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Changes in the microbial populations on the skin of animals have traditionally been evaluated using conventional microbiology techniques. The sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes has revealed that the human skin is inhabited by a highly diverse and variable microbiome that had previously not been demonstrated by culture-based methods. The goals of this study were to describe the microbiome inhabiting different areas of the canine skin, and to compare the skin microbiome of healthy and allergic dogs. DNA extracted from superficial skin swabs from healthy (n = 12) and allergic dogs (n = 6) from different regions of haired skin and mucosal surfaces were used for 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Principal coordinates analysis revealed clustering for the different skin sites across all dogs, with some mucosal sites and the perianal regions clustering separately from the haired skin sites. The rarefaction analysis revealed high individual variability between samples collected from healthy dogs and between the different skin sites. Higher species richness and microbial diversity were observed in the samples from haired skin when compared to mucosal surfaces or mucocutaneous junctions. In all examined regions, the most abundant phylum and family identified in the different regions of skin and mucosal surfaces were Proteobacteria and Oxalobacteriaceae. The skin of allergic dogs had lower species richness when compared to the healthy dogs. The allergic dogs had lower proportions of the Betaproteobacteria Ralstonia spp. when compared to the healthy dogs. The study demonstrates that the skin of dogs is inhabited by much more rich and diverse microbial communities than previously thought using culture-based methods. Our sequence data reveal high individual variability between samples collected from different patients. Differences in species richness was also seen between healthy and allergic dogs, with allergic dogs having lower species richness when compared to healthy dogs.

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.

The current state of knowledge on this increasingly important subject is beautifully described in this, the first truly comprehensive text of allergic diseases affecting the major veterinary species. It will be an invaluable guide to students, clinicians and researchers alike. From the Foreword by Professor Richard Halliwell, MS, PhD, VetMB, MRCVS, Dip ACVD Veterinary Allergy is the first comprehensive, high quality reference dealing with all aspects of veterinary allergy in all species and all body systems involved with allergy. Providing solid breadth and excellent depth of coverage, it deals with the immunopathology of the various allergic conditions as well as with clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of veterinary allergic diseases. Key features: * Broad species coverage, organised by sections on dogs, cats, horses, and other domestic species including large animals, birds and small mammals * Provides details on diseases affecting the skin, respiratory tract and gut * Contains practical information for clinicians on management of allergic diseases * Includes fully-referenced high level detail suitable for specialists and researchers * Focused on evidence-based medicine and science * The editors have extensive experience and are respected as world-wide experts in the field * Every chapter is written by an expert in that particular topic Anyone seeking information and references on any aspect of allergic conditions in any species should find this book helpful.  The book will be of interest to clinicians in first opinion practice, specialists in veterinary dermatology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, and immunology as well as specialists-in-training in those fields and veterinary students. The focus on underlying principles and practical clinical aspects is admirable. Immediately useful for practical utilization by practicing clinicians. Dr. Andrew Mackin BSc BVMS MVS DVSc FACVSc DSAM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Professor and Service Chief, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Dr. Hugh G. Ward Endowed Chair of Small Animal Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, USA

Abstract Background In dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), data on the clinical characteristics of food-responsive PLE (FR-PLE) remain scarce. Objective To determine the clinical characteristics of FR-PLE in dogs responsive to ultralow-fat diet (ULFD) management. Animals Thirty-three dogs diagnosed with PLE based on standard diagnostic criteria. Methods Retrospective review of medical records. Clinical findings were compared between dogs with FR-PLE (FR-PLE group) and those with immunosuppressant-responsive PLE (IR-PLE) or nonresponsive PLE (NR-PLE) (IR/NR-PLE group). The area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the ability of factors to differentiate the FR-PLE and IR/NR-PLE groups. Survival time was compared between the FR-PLE and IR/NR-PLE groups. Results Twenty-three dogs responded to ULFD management and were diagnosed with FR-PLE. The canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI) was significantly lower in the FR-PLE group than in the IR/NR-PLE group (P < .001). The AUC of CCECAI for differentiating the FR-PLE group was 0.935 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.845-1.000) with an optimal cutoff value of 8 (sensitivity, 0.826; specificity, 0.889). Survival times were significantly longer in the FR-PLE group (median, not reached) than in the IR/NR-PLE group (median, 432 days; P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs that respond to ULFD management and are diagnosed with FR-PLE are expected to have a favorable prognosis. Clinical scores, specifically the CCECAI, could be useful for differentiating FR-PLE from IR-PLE or NR-PLE.

