Weight loss modifies lipid peroxidation and symmetric dimethylarginine levels in obese dogs.

In obese dogs, oxidative stress is associated with inflammatory processes and systemic endocrine imbalances. Monitoring oxidative status is an early and valuable means of obesity control as it is a marker of weight loss, which leads to a reduction in oxidative status or injury potential. The objective of this study was to investgate the changes in the concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in obese female dogs subjected to an 8-week weight-loss program. We included obese female dogs without comorbidities and with body condition scores (BCS) of 8 and 9 out of 9. In addition to TBARS and SDMA assessments, laboratory tests of blood and urine (blood count; levels of serum biochemistry; albumin, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, urea, triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose; urinalysis; and albuminuria), systolic blood pressure, and hormone concentrations (insulin, cortisol, and free thyroxine) were carried out before and after the weight-loss program. All the obese dogs presented high TBARS levels. After the program, the dogs showed significant reductions in TBARS (P = 0.005) and SDMA (P = 0.0013). In conclusion, obese female dogs were prone to lipid peroxidation and the TBARS and SDMA levels decreased after the 8-week weight-loss program.

Chez les chiens obèses, le stress oxydatif est associé à des processus inflammatoires et à des déséquilibres endocriniens systémiques. La surveillance de l'état oxydatif est un moyen précoce et précieux de contrôle de l'obésité car il s'agit d'un marqueur de perte de poids, ce qui entraîne une réduction de l'état oxydatif ou du potentiel de blessure. L'objectif de cette étude était d'étudier les modifications des concentrations de substances réactives à l'acide thiobarbiturique (TBARS) et de diméthylarginine symétrique (SDMA) chez des chiennes obèses soumises à un programme d'amaigrissement de huit semaines. Nous avons inclus des chiennes obèses sans comorbidités et avec des scores d'état corporel (BCS) de 8 et 9 sur 9. En plus des évaluations TBARS et SDMA, des tests de laboratoire sur le sang et l'urine (numération sanguine; niveaux de biochimie sérique; albumine, alanine aminotransférase, phosphatase alcaline, créatinine, urée, triglycérides, cholestérol et glucose; analyse d'urine; et albuminurie), la pression artérielle systolique et les concentrations hormonales (insuline, cortisol et thyroxine libre) ont été effectuées avant et après le programme de perte de poids. Tous les chiens obèses présentaient des niveaux élevés de TBARS. Après le programme, les chiens ont montré des réductions significatives de TBARS (P = 0,005) et de SDMA (P = 0,0013). En conclusion, les chiennes obèses étaient sujettes à la peroxydation lipidique et les niveaux de TBARS et de SDMA ont diminué après le programme de perte de poids de huit semaines.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

Uncommon mandibular osteomyelitis in a cat caused by Nocardia africana.

BACKGROUND: Nocardiosis is an unusual infection in companion animals characterized by suppurative to pyogranulomatous lesions, localized or disseminated. Cutaneous-subcutaneous, pulmonary and systemic signs are observed in feline nocardiosis. However, osteomyelitis is a rare clinical manifestation in cats. Nocardia cyriacigeorgica (formerly N. asteroides sensu stricto), Nocardia brasiliensis, Nocardia otitidiscaviarum, and Nocardia nova are the most common pathogenic species identified in cats, based on recent molecular classification (16S rRNA gene). The present report is, to our knowledge, the first case of mandibular osteomyelitis in a cat caused by Nocardia africana, diagnosed based upon a combination of methods, including molecular techniques. CASE PRESENTATION: A one-year-old non-neutered female cat, raised in a rural area, was admitted to the Companion Animal Hospital-PUCPR, São José dos Pinhais, State of Paraná, Brazil, with a history a progressive facial lesion, difficulty apprehending food, loss of appetite, apathy and emaciation. Clinical examination showed fever, submandibular lymphadenitis, and a painless, 8 cm diameter mass, which was irregularly-shaped, of firm consistency, and located in the region of the left mandible. The skin around the lesion was friable, with diffuse inflammation (cellulitis), multiple draining sinuses, and exudation of serosanguinous material containing whitish "sulfur" granules.Diagnosis was based initially in clinical signs, microbiological culture, cytological, and histopathological findings, and radiographic images. Molecular sequencing of 16S rRNA of isolate allowed diagnosis of Nocardia africana. Despite supportive care and antimicrobial therapy based on in vitro susceptibility testing the animal died. CONCLUSION: The present report describes a rare clinical case of feline osteomyelitis caused by Nocardia africana, diagnosed based upon a combination of clinical signs, microbiological culture, cytological and histopathological findings, radiographic images, and molecular methods. The use of modern molecular techniques constitutes a quick and reliable method for Nocardia species identification, and may contribute to identification to new species of Nocardia that are virulent in cats.

