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Objectives: Trilostane is the medical treatment of choice for hyperadrenocorticism. Iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism is thought to be rare, with most cases being transient and only a few cases of permanent hypoadrenocorticism have been reported. This study reports findings from eight cases of iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism and examines the presence of concurrent diseases at the time of diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Medical records of dogs treated for hyperadrenocorticism with trilostane since 2008 were reviewed, and cases of clinical iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism were extracted. Cases were considered permanent if long‐term replacement therapy was required. Results: Eight dogs met the inclusion criteria. The time between the beginning of trilostane treatment and the diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism ranged from 4 days to 13 months, and the dosage of trilostane ranged between 1 and 8 mg/kg/day. Six dogs had a suspicion of concurrent disease at the time of hypoadrenocorticism diagnosis. The trilostane dose was decreased in two dogs; trilostane was withdrawn in one case without further relapse of hyperadrenocorticism; and glucocorticoids with or without mineralocorticoid supplementation were prescribed in five dogs. Two of these five dogs were lost to follow‐up, and the other three had a diagnosis of permanent hypoadrenocorticism. Adrenal gland ultrasonography in these three dogs showed a progressive reduction in gland sizes with heterogeneous echogenicity. Clinical Significance: Iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism is a rare but potentially life‐threatening complication of trilostane treatment in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. The occurrence of a concurrent disease might trigger the development of clinical signs of hypoadrenocorticism in previously subclinical dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demands on youth welfare are growing, social problems are increasing, and right-wing extremism and unemployment among the youth are causing long-term social problems. In addition, social budgets are being cut, while establishment of youth welfare departments in the eastern part of Germany has not been completed. The results of this investigation clearly show that in light of these problems, effective youth welfare is impossible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Germany, an increased volume of patient cases in the emergency department has been observed for several years, many of which do not represent hospital emergencies. To improve the triage and management of patient flows, the Structured Initial Medical Assessment (Strukturierte medizinische Ersteinschätzung in Deutschland, SmED) triage system was developed. This certified medical product is intended to assess both the urgency of everyday complaints and their adequate medical care in a targeted, faster, and safer manner. It supports medical professionals in triage by suggesting courses of action, whereby the ultimate responsibility remains with the professionals themselves. For otorhinolaryngology, a content review was carried out with regard to plausibility and patient safety in the head and neck region on the basis of nine specific emergencies. The cases were simulated by nine otorhinolaryngologists and triaged on the basis of the SmED by medical staff and medical students by assigning a care level and timepoint (urgency). The majority of cases were correctly assigned. The SmED initial assessment system is a good tool for assessing urgent clinical pictures in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) medicine. The long-term goal of the initial assessment is to relieve the capacities of outpatient departments. In order to achieve this and to shorten patient waiting times, it would be necessary to refer patients quickly to otorhinolaryngology. It is therefore necessary to ensure that patients are referred to an ENT on-call service via the online tool., Competing Interests: Einhaltung ethischer Richtlinien. Interessenkonflikt: E. Krafft, S. Kaulitz, J. Voelker, J. Engert, B. Spahn, R. Hagen und K. Rak geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht. Für diesen Beitrag wurden von den Autor/-innen keine Studien an Menschen oder Tieren durchgeführt. Für die aufgeführten Studien gelten die jeweils dort angegebenen ethischen Richtlinien., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Trichuris vulpis is a parasite of the large intestine of canids and has a global distribution. Despite its well-established epidemiology, the question of its pathogenicity in dogs remains debated. It has been suggested that younger age and concurrent infection with Ancylostoma caninum may be responsible for more severe clinical presentations. This retrospective study aimed to describe the clinical and diagnostic features of T. vulpis -infected dogs and to compare these findings with dogs infected with both T. vulpis and other intestinal parasites (poly-infected dogs). Forty-five dogs were included, with twenty-five being solely infected by T. vulpis and twenty poly-infected dogs. Only weight loss was more frequent ( p = 0.006) in poly-infected dogs compared to T. vulpis mono-infected dogs. No significant differences were observed in laboratory abnormalities between mono-infected and poly-infected dogs. Only diarrhea was more frequent ( p = 0.007) in younger dogs compared to adults. The egg shedding pattern was significantly higher ( p = 0.04) among adult dogs compared to young ones, and there was a significant positive correlation between egg shedding and age (r = 0.41; p = 0.005). These findings suggest that T. vulpis might be responsible for both clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities in dogs, irrespective of the host's age and the presence of other intestinal parasites.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of high flow oxygen therapy (HFOT), and to record SpO 2 and desaturation episodes in dogs and cats receiving HFOT or conventional oxygen therapy (COT) during bronchoscopy ± bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)., Materials and Methods: Dogs and cats undergoing bronchoscopy ± BAL between January and May 2023 were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: HFOT (HFOT group; two cats and four dogs) and COT (COT group; one cat and five dogs). HFOT and COT were started at the beginning of the bronchoscopy. HFOT was delivered with a gas flow rate of 1 L/kg/min at an FiO 2 of 100% and a temperature of 34°C (pediatric mode) or 37°C (adult mode). COT was delivered through the working channel of the bronchoscope at a rate of 1.5 L/min. The safety and feasibility of HFOT were assessed, and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) was measured by pulse oximetry every 30 s throughout the procedure., Measurements and Main Results: HFOT was feasible and safe in both dogs and cats with no complications reported. While there was no significant difference in the number of desaturation episodes (SpO 2  < 94%) between the two groups, none of the patients in the HFOT group experienced severe desaturation (SpO 2  < 90%). In contrast, two patients in the COT group had an SpO 2  < 90%. Mean SpO 2 was significantly higher in the HFOT group compared to the COT group at T0 (98% ± 2% vs. 94 ± 2%), T0.5 (98% ± 2% vs. 94% ± 3%) and T1 (98% ± 2% vs. 94% ± 4%)., Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest study conducted to date using HFOT during bronchoscopy in dogs and cats. Our results suggest that HFOT is feasible and safe during bronchoscopy ± BAL. Furthermore, HFOT may reduce the risk of desaturation episodes in dogs and cats undergoing bronchoscopy and BAL., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Dartencet, Abunemeh, Junot, Nectoux, Allaouchiche, Krafft and Pouzot-Nevoret.)

