Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “DOG DISEASES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,081 records · Page 60Linked to original sources

Immune dysregulation in flea allergy dermatitis--a model for the immunopathogenesis of allergic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is a common skin disease in dogs and can be induced experimentally. It often coexists with other allergic conditions. So far no studies have investigated the quantitative production of cytokine mRNA in skin biopsies and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in flea allergic dogs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to improve the understanding of the immunopathogenesis of allergic dermatitis as a response to fleabites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Allergic and non-allergic dogs were exposed to fleas. Before and after 4 days of flea exposure mRNA was isolated from biopsies and PBMC. Production of chymase, tryptase, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA was measured by real-time RT-PCR. The inflammatory infiltrate in the skin was scored semi-quantitatively. The number of eosinophils, mast cells (MC) and IgE+ cells/mm2 was evaluated to complete the picture. RESULTS: FAD was associated with a higher number of MC before flea exposure and with a significant increase of eosinophils after flea exposure as compared to non-allergic dogs. The number of IgE+ cells was higher in allergic dogs before and after flea exposure. In allergic dogs mRNA for most cytokines and proteases tested was higher before flea exposure than after flea exposure. After exposure to fleas an increased mRNA production was only observed in non-allergic dogs. In vitro stimulation with flea antigen resulted in a decreased expression of most cytokines in allergic dogs before flea exposure. In contrast, in PBMC, only increased levels of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA were observed in allergic dogs before flea exposure. However, after flea exposure and additional stimulation with flea antigen the production of mRNA for all cytokines tested was significantly increased in allergic dogs. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the response in biopsies and PBMC is different and that FAD is associated with a TH2 response.

Animals↗

PCR screening for candidate etiological agents of canine hepatitis.

PROBLEM ASSESSED: Hepatitis, either acute or chronic, is a relatively common hepatic disease in dogs. Several forms of canine hepatitis can occur, some with a defined cause, most cases have an unknown etiology. The similarities between canine hepatitis and human viral hepatitis suggest that canine hepatitis may have a viral etiology too. OBJECTIVE: To test liver tissue of dogs with hepatitis for the presence of candidate agents based on their known association with hepatitis in other mammals. METHODS AND APPROACH: The following infectious agents were tested by PCR: Hepadnaviridae, Helicobacter spp., Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp., hepatitis A virus, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis E virus. Also canine adenovirus and parvovirus were included. Ninety-eight liver tissue samples of dogs with various histologically diagnoses forms of hepatitis were tested. Primers were designed on conserved regions in the genome of each of these agents, to increase the likelihood of detection by PCR. To further increase sensitivity, nested PCRs for all agents were designed. Finally, for each agent a nested short primer PCR (SPP) was performed. RESULTS: None of these agents were detected by nested PCR and nested SPP. However, in two acute hepatitis liver samples parvovirus was detected by nested PCR, and one of these was also detected by nested SPP. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis in dogs is not caused by agents with high homology to known infectious agents that cause hepatitis in other species.

Animals↗

Infectious disease persistence when transmission varies seasonally.

The generation reproduction number, R0, is the fundamental parameter of population biology. Communicable disease epidemiology has adopted R0 as the threshold parameter, called the basic case reproduction number (or ratio). In deterministic models, R0 must be greater than 1 for a pathogen to persist in its host population. Some standard methods of estimating R0 for an endemic disease require measures of incidence, and the theory underpinning these estimators assumes that incidence is constant through time. When transmission varies periodically (e.g., seasonally), as it does for most pathogens, it should be possible to express the criterion for long-term persistence in terms of some average transmission (and hence incidence) rate. A priori, there are reasons to believe that either the arithmetic mean or the geometric mean transmission rate may be correct. By considering the problem in terms of the real-time growth rate of the population, we are able to demonstrate formally that, to a very good approximation, the arithmetic mean transmission rate gives the correct answer for a general class of infection functions. The geometric mean applies only to a highly restricted set of cases. The appropriate threshold parameter can be calculated from the average transmission rate, and we discuss ways of doing so in the context of an endemic vector-borne disease, canine leishmaniasis.

Animals↗

Canine and feline primary ocular bacterial infections.

Bacterial infections are frequently associated with diseases of the eyelids, cornea, and conjunctiva. Animals sustaining KCS commonly have bacterial infections of the external eye owing to a lack of antimicrobial properties present in the normal tearfilm. Infection can occur in the nasolacrimal duct or lacrimal sac, which is referred to as dacryocystitis. Severe corneal ulcers are frequently infected with bacteria, especially Pseudomonas sp. Three new topical ophthalmic antibiotics have recently become commercially available: ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin.

Animals↗

Hepatic encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a neurometabolic syndrome caused by altered hepatic blood flow patterns and/or hepatic disease. This article describes current thoughts on its pathogenesis and diagnosis. Treatment principles are emphasized.

Ammonia↗

Canine chronic bronchitis.

The diagnosis and management of the chronic bronchitis patient can be a challenging, but rewarding, task for the veterinarian. The normal respiratory defense mechanisms and the pathophysiologic responses to the pathologic changes are of dramatic importance in understanding the choices of therapy. The keys to successful management of the patient lie in correct assessment of the clinical features and diagnostic procedures and periodic reevaluation of the patient's response to therapy and age/environment-related progression of pathology. Lastly, the clinician must create a realistic attitude for the owner regarding chronically diseased patients.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Endodontics.

