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Background Extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to influence 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 different facial and body conformations. A total of 46 dogs of different age, living environment and from 3 different 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 differences 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 profile. 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.

Background Pathogenesis of canine fungal rhinitis is still not fully understood. Treatment remains challenging, after cure turbinate destruction may be associated with persistent clinical signs and recurrence of fungal rhinitis can occur. Alterations of the nasal microbiota have been demonstrated in dogs with chronic idiopathic rhinitis and nasal neoplasia, although whether they play a role in the pathogenesis or are a consequence of the disease is still unknown. The objectives of the present study were (1) to describe nasal microbiota alterations associated with fungal rhinitis in dogs, compared with chronic idiopathic rhinitis and controls, (2) to characterize the nasal microbiota modifications associated with successful treatment of fungal rhinitis. Forty dogs diagnosed with fungal rhinitis, 14 dogs with chronic idiopathic rhinitis and 29 healthy control dogs were included. Nine of the fungal rhinitis dogs were resampled after successful treatment with enilconazole infusion. Results Only disease status contributed significantly to the variability of the microbiota. The relative abundance of the genus Moraxella was decreased in the fungal rhinitis (5.4 ± 18%) and chronic idiopathic rhinitis (4.6 ± 8.7%) groups compared to controls (51.8 ± 39.7%). Fungal rhinitis and chronic idiopathic rhinitis groups also showed an increased richness and α-diversity at species level compared with controls. Increase in unique families were associated with fungal rhinitis (Staphyloccaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Neisseriaceae) and chronic idiopathic rhinitis (Pasteurellaceae and Lactobacillaceae). In dogs with fungal rhinitis at cure, only 1 dog recovered a high relative abundance of Moraxellaceae. Conclusions Results confirm major alterations of the nasal microbiota in dogs affected with fungal rhinitis and chronic idiopathic rhinitis, consisting mainly in a decrease of  Moraxella . Besides, a specific dysbiotic profile further differentiated fungal rhinitis from chronic idiopathic rhinitis. In dogs with fungal rhinitis, whether the NM returns to its pre-infection state or progresses toward chronic idiopathic rhinitis or fungal rhinitis recurrence warrants further investigation.

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 Literature about the lung microbiota (LM) in dogs is sparse. Influence of breed and living conditions on the LM in healthy dogs is currently unknown, as well as the influence of chronic respiratory diseases such as canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) in West highland white terriers (WHWTs). Aims of this study were (1) to assess the characteristics of the healthy LM according to breed and living conditions, and (2) to study LM changes associated with CIPF in WHWTs. Forty-five healthy dogs divided into 5 groups: domestic terriers ( n  = 10), domestic shepherds ( n  = 11), domestic brachycephalic dogs ( n  = 9), domestic WHWTs ( n  = 6) (H-WHWTs) and experimental beagles (n = 9) and 11 diseased WHWTs affected with CIPF (D-WHWTs) were included in the study to achieve those objectives. Results In healthy domestic dogs, except in H-WHWTs, the presence of few discriminant genera in each type of breed was the only LM modification. LM of experimental dogs displayed a change in b-diversity and an increased richness compared with domestic dogs. Moreover, Prevotella_7 and Dubosiella genera were more abundant and 19 genera were discriminant in experimental dogs. LM of both H-WHWTs and D-WHWTs revealed increased abundance of 6 genera ( Brochothrix , Curvibacter , Pseudarcicella , Flavobacteriaceae genus , Rhodoluna and Limnohabitans ) compared with other healthy domestic dogs . Brochothrix and Pseudarcicella were also discriminant in D-WHWTs compared with H-WHWTs and other healthy domestic dogs. Conclusions In domestic conditions, except for H-WHWT, the breed appears to have minor influence on the LM. LM modifications were found in experimental compared with domestic living conditions. LM modifications in H-WHWTs and D-WHWTs compared with other healthy domestic dogs were similar and seemed to be linked to the breed. Whether this breed difference might be related with the high susceptibility of WHWTs for CIPF requires further studies.

The lungs are now recognized to harbor a low biomass and a diverse microbial community which is altered in lung diseases. However, whether lung microbiota (LM) alteration is a cause or a consequence of lung pathologies is still a subject for debate. Bronchomalacia (BM), that is defined as a regional to diffuse dynamic airway collapse of bronchi causing airflow limitation, has been inconsistently associated with bacterial infection and it is unclear whether bacteria contribute to the disease pathogenesis and progression or not. In this study, we assessed the LM in dogs with reported bronchomala- cia at bronchoscopy (BM-dogs; n = 25) in comparison with healthy dogs (H-dogs; n = 37). Dogs with primary or secondary bacterial and parasitic infection were excluded based on Baerman test and bronch- oalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, culture and Bordetella bronchi- septica, Mycoplasma cynos, Angiostrongylus vasorum and Crenosoma vulpis qPCRs; as were dogs receiving antimicrobial drug in the week before sampling. LM was characterized using DNA extracted from naïve BALF subjected to 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Bacterial load was measured in duplicate using qPCR targeting the V2-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Bacterial composition, load and ecologi- cal parameters were calculated and compared between BM-dogs and H-dogs using MOTHUR v3, STAMP v2.1.3, XLSTAT v4.1 and R vegan package v 3.6.2. Among the 25 BM-dogs, based on BALF analysis, 3 had concomitant eosinophilic and 15 neutrophilic infiltrations, while others had a nor- mal analysis. No significant differences between bacterial loads (P = 0.075) were found between groups. In BM-dogs, the LM was dominated by Conchiformibius, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Chryseo- bacterium and Serratia genera and some genera of the Pasteurellaceae family. Linear discriminant analysis effect size revealed that the LM in BM-dogs was enriched in 19 genera present in lower proportion in H-dogs and commonly found in upper airways or digestive microbiota. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance detected a significant difference in LM between BM-dogs and H-dogs (P = 0.001). Finally, decreased bacterial alpha-diversity (median and interquartile range of 8.03 (2.81 – 10.72) vs. 9.14 (5.51 – 15.08); P = 0.037) and evenness (0.06 (0.03 – 0.10) versus 0.09 (0.06 – 0.18); P = 0.011) were observed in BM-dogs compared with H-dogs. This comparative study provides evidence for alteration of the LM in BM-dogs. Because of the increase in genera from upper airways and digestive microbiota, altered LM might be secondary to an increase in the micro-aspiration rate which is suggested in that disease. Further studies are warranted to determine if such bacteria have a role in dis- ease onset or progression.

