Pradofloxacin for Treatment of Bartonella henselae in Experimentally Inoculated Cats.

Bartonella henselae is associated with numerous clinical syndromes in people. Cats are the definitive hosts for B. henselae, develop high levels of bacteremia, and are associated with human infections, particularly in the presence of Ctenocephalides felis. Several antibiotic protocols used for the treatment of B. henselae infection in cats have failed to clear bacteremia. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a high-dose pradofloxacin protocol to eliminate B. henselae bacteremia. Bartonella henselae infection was initiated in 8 cats by intravenous inoculation of infected feline blood and then pradofloxacin was administered at 7.5 mg/kg, PO, twice daily for 28 days, starting 12 weeks after inoculation. Complete blood cell counts were performed prior to pradofloxacin administration and then every 2 weeks for 10 weeks. Bartonella PCR assay was performed prior to pradofloxacin administration and approximately every 2 weeks for 10 weeks and then weekly for 4 weeks. Methylprednisolone acetate (5 mg/kg) was administered by intramuscular injection to all cats on week 10. The cats remained normal and none developed a hematocrit, platelet count, lymphocyte count, or neutrophil count outside of the normal reference ranges. In the one month prior to pradofloxacin administration, all cats were PCR-positive for Bartonella DNA on at least two of four sample dates; after pradofloxacin administration, all cats were negative for B. henselae DNA in blood on all nine sample dates. The protocol appears to be safe and failure to amplify B. henselae DNA from the blood after the administration of pradofloxacin and one dose of methylprednisolone acetate suggests either an antibiotic effect or the organism was cleared spontaneously.

A survey of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs illegally entering the UK (2015-2017).

Background: This study involving non-compliant, seized dogs entering the UK surveyed endoparasites detected in faecal samples. A focus was placed on taeniid infection as the detection of these tapeworms acts as a marker for failure of effective tapeworm treatment. Methods: Individual faecal samples taken from 65 dogs over a 24-month period were examined for helminth eggs, for protozoal oocysts and cysts, using a centrifugal flotation technique. Any sample presenting positive results for taeniid eggs had residual faeces examined using polymerase chain reaction to aid speciation of the tapeworm eggs. Additionally, a Baermann technique was used to assess faeces for lungworm larvae. Results: Patent endoparasite infection was detected in 27.7% of dog faecal samples. No sample was positive for lungworm larvae. Five dogs were co-infected with Isospora spp. and Toxocara canis. One dog sample was detected with taeniid eggs, identified as Taenia serialis. Conclusions: The taeniid-positive dog indicated that appropriate tapeworm treatment may not have occurred, reinforcing the risk to the UK of illegally imported dogs potentially introducing Echinococcus multilocularis infection.

Determining resolution of Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs following anthelmintic treatment with an imidacloprid 10 per cent/moxidectin 2.5 per cent spot-on.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the time from treatment with a product containing imidacloprid 10 per cent/moxidectin 2.5 per cent spot-on (Advocate™), to dogs becoming negative for Angiostrongylus vasorum (A. vasorum). The authors hypothesised that most dogs would have resolution of A. vasorum within four weeks of treatment with Advocate™. DESIGN: Prospective, non-randomised, prepost treatment study. SETTING: Cases were enrolled from general practices along the southern coast of the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Nine dogs completed the study and were enrolled if A. vasorum had been diagnosed based on a positive commercially available, in-clinic, serological A. vasorum antigen test (Angio Detect®) or Baermann performed at an external laboratory or both. INTERVENTIONS: The only treatment A. vasorum-positive dogs received was Advocate™ which was applied at the time of diagnosis and reapplied if necessary at four-weekly intervals until dogs tested negative by Angio Detect. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Angio Detect® was performed and Advocate™ was reapplied at four-weekly intervals until dogs tested negative by this method. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Baermann was also performed at four-weekly intervals until dogs tested negative by this method. RESULTS: Application of Advocate™ was an effective treatment for A. vasorum infection in dogs and resulted in resolution of the infection, based on Angio Detect® testing and Baermann, within four weeks, in eight out of nine dogs. Post-treatment Angio Detect® testing was concordant with Baermann in seven of nine dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Application of Advocate™ was an effective treatment for A. vasorum infection in dogs and resulted in resolution of the infection within four weeks in most dogs. Repeat Angio Detect® testing is recommended following treatment of A. vasorum to confirm resolution of the infection.

Vector-borne diseases--constant challenge for practicing veterinarians: recommendations from the CVBD World Forum.

The human-animal bond has been a fundamental feature of mankind's history for millennia. The first, and strongest of these, man's relationship with the dog, is believed to pre-date even agriculture, going back as far as 30,000 years. It remains at least as powerful today. Fed by the changing nature of the interactions between people and their dogs worldwide and the increasing tendency towards close domesticity, the health of dogs has never played a more important role in family life. Thanks to developments in scientific understanding and diagnostic techniques, as well as changing priorities of pet owners, veterinarians are now able, and indeed expected, to play a fundamental role in the prevention and treatment of canine disease, including canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs).The CVBDs represent a varied and complex group of diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, bartonellosis, borreliosis, dirofilariosis, ehrlichiosis, leishmaniosis, rickettsiosis and thelaziosis, with new syndromes being uncovered every year. Many of these diseases can cause serious, even life-threatening clinical conditions in dogs, with a number having zoonotic potential, affecting the human population.Today, CVBDs pose a growing global threat as they continue their spread far from their traditional geographical and temporal restraints as a result of changes in both climatic conditions and pet dog travel patterns, exposing new populations to previously unknown infectious agents and posing unprecedented challenges to veterinarians.In response to this growing threat, the CVBD World Forum, a multidisciplinary group of experts in CVBDs from around the world which meets on an annual basis, gathered in Nice (France) in 2011 to share the latest research on CVBDs and discuss the best approaches to managing these diseases around the world.As a result of these discussions, we, the members of the CVBD Forum have developed the following recommendations to veterinarians for the management of CVBDs.