Efficacy of afoxolaner in the flea control in experimentally infested cats / Eficácia do afoxolaner no controle de pulgas em gatos experimentalmente infestados

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of oral afoxolaner in controlling fleas in cats. Fourteen cats were used. The cats were given identification numbers, housed individually, artificially infested with Ctenocephalides felis felis, and treated (or not) with afoxolaner. Were divided into a treatment group and a control group (n = 7/group), on the basis of the fleas count hours after an infestation applied on Day (one-by-one allocation after ordering by count). At the start of the experimental protocol (designated day 0), the treated group received afoxolaner in a single dose of 2.5 mg/kg and the control group animals received a placebo. All animals were infested with 100 C. felis felis fleas two days before day 0, as well as on days 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, 40, 47, 54, and 63, parasite loads being evaluated at 48 h after each infestation. The efficacy of afoxolaner was 100% on day 2 and remained above 98% until day 42, decreasing to 95.3% by day 63. The findings confirm that a single dose of oral afoxolaner was effective in controlling C. felis felis in cats, and there were no observed adverse events.

Resumo O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a eficácia de uma dose única de afoxolaner oral no controle de pulgas em gatos. Foram utilizados 14 gatos. Os animais foram identificados, alojados individualmente, infestados artificialmente com C. felis felis e tratados (ou não) com afoxolaner. Foram divididos em um grupo de tratamento e um grupo controle (n = 7/ grupo), com base na contagem de pulgas, horas após a infestação aplicada no dia (alocação de um por um após o período por contagem). No início do protocolo experimental (dia 0), o grupo tratado recebeu afoxolaner em dose inicial de 2,5 mg / kg e os animais do grupo controle receberam um placebo. Todos os animais foram infestados com 100 pulgas C. felis felis dois dias antes do dia 0, assim como nos dias 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, 40, 47, 54 e 63, sendo avaliadas as cargas parasitárias às 48 h após cada infestação. A eficácia do afoxolaner foi de 100% no dia 2 e permaneceu acima de 98% até o dia 42, diminuindo para 95,3% no dia 63. Os resultados confirmam que uma dose única de afoxolaner oral foi eficaz no controle de C. felis felis em gatos, e não houve eventos adversos observados.

What is known about Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats? / O que sabemos sobre a infecção por Tritrichomonas foetus em gatos?

Abstract Tritrichomonas foetus is a parasite that has been definitively identified as an agent of trichomonosis, a disease characterized by chronic diarrhea. T. foetus colonizes portions of the feline large intestine, and manifests as chronic and recurrent diarrhea with mucus and fresh blood, which is often unresponsive to common drugs. Diagnosis of a trichomonad infection is made by either the demonstration of the trophozoite on a direct fecal smear, fecal culture and subsequent microscopic examination of the parasite, or extraction of DNA in feces and amplification by the use of molecular tools. T. foetus is commonly misidentified as other flagellate protozoa such as Giardia duodenalis and Pentatrichomonas hominis. Without proper treatment, the diarrhea may resolve spontaneously in months to years, but cats can remain carriers of the parasite. This paper intends to serve as a source of information for investigators and veterinarians, reviewing the most important aspects of feline trichomonosis, such as trichomonad history, biology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, world distribution, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.

Resumo Tritrichomonas foetus é um parasito que foi identificado definitivamente como agente de tricomoníase, caracterizada por diarreia crônica. T. foetus coloniza porções do intestino grosso dos felinos e se manifesta como uma diarreia crônica e recorrente, com muco e sangue, geralmente irresponsiva às drogas comumente usadas no tratamento. O diagnóstico da infecção por tricomonadídeos é feito pela demonstração de trofozoítos no exame direto de fezes frescas, cultura fecal e subsequente exame microscópico ou extração do DNA do parasito na amostra fecal e amplificação, utilizando-se técnicas moleculares. T. foetus é comumente confundido com outros protozoários flagelados, como Giardia duodenalis e Pentatrichomonas hominis. Sem tratamento adequado, a diarreia pode cessar espontaneamente em meses ou anos, porém os gatos podem permanecer portadores do parasito. Esse artigo pretende servir como fonte de informação para pesquisadores e veterinários, revisando os mais importantes aspectos da tricomoníase felina, como histórico, biologia, manifestações clínicas, patogênese, distribuição mundial, fatores de risco, diagnóstico e tratamento.