Background The survival of dogs with pheochromocytoma (PCC) treated with adrenoreceptor antagonists has not been described or compared to surgically managed cases. Hypothesis/Objectives The objective of this study is to evaluate the survival of medically and surgically managed dogs with PCC and investigate factors associated with survival. Animals Two hundred fifty‐five dogs with PCC, treated with alpha‐adrenoreceptor antagonists (AA) without adrenalectomy (Group 1, n = 75), adrenalectomy +/– AA (Group 2, n = 128), or neither treatment (Group 3, n = 52). Methods Retrospective, multicenter review of medical records. Median overall survival time (OST) for Groups 1 and 2 combined was calculated using Kaplan–Meier estimates, and then compared between Group 1 and Group 2 using Log‐Rank testing. Cox proportional hazard analysis identified factors associated with survival in Groups 1 and 2 individually and combined. Results Median OST for all cases was 854 (95% CI: 572–1136) days. Median OST was lower in Group 1 (247 days, 95% CI: 76–418 days) than in Group 2 (927 days, 95% CI: 587–1267 days; p < 0.001). In Group 2, 88/92 dogs (97.8%) that received presurgical AA treatment survived to discharge compared to 23/27 (85.2%) that did not receive AA pretreatment (p = 0.03). Lack of clinical signs at presentation was associated with increased survival in both groups combined (HR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3–0.9; p = 0.02) and in Group 2 alone (HR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.7; p = 0.01). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with PCC treated with adrenalectomy have longer survival compared to those managed with AA without adrenalectomy.

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.

The lung has been recognized to host a diverse, low biomass bacterial population, identified as the lung microbiota (LM). In human chronic lung diseases (CLDs), the LM is altered compared with that of healthy patients. However, whether alterations are a cause or a consequence of the disease is still unclear. In dogs, the LM has been described mostly in healthy experimental beagles. However, in a previous work from our team, an impact of the living conditions and/or of the breed was suspected between healthy beagles and West Highland white terriers (WHWTs). Recent studies in mice and horses showed modifications in the LM according to the living conditions. These modifications in the LM could predispose individuals to certain CLDs. So, we aimed to assess the breed impact and the influence of living conditions, either experimental or domestic, on the LM, in healthy dogs. Healthy dogs were sampled, for a total of 48 dogs, and categorized into 5 groups: experimental Beagle (EB), Shepherd (S), Terrier (T), Brachycephalic (Br) and WHWT dogs, a breed with high susceptibility for canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained under anaesthesia in each dog. After DNA extraction from BALFs, a PCR targeting the V1-V3 region of the 16S rDNA was performed. Amplicons were then sequenced on a MiSeq Illumina sequencer. Taxonomical assignation and microbiota community analysis were done with MOTHUR V1.40 with an OTU clustering distance of 0.03. Results showed that the bacterial load was higher in EB dogs (p<0.0001). The AMOVA results indicated differences between EB group compared with S and T groups (p<0.005). Significant differences in relative abundances at the family and the genus level were found. The genus Hydrogenophilus was higher in EB and the genera Brochothrix, Limnohabitans, Parabacteroides and Curvibacter were higher in WHWT compared with other groups (p<0.05). In each group, specific genera were found as indicators of discrimination (p<0.05). Bacterial richness was higher in WHWT than in EB, S and T groups (p<0.001), but there were no significant differences for the evenness and the α-diversity between groups. Our study demonstrated an effect of the living conditions on the LM. Breed differences were also shown. This LM modifications might be related to breed susceptibility to lower respiratory diseases, such as CIPF in WHWTs and need to be considered in future analyses on the role of LM disturbances in diseases.

A four-month-old male Shih-Tzu was presented with lethargy, mild dyspnoea and acute thoracic pain. Thoracic radiography revealed the presence of a mediastinal mass at the level of the thymus and ultrasound confirmed a thymic haemorrhage. Coagulation times were beyond the detection limit of the machine. After preprandial and postprandial bile acids excluded hepatic insufficiency, an anticoagulant intoxication was strongly suspected. Disappearance of multiple doses of phenprocoumon in the house and rapid response to vitamin K administration as a treatment and blood transfusion confirmed authors' suspicion. The dog had clinically made a full recovery and was discharged after 36 hours. The following unique information has been provided: anticoagulant intoxication is commonly seen but the clinical presentation can be highly variable depending on the affected area. This report describes a rare thymic haemorrhage secondary to ingestion of human anticoagulant medication in a dog.