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Canine circovirus (CanineCV) has been detected in some dogs with severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea, but its pathogenic role is unclear. This study evaluated a suspected association between the presence of CanineCV and acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS) in dogs. The prevalence of CanineCV in dogs with AHDS was compared with that in healthy dogs and those infected with canine parvovirus (CPV). Additionally, time to recovery and mortality rate were compared between CanineCV-positive and CanineCV-negative dogs. Faecal samples of dogs with AHDS (n=55), healthy dogs (n=66) and dogs infected with CPV (n=54) were examined by two real-time TaqMan PCR assays targeting the replicase and capsid genes of CanineCV. CanineCV was detected in faecal samples of two dogs with AHDS, three healthy controls and seven dogs infected with CPV. Among the three groups, there was no significant difference in prevalence of CanineCV. CPV-infected animals that were coinfected with CanineCV had a significantly higher mortality rate compared with those negative for CanineCV. CanineCV does not appear to be the primary causative agent of AHDS in dogs, but might play a role as a negative co-factor in disease outcome in dogs with CPV infection.

Case 1 Case 2 Case 3* Case 4 Signalment 7.5 years, male castrated, 1.4 kg 6 years, male castrated, 2.6 kg 4 years, male castrated, 1.4 kg 6 years, female, intact, 974 g Clinical signs Cachexia, depression Cachexia, depression, nasal discharge, dyspnoea Initially none; finally anorexia and dyspnoea Initially none; finally dyspnoea Dermatological signs Multifocal alopecia, erythema, follicular casts and seborrhea Multifocal alopecia, erythema, follicular casts and seborrhea Multifocal alopecia, erythema, follicular casts and seborrhea Multifocal alopecia, erythema, scaling, follicular casts and crusting Histological description skin Orthokeratosis, lymphocytic exocytosis, lymphocytic mural and interface folliculitis, absent sebaceous glands Orthokeratosis, lymphocytic exocytosis, lymphocytic mural and interface folliculitis, absent sebaceous glands Orthokeratosis, lymphocytic mural folliculitis, absent sebaceous glands Orthokeratosis, lymphocytic exocytosis, lymphocytic mural and interface folliculitis, absent sebaceous glands Thoracic radiograph Mass in anterior mediastinum Mass in anterior mediastinum No mass on initial exam, not repeated radiographs Mass in anterior mediastinum Thoracic ultrasound Cystic structures within mass located cranial to base of the heart Cystic structures within mass located cranial to base of the heart Not performed Non-cystic mass located cranial to base of the heart Cytological description mass Predominantly lymphoblasts with scattered eosinophils and macrophages Predominantly small lymphocytes and few activated macrophages Not performed Lymphocytes and clusters of spindle cells Histological description mass Consistent with lymphoma: large number of lymphoblasts with signs of atypia Consistent with thymoma: predominantly polygonal epithelial cells intermingled with small lymphocytes Consistent with thymoma: predominantly polygonal epithelial cells intermingled with small lymphocytes Not performed Treatment Topical Oil soak, shampoo, aloe vera spray Oil spray (1:100 with water), shampoo Propylene glycol Propylene glycol Systemic Outcome Essential fatty acids Complete resolution within 5 months, euthanasia after 8 months EFA Worsening, euthanasia after 7 months Cyclosporine, Mygliol 812[dagger], EFA Complete resolution within 2 months, euthanasia after 14 months Cyclosporine, Mygliol 812[dagger], EFA Worsening, euthanasia after 5 months *This case has partly been described previously (Jassies-van der Lee and others 2009) [dagger]Mygliol 812 - a medium-chain triglyceride solution EFA Essential fatty acids Discussion We describe four cases of severe exfoliative dermatitis in rabbits with mediastinal tumours. The lack of clinical efficacy of the therapies in Cases 2 and 4, and the fatal tumour expansion are explained by the fact that the underlying cause of the disease was not addressed. [...]in similar cases, a targeted treatment approach focusing on the neoplasia, such as radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy should be discussed with the owner.

