of the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Blood pressures obtained by indirect measurement in conscious dogs.

Heart rate and arterial systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressures were measured indirectly in apparently healthy dogs in clinical situations (examination rooms, cages, or runs) and in 3 groups of abnormal dogs. An electronic automatic sphygmomanometer measured and analyzed arterial pulses (oscillometric method). Apparently healthy dogs had a mean +/- SD heart rate of 134 +/- 32 beats/min and systolic, mean, and diastolic pressures of 144 +/- 27, 110 +/- 21, and 91 +/- 20 mm of Hg, respectively. The mean systolic pressure was significantly higher in hospitalized dogs than in nonhospitalized dogs. When compared with relaxed dogs, playful dogs had a higher mean heart rate. Apprehensive dogs had a higher mean diastolic pressure than did relaxed dogs. The mean heart rate and blood pressures of panting dogs were not significantly different from the mean values from relaxed dogs. Heavier (greater than 18 kg) and older (greater than 2 years) dogs had lower mean heart rates and higher pressures, compared with lighter (less than or equal to 18 kg) and younger (less than or equal to 2 years) dogs. Infection with Dirofilaria immitis had no effect on heart rate and blood pressures when compared with apparently healthy dogs. Dogs with renal failure had a significantly higher mean diastolic pressure and dogs with mitral regurgitation had a significantly lower mean diastolic pressure, compared with apparently healthy dogs.

Age Factors↗

Alterations of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in dogs with hepatic disease.

Reference intervals for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APPT) of undiluted and serial dilutions of citrated platelet-poor plasma were determined for 30 healthy dogs. The PT and APTT were similarly determined for 32 dogs with naturally occurring hepatic disease. Hepatic disease was confirmed by histopathologic examination of hepatic biopsy materials and comprised degeneration (13 dogs), inflammation (11 dogs), cirrhosis (4 dogs), and neoplasia (4 dogs). Coagulation test values were compared with serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities and Bromsulphalein retention for sensitivity in detecting hepatic disease in the dog. Coagulation test results were at variance with reference values in 66% of the 32 dogs with hepatic disease; serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were increased in 59%, 72%, and 75%, respectively and Bromsulphalein retention was increased in 22% of the 32 dogs. Thus, the PT and APTT were sensitive indicators of hepatic disease. However, the PT and APTT lacked specificity for any given hepatic disease. The sensitivity of the coagulation tests for detecting hepatic disease was enhanced by using dilutions of citrated platelet-poor plasma. Only 15% of dogs with hepatic disease showed variances from reference values in the coagulation tests done with undiluted plasma, but 66% showed variances in the tests with dilutions of plasma. Coagulation tests were also done in 13 dogs with normal hepatic function amd morphology, but with various extrahepatic diseases: chronic renal disease (5 dogs), dirofilariasis (4 dogs), encephalitis (1 dog), cutaneous disease (2 dogs), and femoral fracture (1 dog). Twelve of the 13 dogs had coagulation test values within the reference intervals.

Animals↗

Systemic arterial blood pressure and urine protein/creatinine ratio in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence and severity of systemic arterial hypertension and proteinuria in dogs with naturally developing hyperadrenocorticism and to determine whether these abnormalities resolve with adequate management of the disease. DESIGN: Case series and cohort study. ANIMALS: 77 dogs with naturally developing hyper-adrenocorticism examined once; 15 dogs examined before and after treatment. RESULTS: Among dogs examined only once, hypertension was diagnosed in 21 of 26 dogs with untreated pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH), 17 of 21 with inadequately controlled PDH, 8 of 16 with well-controlled PDH, 10 of 10 with an untreated adrenocortical tumor, and 0 of 4 that had undergone adrenalectomy because of an adrenocortical tumor. Untreated dogs and dogs with inadequately controlled PDH had significantly higher blood pressures than did other dogs. Proteinuria was documented in 12 of 26 dogs with untreated PDH, 5 of 16 with inadequately controlled PDH, 3 of 14 with well-controlled PDH, 5 of 8 with an untreated adrenocortical tumor, and 1 of 3 that had undergone adrenalectomy. Dogs with untreated PDH and dogs with an untreated adrenocortical tumor had higher urine protein/creatinine ratios than did dogs with well-controlled PDH. Among dogs evaluated before and after treatment, blood pressure and urine protein/creatinine ratio did not change in 8 dogs with inadequately controlled hyperadrenocorticism, but decreased in 7 dogs with well-controlled disease. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Results suggest that systemic hypertension and proteinuria are common in dogs with untreated hyperadrenocorticism and that successful treatment of hyperadrenocorticism will result in resolution of these abnormalities in many, but not all, dogs.