Background: Cholelithiasis is an uncommon and mainly incidental finding in dogs; current literature on this topic is scarce in cats., Hypothesis: Report prevalence, clinical presentation, management, and outcome of cholelithiasis in cats., Animals: Ninety-eight cats with cholelithiasis., Methods: Retrospective multicenter case series. Electronic databases from 3 hospitals were searched for cats diagnosed with cholelithiasis by ultrasonography (US). Cholelithiasis was classified as incidental (IC) or symptomatic (SC) depending on clinicopathological signs, biliary tract US appearance, and presence of another disease potentially explaining the clinical presentation. Multivariate analysis was used to investigate factors associated with clinical expression of cholelithiasis and, within the SC group, survival., Results: The observed prevalence of cholelithiasis was 0.99% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79%-1.19%) among cats that underwent abdominal US. Cholelithiasis was classified as IC in 41% and SC in 59%. Choleliths found in multiple locations within the biliary tract (odds ratio [OR], 8.11; 95% CI, 2.32-34.15; P = .001) or associated with US signs of obstruction (OR, 18.47; 95% CI, 2.13-2413.34; P = .004) were significantly associated with SC. Concurrent hepatobiliary diseases were suspected or confirmed in 83% of cases with SC. Forty-three cats (74%) with SC survived to discharge. Biliary tract obstruction (BTO) was negatively associated with survival (OR, 13.87; 95% CI, 1.54-124.76; P = .001). None of the cats with IC that had available follow-up (47%) developed clinicopathological signs related to cholelithiasis., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Cholelithiasis is uncommon and can be asymptomatic in cats. Symptomatic cholelithiasis frequently is associated with another hepatobiliary disease or BTO or both. Biliary tract obstruction is associated with poorer outcome., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are important tools for controlling rodent pests, but they also pose a health threat to non-target species. ARs are one of the most common causes of pet poisoning. However, exposure of domestic animals to subclinical doses of ARs is poorly documented. To study the random exposure of dogs and cats to ARs, feces from animals showing no clinical signs of rodenticide poisoning were collected from a network of French and Belgian veterinarians. We analyzed fresh feces from 304 dogs and 289 cats by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. This study showed a limited prevalence of AR exposure in dogs and cats of 2.6 and 4.5% respectively. In both species, access to the outdoors is a risk factor for ARs exposure. In contrast, the sex of the animals did not affect the ARs exposure status. The observation of the ratio of cis and trans isomers suggested primary exposure in dogs, but also in some cats. While primary exposure in dogs appears to be related to the use of ARs as plant protection products, primary exposure in cats may be malicious, as warfarin, an anticoagulant formerly used as a rodenticide and now used only in humans, was found in 4 of 13 exposed cats. Secondary exposure may also occur in cats.Our study showed reduced exposure in dogs and cats, compared to wildlife, which often has high exposure, especially in areas where rodent control is important., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Mahjoub, Krafft, Garnier, Mignard, Hugnet, Lefebvre, Fourel, Benoit and Lattard.)

Despite the probable zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2, only limited research efforts have been made to understand the role of companion animals in SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology. According to recent serological prevalence studies, human-to-companion animal transmission is quite frequent, which led us to consider that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from animal to human, albeit negligible in the present context, may have been underestimated. In this study, we provide the results of a prospective survey that was conducted to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 isolation rate by qRT-PCR in dogs and cats with different exposure risks and clinical statuses. From April 2020 to April 2021, we analyzed 367 samples and investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using qRT-PCR. Only four animals tested positive, all of them being cats. Three cats were asymptomatic and one presented a coryza-like syndrome. We describe in detail the infection in two cats and the associated clinical characteristics. Importantly, we obtained SARS-CoV-2 genomes from one infected animal and characterized them as Alpha variants. This represents the first identification of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant in an infected animal in France.