Abstract Background Etiology of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) syndrome in dogs is unknown and histopathologic and microbial investigations have only been performed post mortem. Objective To identify characteristic intra vitam endoscopic and histologic mucosal lesions, as well as bacterial species, within the mucosa of dogs with HGE. Animals Ten dogs diagnosed with HGE were included. Eleven dogs with gastroduodenoscopy and different intestinal diseases were used as controls for microbial changes. Dogs pretreated with antibiotics or diagnosed with any disease known to cause bloody diarrhea were excluded from the study. Methods In this prospective study, gastrointestinal biopsies were collected from 10 dogs with HGE. Endoscopic and histologic changes were assessed according to WSAVA guidelines. Biopsies from the stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon were investigated by histology and by immunohistochemistry for the presence of Clostridium spp. and parvovirus. The first duodenal biopsy taken with a sterile forceps was submitted for bacterial culture. Results Acute mucosal lesions were only found in the intestines, not in the stomach. Clostridium spp., identified as Clostridium perfringens in 6/9 cases, were detected on the small intestinal mucosa in all dogs with HGE, either by culture or immunohistopathology. In the control group, C. perfringens could only be cultured in one of 11 dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The results of this study demonstrate an apparent association between C. perfringens and the occurrence of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea. The term “HGE,” which implies the involvement of the stomach, should be renamed as “acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome.”

Although an association between clostridial pathogens and canine idiopathic acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS) has been described, the relevance of those bacteria and their toxins remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between severity of clinical signs and presence of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) and Clostridium difficile toxin A/B (CDT A/B) in faeces of dogs with AHDS. Faecal samples of 54 dogs with idiopathic AHDS were tested by qualitative CPE and CDT A/B ELISA, and PCR was performed to detect enterotoxin genes of C. perfringens (cpe) and toxin B genes of C. difficile (cdt b). Prevalence of cdt b and CDT A/B in dogs with AHDS was 10/54 and 2/54 versus 3/23 and 0/23 in control dogs. Prevalence of cpe was 35/54 in affected versus 9/23 in control dogs. Prevalence of CPE in dogs with AHDS (13/54) was higher compared with control dogs (0/23). No significant difference was detected between CPE-positive and -negative and between cpe-positive and -negative dogs in severity of clinical signs, duration of hospitalisation, mortality rate and selected laboratory parameters. This study suggests that CPE and CDT A/B do not play a role in idiopathic AHDS, are not associated with clinical parameters in affected dogs and cannot be used to predict disease outcome.

The success of the treatment of 117 dogs with atopic dermatitis with allergen-specific immunotherapy for up to 48 months was assessed. An excellent response (remission with exclusive immunotherapy) was recorded in 18 of the dogs, a good response (more than 50 per cent reduction in medication and improvement of clinical signs) was recorded in 57, a moderate response was recorded in 24 and a poor response in 18. The mould antigens in the allergen extract were stored in a separate vial before administration and the success rate of the immunotherapy including mould antigens was much higher than in an earlier study in which mould and pollen antigens had been stored in one vial. The success rate was not affected significantly by the age of the dogs when the disease developed, or by their age or the period for which they had shown clinical signs when the treatment began; it was also unaffected by whether pollens, moulds or dust mites were used as antigens, or by whether the offending allergens had been identified by intradermal testing or by serum testing for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E.

In dogs with idiopathic acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS), a serious loss of intestinal mucosal barrier integrity occurs. However, the incidence of bacterial translocation in dogs with idiopathic AHDS is not known. Thus, the objectives of this prospective study were to identify the incidence of bacteraemia, to evaluate the frequency of septic events and the influence of bacteraemia on various clinical and laboratory parameters, duration of hospitalisation and survival of dogs with idiopathic AHDS. The study included 87 dogs with idiopathic AHDS. Twenty-one healthy dogs served as control group. To evaluate clinical significance of bacterial translocation, blood culture results were compared between patients and controls. Clinical and laboratory parameters were compared between patients with positive and negative blood cultures. There was no significant difference in either incidence of bacteraemia between patients with idiopathic AHDS (11 per cent) and controls (14 per cent) or in severity of clinical signs, laboratory parameters, duration of hospitalisation or mortality between blood culture-positive and culture-negative dogs with idiopathic AHDS. The results of this study suggest that the incidence of bacteraemia in dogs with idiopathic AHDS is low and not different from that of healthy control dogs. Bacteraemia does not influence the clinical course or survival and thus antibiotic treatment is not indicated to prevent sepsis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of feline epilepsy of unknown cause (EUC) requires a thorough diagnostic evaluation, otherwise the prevalence of EUC could be overestimated. HYPOTHESIS: Feline EUC is a clinically defined disease entity, which differs from feline hippocampal necrosis by the absence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal alteration of the hippocampus. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the prevalence of EUC in a hospital population of cats by applying well‐defined inclusion criteria, and (2) to describe the clinical course of EUC. ANIMALS: Eighty‐one cats with recurrent seizures. METHODS: Retrospective study—medical records were reviewed for cats presented for evaluation of recurrent seizures (2005–2010). Inclusion criteria were a defined diagnosis based on laboratory data, and either MRI or histopathology. Final outcome was confirmed by telephone interview with the owner. Magnetic resonance images were reviewed to evaluate hippocampal morphology and signal alterations. RESULTS: Epilepsy of unknown cause was diagnosed in 22% of cats with epilepsy. Physical, neurologic, and laboratory examinations, and either 1.5 T MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis or postmortem examination failed to identify an underlying cause. Cats with EUC had a higher survival rate (P < .05) and seizure remission occurred frequently (44.4%). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: A detailed clinical evaluation and diagnostic imaging with MRI is recommended in any cat with recurrent seizures. The prognosis of cats with normal MRI findings and a clinical diagnosis of EUC are good. Standardized imaging guidelines should be established to assess the hippocampus in cats.