Adrenocortical Hyperfunction↗

Prevalence of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin in dogs with nonthyroidal illness.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a thyroglobulin autoantibody (TgAA) assay and determine a diagnostic threshold. SAMPLE POPULATION: Serum samples from dogs with various endocrine abnormalities and from 30 obese adult female Beagles. PROCEDURE: TgAA were determined by use of the ELISA. Six experiments were done: 1, definition of positive results for TgAA using samples from normal and T3 autoantibody (T3AA) positive dogs; 2, establishment of prevalence of positive results in 91 clinically normal dogs; 3, evaluation of positive results for sera from dogs with nonthyroidal illnesses; 4, testing of samples from dogs with primary hypothyroidism but absence of T4AA or T3AA, or both; 5, determination of prevalence of false-negative results in dogs that are T4AA and/or T3AA positive, which were (18 dogs) or were not (22 dogs) receiving L-thyroxine replacement therapy; and 6, examination of thyroid biopsy specimens from 18 dogs (8 TgAA positive and 10 TgAA negative). RESULTS: Positive results were defined as at least twice (200%) the optical density of the negative-control sample. False-positive results were obtained for only 3.4% of 146 dogs with nonthyroidal illness. Thirty-seven percent of dogs with primary hypothyroidism, but no evidence of T4AA or T3AA, or both, were TgAA positive. False-negative results were found in 1 of 22 and 2 of 18 T3AA-positive dogs with and without thyroid replacement therapy, respectively. Thyroid biopsy specimens from 8 TgAA-positive dogs had evidence of lymphocytic thyroiditis, whereas those from 10 TgAA-negative dogs did not. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The assay is sensitive and specific for identification of lymphocytic autoimmune thyroiditis in dogs, and has potential for aiding early diagnosis of thyroiditis in dogs and identifying dogs likely to perpetuate hypothyroidism in breeding programs.

Animals↗

Expression of the theta class GST isozyme, YdfYdf, in low GST dogs.

We have reported the existence of low glutathione S-transferase (GST) dogs whose GST activity to 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB) as a substrate (GST-D activity) is quite low, and have also reported significant individual differences in dog liver GST-D activity. The dogs were classified as "low", "middle", or "high" GST dogs based on their GST-D activity. In the present study, in order to investigate the causes of quite low GST-D activity in low GST dogs and the individual differences in dog GST-D activity, glutathione (GSH) conjugation of DCNB was kinetically analyzed. Moreover, liver cytosolic proteins whose expression levels were significantly lower in low GST dogs than in high GST dogs were identified by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and LC tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Interestingly, Vmax values for this reaction well reflected their GST-D activities in all groups, i.e. they were 3.8, 80.6, and 169.2 nmol/min/mg protein in the low, middle, and high GST dogs, respectively. However, Km values were almost the same (260.0-283.7 microM) among these groups. These suggest that GSH conjugation of DCNB should be catalyzed by the same enzyme in all the dogs, and individual differences in the GST-D activity should be the result of individual differences in the expression level of the GST isozyme, which catalyzes conjugation of DCNB. In 2D-DIGE, the expression levels of the two protein spots were significantly lower in the low GST dogs than in the high GST dogs. Positive good correlation (r > 0.800) was observed between GST-D activity and expression levels of these two protein spots. Moreover, expression levels were quite low in low GST dogs. These two proteins were both identified as the theta class GST isozyme, YdfYdf, which specifically catalyzes GSH conjugation of DCNB in dog livers. In the present study, we present two novel findings based on an enzyme kinetic study and protein-expression analysis: (1) GSTYdfYdf is expressed at quite a low level in the liver of low GST dogs, and (2) individual differences in dog liver GST-D activity would be due to individual differences in the expression level of GSTYdfYdf. Considering these findings, low GST dogs might have high susceptibility, including an unexpected toxicity at abnormal exposure to chemicals metabolized by GSTYdfYdf.