Photodynamic hyperthermal chemotherapy with indocyanine green: a novel cancer therapy for 16 cases of malignant soft tissue sarcoma

Sixteen cases of malignant soft tissue sarcoma (STS; 10 canines and six felines) were treated with a novel triple therapy that combined photodynamic therapy, hyperthermia using indocyanine green with a broadband light source, and local chemotherapy after surgical tumor resection. This triple therapy was called photodynamic hyperthermal chemotherapy (PHCT). In all cases, the surgical margin was insufficient. In one feline case, PHCT was performed without surgical resection. PHCT was performed over an interval of 1 to 2 weeks and was repeated three to 21 times. No severe side effects, including severe skin burns, necrosis, or skin suture rupture, were observed in any of the animals. No disease recurrence was observed in seven out of 10 (70.0%) dogs and three out of six (50.0%) cats over the follow-up periods ranging from 238 to 1901 days. These results suggest that PHCT decreases the risk of STS recurrence. PHCT should therefore be considered an adjuvant therapy for treating companion animals with STS in veterinary medicine.

Successful Treatment of Brugia pahangi in Naturally Infected Cats with Ivermectin

Lymphatic filariasis is a common parasitic disease of cats in tropical regions including Thailand. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of ivermectin against microfilariae of Brugia pahangi in naturally infected cats. Eight cats naturally infected with B. pahangi were divided into control (untreated) and treated groups. Cats in the latter group were given ivermectin injection at 400 microg/kg weekly for 2 months. Microfilariae were counted every week until 48 weeks. Microfilaremia was significantly decreased in the treated group 4 weeks after starting the treatment and become zero at week 9 and afterwards. On the other hand, cats in the control group had high microfilaremia throughout the study. It was successful to treat and control B. pahangi infection in naturally infected cats using ivermectin.

Efficacy of Ronidazole for Treatment of Cats Experimentally Infected with a Korean Isolate of Tritrichomonas foetus

To evaluate the efficacy of ronidazole for treatment of Tritrichomonas foetus infection, 6 Tritrichomonas-free kittens were experimentally infected with a Korean isolate of T. foetus. The experimental infection was confirmed by direct microscopy, culture, and single-tube nested PCR, and all cats demonstrated trophozoites of T. foetus by day 20 post-infection in the feces. From day 30 after the experimentally induced infection, 3 cats were treated with ronidazole (50 mg/kg twice a day for 14 days) and 3 other cats received placebo. Feces from each cat were tested for the presence of T. foetus by direct smear and culture of rectal swab samples using modified Diamond's medium once a week for 4 weeks. To confirm the culture results, the presence of T. foetus rRNA gene was determined by single-tube nested PCR assay. All 3 cats in the treatment group receiving ronidazole showed negative results for T. foetus infection during 2 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks follow-up by all detection methods used in this study. In contrast, rectal swab samples from cats in the control group were positive for T. foetus continuously throughout the study. The present study indicates that ronidazole is also effective to treat cats infected experimentally with a Korean isolate of T. foetus at a dose of 50 mg/kg twice a day for 14 days.

Esporotricose: a evolução e os desafios de uma epidemia / Sporotrichosis: development and challenges of an epidemic

A ocorrência de esporotricose em animais e sua transmissão ao ser humano têm sido relatadas em diversos países. Contudo, em nenhum lugar a doença assumiu proporções epidêmicas, envolvendo pessoas e gatos, como no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Dados preliminares apontam para aproximadamente 2200 casos humanos diagnosticados até dezembro de 2009. No Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatozoonoses em Animais Domésticos foram atendidos, até essa data, aproximadamente 3244 gatos. A distribuição geográfica mostra concentração de casos na região metropolitana da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro. O grupo mais acometido são as mulheres de baixo nível socioeconômico, com idade de 40 a 59 anos, que realizam atividades domésticas. O itraconazol foi a droga de primeira escolha para o tratamento. Embora a esporotricose normalmente não acometa órgãos além da pele, mucosa e subcutâneo, tem um custo social indireto - pelo absenteísmo ao trabalho, pelo sofrimento durante a doença ativa e pelo aspecto desagradável das lesões cicatriciais. Por sua vez, nos gatos, é comum o acometimento sistêmico, levando a formas graves de difícil tratamento e evolução para o óbito. Considerando que o tempo de tratamento dos animais é maior do que nos seres humanos, tratar gatos com esporotricose tem sido um dos maiores entraves e permanece como o grande desafio para o controle da epidemia.

In the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sporotrichosis reached epidemic levels, involving humans and cats. Preliminary data indicate that approximately 2200 human cases were diagnosed between 1998 and December of 2009, and 3244 cats were treated. The geographic distribution of cases reveals a concentration in the City of Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. The disease affects mostly women of a low socioeconomic status, aged 40 to 55 years, who work as housekeepers. Itraconazole has been the drug of choice for treatment. Although sporotrichosis does not usually affect organs other than the skin, mucosa, and subcutaneous tissue, it has an indirect social impact resulting from absenteeism, pain, and discomfort during the active disease stage, and the unpleasant appearance of the scars. In turn, systemic involvement is frequent in cats, leading to serious and difficult- to-treat forms of the disease and death. Considering that treatment time in animals is longer than in human beings, treating cats with sporotrichosis has been the greatest obstacle and the most important challenge for the control of this epidemic infection.