Shampoo therapy is frequently used on pruritic dogs. However, there are few double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies of this form of therapy. This randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy of a commercial medicated shampoo (DermaTopic; Almapharm) containing chlorhexidine, lactoferrin, piroctone olamine, chitosan and essential fatty acids in 27 dogs with mild to moderate allergic pruritus without secondary skin infections. All dogs received shampoo therapy with either DermaTopic or a shampoo vehicle as placebo twice weekly for four weeks. The extent of pruritus was evaluated before the study and then on a daily basis by the owners using a visual analogue scale. Before beginning the treatment and after four weeks, the skin lesions were evaluated by an experienced clinician with a validated lesion score (Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index – CADESI). The pruritus was reduced significantly by both DermaTopic and placebo. However, there was no significant difference between both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the CADESI scores pre- and post-treatment in either group or between the two types of treatment. This study provides further evidence of the benefit of shampoo therapy for pruritic dogs.

Antihistaminic drugs are commonly used as symptomatic therapy of atopic dermatitis in dogs. Unfortunately, their clinical benefit is largely unsubstantiated. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial, the influence of dimetinden and of a combination of chlorpheniramine and hydroxyzine on pruritus and lesions was evaluated in 19 dogs. They were treated with either product or a placebo orally for 14 days, each time followed by a 14-day washout period. Before and after each period, the dogs were examined and the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI) determined by a clinician, and the pruritus and general condition by the owner. Dimetinden improved the pruritus significantly (P=0.014) but not the CADESI (P=0.087), the combination of hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine improved the CADESI (P=0.049) and pruritus (P=0.05) significantly. Ten of 17 dogs improved by more than 25 per cent in pruritus with the combination of hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine, 12 of 18 with dimetindenmaleate and only 2 of 19 with placebo. Antihistamines can help to reduce pruritus in atopic dogs, but in most cases, the improvement is limited and additional treatment may be needed.

Cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) are a promising new immunotherapeutic treatment option for canine atopic dermatitis (AD). The aim of this uncontrolled pilot study was to evaluate clinical and immunological effects of gelatine nanoparticle (GNP)-bound CpG ODN (CpG GNP) on atopic dogs. Eighteen dogs with AD were treated for 8 weeks (group 1, n=8) or 18 weeks (group 2, n=10). Before inclusion and after 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks (group 1+2), 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks (group 2) 75 µg CpG ODN/dog (bound to 1.5 mg GNP) were injected subcutaneously. Pruritus was evaluated daily by the owner. Lesions were evaluated and serum concentrations and mRNA expressions of interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α, transforming growth factor-β, interleukin (IL) 10 and IL-4 (only mRNA expression) were determined at inclusion and after 8 weeks (group 1+2) and 18 weeks (group 2). Lesions and pruritus improved significantly from baseline to week 8. Mean improvements from baseline to week 18 were 23 per cent and 44 per cent for lesions and pruritus, respectively, an improvement of ≥50 per cent was seen in six out of nine and three out of six dogs, respectively. IL-4 mRNA expression decreased significantly. The results of this study show a clinical improvement of canine AD with CpG GNP comparable to allergen immunotherapy. Controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.