Animals↗

Myocardial infarct size is smaller in dogs with pacing-induced heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: Determine if ischemic tolerance is reduced in the setting of experimental heart failure (HF). METHODS: Dogs were paced for 3 weeks at 240 BPM to induce heart failure which was confirmed with hemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements. The pacemaker was turned off 30 min prior to the ischemia study. Normal (n = 9) and HF dogs (n = 12) were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital, instrumented for cardiovascular assessment through a left lateral thoracotomy, and myocardial blood flow was measured with radioactive microspheres. The left circumflex (LCX) artery was occluded for 90 min followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Infarct size was determined with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. RESULTS: Two-dimensional echocardiograms were obtained before and after 3 weeks of pacing in the HF group. Ejection fraction was reduced from 67 +/- 1 to 32 +/- 2% (P < 0.001) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) increased from 29 +/- 4 ml before pacing to 47 +/- 5 ml (P < 0.001). HF dogs were characterized by a smaller peak positive dP/dt (1110 +/- 72 vs. 2546 +/- 41 mmHg/s, P < 0.01), a greater LV end-diastolic pressure (34 +/- 3 vs. 9 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.01), and lower LV end-systolic pressure (99 +/- 5 vs. 130 +/- 5 mmHg, P < 0.05) compared to control dogs. Heart rate was not significantly different between the two groups throughout the experiment. More HF dogs died from ventricular fibrillation (4/12) than control dogs (1/9), but this difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.2). The LCX occlusion produced a comparable decrease in blood flow in HF and normal dogs (0.08 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.09 +/- 0.01 ml/min/g), but infarct size as a percentage of the region at risk was smaller in HF dogs compared to normal dogs (21 +/- 4 vs. 45 +/- 4%, P < 0.01). Region at risk size was also smaller in HF versus normal dogs (29 +/- 3 vs. 40 +/- 2%, P < 0.05). Accordingly, a subgroup analysis of 6 HF and 5 control dogs with similar RAR sizes (35 +/- 2% vs. 37 +/- 2%) was performed and it also demonstrated that infarct size in HF dogs was smaller than in control dogs (19 +/- 5 vs. 40 +/- 4%, P < 0.01), suggesting that disparities in risk region size did not explain the differences in infarct size. CONCLUSION: Infarct size produced by a standardized ischemia-reperfusion protocol was smaller in dogs with pacing-induced HF. The reduced extent of infarction could not be attributed to differences in collateral blood flow or the size of the region at risk. Although the hearts in HF dogs were dilated, LV systolic blood pressure and the strength of contraction were lower than controls potentially reducing myocardial oxygen demand and explaining the smaller infarct size in HF dogs. Other mechanisms, however, cannot be discounted. Thus, ischemic tolerance is not reduced and may be augmented in dogs with pacing-induced heart failure.

Animals↗

Cytokine mRNA expression in whole blood samples from dogs with natural canine distemper virus infection.

Cytokines are soluble polypeptides with many physiological functions and a special role during infection and inflammation. Little is known about cytokine regulation in naturally occurring viral diseases of animals. Especially the role of cytokines in the development and progression of lesions in canine distemper virus (CDV) infection in dogs is largely unknown. Whole blood samples from 14 dogs with CDV infection and three dogs suffering from non-distemper diseases were examined for mRNA of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interferon-gamma (IFN), and the anti-inflammatory transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Blood samples from the three dogs that showed no clinical abnormalities during a pre-vaccination physical examination served as control. CDV infection was confirmed by post-mortem immunohistochemistry for CDV nucleoprotein. The degree of immunoreactivity and the number of virus antigen positive organs were expressed as antigen index. IFN transcripts were not identified in any dog and IL-8 transcripts were present in RNA isolates from all 20 dogs. None of the other cytokines was detected in control animals. IL-1 and IL-6 were each found in one non-distemper dog and TGF transcripts were amplified in two dogs with non-distemper disease. The following transcripts were found in variable numbers in distemper dogs: IL-1 (7/14 dogs), IL-6 (3/14 dogs), IL-12 (3/14 dogs), TNF (8/14 dogs), and TGF (10/14 dogs) with multiple cytokines in ten dogs. No cytokine transcripts were detected in three distemper dogs. There was no obvious correlation between cytokine mRNA expression and respiratory and gastrointestinal tract diseases. In the CNS, demyelination was frequently associated with IL-1, IL-12, TNF and TGF mRNA expression in the blood. IL-6 transcripts were found only in animals with early CNS lesions and TGF was the only detectable cytokine in an animal with chronic demyelination. Lack of detectable cytokine transcripts in whole blood samples was associated with a high antigen index and viremia, indicating that an overwhelming virus infection may suppress cytokine production, possibly due to paralysis of the immune system. Simultaneous occurrence of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in whole blood preparation from most of the dogs with distemper, indicated a complex most likely disease stage dependent orchestrated cytokine expression.