Osteochondrodysplasia in three Scottish Fold cats

This report explains typical radiographic features ofScottish Fold osteochondrodysplasia. Three Scottish Foldcats suffering from lameness were referred to theVeterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul NationalUniversity, Korea. Based on the breed predisposition,history, clinical signs, physical examination, and radiographicfindings, Scottish Fold osteochondrodysplasia was confirmedin three cases. Radiographic changes mainly includedexostosis and secondary arthritis around affected jointlesions, and defective conformation in the phalanges andcaudal vertebrae. The oral chondroprotective agents suchas glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate make the patientsalleviate their pain without adverse effects.

The efficacy of a single-oral-dose administration of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine on the treatment of feline Brugia malayi.

The combination of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) have been shown to be superior to either drug alone for the suppression of Brugia malayi in humans, but their efficacy against infection with B. malayi in cats has never been investigated. Fourteen asymptomatic microfilaremic (1-200 microfilariae/20 microl blood) cats received oral doses of ivermectin (400 microg/kg body weight) and DEC (6 mg/kg body weight) as a single treatment. A two-month post-treatment examination revealed that 87-100% of the microfilariae in each subject had been cleared, with two of the subjects being amicrofilaremic. A further reduction in microfilarial levels was observed until the final follow-up, at 8 months post-treatment, when the mean clearance rate was 99% and 12 out of the 14 subjects (86%) were amicrofilaremic. The combination of ivermectin and DEC demonstrated a microfilaricidal effect superior to that of either drug used alone, both in the initial rapid clearance of microfilariae, and in sustaining the effect for 8 months. This finding has important implications for the control of brugian lymphatic filariasis in the cat reservoir.

Avaliação da eficácia terapêutica da ivermectina sobre larvas de quarto estádio de Lagochilascaris minor em gatos infectados experimentalmente / Assessment of ivermectin therapeutic efficacy on fourth-stage larvae of Lagochilascaris minor in experimentally infected cats

Avaliou-se a ação da ivermectina sobre larvas de quarto estádio em gatos infectados experimentalmente com Lagochilascaris minor. Foram utilizados 30 gatos (divididos, igualmente, em três grupos I, II e III), sendo que cada animal foi inoculado, por via oral, com 50 larvas de terceiro estádio do parasito. Cada animal, dos grupos I e II, foi tratado com ivermectina na dosagen de 200mg/kg, no quinto dia após o inóculo (DAI). Os animais do grupo I foram examinados, clinicamente, entre 30 e 40 dias e os do grupo II entre 180 e 190 dias sendo, em seguida, submetidos à necropsia. Os dez animais do grupo III, não foram tratados com a droga constituindo o grupo controle. Independentemente do período de observação, observou-se 100% de eficácia da droga, visto que houve total interrupção do ciclo biológico do parasito em todos animais tratados. Todos animais do grupo controle desenvolveram a infecção por Lagochilascaris minor.

In order to verify the action of ivermectin against fourth-stage larvae of Lagochilascaris minor, thirty cats were divided into three groups (I, II and III). Each animal was inoculated orally with 50 third-stage larvae. The cats from groups I and II were treated with Ivermectin (200/microg/kg/single dose/sc via) on fifth day after inoculation (DAI). Treatment evaluation was performed between 30 and 40 DAI (group I) and between 180 to 190 DAI (group II) using parasite macroscopic and microscopic research at autopsy. The 10 cats from group III were untreated (control group). The authors observed 100% drug efficacy, at all observation periods, by total interruption of parasite's biological cycle in each of the treated animals. All the control group developed Lagochilascaris minor infection.

Efficacy of oral and transepidermal application of diethylcarbamazine citrate in Brugia malayi infected cats.

This experimental study showed that daily oral administration of DEC at levels of 5 to 15 mg/kg/day with food for 3 weeks decreased the level of both developing and adult B. malayi in infected cats. There were no adverse reactions due to the medication. Topical application of 5% DEC in skin cream or in mineral oil appears to be effective in killing developing B. malayi in cats.

Chemotherapy of feline Gnathostoma spinigerum migrating stage with multiple subcutaneous doses of ancylol.

Twelve doses of Ancylol Disophenol at 0.05 ml per pound body weight administered subcutaneously was shown to be an effective chemotherapeutic agent against migrating stage of G. spinigerum in cats. A further investigation is required to determine whether this regimen is the minimum effective therapeutic dosage. None of eight cats treated with 12 doses of 0.02 to 0.05 ml per pound body weight showed signs or symptoms of toxicity due to the treatment and there were not gross pathological changes of the organs observed on necropsy of the animals.