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Recent discoveries have shown that the chances of a dog developing a behavioral disorder may depend upon a number of factors including nutrition. The current pilot study was designed to provide an assessment of the efficacy of a dietary supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and zinc on some common behavioral disorders in a population of Iranian domestic dogs. In total, 48 dogs including 6 dogs without any behavior disorder (control group) and 42 dogs with at least 1 common behavioral disorder, namely excessive activity, inappropriate elimination, fearfulness, destructiveness, and aggression toward unfamiliar people and dogs (test group), were given daily oral dose of gelatin capsules of fish oil supplements containing 330 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 480 mg docosahexaenoic acid. Moreover, all dogs received 12-15 mg/kg of magnesium citrate and 5 mg/kg of zinc sulfate. Data were obtained using a questionnaire that dog owners were invited to fill out 2 times before (Days 0 and 42) and 2 times after the supplement treatment period (Days 84 and 126). The questionnaire asked owners whether their dog had exhibited any of the 6 common behavioral disorders on a 5-point Likert-like scale ranging from 0 (never or very rarely) to 4 (very often). The results showed no significant changes for any of the evaluated behavior disorders scale in the control group. In dogs with behavior disorders, results showed a significant reduction in the median score for the severity of fearfulness (P = .0083), destructiveness (P = .002), and inappropriate elimination (P < .001). In addition, there were no significant differences in the median score for the severity of excessive activity (P = .162), aggression toward dogs (P = .281), and aggression toward unfamiliar people (P = .09) during the course of the study. Results of the study reported here support the hypothesis that a combination of omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and zinc may improve some of the behavioral disorders., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of thyroid hormones and lipid profile in development and outcome of canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL). We therefore studied the relationships between blood serum thyroid hormones [total T4, free T4, total T3, and free T3], lipids, and lipoproteins [total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] and clinical status in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum. Two groups of Leishmania-infected dogs [with no clinical signs (NCS; n = 15), and with clinical signs (CS; n = 16)] were assessed and compared with a group of healthy control dogs (n = 15). A significant decrease in serum total T4 (p < 0.05) concentration in the CS group was observed when compared to the NCS and control groups. The dogs in CS group revealed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in free T4 concentration in comparison to the control group. The CS group presented a significant decrease in HDL-C (p < 0.01) concentrations, when compared to NCS and control groups. The observed findings in the present study suggested that thyroid hormone and lipoprotein alterations may have a role in susceptibility of dogs with Leishmania infection.

Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania infantum (L. infantum),and its major reservoir hosts are domestic dogs, most of which are asymptomatic. This study aimed to detect L. infantum spp. in asymptomatic stray dogs by molecular and serological methods in Mashhad, Iran, during 2011-12. In this study, 94 asymptomatic stray dogs were randomly selected and their blood samples were collected for indirect fluorescent antibody testing. Furthermore, tissue samples from all the L. infantum seropositive stray dogs were examined using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Accordding to the results, 11.7 %(11/94) of the dogs were L. infantum seropositive. The PCR positivity rate of L. infantum was 63.6% (7/11) in at least one of the collected specimens of the seropositive dogs. The L. infantum kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) was detected in the liver of 36% (4/11), the spleen of 27% (3/11), and the skin of 54.5 %(6/11) of the stray dogs. In this study, based on the molecular and serological examinations, visceral leishmaniasis infection among the stray dogs in Mashhad was confirmed., (Copyright © 2017, Archives of Razi Institute. Published by Kowsar.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of oxidative stress in the pathology of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). We therefore studied the relationships between oxidative stress markers, liver and kidney variables, trace elements, and clinical status in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum. Two groups of Leishmania-infected dogs [asymptomatic (AD, n = 14) and symptomatic (SD, n = 16)] were assessed and compared with a group of non-infected control dogs (CD, n = 30). A significant decrease (p < 0.001) in serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and albumin concentration (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations (p < 0.001), in the SD group, were observed when compared to CD and AD groups. Dogs of the AD group presented a significant decrease in copper (p < 0.01) and zinc (p < 0.001) concentrations, when compared to CD group, while the SD group presented a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in copper and zinc concentrations, when compared to CD and AD groups. Oxidative stress markers (MDA and TAS) showed significant correlations (p < 0.001) with trace elements (copper and zinc) and liver (alanine aminotransferase) and kidney (BUN and creatinine) variables. The results of the present study revealed that symptomatic dogs showed more severe oxidative stress than asymptomatic and non-infected dogs and enhanced lipid peroxidation may be linked to liver and kidney damage in canine visceral leishmaniasis.