Animals↗

The role of pet dogs in casual conversations of elderly adults.

Casual conversations were recorded as elderly persons routinely walked their dogs through a familiar mobile home park in the United States. Control observations included walks without dogs by owners and non-owners of dogs. All owners talked to and about their dogs. Transcribed conversations indicated that dogs were a primary focus of conversation. A majority of sentences to dogs were imperatives; the owners were instructing the dogs. Dog owners frequently included dogs' names or nicknames in their sentences when they spoke to the dogs and made reference to the dogs' wishes or needs. Speaking to dogs was also associated with frequent repetition of sentences. Passersby talked to the owners about their dogs whether or not the dogs were present. When dog owners spoke with other people, their conversations often concerned activities that were occurring in the present, whereas conversations of non-owners focused on stories about past events. Dog owners reported taking twice as many daily walks as non-owners. Dog owners also reported significantly less dissatisfaction with their social, physical and emotional states.

Aged↗

Surgical management of left-divisional intrahepatic portosystemic shunts: outcome after partial ligation of, or ameroid ring constrictor placement on, the left hepatic vein in twenty-eight dogs (1995-2005).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outcome in dogs with left divisional intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (PSS) treated by partial ligation (PL) or ameroid ring constrictor (ARC) placement on the left hepatic vein. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Dogs (n=28) with left divisional intrahepatic PSS. METHODS: Retrieved data from medical records of dogs with left divisional intrahepatic PSS that had PL (n=17) or ARC (n=11) were signalment, history, clinical signs, preoperative blood work, portal pressure measurements, ARC size, complications and postoperative technetium scintigraphy. Outcome assessed by owner interview 6 months-10 years after surgery was classified as excellent, good or poor. Differences were tested by exact chi2 test. RESULTS: Major complications occurred in 3 dogs: coagulopathy (1 PL dog died), ascites (1 PL dog survived) and seizures (1 ARC dog died). Eight PL dogs had technetium portal scintigraphy; 1 dog was negative and 7 dogs positive for persistent shunting. Seven ARC dogs had scintigraphy; 4 dogs were negative and 3 positive for persistent shunting. In PL dogs, long-term clinical outcome was excellent (92%) or good (8%) whereas, in ARC dogs it was excellent (20%), good (50%) or poor (30%). This outcome difference between treatment groups was significant (P=.0012). CONCLUSION: Dogs treated by PL had significantly better long-term outcome compared with ARC treated dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Based on these data, ARC placement on the left hepatic vein in dogs with left-divisional intrahepatic PSS cannot be recommended.

Animals↗

The subacute neurotoxicity of excess pyridoxine HCl and clioquinol (5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline) in beagle dogs. I. Clinical disease.

