Clinical Efficacy of a Single Intravenous Regional Limb Perfusion with Marbofloxacin versus Ceftiofur Sodium to Treat Acute Interdigital Phlegmon in Dairy Cows.

The objective of the study was to compare the clinical efficacy of a single antimicrobial intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) with marbofloxacin versus ceftiofur sodium to treat naturally occurring interdigital phlegmon (IP) in dairy cows. The study had a randomized parallel-group design. Forty lactating Friesian cows clinically diagnosed with acute IP were enrolled, assigned to one of two treatment groups, and received a single IVRLP with the antimicrobial drug selected (M: 0.67 mg/kg of marbofloxacin; C: 500 mg/animal of ceftiofur sodium). Clinical data for the severity of lameness, digital swelling and local lesion appearance were assessed at diagnosis and at 5, 10 and 15 days post-IVRLP. Clinical resolution was defined as digital swelling disappearance, locomotion score reduction of at least 2/5 points, healed or healing local lesion and no relapse at 15 days after IVRLP. The total daily milk yield of each cow on the day before the clinical detection, on the day of diagnosis and on the day of the clinical follow-up post-IVRLP were registered. Lameness, digital swelling and local lesion severity were not significantly different between groups at any time-point. In both groups, on the fifteenth day after treatment, 17/20 (85%) cows showed a positive outcome, with no significant difference (p > 0.05). The daily milk production of all cows was adversely affected by the clinical onset of IP and gradually returned to a normal level after IVRLP in both groups. These preliminary results support the hypothesis that a single antimicrobial IVRLP procedure, irrespective of the antimicrobial selected (ceftiofur vs. marbofloxacin), has a high success rate and restores milk yield in cases of dairy cattle with acute IP lameness.

Feline lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis (FLPCR): Severity of inflammation correlates with reduced mucosal IgA expression.

Feline lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis (FLPCR) is a rare disease with an unclear pathogenesis characterized by lymphoplasmacytic (LPC) inflammation and progressive tissue destruction. Aims were to evaluate specific FLPCR clinical and pathological features to gain insights into disease pathogenesis. Signalment, clinical signs, serology and 47 pin. h biopsies were retrospectively collected from 33 FLPCR and 3 normal cats. Microscopical lesions and immunohistochemistry results utilizing anti-CD3, anti-CD20, anti-FOXP3, anti-feline-IgA, IgG, IgE and anti-FeLV (p27 and gp70), FIV, FCV and, FHV were scored and most were analyzed statistically. The majority of cats were domestic short haired (26/31) with median age of 11 years and a 0.35 F/M ratio. Serology evidenced 3/22 FIV and 1/22 FeLV positive cats. Immunohistochemistry evidenced 1/33 FeLV-p27 positive cats. Common clinical signs were sneezing (19/24 [79 %]), mucous discharge (13/24 [54 %]) and stertor (10/24 [42 %]). In normal tissues, IgAs were expressed in mucin, apical and lateral cell membrane of columnar cells and in periglandular plasma cells. IgGs were expressed in 20-30 % of columnar cells. Number of clinical signs was statistically significantly higher in female cats (p < 0.0001) and was significantly correlated with chronicity (p = 0.004), and IgG scores (p = 0.01). LPC severity scores correlated positively with infiltration of neutrophils (p = 0.015), gland destruction (p = 0.019) and angiogenesis (p = 0.016) and negatively with fibrosis (p < 0.0001). LPC severity scores were also significantly associated to female sex (p = 0.01) and to IgA (p = 0.03), with higher IgA scores associated to lower LPC scores. FLPCR associated to disruption of mucosal defense mechanisms generating cycles of tissue inflammation, tissue damage and repair with progressive loss of function independent from viral infections.

Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin administered via intravenous regional limb perfusion in dairy cows: evaluation of two different tourniquets.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated synovial and systemic plasma pharmacokinetic variables of marbofloxacin after a single intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) performed using two different tourniquets in clinically healthy, standing, non-sedated dairy cows. The authors hypothesised that the type of tourniquet used for IVRLP would influence the synovial fluid concentration of marbofloxacin in the perfused distal limb. DESIGN: The study had a randomised parallel-group design. METHODS: Ten adult dairy cows were included. Unilateral hindlimb IVRLP through the dorsal common digital III vein was performed in two groups of five cows (group 1: wide rubber tourniquet; group 2: manual pneumatic tourniquet) using 0.67 mg/kg of marbofloxacin. The tourniquet was applied proximal to the tarsus and maintained for 30 minutes. Samples of jugular blood and synovial fluid from the tibiotarsal joints of the perfused limb were obtained before and at intervals after IVRLP. All samples were analysed for drug concentrations using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined to establish the influence of tourniquet types. Differences were considered significant at P≤0.05. RESULTS: No adverse effects from the procedure or marbofloxacin were observed in any animal. Significant differences in synovial concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters were measured. The mean ± sd areas under the concentration versus time curve from time 0 to 24 hours were 178.98±58.08 µg hour/ml for group 2 and 21.11±9.93 µg hour/ml for group 1. The mean ± sd maximum marbofloxacin concentrations were 75.50±10.19 µg/ml for group 2 and 6.35±1.47 µg/ml for group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Performing IVRLP using the dorsal common digital III vein and a manual pneumatic tourniquet set at 300 mmHg above the tarsus in standing cows resulted in significantly higher marbofloxacin concentrations in the tibiotarsal joint compared with those with the wide rubber tourniquet. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Local ethical committee (number 41/2012/CEISA).

Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs from a cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis endemic area of Northwestern Italy: a case study and a retrospective data analysis.

BACKGROUND: In Italy, Angiostrongylus vasorum, an emergent parasite, is being diagnosed in dogs from areas considered free of infection so far. As clinical signs are multiple and common to other diseases, its diagnosis can be challenging. In particular, in areas where angiostrongylosis and dirofilariosis overlap, a misleading diagnosis of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis might occur even on the basis of possible misleading outcomes from diagnostic kits. CASE PRESENTATION: Two Cavalier King Charles spaniel dogs from an Italian breeding in the Northwest were referred to a private veterinary hospital with respiratory signs. A cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis was diagnosed and the dogs treated with ivermectin, but one of them died. At necropsy, pulmonary oedema, enlargement of tracheo-bronchial lymphnodes and of cardiac right side were detected. Within the right ventricle lumen, adults of A. vasorum were found. All dogs from the same kennel were subjected to faecal examination by FLOTAC and Baermann's techniques to detect A. vasorum first stage larvae; blood analysis by Knott's for Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae, and antigenic tests for both A. vasorum (Angio Detect™) and D.immitis (DiroCHEK® Heartworm, Witness®Dirofilaria). The surviving dog with respiratory signs resulted positive for A. vasorum both at serum antigens and larval detection. Its Witness® test was low positive similarly to other four dogs from the same kennel, but false positive results due to cross reactions with A. vasorum were also considered. No dogs were found infected by A. vasorum. Eventually, the investigation was deepened by browsing the pathological database of Veterinary Pathology Laboratories at Veterinary School of Milan University through 1998-2016, where 11 cases of angiostrongylosis were described. Two out of 11 dogs had a mixed infection with Crenosoma vulpis. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the need for accurate surveys to acquire proper epidemiological data on A. vasorum infection in Northwestern Italy and for appropriate diagnostic methods. Veterinary clinicians should be warned about the occurrence of this canine parasite and the connected risk of a misleading diagnosis, particularly in areas endemic for cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis.

Management of Otic and Nasopharyngeal, and Nasal Polyps in Cats and Dogs.

Feline inflammatory polyps are the most common nonneoplastic lesion of ear and nasopharynx in cats. Minimally invasive techniques for polyp removal, such as traction avulsion combined with curettage of the tympanic cavity and per-endoscopic transtympanic traction, have been successful for long-term resolution. Feline nasal hamartomas are benign lesions of the nasopharynx, and most have a good prognosis after surgical removal. Canine aural and nasopharyngeal inflammatory polyps are rare and have a similar clinical presentation as cats with these lesions. In dogs, it is important to achieve an accurate histologic diagnosis of these masses before appropriate surgical treatment can be planned.

Diagnostic accuracy of brush cytology in canine chronic intranasal disease.

BACKGROUND: Most cases of canine chronic intranasal disease cannot be differentiated based on clinical examination alone, and biopsy is often required for a definitive diagnosis. Nonsurgical cytologic and histologic biopsy techniques represent desirable diagnostic approaches. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of brush cytology in differentiating non-neoplastic and neoplastic diseases in dogs with chronic intranasal disease. METHODS: Cytologic samples of lesions in dogs with chronic intranasal disease were obtained by brushing over a 12-year period. All dogs had complete physical examinations as well as radiographic, rhinoscopic, and cytologic evaluation. Histologic diagnosis, follow-up clinical information, or both were used as the gold standard, and dogs free of disease or with no progression of disease at 1 year were considered negative for neoplasia. Indicators of performance of brush cytology in detecting neoplasia were calculated and included sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio. RESULTS: Samples of nasal brushings from 138 dogs were evaluated. Of 62 cases of neoplastic disease, true-positive and false-negative diagnoses were made using cytologic evaluation in 44 (71.0%) and 18 (29.0%) cases, respectively. False-negative diagnoses of neoplasia were not attributed to low cellularity, but to the presence of inflammatory cells that masked neoplastic cells. Brush cytology had a sensitivity of 0.71, specificity of 0.99, positive likelihood ratio of 53.94, negative likelihood ratio of 0.29, and diagnostic odds ratio of 188.33. CONCLUSIONS: Brush cytology has good diagnostic accuracy for chronic intranasal lesions in dogs.

Computed tomography features of middle ear cholesteatoma in dogs.

We describe the computed tomography (CT) findings in 11 dogs with middle ear cholesteatoma. The cholesteatoma appeared as an expansile tympanic cavity mass with a mean attenuation value of 55.8 +/- 4.2 Hounsfield units. There was no appreciable contrast enhancement of the tympanic bulla contense but ring enhancement was seen in four dogs. Due to the slow progressive growth, the lesion causes severe bone changes at the contour of the tympanic bulla, including osteolysis, osteoproliferation and osteosclerosis, expansion of the tympanic cavity, and sclerosis or osteoproliferation of the ipsilateral temporomandibular joint and paracondylar process. Cholesteatoma can cause lysis of the petrosal part of the temporal bone, leading to intracranial complications. Although not definitive, CT provides useful information for distinguishing a middle ear cholesteatoma from otitis media and neoplasia. In otitis media, enlargement of the tympanic cavity is not routinely observed. In tumors that primarily affect the middle or inner ear, the predominant signs are lysis of the contour of the tympanic bulla or the petrosal part of the temporal bone, soft tissue swelling around the middle ear and marked contrast enhancement. In tumors that arise from the external ear, a soft tissue mass is visible within the external acusticus meatus, and the middle ear is only involved secondarily.