Immunotherapy Using Autoclaved L. major Antigens and M. vaccae with Meglumine Antimoniate, for the Treatment of Experimental Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate immunotherapy against canine visceral leishmaniasis, Leishmania major antigen and heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae (SRL172) were used as stimulators of immune defense mechanisms and the results were compared with standard chemotherapy meglumine antimoniate. METHODS: Nineteen mongrel dogs aging 1-3 years old were used in this experiment. Infection was carried out in 15 out of 19 dogs using L. infantum, isolated from a naturally infected poly-symptomatic dog. RESULTS: All the cases showed positive serologic results by direct agglutination test during 30-60 days following inoculation. In the first group, which was under chemotherapy (Glucantime(R)), one of the members showed recurrence of the disease despite rapid effect of the therapeutic protocol. Immunotherapy using SRL172 caused complete cleaning of the parasite in group 2, but the speed was less than Glucantime. Immunotherapy using L. major antigen combined with M. vaccae in group 3 and combine administration of immunotherapy and chemotherapy in group 4 both were with relapsing of one case in each group. Group 5 and 6 were consisted of positive and negative control dogs, respectively. CONCLUSION: Immunotherapy seems to be an adjuvant in treatment of canine leishmaniasis but it needs more investigation for final confirmation.

Evaluation of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of silymarin and N-acetylcysteine in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in cats.

Cats most commonly receive toxic amounts of acetaminophen (APAP) because owners medicate them without consulting a veterinarian. The aim of this study was to compare the hepatoprotective action of silymarin and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against APAP poisoning. Twenty healthy cats were randomly allotted to five equal groups. Animals in group A were given APAP (single dose 150 mg/kg, p.o.); groups B and C consisted of cats that received NAC (100 mg/kg, p.o.) or silymarin (30 mg/kg, p.o.) concurrent with APAP administration respectively; groups D and E were treated like groups B and C, respectively, but 4 h after APAP administration. The serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), methemoglobin, and total and direct bilirubin were measured before APAP administration and 4, 24, and 72 h later. A single oral administration of APAP significantly elevated serum concentrations of ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, methemoglobin, and total and direct bilirubin. In both the groups receiving APAP plus NAC or silymarin, levels of serum enzyme activities, methemoglobin, and total and direct bilirubin remained within the normal values. It was concluded that silymarin as well as NAC can protect liver tissue against oxidative stress in cats with an APAP intoxication.

Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis Infection in Household Cats of Ahvaz District, South-West of Iran.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of Giardia duodenalis in cats is of potential significance from both clinical and public health perspectives. The object of this study was antigenic detection of G. duodenalis in household cats of Ahvaz district, South-West of Iran. METHODS: The prevalence of G. duodenalis was determined in fecal samples by two techniques: centrifugation-flotation and a commercial Giardia Antigen Test Kit (immunochromatography assay) in 150 household cats of different ages among referred cases to Veterinary Hospital of Ahvaz University from January 2008 to February 2010. RESULTS: Five out of 150 fecal samples (3.33%) were positive for antigen of G. duodenalis by immunochromatography assay. The prevalence was significantly higher in young cats less than 6 months (15.79%) compared with adult cats 6 months - 3 years (1.37%) (P=0.027) and above 3 years (1.72%) (P=0.044). The infection had more prevalence in diarrheic cats (17.39%) compared with non-diarrheic cats (0.79%) and the difference was significant (P=0.02) as well. The prevalence was higher in male cats (3.41%) than females (3.23%) and in the season of autumn (6.06%), but the difference was not significant between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender and season (P>0.05). Microscopy examination on fecal samples showed that 2% of the studied cats were positive. CONCLUSION: The parasite antigen was present as a zoonotic infection in Ahvaz district, South-west of Iran. More sensitive techniques, such as immunochromatography assay, might yield more reliable results, in the detection of low levels of Giardia in fecal samples of cats.

Microscopic evaluation of renal changes in experimental canine visceral leishmaniosis after chemo- and immunotherapy.

