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Pug dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy (PDM) present with a specific clinical phenotype that includes progressive pelvic limb ataxia and paresis, commonly accompanied by incontinence. Vertebral column malformations and lesions, excessive scar tissue of the meninges, and central nervous system inflammation have been described. PDM has a late onset and affects more male than female dogs. The breed-specific presentation of the disorder suggests that genetic risk factors are involved in the disease development. To perform a genome-wide search for PDM-associated loci, we applied a Bayesian model adapted for mapping complex traits (BayesR) and a cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity test (XP-EHH) in 51 affected and 38 control pugs. Nineteen associated loci (harboring 67 genes in total, including 34 potential candidate genes) and three candidate regions under selection (with four genes within or next to the signal) were identified. The multiple candidate genes identified have implicated functions in bone homeostasis, fibrotic scar tissue, inflammatory responses, or the formation, regulation, and differentiation of cartilage, suggesting the potential relevance of these processes to the pathogenesis of PDM.

Simple Summary Glucocorticoids (a.k.a. steroids) are often used to treat allergic skin diseases in dogs, but they commonly cause side-effects, such as increased drinking (polydipsia) and urination (polyuria). Veterinarians have long believed that the steroid methylprednisolone causes less drinking and urination than prednisolone. We performed a clinical trial in which dogs with atopic dermatitis were treated either with prednisolone or methylprednisolone at the beginning of an elimination diet. After two weeks, the owners did not notice any significant increase in drinking. Most dogs had a reduction in the specific gravity (that is the density) of the urine, which signals a more diluted and abundant urine, but there was no significant difference between the two steroids for urine dilution. In conclusion, there were no significant changes in either drinking and urine dilution when giving prednisolone or methylprednisolone to allergic dogs for two weeks. A longer treatment duration or higher doses might give different results, however. Glucocorticoids are widely used to treat canine allergic disorders, but they frequently cause polyuria and polydipsia (PUPD). At equipotent dosages, oral methylprednisolone is believed to cause less PUPD than prednisolone. We performed a pilot randomized, open, parallel trial with 22 dogs with nonseasonal AD receiving either prednisolone or methylprednisolone at equipotent dosages, once daily for 14 days during the first phase of a restriction-provocation dietary trial. Before and on days 3, 7, and 14 after starting the glucocorticoids, owners estimated water consumption for 24 h. On the same days and before the glucocorticoid was given, owners collected the first-morning urine to determine the urine specific gravity (USG). There were no significant differences between the prednisolone and methylprednisolone groups on days 3, 7, and 14 when comparing the changes in water intake from baseline. Most dogs from both groups exhibited a slight reduction in USG during the study. Still, there was no significant difference in USG changes between the groups on any of these three reevaluation days. In conclusion, the administration of two weeks of oral prednisolone and methylprednisolone at equipotent anti-inflammatory dosages at the beginning of an elimination diet did not lead to significant differences in water intake and USG.