The clinical and clinicopathologic effects of excess oral pyridoxine hydrochloride (150 mg/kg body weight/day) and clioquinol (200 mg/kg body weight/day) alone and in combination were evaluated in adult Beagle dogs over an experimental period of approximately 100 days. Anorexia and loss of body weight occurred in the first weeks of the trial period in each treatment group, but was most severe in dogs given both compounds. Dogs in each treatment group (10 of 10 pyridoxine-treated dogs, 6 of 13 clioquinol-treated dogs and 12 of 13 pyridoxine plus clioquinol-treated dogs) developed neurologic disease, manifested principally by ataxia. Pyridoxine-treated dogs had proprioceptive loss involving both fore- and hindquarters, characterized by stiff, spastic, dysmetric leg movements. In clioquinol-treated dogs, dysmetric leg movements were accompanied by failure to support body weight in the hindquarters, but similar forelimb involvement occurred in severely affected dogs. The neurologic disease in dogs given both compounds varied; signs in some dogs resembled those of affected dogs of the pyridoxine-treated group, and in others, those in clioquinol-treated group. Erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentrations and packed cell volumes were reduced in dogs in each treatment group and were lowest in dogs given both compounds. Plasma protein was mildly reduced in dogs given pyridoxine or pyridoxine plus clioquinol. Few or no differences were present in the leukocyte counts, blood urea nitrogen concentrations, in activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and in concentrations of sodium, chloride or potassium in treated dogs as compared to control dogs.

Animals↗

MtDNA diversity among four Portuguese autochthonous dog breeds: a fine-scale characterisation.

BACKGROUND: The picture of dog mtDNA diversity, as obtained from geographically wide samplings but from a small number of individuals per region or breed, has revealed weak geographic correlation and high degree of haplotype sharing between very distant breeds. We aimed at a more detailed picture through extensive sampling (n = 143) of four Portuguese autochthonous breeds - Castro Laboreiro Dog, Serra da Estrela Mountain Dog, Portuguese Sheepdog and Azores Cattle Dog-and comparatively reanalysing published worldwide data. RESULTS: Fifteen haplotypes belonging to four major haplogroups were found in these breeds, of which five are newly reported. The Castro Laboreiro Dog presented a 95% frequency of a new A haplotype, while all other breeds contained a diverse pool of existing lineages. The Serra da Estrela Mountain Dog, the most heterogeneous of the four Portuguese breeds, shared haplotypes with the other mainland breeds, while Azores Cattle Dog shared no haplotypes with the other Portuguese breeds.A review of mtDNA haplotypes in dogs across the world revealed that: (a) breeds tend to display haplotypes belonging to different haplogroups; (b) haplogroup A is present in all breeds, and even uncommon haplogroups are highly dispersed among breeds and continental areas; (c) haplotype sharing between breeds of the same region is lower than between breeds of different regions and (d) genetic distances between breeds do not correlate with geography. CONCLUSION: MtDNA haplotype sharing occurred between Serra da Estrela Mountain dogs (with putative origin in the centre of Portugal) and two breeds in the north and south of the country-with the Castro Laboreiro Dog (which behaves, at the mtDNA level, as a sub-sample of the Serra da Estrela Mountain Dog) and the southern Portuguese Sheepdog. In contrast, the Azores Cattle Dog did not share any haplotypes with the other Portuguese breeds, but with dogs sampled in Northern Europe. This suggested that the Azores Cattle Dog descended maternally from Northern European dogs rather than Portuguese mainland dogs. A review of published mtDNA haplotypes identified thirteen non-Portuguese breeds with sufficient data for comparison. Comparisons between these thirteen breeds, and the four Portuguese breeds, demonstrated widespread haplotype sharing, with the greatest diversity among Asian dogs, in accordance with the central role of Asia in canine domestication.

Animals↗

Increased neuroendocrine reactivity and decreased brain mineralocorticoid receptor-binding capacity in aged dogs.