Visceral Leishmania (VL) with diverse clinical manifestation is prevalent and remains a major public health problem in Iran. This study was performed in Ahwaz, Khozestan province southwest to increase immune system and to reduce of the renal lesions. Treatment of dogs with visceral leishmaniosis is basically the same as the treatment of human. However, cure is not usually achieved, leaving the sacrifice of animal as the only feasible choice. The goal of this work was to test the therapeutic efficacy of N-methyl glutamic antimoate (glucnime), Mycobacterium vaccae adjuvant (SRL 172), alone and in association with L. major promastigote and the latter compound in association to glucantime, in dog with visceral leishmaniasis. In this trial 18, mixed bred dogs with different ages, receiving amastigte promastigote of L. infantum intravenously were used. They were monitored for 6 months. Serologic assays (Elisa, Dot and IFAT) were performed on blood samples of each animal. The animals were divided into six groups, each having 3 dogs: Group 1: receiving 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1) Glucantime for 30 days, IM. Group 2: Receiving 3 mg dog(-1) (0.1 mL) of Mycobacterium vaccae adjuvant suspension intradermaly. Group 3: receiving L. major promastigote plus M. vaccae adjuvant each of them 0.1 mL intradermaly by one month intervals for 3 months. Group 4: receiving Glucantime in association L. major promastigote plus M. vaccae adjuvant with previous doses. Group 5: Receiving no treatment. Group 6: was control group with no infection and treatment. In microscopic evaluation following lesions have been shown in kidney: Chronic, interstitial nephritis, sever glomerulosclerosis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and also non suppurative nephritis were the lesions in 5 groups. The prescription of Mycobacterium vaccae adjurant was able to reduce the number of parasites in the macrophages of liver and spleen in this round of treatment.

Effect of silymarin and vitamin E on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in dogs.

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity is an important cause of renal failure in dogs. Aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin, can produce nephrotoxicity in dogs, due to in part to an imbalance of pro- and antioxidants (oxidative stress). Silymarin (the mixture of flavonolignans extracted from Silybum marianum) has potentially beneficial antioxidant properties. A control group (saline, group 1, n = 5) was compared with dogs that were administrated gentamicin by intramuscular injection, at dosage of 20 mg/kg, once daily for 9 days (groups 2-5, n = 5 per group). The effects of vitamin E (group 3) and silymarin (group 4) alone and in combination (group 5) were compared for induced nephrotoxicity. Renal function was assessed using serum biochemical markers (creatinine and urea). Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were measured as a marker of lipid peroxidation. The activity of total serum antioxidants (TSAO) was assessed as a marker of antioxidant defences. Serum creatinine and urea concentrations were increased significantly and TSAO was decreased significantly in group 2 compared with group 1. Serum creatinine concentrations but not urea concentrations were significantly lower in groups 3 and 4 than in group 2 (P = 0.001). Serum MDA concentrations was significantly different between groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.01), 2 and 4 (P < 0.001) and 4 and 5 (P = 0.01). TSAO activity was significantly in group 4 (silymarin) than in group 2 (P = 0.002). Silymarin and vitamin E decreased gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in dogs.

Antibody titers against canine distemper virus in unvaccinated rural dogs from Ahvaz, Iran.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in unvaccinated rural dogs without known immunization status and to assess risk factors for infection by means of indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA), in Ahvaz district, southwest of Iran. Serum samples were randomly collected from 97 healthy dogs 6 months and older from villages around Ahvaz city between 2004 and 2005. Dogs were grouped by age and sex to determine whether these factors were associated with antibody titers, using Fisher's exact test. Seroprevalence to CDV antibodies in these dogs were 17.52% indicating that this virus is present in the ecosystem. Also there is evidence of previous natural exposure to CDV. Prevalence of antibodies to CDV did not differ between sexes or ages. Rural dogs are abundant in the ecosystem of area and interact with other species of wild carnivores and domestic animals in ways that could encourage disease transmission. Therefore the role of rural dogs in the epizootiology of CDV in both urban dogs and wildlife needs to be further explored.