Allergens targeted by serum-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) in dogs clinically allergic to chicken have not been reported.To characterise the allergens targeted by sIgE in dogs sensitised and allergic to chicken.Sera from three dogs not sensitised to chicken, from 10 chicken sensitised dogs and from 12 chicken allergic dogs.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting with a commercial chicken extract were utilized. The bands identified on immunoblotting were sequenced by mass spectrometry for allergen characterization.Using ELISA, we detected chicken-sIgE above the positive threshold in zero of three (0%) nonsensitised dogs, five of five (100%) chicken-sensitised dogs (a selection criterion), and in seven of 12 (58%) chicken-allergic dogs. Immunoblotting performed with the same extract revealed IgE-bound protein bands in 100% of all chicken-sensitised and -allergic dogs, respectively. To identify the allergens, we excised the corresponding bands on the electrophoretic gel, and submitted them for sequencing by mass spectrometry. We conclusively identified seven major allergens (serum albumin, pyruvate kinase M, enolase 3, creatine kinase M, lactate dehydrogenase A, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and triose-phosphate isomerase) and one minor allergen (troponin C), which are relevant to dogs.We identified herein seven major chicken allergens for dogs, several of which are known to be cross-reactive allergens for humans. Based on their degree of sequence identity, these allergens exhibit the theoretical potential to be cross-reactive between poultry and mammalian meats; six of these allergens already are known to be cross-reactive between chicken and fish species. Future studies should address the clinical relevance and cross-reactivity potential of these chicken allergens in dogs.Allergene, die durch Serum-spezifisches Immunglobulin E (sIgE) bei Hunden gefunden werden, die klinisch allergisch auf Hühner reagieren, wurden noch nicht beschrieben.Eine Charakterisierung der Allergene, auf die sIgE bei Hunden, die allergisch auf Hühner reagieren, abzielen.Drei Sera von Hunden, die nicht auf Hühner sensibilisiert waren, 10 Sera von Hunden, die auf Hühner sensibilisiert waren und 12 Sera von Hühner-allergischen Hunden.Enzym-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) und Immunblotting mit einem kommerziellen Hühnerextrakt wurden eingesetzt. Die Banden, die mittels Immunblot identifiziert worden waren, wurden mittels Massenspektrometrie zur Allergencharakterisierung sequenziert.Mittels ELISA wurden Hühner-sIgE oberhalb des positiven Grenzwerts bei null von drei (0%) nichtsensibilisierten Hunden, bei fünf von fünf (100%) der Hühner-sensibilisierten Hunde (ein Selektionskriterium), und bei sieben von 12 (58%) der Hühner-allergischen Hunde gefunden. Immunblots, die mit demselben Extrakt durchgeführt wurden, zeigten IgE-gebundene Proteinbanden bei 100% aller Hühner-sensibilisierten bzw - allergischen Hunde. Um die Allergene zu identifizieren, wurden die korrespondierenden Banden auf dem elektrophoretischen Gel herausgeschnitten und zur Sequenzierung mittels Massenspektrometrie übermittelt. Es wurden eindeutig sieben Hauptallergene identifiziert (Serumalbumin, Pyrovatkinase M, Enolase 3, Kreatinkinase M, Laktatdehydrogenase A, Glyceraldehyd-3-Phosphatdehydrogenase und Triose-Phosphat Isomerase) und ein Nebenallergen (Troponin C), welche für Hunde relevant sind.Es wurden in dieser Studie sieben Haupt (major) Hühnerallergene für Hunde gefunden, wobei bei einigen bekannt ist, dass sie kreuz-reaktive Allergene für den Menschen darstellen. Basierend auf dem Ausmaß ihrer Sequenzidentität, besitzen diese Allergene das theoretische Potential zwischen Geflügel- und Säugerfleisch kreuz-reaktiv zu sein; sechs dieser Allergene sind bereits als kreuz-reaktiv zwischen Huhn und Fisch Spezies bekannt. Zukünftige Studien sollten die klinische Relevanz und das Potential der Kreuz-Reaktivität dieser Hühnerallergene bei Hunden evaluieren.Alle Autoren haben finanzielle Unterstützung von Royal Canin erhalten, entweder für Beratungen (TO), Vorträge (TO und UM) oder Forschungsprojekte (TO, CMPH, UM, KB und JB).背景-临床上对鸡肉过敏的犬血清中的特异性免疫球蛋白E(sIgE)靶向过敏原尚未见报道。 目的-研究鸡肉致敏和过敏犬的sIgE靶向过敏原表征 动物- 3份未对鸡肉致敏的犬血清、10份鸡肉致敏犬血清和12份鸡肉过敏犬血清。 方法和材料-使用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和市售鸡肉提取物的免疫印迹法。通过质谱法对免疫印迹法鉴别的条带进行测序, 描述过敏原表征。 结果-使用ELISA, 我们在3只(0%)未致敏犬种的零只、5只(100%)鸡肉致敏犬 (选择标准) 中的5只和12只鸡肉过敏犬中的7只(58%)中检测到高于阳性阈值的鸡肉-sIgE。用相同提取物进行免疫印迹, 发现所有鸡肉致敏和过敏犬中分别有100%出现IgE结合蛋白条带。为了鉴定过敏原, 我们切下了电泳凝胶上的相应条带, 并提交它们进行质谱测序。我们最终确定了与犬相关的7种主要过敏原 (血清白蛋白、丙酮酸激酶M、烯醇化酶3、肌酸激酶M、乳酸脱氢酶A、甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶和磷酸丙糖异构酶) 和1种次要过敏原 (肌钙蛋白C) 。 结论和临床相关性-我们在此确定了犬的7种主要鸡肉过敏原, 其中几种已知是人类的交叉反应性过敏原。根据其序列同一性程度, 这些过敏原在家禽和哺乳动物肉类之间, 表现出交叉反应的理论可能性; 已知其中6种过敏原在鸡肉和鱼类之间具有交叉反应性。未来的研究应阐述这些鸡肉过敏原在犬中的临床相关性和交叉反应可能性。 利益冲突: 所有作者均获得Royal Canin的资助, 用于咨询(TO)、讲座 (TO和UM) 或研究项目 (TO、CMPH、UM、KB和JB) 。.Les allergènes ciblés par l'immunoglobuline E spécifique sérique (sIgE) chez les chiens cliniquement allergiques au poulet n'ont pas été décrits.Caractériser les allergènes ciblés par les sIgE chez les chiens sensibilisés et allergiques au poulet ANIMAUX: Trois sera de chiens non sensibilisés au poulet, 10 sera de chiens sensibilisés au poulet et 12 sera de chiens allergiques au poulet. MÉTHODES ET MATÉRIEL: Un dosage immuno-enzymatique (ELISA) et un immunoblot avec un extrait de poulet du commerce ont été utilisés. Les bandes identifiées sur immunoblot ont été séquencées par spectrométrie de masse pour la caractérisation des allergènes. RÉSULTATS: À l'aide d'ELISA, nous avons détecté des IgE de poulet au-dessus du seuil positif chez zéro des trois (0 %) chiens non sensibilisés, cinq des cinq (100 %) chiens sensibilisés au poulet (un critère de sélection) et chez sept des 12 (58 %) chiens allergiques au poulet. L'immunoblot réalisé avec le même extrait a révélé des bandes de protéines liées aux IgE chez 100 %, respectivement de tous les chiens sensibilisés au poulet et allergiques. Pour identifier les allergènes, nous avons excisé les bandes correspondantes sur le gel électrophorétique, et les avons soumises au séquençage par spectrométrie de masse. Nous avons identifié de manière concluante sept allergènes majeurs (sérum albumine, pyruvate kinase M, énolase 3, créatine kinase M, lactate déshydrogénase A, glycéraldéhyde-3-phosphate déshydrogénase et triose-phosphate isomérase) et un allergène mineur (troponine C), qui sont pertinents pour chiens.Nous avons identifié ici sept allergènes majeurs de poulet pour les chiens, dont plusieurs sont connus pour être des allergènes à réaction croisée pour l'homme. Sur la base de leur degré d'identité de séquence, ces allergènes présentent le potentiel théorique d'une réaction croisée entre les viandes de volaille et de mammifères ; six de ces allergènes sont déjà connus pour leur réaction croisée entre les espèces de poulet et de poisson. Les futures études devraient porter sur la pertinence clinique et le potentiel de réactivité croisée de ces allergènes de poulet chez le chien. CONFLITS D'INTÉRÊTS: Tous les auteurs ont reçu un soutien financier de Royal Canin pour des projets de conseil (TO), de cours (TO et UM) ou de recherche (TO, CMPH, UM, KB et JB).背景 - 鶏肉に対して臨床的にアレルギーのある犬において、血清特異的免疫グロブリンE(sIgE) が標的とするアレルゲンは報告されていない。 目的 - 本研究の目的は、鶏肉に感作およびアレルギーのある犬におけるsIgEが標的とするアレルゲンの特徴を明らかにすることであった。 供試動物 - 鶏肉に感作されていない犬からの3つの血清、鶏肉に感作された犬からの10の血清、鶏肉アレルギーの犬からの12の血清。 材料と方法 - 市販の鶏肉抽出物を用いた酵素結合免疫吸着法 (ELISA)及びイムノブロッティング法を利用した。イムノブロッティング法で同定されたバンドは、アレルゲンの特徴付けのために質量解析で配列された。 結果-ELISAを用いて、非感作犬3頭中0頭 (0%) 、鶏肉感作犬5頭中5頭 (100%) (選択基準) 、鶏肉アレルギー犬12頭中7頭 (58%) で、陽性の閾値を超える鶏肉IgEを検出した。また、同じ抽出液を用いたイムノブロッティング法では、鶏肉に感作された犬及びアレルギーのある犬のそれぞれ100%にIgE結合タンパク質バンドが認められた。アレルゲンを同定するために、電気泳動ゲル上の対応するバンドを切り取り、質量解析による塩基配列の決定に供した。その結果、犬に関連する7つの主要アレルゲン (血清アルブミン、ピルビン酸キナーゼM、エノラーゼ3、クレアチンキナーゼM、乳酸デヒドロゲナーゼA、グリセルアルデヒド-3-リン酸デヒドロゲナーゼ、トリオースリン酸イソメラーゼ) 及び1つのマイナーアレルゲン (トロポニンC) を決定的に同定した。 結論と臨床的妥当性 - 我々はここに、イヌにとっての7つの主要な鶏肉アレルゲンを同定したが、そのうちのいくつかはヒトにとっての交差反応性アレルゲンであることが知られている。これらのアレルゲンは、その配列同一性の程度から、鶏肉及び哺乳類の肉間で理論的に交差反応性を示す可能性がある。これらのアレルゲンのうち6つは、すでに鶏肉及び魚類間で交差反応性を示すことが知られている。今後の研究では、イヌにおけるこれらの鶏肉アレルゲンの臨床的妥当性及び交差反応性の可能性を検討する必要がある。 利害の衝突 すべての著者は、コンサルティング (TO) 、講演 (TOおよびUM) 、または研究プロジェクト (TO、CMPH、UM、KBおよびJB) のいずれかについて、Royal Canin社から経済的支援を受けている。.Os alérgenos alvo das imunoglobulinas E específicas séricas (sIgE) em cães clinicamente alérgicos a frango ainda não foram relatados.Caracterizar os alérgenos alvo das sIgE em cães sensibilizados e alérgicos a frango.Três soros de cães não sensibilizados a frango, 10 soros de cães sensibilizados a frango e 12 soros de cães alérgicos a frango. MÉTODOS E MATERIAIS: Ensaio de imunoabsorção enzimática (ELISA) e immunoblotting com um extrato de frango comercial foram utilizados. As bandas identificadas no immunoblotting foram sequenciadas por espectrometria de massa para caracterização do alérgeno.Utilizando o ELISA, detectamos sIgE de frango acima do limite de referência para positividade em zero de três (0%) cães não sensibilizados, cinco de cinco (100%) cães sensibilizados a frango (um critério de seleção) e em sete de 12 (58%) cães alérgicos a frango. O imunoblotting realizado com o mesmo extrato revelou bandas de proteína ligada a IgE em 100% de todos os cães sensibilizados e alérgicos a frango, respectivamente. Para a identificação dos alérgenos, retiramos as bandas correspondentes do gel eletroforético e as submetemos ao sequenciamento por espectrometria de massa. Identificamos então sete alérgenos principais (albumina sérica, piruvato quinase M, enolase 3, creatina quinase M, lactato desidrogenase A, gliceraldeído-3-fosfato desidrogenase e triose-fosfato isomerase) e um alérgeno secundário (troponina C), que são relevantes para cães. CONCLUSÕES E RELEVÂNCIA: Nós identificamos neste estudo sete alérgenos principais para cães, muitos deles conhecidos por serem alérgenos de reação cruzada para humanos. Baseado no seu grau de identidade de sequência, estes alérgenos possuem o potencial teórico de apresentarem reação cruzada entre frango e carnes de mamíferos; seis desses alérgenos já são reconhecidos por causar reação cruzada entre frango e espécies de peixes. Estudos futuros devem focar na relevância clínica e no potencial desses alérgenos de frango de causar reações cruzadas em cães.Todos os autores receberam apoio financeiro da Royal Canin tanto para consultoria (TO), palestras (TO e UM) ou projetos de pesquisa (TO, CMPH, UM, KB e JB).INTRODUCCIÓN: No se han reportado alérgenos diana de la inmunoglobulina E específica del suero (sIgE) en perros clínicamente alérgicos al pollo.Caracterizar los alérgenos a los que se dirige sIgE en perros sensibilizados y alérgicos al pollo.Tres sueros de perros no sensibilizados al pollo, 10 sueros de perros sensibilizados al pollo y 12 sueros de perros alérgicos al pollo. MÉTODOS Y MATERIALES: Se utilizaron el ensayo de inmunoabsorción ligado a enzimas (ELISA) y la inmunotransferencia con un extracto comercial de pollo. Las bandas identificadas en la inmunotransferencia se secuenciaron mediante espectrometría de masas para la caracterización de alérgenos.Utilizando ELISA, detectamos pollo-sIgE por encima del umbral positivo en cero de tres (0%) perros no sensibilizados, cinco de cinco (100%) perros sensibilizados con pollo (un criterio de selección) y en siete de 12 (58%) ) perros alérgicos al pollo. La inmunotransferencia realizada con el mismo extracto reveló bandas de proteína unidas a IgE en el 100% de todos los perros alérgicos y sensibilizados con pollo, respectivamente. Para identificar los alérgenos, escindimos las bandas correspondientes en el gel electroforético y las enviamos para secuenciarlas por espectrometría de masas. Identificamos de manera concluyente siete alérgenos principales (albúmina sérica, piruvato quinasa M, enolasa 3, creatina quinasa M, lactato deshidrogenasa A, gliceraldehído-3-fosfato deshidrogenasa y triosa-fosfato isomerasa) y un alérgeno menor (troponina C), que son relevantes en perros. CONCLUSIONES Y RELEVANCIA CLÍNICA: En este documento identificamos siete alérgenos principales de pollo para perros, varios de los cuales se sabe que son alérgenos de reacción cruzada para los seres humanos. En base en su grado de identidad en secuencia, estos alérgenos exhiben el potencial teórico de tener una reacción cruzada entre las carnes de aves de corral y de mamíferos; ya se sabe que seis de estos alérgenos presentan una reacción cruzada entre las especies de pollo y pescado. Los estudios futuros deben abordar la relevancia clínica y el potencial de reactividad cruzada de estos alérgenos de pollo en perros.Todos los autores han recibido apoyo financiero de Royal Canin para proyectos de consultoría (TO), conferencias (TO y UM) o de investigación (TO, CMPH, UM, KB y JB).