In a survey of household cats and dogs of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients, we found a high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, ranging from 21% to 53%, depending on the positivity criteria chosen. Seropositivity was significantly greater among pets from COVID-19+ households compared to those with owners of unknown status. Our results highlight the potential role of pets in the spread of the epidemic., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Case Summary: A 14-year-old cat was presented with a 2-week history of ataxia, seizure-like episodes, vomiting and weight loss. Serum biochemistry revealed severe hypoglycaemia, associated with low serum fructosamine and high insulin concentrations. On abdominal ultrasound, a focal hypoechoic well-defined mass in the left limb of the pancreas was identified and the presence of an additional smaller nodule was suspected. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) confirmed the presence of both lesions and revealed a third, even smaller nodule. Partial pancreatectomy was performed. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of a multifocal insulinoma. Six months later, the cat presented with tenesmus and obstipation. A colorectal adenocarcinoma was diagnosed with histopathology after partial excision of a colorectal mass. The cat was euthanased a month later owing to recurrent episodes of severe obstipation., Relevance and Novel Information: This is the first clinical description of the use of CEUS in the diagnosis of feline insulinoma. Furthermore, the available scientific literature on feline insulinoma was reviewed., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2019.)

Background: Studies have shown an increased prevalence of positive urine culture (PUC) in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD); no information is available in dogs., Objectives: To document the PUC frequency in a cohort of dogs with CKD, determine risk factors for PUC, and identify associations between clinicopathologic data and PUC., Animals: Two hundred one client-owned dogs with CKD., Methods: Retrospective, observational study. Dogs recruited from 2 veterinary teaching hospitals were included if they were diagnosed with CKD and had a culture performed on urine collected by cystocentesis. The PUC frequency was calculated, multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors, and associations with clinicopathologic data were investigated., Results: Sixty-five dogs (32%) with CKD had PUC, including 8 (28%) in International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage 1; only 8% showed signs of a urinary tract infection. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate (67%). A PUC was more likely in females (odds ratio [OR], 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67-6.37; P < .001) than males and in dogs with isosthenuria (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.24-5.03; P = .01) than in dogs with urine-specific gravity 1.013-1.024. A positive leukocyte esterase test and microorganisms found by urine sediment analysis were significantly associated with PUC (both P < .001)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Dogs with CKD, even IRIS stage 1, have a high frequency of PUC and most cases are asymptomatic. A urine culture could be considered in the routine evaluation of dogs with CKD, but the clinical relevance of a PUC remains unknown and needs further evaluation., (© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) is a progressive disease of the lung parenchyma that is more prevalent in dogs of the West Highland white terrier (WHWT) breed. Since the chemokines (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8) have been implicated in pulmonary fibrosis in humans, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether these same chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of CIPF. CCL2 and CXCL8 concentrations were measured by ELISA in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from healthy dogs and WHWTs affected with CIPF. Expression of the genes encoding CCL2 and CXCL8 and their respective receptors, namely (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) and (C-X-C motif) receptor 2 (CXCR2), was compared in unaffected lung tissue and biopsies from dogs affected with CIPF by quantitative PCR and localisation of CCL2 and CXCL8 proteins were determined by immunohistochemistry. Significantly greater CCL2 and CXCL8 concentrations were found in the BALF from WHWTs affected with CIPF, compared with healthy dogs. Significantly greater serum concentrations of CCL2, but not CXCL8, were found in CIPF-affected dogs compared with healthy WHWTs. No differences in relative gene expression for CCL2, CXCL8, CCR2 or CXCR2 were observed when comparing lung biopsies from control dogs and those affected with CIPF. In affected lung tissues, immunolabelling for CCL2 and CXCL8 was observed in bronchial airway epithelial cells in dogs affected with CIPF. The study findings suggest that both CCL2 and CXCL8 are involved in the pathogenesis of CIPF. Further studies are required to determine whether these chemokines might have a clinical use as biomarkers of fibrosis or as targets for therapeutic intervention., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterised by an abnormal accumulation of collagen type III in the pulmonary interstitium. Procollagen type III amino terminal propeptide (PIIINP) is used as a marker of collagen type III synthesis. In this study, the concentrations of PIIINP were investigated in dogs with IPF (n=15), dogs with chronic bronchitis (CB, n=19), dogs with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP, n=13) and healthy dogs (n=25). PIIINP concentrations in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analysed by radioimmunoassay. Serum PIIINP values did not differ between groups, indicating that serum PIIINP is not useful in evaluating respiratory diseases in dogs. BALF PIIINP was significantly elevated in dogs with IPF compared with healthy dogs (P=0.002) and dogs with CB (P<0.001). BALF PIIINP was significantly higher in dogs with EBP than in dogs with CB (P=0.003) or healthy dogs (P=0.022). There were no differences in BALF PIIINP concentrations between dogs with IPF and dogs with EBP or between dogs with CB and healthy dogs. These results indicate that IPF is associated with elevated BALF PIIINP concentrations. BALF PIIINP concentrations also are elevated in EBP, possibly due to secondary fibrotic changes., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)