The effects of aging on the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system of the dog were investigated. For this purpose, we compared 11 healthy dogs, 11-14 yr old, with 14 young mature dogs, 18-24 months of age. Significantly higher basal HPA activity in the old dogs was indicated by their higher resting plasma concentrations of ACTH, alpha MSH, and cortisol over a 6-week period and higher cortisol excretion in 24-h urine. After stress by immobilization as well as by light electric foot shocks and after i.v. administration of 1 microgram/kg CRH, the old dogs had higher peak levels of ACTH and cortisol, but not of alpha MSH. The areas under the curve, corrected for the basal levels, for ACTH and cortisol after these challenges were also greater in the old dogs. The half-times to reach a 50% increment and a 50% decrement in the time-concentration curves of ACTH and cortisol were similar in old and young dogs. There were no differences between the old and young dogs in their response to i.v. administration of 0.01 mg/kg dexamethasone. The clearance of [14C]cortisol from plasma, as calculated in a two-compartment model, was significantly reduced in aged dogs. In the old dogs, the stress- and CRH-induced cortisol peaks were relatively higher than those of ACTH, and their adrenals weighed significantly more, suggesting chronic hyperadrenocorticotropism. Aging had a markedly different effect on the two types of corticosteroid receptors in brain and pituitary. The binding capacity of type II or glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the old dogs was unchanged compared with that in the young dogs in all investigated brain structures except the anterior pituitary, in which the number of GRs was increased up to 170%. Type I or mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-binding capacity was largely decreased in the brain of old dogs. The MR levels in old dogs, expressed as a percentage of the corresponding levels in young dogs, were 34% in the dorsal hippocampus, 58% in the ventral hippocampus, 37% in the septum, and 54% in the hypothalamus. In the anterior pituitary, MR capacity was unchanged. There was no difference between Kd values of MR and GR binding in young and old dogs. We conclude that these aged dogs had elevated basal HPA activity, characterized by increased levels of basal ACTH and cortisol in plasma and of urinary cortisol excretion and by hyperreactivity of ACTH and cortisol secretion in response to challenge by stress or CRH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex↗

Hemodynamic responses during acute normovolemic hemodilution in anesthetized dogs.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution was induced by progressive replacement of blood by dextran (molecular weight 150,000) in anesthetized artificially ventilated dogs. Experiments were performed on dogs with intact autonomic innervation, dogs with beta-adrenergic blockade, dogs with cholinergic blockade, dogs with bilateral vagotomy, and dogs with combined bilateral vagotomy plus beta-adrenergic blockade. Hemodilution induced an increase in cardiac-output in all the groups. However, in dogs with low control heart rate (dogs with intact autonomic innervation, and dogs with beta-adrenergic blockade), cardiac-output increase was almost wholly due to an increase in heart rate. Whereas, in dogs with high control heart rate (dogs with cholinergic blockade, dogs with bilateral vagotomy, and dogs with combined bilateral vagotomy plus beta-adrenergic blockade), the increase in cardiac-output was almost wholly due to an increase in the stroke-volume. The increase in heart rate in dogs with intact autonomic innervation was not significantly different from the heart rate increase in dogs with beta-adrenergic blockade. In dogs with low control heart rate (beta-receptor blockade), hemodilution induced tachycardia, which was not significantly different from the response induced in intact dogs. This shows that the cardioacceleration was primarily mediated through the efferent vagus nerves, and the efferent sympathetic nerves did not make significant contribution in the reflex.

Animals↗

Evaluation of a canine D-dimer point-of-care test kit for use in samples obtained from dogs with disseminated intravascular coagulation, thromboembolic disease, and hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a canine D-dimer point-of-care (cD-d POC) test kit for use in healthy dogs and dogs with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), thromboembolic disease (TED), and hemorrhage. ANIMALS: 12 healthy dogs, 18 dogs with DIC, 23 dogs with TED (19 acute and 4 chronic), and 18 dogs with hemorrhage. PROCEDURE: The cD-d POC, canine D-dimer ELISA (cD-d ELISA), human D-dimer latex agglutination (hD-d LA), and fibrin degradation product (FDP) tests were performed on citrated plasma. RESULTS: All healthy dogs had negative cD-d POC test results and mean cD-d ELISA value of 0.2 U/mL. All dogs with DIC had positive cD-d POC test results and mean cD-d ELISA value of 44 U/mL. Dogs with acuteTED had a mean cD-d ELISA value of 34 U/mL, and 17 of 19 had positive cD-d POC test results. Mean cD-d ELISA value in dogs with hemorrhage was 14 units/mL, and 15 of 18 had positive cD-d POC test results. The cD-d ELISA values in dogs with hemorrhage were significantly higher than those of healthy dogs but lower than those of dogs with DIC and acute TED. The cD-d POC, cD-d ELISA, and hD-d LA tests were comparable in differentiating healthy dogs from dogs with DIC, acute TED, or hemorrhage and appeared to be superior to measurement of FDPs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The cD-d POC test kit can be quickly and easily used and reliably detects dogs with DIC or acute TED. Positive results may also be seen in dogs with internal hemorrhage.

Animals↗