Equine sarcoids are the most prevalent skin neoplasm in horses worldwide. Although several treatments are available, none are consistently effective and recurrence is common.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical imiquimod 5% cream and Sanguinaria canadensis + zinc chloride for treatment of equine sarcoids and investigate possible systemic effects on distant untreated sarcoids.Twenty-five client-owned horses with a total of 164 tumours were included in the study. Fifty-seven tumours were treated and 107 tumours were left untreated.Skin biopsy samples were collected from a minimum of one tumour per horse and the rest were diagnosed based on clinical appearance as likely sarcoids. Imiquimod 5% (A) was applied three times weekly, while Sanguinaria canadensis + zinc chloride (X) was applied every fourth day after a six day daily initiation phase. Treatment continued until clinical remission or for a maximum of 45 weeks, with a long follow-up period (mean 34 months). Skin biopsy samples of sarcoid lesions were re-taken before treatment termination and at follow-up if the owner gave consent.Complete remission was recorded in 84.4% (A) and 75.0% (X) of the tumours. Relapse was recorded in 7.3% (A) and 21.4% (X). Spontaneous remission was observed in 1.9% of untreated tumours. No systemic effect on untreated tumours was detected. During treatment varying degrees of local inflammatory reaction were common.Both treatments were considered effective and safe. Smaller tumours responded more favourably to treatment. Relapse rate was low and not observed in sarcoids with repeat biopsies before treatment termination.Les sarcoïdes équins sont la tumeur cutanée la plus prévalente chez le cheval dans le monde entier. Bien que plusieurs traitements soient disponibles, aucun n’est totalement efficace et les récidives sont fréquentes.Déterminer l’efficacité et l’innocuité de la crème imiquimod 5% et Sanguinaria canadensis + chloride de zinc dans le traitement de sarcoïdes équins et étudier les effets systémiques potentiels sur les sarcoïdes distants non traités.Vingt-cinq chevaux de propriétaires avec un total de 164 tumeurs ont été inclus dans l’étude. Cinquante-sept tumeurs ont été traitées et 107 non traitées. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: Des biopsies ont été prélevées, au moins une par cheval, les autres étaient diagnostiquées comme probablement des sarcoïdes à partir de l’aspect clinique. L’imiquimod 5% (A) a été appliquée trois fois par semaine, tandis que Sanguinaria canadensis + chloride de zinc (X) a été appliqué tous les quatre jours après une phase d’initiation d’une fois par jour pendant six jours. Le traitement a été poursuivi jusqu’à rémission clinique ou pendant 45 semaines maximum, avec une période de suivi longue (34 mois en moyenne). Des biopsies des sarcoïdes ont été renouvelées après la fin du traitement et en suivi si le propriétaire donnait son consentement. RÉSULTATS: Une rémission complète a été enregistrée dans 84.4% (A) et 75.0% (X) des tumeurs. Une récidive a été observée dans 7.3% (A) et 21.4% (X). Une rémission spontanée a été observée dans 1,9% des tumeurs non traitées. Aucun effet systémique indésirable sur les tumeurs non traitées n’a été détecté. Au cours du traitement des degrés variables d’inflammation locale étaient fréquents.Les deux traitements sont considérés comme surs et efficaces. Les plus petites tumeurs répondaient plus favorablement au traitement. Le taux de récidive était faible et non observée au sein des biopsies répétées après la fin du traitement.INTRODUCCIÓN: los sarcoides equinos son la neoplasia cutánea más prevalente en caballos en todo el mundo. Aunque hay varios tratamientos disponibles, ninguno es eficaz de manera constante y la recidiva es frecuente. OBJETIVOS: Evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de la crema tópica de imiquimod al 5% y Sanguinaria canadensis + cloruro de zinc para el tratamiento de sarcoides equinos e investigar los posibles efectos sistémicos en sarcoides distantes no tratados. ANIMALES/TUMORES: se incluyeron en el estudio veinticinco caballos de propietarios privados con un total de 164 tumores. Se trataron cincuenta y siete tumores y se dejaron sin tratar 107 tumores. MÉTODOS Y MATERIALES: se tomaron biopsias de un mínimo de un tumor por caballo y el resto se diagnosticó basándose en la apariencia clínica como sarcoides probables. Se aplicó imiquimod al 5% (A) tres veces por semana, mientras que Sanguinaria canadensis + cloruro de zinc (X) se aplicó cada cuatro días después de una fase de inicio diaria de seis días. El tratamiento continuó hasta la remisión clínica o durante un máximo de 45 semanas, con un largo período de seguimiento (media de 34 meses). Se volvieron a tomar biopsias de sarcoides antes de finalizar el tratamiento y en el seguimiento si el propietario dio su consentimiento. RESULTADOS: se registró remisión completa en el 84,4% (A) y el 75,0% (X) de los tumores. Se registró recaída en el 7,3% (A) y el 21,4% (X). Se observó remisión espontánea en el 1,9% de los tumores no tratados. No se detectó ningún efecto sistémico sobre los tumores no tratados. Durante el tratamiento fueron frecuentes diversos grados de reacción inflamatoria local. CONCLUSIONES Y RELEVANCIA CLÍNICA: Ambos tratamientos se consideraron efectivos y seguros. Los tumores más pequeños respondieron más favorablemente al tratamiento. La tasa de recidiva fue baja y no se observó en biopsias repetidas de sarcoides antes de finalizar el tratamiento.Equine Sarkoide sind weltweit die häufigsten Hautneoplasien bei Pferden. Obwohl einige Behandlungsformen existieren, ist keine davon gleichbleibend effektiv und ein Wiederauftreten kommt häufig vor.Eine Evaluierung der Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit von topisch angewendeter Imiquimod 5% Creme und Sanguinaria canadensis + Zinkchlorid zur Behandlung von equinen Sarkoiden und eine Untersuchung möglicher systemischer Wirkungen auf entfernter gelegene unbehandelte Sarkoide.Fünfundzwanzig Pferde in Privatbesitz mit einer Gesamtzahl von 164 Tumoren wurden in die Studie aufgenommen. Fünfundsiebzig Tumore wurden behandelt und 107 Tumore blieben unbehandelt.Es wurden Biopsien von mindestens einem Tumor pro Pferd genommen und der Rest wurde anhand des klinischen Erscheinungsbildes als wahrscheinliche Sarkoide diagnostiziert. Es wurde Imiquimod 5% (A) dreimal wöchentlich aufgetragen, während Sanguinaria canadensis + Zinkchlorid (X) jeden vierten Tag nach einer sechstägigen täglich aufgetragenen Eingangsphase, angewendet wurde. Die Behandlung wurde bis zur klinischen Remission oder für ein Maximum von 45 Wochen weitergeführt, mit einer langen Follow-Up Periode (durchschnittlich 34 Monate). Es wurden erneut Biopsien von Sarkoiden vor Ende der Therapie genommen und beim Follow-Up wenn der Besitzer dazu sein Einverständnis gab.Es wurde bei 84,4% (A) und 75,0% (X) eine völlige Remission der Tumore festgehalten. Ein Wiederauftreten wurde bei 7,3% (A) und bei 21,4% (X) festgestellt. Es wurde bei 1,9% der unbehandelten Tumore eine spontane Remission beobachtet. Es wurde keine systemische Wirkung auf unbehandelte Tumore gesehen. Während der Behandlung traten häufig lokale entzündliche Reaktionen in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß auf.Beide Behandlungen wurden als wirksam und sicher betrachtet. Kleinere Tumore reagierten besser auf die Behandlung. Die Rückfallsrate war niedrig und konnte bei den erneuten Biopsien der Sarkoide vor Ende der Behandlung nicht beobachtet werden.背景: ウマサルコイドは世界中で最も一般的な馬の皮膚腫瘍である。いくつかの治療法が利用可能であるが、どれも一貫して効果的ではなく、再発が一般的である。 目的: ウマサルコイド治療に対する外用イミキモド5％クリームおよびSanguinaria canadensis +塩化亜鉛の有効性および安全性を評価し、未治療のサルコイドに対する全身への影響の可能性を調査する。 被験動物/腫瘍: 合計164個の腫瘍を持つ25頭の顧客所有馬を研究に包含した。 57個の腫瘍が治療され、107個の腫瘍が未治療のまま残された。 材料と方法: 生検はウマあたり最低1つの腫瘍から採取され、残りは臨床的外観に基づいてサルコイドと診断された。イミキモド5％（A）を毎週3回塗布し、Sanguinaria canadensis +塩化亜鉛（X）を開始期6日間毎日塗布の後、4日ごとに塗布した。治療は、臨床的寛解まで、または最長45週間継続され、長期追跡期間を設けた（平均34か月）。サルコイドの生検は、治療終了前および飼い主が同意した場合のフォローアップ時に再度行われた。 結果: 完全寛解は、腫瘍の84.4％（A）および75.0％（X）で記録された。再発は7.3％（A）と21.4％（X）で記録された。未治療の腫瘍の1.9％で自然寛解が観察された。未治療の腫瘍に対する全身的影響は検出されなかった。治療中、さまざまな程度の局所炎症反応が一般的であった。 結論と臨床的関連性: どちらの治療も効果的で安全であると見なされた。腫瘍が小さいほど、治療に対する反応は良好であった。再発率は低く、治療終了前のサルコイドの繰り返し生検では観察されなかった。.背景: 马肉样瘤病是全球马中最常见的皮肤肿瘤。尽管有几种治疗方法可用，但均无法持续有效，复发很常见。 目的: 评价外用5%咪喹莫特乳膏和加拿大血根草+氯化锌治疗马肉样瘤病的疗效和安全性，并研究对远端未治疗的肉样瘤病可能带来的全身效应。 动物/肿瘤: 本研究纳入了25匹私家马，总计患有164处肿瘤。57处肿瘤接受了治疗，107处肿瘤未接受治疗。 方法和材料: 对每匹马至少活检一个肿瘤，其余根据临床表现诊断可能为肉样瘤病。5%咪喹莫特(A)每周应用3次，而加拿大血根草+氯化锌(X)在开始阶段，连续6天每日1次，随后每4天应用1次。治疗持续至临床缓解或最长45周，长期随访（平均34个月）。如果犬主人同意，则在治疗终止前和随访时重新活检采集肉样瘤病样本。 结果: 84.4%(A)和75.0%(X)的肿瘤记录为完全缓解。记录的复发率为7.3%(A)和21.4%(X)。在1.9%未治疗的肿瘤中观察到自愈。未检测到对未治疗肿瘤的全身效应。治疗期间常见不同程度的局部炎症反应。 结论和临床相关性: 认为两种治疗均有效且安全。较小的肿瘤对治疗的反应更好。治疗终止前重复活检的肉样瘤病，复发率低或未见复发。.Sarcoides equinos são as neoplasias cutâneas mais prevalentes em cavalos em todo o mundo. Embora vários tratamentos estejam disponíveis, nenhum é consistentemente eficaz e a recorrência é comum.Avaliar a eficácia e segurança do creme tópico de imiquimod 5% e Sanguinaria canadensis + cloreto de zinco para o tratamento de sarcoides equinos e investigar possíveis efeitos sistêmicos em sarcoides distantes não tratados.Vinte e cinco cavalos de clientes com um total de 164 tumores foram incluídos no estudo. Cinquenta e sete tumores foram tratados e 107 tumores foram deixados sem tratamento. MÉTODOS E MATERIAIS: As biópsias foram retiradas de no mínimo um tumor por cavalo e o restante foi diagnosticado com base na aparência clínica compatível com ​​sarcoide. Imiquimod 5% (A) foi aplicado três vezes por semana, enquanto Sanguinaria canadensis + cloreto de zinco (X) foi aplicado a cada quatro dias após uma fase de iniciação de seis dias com uso diário. O tratamento continuou até a remissão clínica ou por um máximo de 45 semanas, com um longo período de acompanhamento (média de 34 meses). As biópsias dos sarcoides foram refeitas antes do término do tratamento e no acompanhamento, se o proprietário desse consentimento.Remissão completa foi registrada em 84,4% (A) e 75,0% (X) dos tumores. Recidiva foi registrada em 7,3% (A) e 21,4% (X). Remissão espontânea foi observada em 1,9% dos tumores não tratados. Nenhum efeito sistêmico em tumores não tratados foi detectado. Durante o tratamento, vários graus de reação inflamatória local foram comuns. CONCLUSÕES E RELEVÂNCIA CLÍNICA: Ambos os tratamentos foram considerados eficazes e seguros. Tumores menores responderam mais favoravelmente ao tratamento. A taxa de recidiva foi baixa e não observada em biópsias repetidas de sarcoides antes do término do tratamento.

