Sterile neutrophilic dermatitis in a cat associated with a topical plant-derived oil flea preventative.

A 4-year-old, female spayed, domestic short hair cat presented with an acute eruption of pustules and bullous plaques after application of a plant-based, essential oil flea preventative. Histopathological evaluation of biopsies revealed severe neutrophilic infiltrate within the dermis and culture was negative. The cat's skin lesions responded rapidly to glucocorticoid monotherapy.

Un chat européen de 4 ans, femelle stérilisée, est présenté avec une éruption aigue de pustules et de plaques bulleuses après application d'huiles essentielles anti-puces. L'examen histopathologique de biopsies révèle un infiltrat neutrophilique sévère au sein du derme et la culture était négative. Les lésions cutanées du chat ont rapidement répondu à une corticothérapie.

Una gata doméstica de pelo corto esterilizada de 4 años de edad presentó una erupción aguda de pústulas y placas vesiculares después de la aplicación de un preventivo de pulgas con aceite esencial. La evaluación histopatológica de las biopsias reveló un infiltrado neutrofílico severo dentro de la dermis y el cultivo fue negativo. Las lesiones cutáneas del gato respondieron rápidamente a la monoterapia con glucocorticoides.

Uma gata doméstica de pelo curto castrada, de quatro anos de idade, foi apresentada com um quadro agudo de erupção de pústulas e placas bolhosas após a aplicação de um óleo preventivo de pulgas. A avaliação histopatológica dos fragmentos de biópsia revelou grave infiltrado inflamatório neutrofílico na derme e a cultura foi negativa. As lesões cutâneas da gata responderam rapidamente à monoterapia com glicocorticoides.

Clinical presentation, treatment and outcome in dogs with pemphigus foliaceus with and without vasculopathic lesions: an evaluation of 41 cases.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent vasculopathic lesions in dogs with pemphigus foliaceus (PF) have been observed anecdotally yet not reported in the literature. Any association with prognosis is unclear. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To compare clinical features and outcome of PF in dogs with and without vasculopathic lesions. ANIMALS: Archived, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy samples of 41 dogs with PF. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Archived, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy samples with a histological diagnosis of PF were selected and re-evaluated independently. Dogs were assigned to groups following histological evaluation: Group 1 (no vasculopathic lesions) and Group 2 (vasculopathic lesions present). Group 2 was subdivided into Group 2a (vasculopathic lesions without vasculitis - i.e. vasculopathy) and Group 2b (overt vasculitis). Medical records from identified cases were reviewed retrospectively for data on clinical presentation, treatment and outcome. RESULTS: Time to remission was longer in Group 2b (93.8 days) compared to Group 1 (41.8 days) (P = 0.047). Dogs in groups 2a and 2b were more likely to have systemic signs of illness at presentation (P = 0.028 and P = 0.032, respectively) compared to Group 1. Dogs in Group 2b were more likely to have adverse effects associated with treatment than dogs in Group 1 (P = 0.004). There were no significant differences in lesion type, distribution, rates of remission, recurrence or corticosteroid dosage between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with PF and concurrent vasculitis took longer to achieve remission and were more likely to have systemic signs of illness or adverse effects associated with treatment than dogs with PF without concurrent vasculopathic lesions.

Intralaboratory Reliability and Variability for Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin Type E Serology Testing.

Atopic dermatitis is a very common condition affecting dogs and often managed with allergen-specific immunotherapy, which requires accurate identification of causative allergens. Serology testing is used commonly. Serum was collected from 35 atopic dogs and separated into three samples each (1, 2, and 3). Samples 1 and 2 were sent to IDEXX Laboratories the same day; sample 3 was stored at -80°C and submitted ∼30 days later. Specific immunoglobulin type E reactivity to various allergens were determined using monoclonal anti-canine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and expressed as ELISA absorbance units. Percent difference ranged from 14.30 to 127.34% for samples 1 and 2. These values increased when comparing samples a month apart (21.78 to 129.65%). Between samples 1 and 2, for each allergen there were differences in interpretation 15.18% of the time; 32 of 35 dogs (91.4%) had at least one allergen with a different interpretation. Comparing sample 3 and the average of samples 1 and 2, differences in interpretation increased to 22.32%; all dogs had at least one allergen that was interpreted differently. These differences in interpretation can alter immunotherapy. Overall, results show the need for better reliability for allergen-specific immunoglobulin type E serology testing using monoclonal anti-canine ELISA.

Inactivation of viruses and bacteria on strawberries using a levulinic acid plus sodium dodecyl sulfate based sanitizer, taking sensorial and chemical food safety aspects into account.

The efficacy of levulinic acid (LVA) in combination with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in removal of foodborne viruses, enteric bacterial pathogens and their surrogates on fresh strawberries was investigated. Inoculated strawberries were treated with potable water, sodium hypochlorite solution (50ppm), 0.5% LVA plus 0.5% SDS solution, and 5% LVA plus 2% SDS solution respectively for 2min, followed by spray-rinsing with potable water. Water washing removed at least 1.0-log of the tested viral and bacterial strains from the strawberries' surfaces. The 50ppm chlorine wash induced 3.4, 1.5 and 2.1-log reductions for hepatitis A virus (HAV), murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1) and MS2 bacteriophage, respectively. In comparison, the tested bacterial strains showed uniform reductions around 1.6-log CFU/ml. The 0.5% LVA plus 0.5% SDS wash induced 2.7, 1.4 and 2.4-log reductions for HAV, MNV-1 and MS2, which were comparable with the reductions induced by chlorine (P>0.05). For bacteria, over 2.0-log reductions were obtained for Enterococcus faecium, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella, while Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Escherichia coli P1 showed reductions of 1.9 and 1.8-log CFU/ml. Higher concentration of LVA plus SDS showed no significantly higher reductions (P>0.05). Sensory tests of washed strawberries and chemical residue analysis of LVA on strawberries after washing were also performed. In conclusion, this study demonstrates good performance of 0.5% LVA plus 0.5% SDS to reduce the levels of enteric pathogens if present on strawberries without altering taste and introducing chemical safety issues.