Urolitíase em cães: avaliação quantitativa da composição mineral de 156 urólitos / Canine urolithiasis: quantitative evaluation of mineral composition of 156 uroliths

O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os casos de urolitíase canina em que a composição mineral dos urólitos foi analisada quantitativamente. Foi avaliada quantitativamente a composição mineral de 156 urólitos obtidos de cães (nefrólitos, ureterólitos, urocistólitos e uretrólitos). Desse total, 79,5 por cento (n=124) eram simples, 18 por cento (n=28) eram compostos e apenas 2,5 por cento (n=4) eram mistos. A estruvita foi o tipo mineral mais frequente nos urólitos simples (47,6 por cento; n=59), em todos os mistos (100 por cento; n=4) e nas camadas núcleo e pedra de urólitos compostos (32,1 e 75 por cento, respectivamente). O oxalato de cálcio foi o segundo mineral mais frequente dos urólitos simples (37,9 por cento, n=47). Ao contrário do que é preconizado para os urólitos simples, as recomendações para o tratamento de urólitos compostos são mais complexas, tais como protocolos de tratamento de dissolução diferentes (se composto por minerais distintos e passíveis de dissolução como urato e estruvita). Além disso, a dissolução pode não ser viável, caso ocorra presença de material insolúvel envolvendo o urólito ou se este representar mais de 20 por cento da camada. Vinte e dois urólitos compostos (78,7 por cento) apresentaram uma camada externa não passível de dissolução (oxalato de cálcio ou fosfato de cálcio); dois (7,1 por cento) apresentaram camadas externas passíveis de dissolução (estruvita ou urato), porém camadas mais internas não solúveis, o que permitiria apenas a dissolução parcial do urólito. Assim, o conhecimento da composição de todas as camadas que compõem o urólito é essencial para o entendimento da formação do cálculo e consequentemente para a indicação do tratamento adequado, assim como para prevenção de recidivas.

The aim of this study was to evaluate dogs with urolithiasis in which mineral composition of calculi was quantitatively analyzed. Quantitative mineral composition was performed in 156 canine uroliths. Simple uroliths represented 79.5 percent (n=124) of the cases, 18 percent were compound (n=28) and only 2.5 percent (n=4) of the calculi were mixed. Struvite was the most frequent mineral type of simple uroliths (47.6 percent; n=59) as well as in all mixed (100 percent; n=4) and in the core and stone uroliths (32.1 percent and 75 percent, respectively). Calcium oxalate was the second more frequent mineral composition of simple uroliths (37.9 percent; n=47). Unlike simple uroliths, recommendation for the treatment of compound uroliths is more complex, and diet protocols for calculi dissolution may be different when the calculus is composed by different minerals that are possible to be dissolved (e.g. urate and stuvite). Besides, dissolution may not be feasible if it occurs in presence of insoluble material involving urolith or if it represents more than 20 percent of the layer. Twenty two compound uroliths (78.7 percent) presented an external layer that was not possible to be dissolved (calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate); two calculi (7.1 percent) had superficial layers dissolvable (struvite or urate), but inner layers were not soluble, which allowed only partial dissolution of urolith. Knowledge of all urolith layers mineral composition is essential for the understanding of calculus formation and for the adequate treatment indication as well as for the procedures to prevent recurrence.

Síndrome do gucagonoma em cão / Glucagonoma syndrome in a dog

O eritema necrolítico migratório é rara dermatose caracterizada por lesões erodo-ulcerativas e crostosas em áreas intertriginosas, junções mucocutâneas, superfícies articulares e de apoio crônico, que tem sido descrita em seres humanos, cães, gatos e rinocerontes. Sua etiologia tem sido relacionada a neoplasias pancreáticas, mormente das células alfa produtoras de glucagon, e a graves doenças do parênquima hepático ou gastroentérico. Relata-se o caso de um cão com necrose epidérmica metabólica secundária a glucagonoma, que apresenta fortes similaridades com a síndrome do glucagonoma em humanos.

Nail fold Necrolytic migratory erythema is a rare skin dermatosis characterized by erosive and crusted lesions in intertriginous areas, mucocutaneous junctions, articular areas and pressure points. It has been described in humans, dogs, cats and rhinoceros. The cause of this condition is related to glucagon-secreting alpha cell tumor of the pancreas, severe hepatopathy or gastrointestinal disease. Here, we report the case of a dog with necrolytic migratory erythema due to glucagonoma, closely resembling the glucagonoma syndrome observed in humans.