Over 250 Mendelian traits and disorders, caused by rare alleles have been mapped in the canine genome. Although each disease is rare in the dog as a species, they are collectively common and have major impact on canine health. With SNP-based genotyping arrays, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have proven to be a powerful method to map the genomic region of interest when 10–20 cases and 10–20 controls are available. However, to identify the genetic variant in associated regions, fine-mapping and targeted resequencing is required. Here we present a new approach using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a family trio without prior GWAS. As a proof-of-concept, we chose an autosomal recessive disease known as hereditary footpad hyperkeratosis (HFH) in Kromfohrländer dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first time this family trio WGS-approach has been used successfully to identify a genetic variant that perfectly segregates with a canine disorder. The sequencing of three Kromfohrländer dogs from a family trio (an affected offspring and both its healthy parents) resulted in an average genome coverage of 9.2X per individual. After applying stringent filtering criteria for candidate causative coding variants, 527 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 15 indels were found to be homozygous in the affected offspring and heterozygous in the parents. Using the computer software packages ANNOVAR and SIFT to functionally annotate coding sequence differences, and to predict their functional effect, resulted in seven candidate variants located in six different genes. Of these, only FAM83G:c155G > C (p.R52P) was found to be concordant in eight additional cases, and 16 healthy Kromfohrländer dogs.

