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Background In dogs with sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) the utility of PCR in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease after treatment has not been assessed. Objectives To evaluate the presence of fungal DNA using quantitative PCR targeting Aspergillus fumigatus (Aspfum) and Aspergillus spp. (PanAsp), and PCR targeting multiple fungal species (PanFun), in samples obtained from nasal cavities of dogs with SNA, other nasal diseases and healthy dogs. Animals Sixty‐two dogs including 20 with SNA, 12 with cured SNA (of which 10 are from the SNA group), 20 dogs with Non‐SNA nasal disease, and 20 healthy dogs. Methods Prospective cross‐sectional study. Aspfum, PanAsp, and PanFun were performed on blindly collected nasal swabs obtained in anesthetized dogs. Results In SNA dogs, Aspfum and PanAsp were positive in 13/20 and 14/20 dogs. In all dogs in the 3 other groups, A. fumigatus DNA was not detected using Aspfum. PanAsp was positive in 3 non‐SNA dogs: 1 with cured SNA and 2 with Non‐SNA nasal disease. A Ct cut‐off value of 33.3 for Aspfum demonstrated 65% sensitivity and 100% specificity. A Ct cut‐off value of 34.5 for PanAsp demonstrated 70% sensitivity and 96.2% specificity. PanFun was positive in 16/20, 12/12, 19/20, and 7/20 dogs in the SNA, cured SNA, Non‐SNA, and healthy groups, respectively. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Aspfum and PanAsp on blindly collected nasal swabs can be useful for the detection of SNA at diagnosis and at cure, especially when more invasive methods are not available.

Background The relationships among gastric lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (GLFH), Helicobacter‐like organisms (HLOs), and clinical signs have not been established in dogs. Objectives To evaluate the epidemiologic, clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic findings associated with GLFH in dogs, and determine the association of GLFH with HLOs and the French Bulldog (FB) breed. Animals Two hundred eighty‐eight dogs that underwent gastroscopy between 2013 and 2016. Methods Retrospective, cross‐sectional study. Gastric biopsy samples were reviewed and scored for inflammation and HLOs. Dogs were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (63 FBs), group 2 (45 non‐FB brachycephalic dogs), and group 3 (180 nonbrachycephalic dogs). Variables were evaluated for their association with GLFH. Results Univariate analysis determined that intact males, young age, vomiting, gastroscopic findings (discoloration, hemorrhage, and ulcers), and histopathologic findings (gastric lamina propria lymphocytic infiltration and HLO score) were associated with GLFH (P ≤ .03). In the multivariate analysis, GLFH was associated with the HLO score (odds ratio [OR] > 5 for HLO scores 1‐2 and >15 for HLO score of 3; P < .001), with vomiting (OR > 4; P = .01) but not with FB breed (P = .76) and age (P = .1). The HLO score was associated with younger age (P < .001). Conclusion and Clinical Importance The HLO score was associated with a high GLFH score. Vomiting was associated with GLFH. Helicobacter‐like organisms are highly prevalent in young dogs and GLFH is indirectly associated with this factor. Clinical relevance of the identification of GLFH and HLO remains to be determined.

Antimicrobials’ topical administration efficacy has not been assessed in dogs with upper respiratory tract disease. The aim was to compare the concentration of gentamicin in nasal lavage fluid (NALF) and in serum after three topical protocols. This was a prospective crossover study of ten healthy dogs. Gentamicin was nebulized for a duration of 1 week, twice a day, for 10 min in the first protocol (10-min protocol) and for 3 min in the second protocol (3-min protocol), while the third protocol consisted of the administration of 0.25 mL of gentamicin in each nostril (drop protocol). Median concentrations of gentamicin in NALF were 9.39 µg/mL (8.12–19.97 interquartile range), 4.96 µg/mL (4.60–6.43) and 137.00 µg/mL (110.5–162.00) in the 10-min protocol, 3-min protocol and drop protocol, respectively. The result for the drop protocol was significantly higher than those of both nebulization protocols in NALF (p = 0.039). In serum, the gentamicin concentration was 0.98 µg/mL (0.65–1.53) and 0.25 µg/mL (0.25–0.44) in the 10-min and 3-min protocols, respectively. Gentamicin was not detected in the serum of seven out of ten dogs in the drop protocol, and gentamicin was significantly higher in the 10-min protocol compared to the drop protocol (p = 0.001). This study found that the 10-min, 3-min and drop protocols achieved superior concentrations in NALF compared to the minimum inhibitory concentration for gentamicin-sensitive bacteria, while remaining below the toxic values in blood.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing either for Aspergillus.spp or for Aspergillus fumigatus is now available; however, the interest of such tests in the diagnosis of canine sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) has not yet been assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of fungal material using qPCR targeting Aspergillus.spp (PanAsp) and A. fumigatus (Aspfum) in samples obtained from nasal cavities of dogs with various nasal diseases and healthy dogs. In SNA dogs, Aspfum and PanAsp were positive in 13/20 and 14/20 dogs with a mean cycle threshold (Ct) of 30.6 [range 23,2 ‐ 33,3] and 28.3 [24,3 ‐ 34,5], respectively. The PanAsp was also positive in 3 non‐SNA dogs: one with cured SNA, one with LPR and one with nasal tumor, but at very low load (Ct>33). Results between both qPCR were highly correlated (r = 0.8, P < 0.01). For Aspfum and PanAsp, the sensitivity was 65% and 70% and the specificity was 100% and 94%, respectively. Aspfum qPCR test on deep blinded nasal swabs appears highly specific but only moderately sensitive to diagnose canine SNA. In some dogs fungal plaques are exclusively found in the frontal sinus and are probably not reached by blinded sampling. Since A. fumigatus is the most common etiological agent of canine SNA (96.7% of isolates), Aspfum testing appears appropriate; however, PanAsp testing is a non‐negligible tool to detect the small percentage of SNA cases related to other Aspergillus species. Results also show that healthy predisposed dogs do not seem to be carriers and confirm that A. fumigatus does not appear to have a major role in LPR. The negative results found in cured SNA dogs show a good correlation with clinical and rhinoscopic findings. In conclusion, Aspfum and/or PanAsp (qPCR testing) on deep nasal blinded swabs can be useful for the detection of SNA at diagnosis and after cure.