The limited education in nutrition contributes to the spread of the “nutritionism” phenomenon, with unfounded concerns about certain diets, such as commercial hypoallergenic ones, and their supposed relationship with the development of dyslipidemia. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of veterinarians on the subject and test its veracity. For this, serum triglyceride and cholesterol data from 35 dogs were analyzed before and after consumption of a commercial hypoallergenic diet for 60 days. In addition, a survey was carried out with veterinarians to assess their beliefs about this diet. Finally, the fat content of commercial maintenance, light and other prescription diets were compared to that of 10 commercial hypoallergenic dog diets. The results showed that most veterinarians believed that hypoallergenic diets could cause dyslipidemia and has too much fat. The analysis showed that hypoallergenic diets have fat content in the range of maintenance diets and majority of prescription diets. Fat content of hypoallergenic diets was only higher than light diets and supporting diets for diabetes available in Brazil. Laboratory analysis identified no dogs with dyslipidemia development during the study. Therefore, hypoallergenic diets do not have a high fat content, but new studies should verify if, when used for prolonged periods, hypoallergenic would lead to dyslipidemia in healthy dogs or dogs with underlying diseases, as well as possible changes in the lipoprotein profile.

Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is a seasonal, IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis of horses caused by salivary gland proteins of biting midges ( spp.). Current management relies on relief of clinical signs and on physical protection. In a previous pilot study, healthy horses were fed transgenic barley expressing a allergen via a special spiral bit, which successfully induced allergen-specific antibody responses. Building on this concept, the present study aimed to evaluate a more practical feeding approach, delivering transgenic barley expressing the major allergen Cul o 2p in a feed-compatible paste administered from buckets. Twelve naïve Icelandic horses were randomized into treatment (n=6) and control (n=6) groups. The treatment group received 11.44 g of the major allergen Cul o 2p/horse across three feeding phases. Serum and saliva were analyzed for Cul o 2p-specific antibodies (IgG1, IgG4/7, IgG5, IgA, IgE) by ELISA. IgE-blocking capacity was assessed in pooled serum, and cytokine responses (IL-10, IL-4, IFN-γ) measured after re-stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Four of six treated horses produced Cul o 2p-specific IgG1, IgG4/7, and IgA in both serum and saliva. The induced antibodies could partly inhibit IgE binding. Elevated secretion of IFN-γ and IL-10 but no IL-4 secretion was observed in supernatants of re-stimulated PBMCs in treated horses compared to controls, reaching statistical significance for IFN-γ. No Cul o 2p-specific IgE was detected, and no adverse clinical reactions occurred during treatment. The feed-based approach using transgenic barley paste induced Cul o 2p-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in naïve horses, supporting its potential as a scalable and field-feasible platform for prophylactic and therapeutic applications in IBH. Clinical trials in IBH-affected horses are warranted to assess efficacy.

Grain-free pet food options abound in the pet food market today, representing more than 40% of available dry dog foods in the United States. There is currently a dearth of information about the factors that contribute to a dog owner’s choice of a grain-free dry dog food and if those factors are similar among countries. Therefore, the primary objective of the current survey was to identify the variables that are predictive of a dog owner’s choice of a grain-free dry food across North America (Canada and the United States) and Europe (France, the United Kingdom and Germany). The survey consisted of 69 questions, took less than 15 minutes to complete and was distributed virtually via Qualtrics (Qualtrics XM, Utah, USA). A total of 3,298 responses were collected, equally distributed between countries. Multinomial logistic regression was performed in SPSS Statistics (Version 26, IBM Corp, North Castle, New York, USA). Male respondents, people from France, people who ranked the importance of ingredients in a pet food in the lower quartiles and people who do not rotate their dog’s diet to provide variety were less likely to select ‘no grain’ when choosing a pet food. In contrast, people who believe that their dog has a food allergy, follow more than 5 specific dietary routines in their own diet, do not try to include grains in their own diet, get their information about pet food from online resources or pet store staff and look for specific claims on pet food (such as ‘no fillers’), were all more likely to select ‘no grain’ when choosing a pet food. This survey provides insight into the similarities and differences in decision making among dog owners in North America and Europe and should be considered when exploring the effects of grain-free dog foods on canine health and well-being.

Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is the most frequent skin allergy of horses and is highly debilitating, especially in the chronic phase. IBH is caused by IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to culicoides midge bites and an imbalanced immune response that reduces the welfare of affected horses. In the present study, we investigated the pathological mechanisms of IBH, aiming to understand the immune cell modulation in acute allergic skin lesions of IBH horses with the goal of finding possible biomarkers for a diagnostic approach to monitor treatment success. By qPCR, we quantified the gene expression of cytokines, chemokines, and immune receptors in skin punch biopsies of IBH with different severity levels and healthy horses simultaneously in tandem with the analysis of immune cell counts in the blood. Our data show an increase in blood eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils with a concomitant, significant increase in associated cytokine, chemokine, and immune cell receptor mRNA expression levels in the lesional skin of IBH horses. Moreover, IL-5Ra, CCR5, IFN-γ, and IL-31Ra were strongly associated with IBH severity, while IL-31 and IL-33 were rather associated with a milder form of IBH. In addition, our data show a strong correlation of basophil cell count in blood with IL-31Ra, IL-5, IL-5Ra, IFN-γ, HRH2, HRH4, CCR3, CCR5, IL-12b, IL-10, IL-1β, and CCL26 mRNA expression in skin punch biopsies of IBH horses. In summary, several cytokines and chemokines have been found to be associated with disease severity, hence contributing to IBH pathology. These molecules can be used as potential biomarkers to monitor the onset and progression of the disease or even to evaluate and monitor the efficacy of new therapeutic treatments for IBH skin allergy. To our knowledge, this is the first study that investigated immune cells together with a large set of genes related to their biological function, including correlation to disease severity, in a large cohort of healthy and IBH horses.

Background To diagnose cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFRs) in dogs and cats, dietary restriction-provocation trials are performed. Knowing the most common offending food allergens for these species would help determining the order of food challenges to optimize the time to diagnosis. Results The search for, and review and analysis of the best evidence available as of January 16, 2015 suggests that the most likely food allergens contributing to canine CAFRs are beef, dairy products, chicken, and wheat. The most common food allergens in cats are beef, fish and chicken. Conclusions In dogs and cats, after a period of dietary restriction leading to the complete remission of clinical signs, food challenges to diagnose CAFR should begin with beef and dairy products, the most commonly recognized food allergens in these two species.

Abstract Background Genetic and epidemiologic evidence suggests that in horses, as in other species, different manifestations of hypersensitivity may occur together. Hypothesis Horses affected with insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) show airway hyperreactivity (AH) to inhaled histamine, even in the absence of overt clinical signs of equine asthma (EA). Animals Twenty-two healthy controls (group C), 24 horses suffering from IBH alone (group IBH), and 23 horses suffering from IBH and EA (group IBH/EA). Methods The clinical histories were assessed using 2 standardized questionnaires, the Horse Owner Assessed Respiratory Signs Index (HOARSI), and IBH scoring. Horses were classified as EA-affected if their HOARSI was >1 and as IBH-affected if IBH score was >0. Confounding disorders were excluded by clinical examination. The arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) was measured and flowmetric plethysmography used to assess airway reactivity to increasing doses of inhaled histamine. Results The median histamine provocation concentration (PC) when ∆flow values increased by 35% (PC35) was significantly higher in group C (5.94 [1.11–26.33] mg/mL) compared to group IBH (2.95 [0.23–10.13] mg/mL) and group IBH/EA (2.03 [0.43–10.94] mg/mL; P < 0.01). The PC50 and PC75 showed very similar differences between groups. Furthermore, PaO2 was significantly lower in group IBH (84 ± 8 mmHg) and group IBH/EA (78 ± 11 mmHg) compared to group C (89 ± 6 mmHg; P < 0.01). Conclusions and Clinical Importance IBH is associated with AH and decreased PaO2, even in the absence of overt respiratory clinical signs.