Major characteristics of coat variation in dogs can be explained by variants in only a few genes. Until now, only one missense variant in the KRT71 gene, p.Arg151Trp, has been reported to cause curly hair in dogs. However, this variant does not explain the curly coat in all breeds as the mutant 151 Trp allele, for example, is absent in Curly Coated Retrievers. We sequenced the genome of a Curly Coated Retriever at 22× coverage and searched for variants in the KRT71 gene. Only one protein-changing variant was present in a homozygous state in the Curly Coated Retriever and absent or present in a heterozygous state in 221 control dogs from different dog breeds. This variant, NM_001197029.1:c.1266_1273delinsACA, was an indel variant in exon 7 that caused a frameshift and an altered and probably extended C-terminus of the KRT71 protein NP_001183958.1:p.(Ser422ArgfsTer?). Using Sanger sequencing, we found that the variant was fixed in a cohort of 125 Curly Coated Retrievers and segregating in five of 14 additionally tested breeds with a curly or wavy coat. KRT71 variants cause curly hair in humans, mice, rats, cats and dogs. Specific KRT71 variants were further shown to cause alopecia. Based on this knowledge from other species and the predicted molecular consequence of the newly identified canine KRT71 variant, it is a compelling candidate causing a second curly hair allele in dogs. It might cause a slightly different coat phenotype than the previously published p.Arg151Trp variant and could potentially be associated with follicular dysplasia in dogs.

Background Malassezia yeast overgrowth on the skin is a common and often recurrent cause of dermatitis in dogs; it can be an exacerbating factor of atopic dermatitis. Anti-fungal drugs have been a standard treatment, but there is some concern that resistance may be evolving in a spectrum of Malassezia species. Safe, efficient and easy-to-use alternatives are needed. Objectives To assess if a commercially available topical non-azole solution applied to paws affected by Malassezia-associated dermatitis (MAD), could ameliorate Malassezia numbers and associated signs over a short term (14 day) trial. Animals Eighteen dogs with MAD affecting at least two paws. Methods The study design was prospective, randomized, blinded and placebo-controlled, using a split-body protocol. Dogs were treated once daily with the test solution on one paw and placebo on the other. Dogs were examined at days 0 and 14 ± 3. The primary end-point was Malassezia numbers assessed cytologically. Secondary end-points were clinical scores for lesion severity and pruritus as assessed by a pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS). Owner compliance and adverse effects were assessed. Results There was a statistically significant reduction in Malassezia numbers and clinical scores for paws treated with the test solution versus placebo. No statistical difference in PVAS was found. Conclusion Daily topical application of the test solution was effective in reducing the Malassezia burden, as well as improving clinical scores in dogs with MAD of the paws. No adverse effects were reported and owners described the product as either “easy” or “very easy” to use.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) serves as the basis of the secretory immune system by protecting the lining of mucosal sites from pathogens. In both humans and dogs, IgA deficiency (IgAD) is associated with recurrent infections of mucosal sites and immune-mediated diseases. Low concentrations of serum IgA have previously been reported to occur in a number of dog breeds but no generally accepted cut-off value has been established for canine IgAD. The current study represents the largest screening to date of IgA in dogs in terms of both number of dogs (n=1267) and number of breeds studied (n=22). Serum IgA concentrations were quantified by using capture ELISA and were found to vary widely between breeds. We also found IgA to be positively correlated with age (p

BACKGROUND: Otitis externa is rare in horses and the condition is poorly described in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical signs, treatment regimens and prognosis of otitis externa in horses. ANIMALS: Eight horses diagnosed with otitis externa during 2011–2018. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records and follow‐up contact with owners. RESULTS: Common clinical signs seen in affected horses were pruritus, ear discharge and ear droop of affected ears. The most common cytological findings were neutrophils, bacteria and yeast. All horses responded well to treatment; two horses were reported to have recurrent problems. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Otitis externa in horses is a rare and treatable condition. The condition may be present for prolonged periods before owners become aware, compromising the welfare of affected horses. Untreated otitis externa is a suggested cause of otitis media and temporohyoid osteoarthropathy, emphasizing the importance of identifying and treating this condition at an early stage. For this reason, clinicians should include a brief inspection of the pinnae and external ear canal in the clinical examination of horses.

Background Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is an inflammatory and pruritic allergic skin disease caused by interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Previously, a genome‐wide significant risk locus on canine chromosome 27 for CAD was identified in German shepherd dogs (GSDs) and Plakophilin‐2 (PKP2) was defined as the top candidate gene. PKP2 constitutes a crucial component of desmosomes and also is important in signalling, metabolic and transcriptional activities. Objectives The main objective was to evaluate the role of PKP2 in CAD by investigating PKP2 expression and desmosome structure in nonlesional skin from CAD‐affected (carrying the top GWAS SNP risk allele) and healthy GSDs. We also aimed at defining the cell types in the skin that express PKP2 and its intracellular location. Animals/Methods Skin biopsies were collected from nine CAD‐affected and five control GSDs. The biopsies were frozen for immunofluorescence and fixed for electron microscopy immunolabelling and morphology. Results We observed the novel finding of PKP2 expression in dendritic cells and T cells in dog skin. Moreover, we detected that PKP2 was more evenly expressed within keratinocytes compared to its desmosomal binding‐partner plakoglobin. PKP2 protein was located in the nucleus and on keratin filaments attached to desmosomes. No difference in PKP2 abundance between CAD cases and controls was observed. Conclusion Plakophilin‐2 protein in dog skin is expressed in both epithelial and immune cells; based on its subcellular location its functional role is implicated in both nuclear and structural processes.

Hypersensitivity dermatitides (HD) are often suspected in cats. Cats with HD are reported to present with one or more of the following patterns: miliary dermatitis, eosinophilic dermatitis, self-induced symmetrical alopecia or head and/or neck excoriations. Previous reports on feline HD included small numbers of animals, took place in geographically restricted areas or did not compare these conditions with other causes of pruritus. The goal of the present study was to analyse 72 parameters covering signalment, clinical, laboratory and treatment characteristics from a large group of pruritic cats from different geographical areas. Of the 502 cats, the following diagnoses were made: flea HD (29% of cases), food HD (12%) nonflea/nonfood HD (20%) and other diseases in which pruritus was a feature (24%). Cats with signs consistent with a HD but which did not complete a food trial were not analysed further (15% of cases). Most cats with nonflea HD exhibited signs compatible with one or more of the four typical lesional patterns, but none of these patterns was found to be pathognomonic for any specific diagnosis. Food HD and nonflea/nonfood HD were found to be clinically undistinguishable. Young adult, purebred and female cats appeared predisposed to nonflea/nonfood HD. As many diagnoses presented with similar lesional patterns, a thorough clinical work-up is required for establishment of a specific diagnosis.

The effect of diet on the occurrence of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) in the high-risk breeds boxer, English bull terrier and West Highland white terrier was investigated as part of an extensive case-control study. In that study, a sparing association was seen for feeding the bitch a diet containing non-commercial ingredients during lactation and the subsequent development of CAD in the offspring. The purpose of this study was to further explore the role of diet of the bitch during lactation as well as early dietary exposure of puppies (up to six months of age) on the occurrence of CAD. Two factors were significant in a final logistic regression model: "not feeding non-commercial animal products (meat, egg or milk-products) to the bitch during lactation" (OR = 3.39, 95% CI 1.46-7.92) and "feeding non-commercial meat to the puppy between the age of 2-6 months" (OR = 2.97, 95% CI 1.27-6.93), and further analysis revealed that there was an interaction between these two factors. If a bitch didn't receive non-commercial animal products during lactation, and the puppy was fed non-commercial meat any time until 6 months of age, the puppy had an increased risk of developing CAD (OR = 5.1, 95% CI 1.2-21.9). If the bitch received at least some non-commercial animal products during lactation there was no difference in risk of CAD for the offspring, regardless of whether the puppy was fed non-commercial meat or not until the age of 6 months (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 0.5-5.6). It seems prudent to feed bitches some non-commercial animal products during lactation.