It is known that pets with broken teeth or teeth with other diseases of the pulp suffer considerable pain and frequent infection. To ignore these problem teeth would not only be inhumane, it would risk chronic infection, abscessation, and tooth loss. Although extraction of these teeth is sometimes necessary, the procedure is often difficult to perform and painful for the animal. The resultant tooth loss is cosmetically displeasing and, frequently, there is compromise in function. The endodontic treatment of these teeth, on the other hand, is relatively easy to perform. It almost always results in immediate cessation of pain and will usually allow the tooth to remain functional for the lifetime of the pet.

Animals↗

Diagnosis and treatment of chronic vaginitis in the bitch.

The diagnosis of chronic vaginitis is made primarily on the basis of the historical and physical finding of a persistent, nonhemorrhagic vulvar discharge. Licking the vulva and pollakiuria are present in some (10%) bitches with vaginitis. The diagnosis can be confirmed with vaginal cytology and vaginoscopy. Treatment for vaginitis in bitches younger than 1 year of age is justifiably conservative, because the majority of such bitches (90%) recover with or without treatment. Chronic vaginitis in bitches older than 1 year of age most often is associated with identifiable abnormalities of the genitalia (35%) or urinary tract (26%). Resolution of the vaginitis is directly related to the resolution of the other abnormalities.

Age Factors↗

Seizures and other neurologic manifestations of allergy.

Numerous disease entities affecting the nervous system can be attributed at least in part to immune responses. Neurons have been shown to have receptors from many of the vasoactive neurotransmitter and neuromodulator molecules first studied as mediators of inflammation and immediate hypersensitivity (Type 1 response). Immune responses have now been proven to affect CNS and peripheral neurons. In the diagnostic workup, consideration should be given to the possibility of immune-related causes for seizures and some other neurologic disorders.

Animals↗

Long-term complications of diabetes mellitus, Part II: Gastrointestinal and infectious.

Numerous gastrointestinal and infectious diseases are associated with long-standing and often poorly controlled DM in humans. Although not as well documented in veterinary patients, the veterinary practitioner must always have an index of suspicion for the possibility of these complications. Because the clinical signs of a number of these problems are identical, proper diagnostic procedures need to be used to differentiate among the gastrointestinal and even infectious problems. In all cases, stringent blood glucose control is the common denominator in effective treatment. Other agents can be used both to assist in short-term control and for long-term therapy.

Animals↗

Hematopoietic growth factors: frontiers for cure.

Hematopoietic growth factors are cytokines that regulate the growth, development, and function of hematopoetic lineages. These hematopoietic growth factors have great potential for improving the quality of life and for reducing toxicity. This article reviews some of the most clinically relevant hematopoietic growth factors and what is known about their use in veterinary medicine. In particular, the following hematopoietic growth factors are discussed: erythropoietin, stem-cell factor, interleukin-3, interleukin-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Anemia↗

Surgery for lens instability.

Lens luxation is a common and potentially blinding disease of dogs. If left untreated, degenerative changes in the pathways for aqueous humor result in glaucoma; however, if the lens is removed by ICLE before significant secondary changes occur, vision can be preserved. In addition, it is now possible to restore excellent vision by replacing the luxated lens with a synthetic IOL.

Animals↗

Nitric oxide metabolites in naturally occurring canine babesiosis.

Babesiosis, caused by the virulent haemoprotozoan parasite Babesia canis rossi, is an important disease of dogs in South Africa. The nitric oxide metabolites, nitrate and nitrite (collectively termed reactive nitrogen intermediates or RNIs) were measured in admission sera from dogs in a babesiosis-endemic area. Five groups were prospectively studied: mild uncomplicated (n=9), severe uncomplicated (severe anaemia) (n=10) and complicated babesiosis (n=11); and two groups of healthy aparasitaemic dogs: endemic controls from the study area (n=10) and experimental dogs kept in tick-free conditions (n=10). Four measures of RNI production were studied: (i) serum RNI; (ii) serum RNI/creatinine ratio; (iii) fractional clearance of RNI (FC(RNI)); (iv) fractional excretion of RNI (FE(RNI)). Marked elevations of serum RNI occurred in only two dogs, both in the severe uncomplicated group. The highest concentration (log value 5.29 micromol/l) was in a dog that died, but concentrations in the other four dogs that died were unremarkable (0, 0.34, 1.66 and 2.64 micromol/l). Age, appetite and free serum haemoglobin were significant covariates for measures of RNI production. There were no significant differences among the babesiosis groups for serum RNI. Adjustment for creatinine had minor effects on the results. All babesiosis groups had significantly higher serum RNI and RNI/creatinine than the tick-free control group, but did not differ from the endemic controls except for the severe uncomplicated group, which had higher RNI/creatinine. The complicated group had significantly lower FC(RNI) and FE(RNI) than all other groups, except for the tick-free control group, which had similar FE(RNI). The results indicate that, in an endemic area, measures of RNI production are unlikely to be useful indicators of severity or outcome in canine babesiosis.

Animals↗