Background Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease triggered by allergic reactions involving IgE antibodies directed towards environmental allergens. We previously identified a ~1.5 Mb locus on canine chromosome 27 associated with CAD in German shepherd dogs (GSDs). Fine-mapping indicated association closest to the PKP2 gene encoding plakophilin 2. Results Additional genotyping and association analyses in GSDs combined with control dogs from five breeds with low-risk for CAD revealed the top SNP 27:19,086,778 (p = 1.4 × 10−7) and a rare ~48 kb risk haplotype overlapping the PKP2 gene and shared only with other high-risk CAD breeds. We selected altogether nine SNPs (four top-associated in GSDs and five within the ~48 kb risk haplotype) that spanned ~280 kb forming one risk haplotype carried by 35 % of the GSD cases and 10 % of the GSD controls (OR = 5.1, p = 5.9 × 10−5), and another haplotype present in 85 % of the GSD cases and 98 % of the GSD controls and conferring a protective effect against CAD in GSDs (OR = 0.14, p = 0.0032). Eight of these SNPs were analyzed for transcriptional regulation using reporter assays where all tested regions exerted regulatory effects on transcription in epithelial and/or immune cell lines, and seven SNPs showed allelic differences. The DNA fragment with the top-associated SNP 27:19,086,778 displayed the highest activity in keratinocytes with 11-fold induction of transcription by the risk allele versus 8-fold by the control allele (pdifference = 0.003), and also mapped close (~3 kb) to an ENCODE skin-specific enhancer region. Conclusions Our experiments indicate that multiple CAD-associated genetic variants located in cell type-specific enhancers are involved in gene regulation in different cells and tissues. No single causative variant alone, but rather multiple variants combined in a risk haplotype likely contribute to an altered expression of the PKP2 gene, and possibly nearby genes, in immune and epithelial cells, and predispose GSDs to CAD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-016-0404-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Environmental and dietary risk factors for the development of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) in the high-risk breeds of boxer, bullterrier and West Highland white terrier were assessed in a case-control study. A logistic regression model was developed to evaluate their relative importance in 58 cases from 12 practices in Sweden and 61 unaffected controls, matched to cases by breed and year of birth. The final model included a random error term for 'examining veterinarian', as dogs from the same practice were not considered independent. No effect of gender, season of birth, environment, vaccination or de-worming practices on the odds of developing CAD was detected. The main finding was that feeding a diet including noncommercial products to the bitch during lactation had a protective effect on the development of CAD in her offspring; the odds of developing CAD were twice as high among offspring from bitches that were not exposed to home-made/noncommercial diets [95% confidence interval (CI) of the odds ratio: 1.2-3.8]. The population attributable fraction for not feeding home-made diets to the lactating bitch was estimated as 0.4 (95% CI: 0.04-0.63). Randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to further support the finding of a potential protective role of diet in CAD development.

Immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAD) is the most common primary immune deficiency disorder in both humans and dogs, characterized by recurrent mucosal tract infections and a predisposition for allergic and other immune mediated diseases. In several dog breeds, low IgA levels have been observed at a high frequency and with a clinical resemblance to human IgAD. In this study, we used genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genomic regions associated with low IgA levels in dogs as a comparative model for human IgAD. We used a novel percentile groups-approach to establish breed-specific cut-offs and to perform analyses in a close to continuous manner. GWAS performed in four breeds prone to low IgA levels (German shepherd, Golden retriever, Labrador retriever and Shar-Pei) identified 35 genomic loci suggestively associated (p

Ectoparasite infestations are important and rather common in equine practice. In this article, clinical signs and techniques for obtaining optimal specimens of the different parasites are described. Furthermore, diagnostic criterion useful for recognizing and differentiating between the various parasites are discussed, along with appropriate treatment options.

A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled multicentre clinical trial of 12 weeks' duration was undertaken in 60 dogs with atopic dermatitis to evaluate the steroid sparing effect of essential fatty acid supple- mentation. The dogs were randomly assigned to receive either a combination of borage seed oil and fish oil or a placebo, in addition to prednisolone tablets. All dogs received a standardized basal diet. Owners of the dogs recorded pruritus daily using a 10 cm visual analog scale and the dosage of prednisolone was established based on the pruritus score, according to written instructions. The dosage of prednisolone and the use of any concurrent treatment (shampoo and/or ear-cleanser) were recorded by the owner on a daily basis. The investigators graded the skin lesions at days 0, 42 and 84. The use of prednisolone during the test period was lower in the active group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.32). The test period was sequentially divided into 43- 84, 50-84, 57-84, 64-84, 71-84 and 78-84 days. On day 64, the difference between the active group and the placebo group reached statistical significance ( P = 0.04) with an increasing difference towards the end of the study. A statistically significant reduction in the pruritus scores and the total clinical scores from day 0 to day 84 was apparent in both groups ( P < 0.0001). At the end of the study, both the pruritus score and the total clinical score were lower in the active group. Our findings indicate a steroid sparing effect of essential fatty acid supple- mentation in canine atopic dermatitis and, furthermore, that there is a time lag before the effect is attained.

Clemastine is an H1 antagonist used in certain allergic disorders in humans and tentatively also in horses, although the pharmacology of the drug in this species has not yet been investigated. In the present study we determined basic pharmacokinetic parameters and compared the effect of the drug measured as inhibition of histamine-induced cutaneous wheal formation in six horses. The most prominent feature of drug disposition after intravenous dose of 50 microg/kg bw was a very rapid initial decline in plasma concentration, followed by a terminal phase with a half-life of 5.4 h. The volume of distribution was large, Vss = 3.8 L/kg, and the total body clearance 0.79 L/h kg. Notably, oral bioavailability was only 3.4%. There was a strong relationship between plasma concentrations and effect. The effect maximum (measured as reduction in histamine-induced cutaneous wheal formation) was 65% (compared with controls where saline was injected) and the effect duration after i.v. dose was approximately 5 h. The effect after oral dose of 200 microg/kg was minor. The results indicate that clemastine is not appropriate for oral administration to horses because of low bioavailability. When using repeated i.v. administration, the drug has to be administered at least three to four times daily to maintain therapeutic plasma concentrations because of the short half-life. However, if sufficient plasma concentrations are maintained the drug is efficacious in reducing histamine-induced wheal formations.

The objectives of this multicentre study were to describe demographics and clinical findings of a group of 63 dogs with nonseasonal atopic dermatitis (AD), where concurrent flea allergy dermatitis, ectoparasite infestation, food adverse reactions and secondary infections had been ruled out. The breed, sex, age of onset, distribution of skin lesions, prevalence of otitis externa, secondary skin infections and additional noncutaneous clinical signs were recorded. A veterinarian recorded skin lesions from 15 different body regions. Each body region was scored according to degree of erythema, alopecia, excoriations, scale, crusts, lichenification and hyperpigmentation that was present. An early age of onset (37% of the dogs being less than 1 year old) was more common in this group of dogs than described in the literature. The German shepherd breed was over-represented (21% as compared with 7–9.9% of the veterinary clinic population) and approximately half of the German shepherd dogs (46%) started showing clinical signs before 1 year of age. Erythema was the overall most common type of skin lesion, with facial erythema and conjunctivitis being less commonly reported than in other studies. Feet, ears and groin were the most common sites for skin lesions. This study indicates that it is not uncommon for dogs with nonseasonal AD to have the onset of clinical signs start at a younger age (less than 1 year of age) and have clinical lesions that vary from previously published reports. This discrepancy might be allergen-dependent or breed-related. The study was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Denmark.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the H1-receptor inhibitor clemastine (a compound belonging to the first generation of antihistamines) in equine skin after a single intravenous and oral dose. Histamine binds to H1-receptors involved in pruritus, increased vascular permeability, release of inflammatory mediators and recruitment of inflammatory cells. To counteract these effects antihistamines have classically been used for treatment of allergic hypersensitivity disorders and urticaria in several species including dogs, cats and horses. Six horses received clemastine orally, 200 µg kg−1, by stomach tube and 50 mg kg−1 as an intravenous infusion in a crossover study with crossover design. The ability to reduce wheal formation after intradermal injection of histamine was evaluated. Intradermal injections of 0.07 mL histamine dihydrochloride (0.1 mg mL−1) were given before and at seven time periods ranging from 0.5 to 24 h after clemastine administration. Wheal area was measured 20 min after the injection. Sterile saline (0.07 mL) served as a negative control. There was a marked reduction in wheal size for approximately 6 h after the intravenous administration, indicating that clemastine is distributed to, and effective in inhibiting H1-receptors in, equine skin. After oral administration the effect was almost negligible, indicating low oral bioavailability of clemastine in the horse. The study was funded by Linnea and Axel Ericsson’s Grant fund at the Veterinary Faculty, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

PLEASE NOTE A NEW 4TH EDITION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND IS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY AND IN PRINTA dermatology case can be a challenge. Given that many conditions can present with similar clinical signs, a logical and thorough work-up is critical to successfully diagnose and manage the case. This is a time-consuming task and the veterinary surgeon needs to be skilled and systematic and to work with the owner and the animal in a very structured way. If insufficient time is allocated for a thorough job, the chances of making the correct diagnosis are decreased. This chapter looks at: Signalment; History; General physical examination; Dermatological examination and Initial evaluation.

Cutaneous infections with bacteria and yeasts are common in small animal practice. Treatment with systemic antibiotics or antifungal agents may not be ideal, because of the increasing development of multiresistant organisms, the cost and the possible adverse effects. Topical antimicrobials may be used as adjunctive therapy to systemic treatment or as sole therapy instead of systemic treatment.This literature review evaluated studies on topical antimicrobial treatment of skin infections.In vitro and in vivo studies evaluating topical antimicrobial agents were identified using a number of electronic and manual searches of textbooks and articles. Studies were evaluated, and the evidence for or against the use of the topical agents was extracted.There is good evidence for the efficacy of chlorhexidine and, to a lesser degree, benzoyl peroxide in canine bacterial skin infections. There is limited evidence for the efficacy of silver sulfadiazine and medical honey against bacterial skin infections in the dog, and for the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide and stannous fluoride in the horse. Good evidence supports the use of a combination of chlorhexidine and miconazole in dogs with cutaneous Malassezia infections. There is insufficient evidence to recommend any other topical therapy for use in cutaneous infections.Although many antimicrobial topicals are marketed in veterinary dermatology, the efficacy has been reported for only a minority of agents. Randomized controlled trials evaluating various topical treatments are therefore urgently needed.

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is an allergic skin disease associated with IgE and IgG antibodies (Ab) to environmental allergens. The aim of this study was to determine which other factors influence serum Ab levels in CAD-affected and non-affected dogs as this has only been poorly investigated in dogs so far. Total and allergen-specific IgE levels and Dermatophagoides farinae (DF)-specific IgG1 and IgG4 were measured by ELISA in sera of 145 CAD-affected and 271 non-affected Labrador- and Golden retrievers. A multivariable logistic regression analysis including the factors age, breed, gender, castration, clinical CAD status and allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) was performed. Golden retrievers had more frequently total (OR=1.87, 95% CI=1.26-2.87, p

Crosslinking of immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE) bound at the surface of mast cells and subsequent mediator release is considered the most important trigger for allergic reactions. Therefore, the genetic control of IgE levels is studied in the context of allergic diseases, such as asthma, atopic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis (AD). We performed genome-wide association studies in 161 Labrador Retrievers with regard to total and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. We identified a genome-wide significant association on CFA 5 with the antigen-specific IgE responsiveness to Acarus siro. We detected a second genome-wide significant association with respect to the antigen-specific IgE responsiveness to Tyrophagus putrescentiae at a different locus on chromosome 5. A. siro and T. putrescentiae both belong to the family Acaridae and represent so-called storage or forage mites. These forage mites are discussed as major allergen sources in canine AD. No obvious candidate gene for the regulation of IgE levels is located under the two association signals. Therefore our studies offer a chance of identifying a novel mechanism controlling the host's IgE response.

Hypersensitivity dermatitides (HD) are commonly seen in cats, and they are usually caused by environmental, food and/or flea allergens. Affected cats normally present with one of the following clinical reaction patterns: head and neck excoriations, usually symmetrical self-induced alopecia, eosinophilic skin lesions or miliary dermatitis. Importantly, none of these clinical presentations is considered to be pathognomonic for HD skin diseases, and the diagnosis of HD is usually based on the exclusion of other pruritic diseases and on a positive response to therapy. The objectives of this study were to propose sets of criteria for the diagnosis of nonflea-induced HD (NFHD). We recruited 501 cats with pruritus and skin lesions and compared clinical parameters between cats with NFHD (encompassing those with nonflea, nonfood HD and those with food HD), flea HD and other pruritic conditions. Using simulated annealing techniques, we established two sets of proposed criteria for the following two different clinical situations: (i) the diagnosis of NFHD in a population of pruritic cats; and (ii) the diagnosis of NFHD after exclusion of cats with flea HD. These criteria sets were associated with good sensitivity and specificity and may be useful for homogeneity of enrolment in clinical trials and to evaluate the probability of diagnosis of NFHD in clinical practice. Finally, these criteria were not useful to differentiate cats with NFHD from those with food HD.

Background Treatment and protection of wounds in horses can be challenging; protecting bandages may be difficult to apply on the proximal extremities and the body. Unprotected wounds carry an increased risk of bacterial contamination and subsequent infection which can lead to delayed wound healing. Topical treatment with antimicrobials is one possibility to prevent bacterial colonization or infection, but the frequent use of antimicrobials ultimately leads to development of bacterial resistance which is an increasing concern in both human and veterinary medicine. Methods Standardized wounds were created in 10 Standardbred mares. Three wounds were made in each horse. Two wounds were randomly treated with LHP® or petrolatum and the third wound served as untreated control. All wounds were assessed daily until complete epithelization. Protocol data were recorded on day 2, 6, 11, 16, 21 and 28. Data included clinical scores for inflammation and healing, photoplanimetry for calculating wound areas and swab cytology to assess bacterial colonization and inflammation. Bacterial cultures were obtained on day 2, 6 and 16. Results Mean time to complete healing for LHP® treated wounds was 32 days (95%CI = 26.9-37.7). Mean time to complete healing for petrolatum and untreated control wounds were 41.6 days (95%CI = 36.2-47.0) and 44.0 days (95%CI = 38.6-49.4) respectively. Wound healing occurred significantly faster in LHP® wounds compared to both petrolatum (p = 0.0004) and untreated controls (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in time for healing between petrolatum and untreated controls. Total scores for bacteria and neutrophils were significantly (p < 0.0001) lower for LHP® treated wounds compared to petrolatum from day 16 and onwards. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were only found in cultures from petrolatum treated wounds and untreated controls. Conclusions Treatment with LHP® reduced bacterial colonization and was associated with earlier complete wound healing. LHP® cream appears to be safe and effective for topical wound treatment or wound protection.

Hypersensitivity dermatitides (HD) are often suspected in cats. Cats with HD are reported to present with one or more of the following patterns: miliary dermatitis, eosinophilic dermatitis, self-induced symmetrical alopecia or head and/or neck excoriations. Previous reports on feline HD included small numbers of animals, took place in geographically restricted areas or did not compare these conditions with other causes of pruritus. The goal of the present study was to analyse 72 parameters covering signalment, clinical, laboratory and treatment characteristics from a large group of pruritic cats from different geographical areas. Of the 502 cats, the following diagnoses were made: flea HD (29% of cases), food HD (12%) nonflea/nonfood HD (20%) and other diseases in which pruritus was a feature (24%). Cats with signs consistent with a HD but which did not complete a food trial were not analysed further (15% of cases). Most cats with nonflea HD exhibited signs compatible with one or more of the four typical lesional patterns, but none of these patterns was found to be pathognomonic for any specific diagnosis. Food HD and nonflea/nonfood HD were found to be clinically undistinguishable. Young adult, purebred and female cats appeared predisposed to nonflea/nonfood HD. As many diagnoses presented with similar lesional patterns, a thorough clinical work-up is required for establishment of a specific diagnosis.

Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) and atopy can both be causes of pruritus in horses and are associated with allergen-specific IgE to biting insects and environmental allergens respectively. Information with respect to differences in IgE levels in diseased and healthy animals is crucial in enabling an understanding of the clinical relevance of results of allergen-specific IgE tests. The aim of this study was (i) to evaluate and compare levels of allergen-specific IgE, using an ELISA method, in Icelandic horses, with and without IBH, from Iceland and Sweden respectively; (ii) to investigate patterns of allergen-specific IgE to insects, pollens, moulds and mites in those groups of horses; and (iii) to investigate the clinical significance of employing two different cut-off levels for the ELISA. The study compromised a total number of 99 horses from Iceland and Sweden, with and without IBH, divided in 5 groups. Sera from the horses were analysed blindly with the use of Allercept , a non-competitive, solid-phase ELISA-test, designed to detect the presence of allergen-specific IgE in sera using the recombinant alpha chain of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonR1alpha). The distribution of the ELISA values was shown for each insect, mould, mite and pollen allergen, in the different groups using 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles. The use of two cut-off levels, 150 EA and 300 EA, did not eliminate the false positives. Horses with IBH had a higher number of positive reactions, counting all the 29 allergens, than healthy controls and this was borderline significant (P=0.053). In this study it was shown that serological testing with an ELISA that uses the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonR1alpha) is presently not suitable as a tool for establishing a diagnosis of IBH or equine atopy. The importance of establishing a correct cut-off level for the ELISA for the different allergens is emphasised.

Evaluation of kallikrein 7 as a disease-causing gene for canine atopic dermatitis using microsatellite-based association mapping.

Allergic diseases are common in dogs and the involvement of IgE in the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) and flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is documented. However, many dogs do not achieve sufficient control of their allergic disease, and there is a great need for new treatment strategies. In order to address this issue we first needed to obtain a better picture of IgE-levels in dogs and how plasma IgE-levels are affected by breed, age and health status. IgE is normally present at diminutive concentrations in sera and detection by diagnostic methods has been a technical challenge. Here, we present a new in vitro assay for determining absolute levels of total IgE in sera from dogs. In a panel of 76 adult dogs diagnosed either as healthy or suffering from atopic dermatitis, autoimmunity or infection by skin parasites, we show that levels of IgE range from 1 to 41 microg/ml. This is almost 100 times the level observed in non-atopic humans. However, these exceptionally high IgE-levels in the dogs could not be correlated to either breed or health status. To address the issue of novel treatment strategies, the possibility of reducing the IgE-levels in nine Beagle dogs by immunization with a new therapeutic vaccine was investigated. High levels of anti-IgE antibodies were induced in all dogs, and the IgE-levels were subsequently decreased by a mean of 65%. This shows that the allergy vaccine is potent enough to break the tolerance against IgE, even when the initial IgE-levels are as high as those observed in dogs. Thus, the vaccination treatment may have the potential to serve as a future therapy for dogs with atopic diseases.

Limited information is available on the long-term outcome of treatment of pemphigus foliaceus in dogs. The purpose of this study is to report that a prolonged remission can occur after discontinuation of immunosuppressive regimens in some animals with this disease. Six dogs were diagnosed with pemphigus foliaceus based on suggestive clinical signs and histopathology. These patients were treated either with immunosuppressive doses of oral glucocorticoids or with a combination of oral glucocorticoids and azathioprine. After clinical signs underwent complete remission, which occurred 1.5-5 months after immunosuppression was initiated, the drugs were tapered progressively and eventually withdrawn. The total duration of immunosuppressive therapy varied between 3 and 22 months. Skin lesions of pemphigus foliaceus did not recur for 1.5-6 years after treatment was stopped. These observations suggest that, in some dogs with pemphigus foliaceus, immunosuppression can lead to long-term remission of skin lesions, and that discontinuation of treatment is not necessarily followed by a recurrence of clinical signs.

The pharmacokinetic properties of clemastine were investigated in six healthy dogs and compared with the effect of the drug recorded as inhibition of wheal formation induced by intradermal injections of histamine. Clemastine clearance was high (median: 2.1 L h(-1) kg(-1)) and the volume of distribution large (13.4 L kg(-1)). The half-life after intravenous administration was 3.8 h and the plasma protein binding level in vitro was 98%. After oral administration, the bioavailability was only 3%. Given intravenously, clemastine (0.1 mg kg(-1)) inhibited wheal formation completely for 7 h, whereas the effect after oral administration (0.5 mg kg(-1)) was minor. The data show that most dosage regimens suggested in the literature for the oral administration of clemastine to dogs are likely to give too low a systemic exposure of the drug to allow effective therapy.

Background – Cutaneous infections with bacteria and yeasts are common in small animal practice. Treatment with systemic antibiotics or antifungal agents may not be ideal, because of the increasing development of multiresistant organisms, the cost and the possible adverse effects. Topical antimicrobials may be used as adjunctive therapy to systemic treatment or as sole therapy instead of systemic treatment. Objective – This literature review evaluated studies on topical antimicrobial treatment of skin infections. Methods – In vitro and in vivo studies evaluating topical antimicrobial agents were identified using a number of electronic and manual searches of textbooks and articles. Studies were evaluated, and the evidence for or against the use of the topical agents was extracted. Results – There is good evidence for the efficacy of chlorhexidine and, to a lesser degree, benzoyl peroxide in canine bacterial skin infections. There is limited evidence for the efficacy of silver sulfadiazine and medical honey against bacterial skin infections in the dog, and for the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide and stannous fluoride in the horse. Good evidence supports the use of a combination of chlorhexidine and miconazole in dogs with cutaneous Malassezia infections. There is insufficient evidence to recommend any other topical therapy for use in cutaneous infections. Conclusions and clinical importance – Although many antimicrobial topicals are marketed in veterinary dermatology, the efficacy has been reported for only a minority of agents. Randomized controlled trials evaluating various topical treatments are therefore urgently needed.

Hypersensitivity dermatitides (HD) are commonly seen in cats, and they are usually caused by environmental, food and/or flea allergens. Affected cats normally present with one of the following clinical reaction patterns: head and neck excoriations, usually symmetrical self-induced alopecia, eosinophilic skin lesions or miliary dermatitis. Importantly, none of these clinical presentations is considered to be pathognomonic for HD skin diseases, and the diagnosis of HD is usually based on the exclusion of other pruritic diseases and on a positive response to therapy. The objectives of this study were to propose sets of criteria for the diagnosis of nonflea-induced HD (NFHD). We recruited 501 cats with pruritus and skin lesions and compared clinical parameters between cats with NFHD (encompassing those with nonflea, nonfood HD and those with food HD), flea HD and other pruritic conditions. Using simulated annealing techniques, we established two sets of proposed criteria for the following two different clinical situations: (i) the diagnosis of NFHD in a population of pruritic cats; and (ii) the diagnosis of NFHD after exclusion of cats with flea HD. These criteria sets were associated with good sensitivity and specificity and may be useful for homogeneity of enrolment in clinical trials and to evaluate the probability of diagnosis of NFHD in clinical practice. Finally, these criteria were not useful to differentiate cats with NFHD from those with food HD.

Studies into the epidemiology of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) are in great demand. Estimates of the prevalence and incidence of CAD are commonly based on hospital studies where no reference population is defined. Such studies tend to overestimate the disease frequency due to referral bias and a higher proportion of complicated cases at secondary care centres than in the general population. The aim of this paper was to present better estimates of the incidence of CAD. The Swedish dog population offers unique opportunities to study the epidemiology of CAD due to several characteristics: a large proportion of dogs are purebred, fleas and flea allergies are rare, and a secondary database of disease records is available through an insurance company that covers approximately 30% of all Swedish dogs. By accessing insurance-claims records for the years 1995–2000, the true incidence rate of CAD was estimated as 10 cases per 10,000 dog years at risk. Univariate analysis showed that the incidence was the same across genders. Additionally, large differences in the risk of being diagnosed with CAD existed among breeds. In this study, breeds with the highest risk were the bull terrier (88 cases/10,000 dog years at risk), Staffordshire bull terrier (58/10,000), West Highland white terrier (51/10,000), Welsh terrier (50/10,000) and boxer (50/10,000). Decreased risk was observed among sighthounds; no cases were recorded among the Borzoi, Saluki and Whippet breeds. A proportional hazards (survival) model was developed in order to take sex, breed, age and geographical region into account in a multivariate analysis. Funding: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Foundation for Research.