Low-level laser therapy: Case-control study in dogs with sterile pyogranulomatous pododermatitis.

AIM: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a therapeutic photobiostimulation with properties in reducing swelling, inflammation, and promoting tissue healing. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate LLLT in sterile pyogranulomatous pododermatitis in five dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In each dog, one lesion was designated as the control (treated with a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate spray), and one or more other lesions were treated with a gallium aluminum arsenide-laser, daily for 5 days. Lesions were scored before treatment (D0), at the end (D4), 16 days after the last laser treatment (D20), and after 2 months (D65). RESULTS: Comparing the treated lesion group with the control lesion group, the clinical score was similar at D0, whereas there was a statistically significant difference at D4 and D20; in the treated group over time, there was a statistically significant improvement between D0, D4, and D20. Lesion recurrence was absent in more than 50% of the treated lesions at D65. No adverse reactions were reported. CONCLUSION: Given the positive results of this first clinical study, it would be interesting to extend the study to confirm the validity of this type of therapy in sterile pyogranulomatous pododermatitis in the dog.

Genetic diversity and admixture analysis of Sanfratellano and three other Italian horse breeds assessed by microsatellite markers.

Sanfratellano is a native Sicilian horse breed, mainly reared in the north east of the Island, developed in the 19th century from local dams and sires with a restricted introgression of Oriental, African and, more recently, Maremmano stallions. In this study, the genetic relationships and admixture among Sanfratellano, the other two Sicilian autochthonous breeds and Maremmano breed were assessed using a set of microsatellites. The main goals were to infer the impact of Maremmano breed in the current Sanfratellano horse and to provide genetic information useful to improve the selection strategies of the Sanfratellano horse. The whole sample included 384 horses (238 Sanfratellano, 50 Sicilian Oriental Purebred, 30 Sicilian Indigenous and 66 Maremmano), chosen avoiding closely related animals. A total of 111 alleles from 11 microsatellite loci were detected, from four at HTG7 to 15 at ASB2 locus. The mean number of alleles was the lowest in Oriental Purebred (6.7), the highest in Sanfratellano (8.3). All the breeds showed a high level of gene diversity (He) ranging from 0.71 ± 0.04 in Sicilian Oriental Purebred to 0.81 ± 0.02 in Sicilian Indigenous. The genetic differentiation index was low; only about 6% of the diversity was found among breeds. Nei's standards (DS) and Reynolds' (DR) genetic distances reproduced the same population ranking. Individual genetic distances and admixture analysis revealed that: (a) nowadays Maremmano breed does not significantly influence the current Sanfratellano breed; (b) within Sanfratellano breed, it is possible to distinguish two well-defined groups with different proportions of Indigenous blood.

[Abdominal angiostrongyliasis: report of a potential autochthonous case from Rio de Janeiro]. / Angiostrongilíase abdominal: relato de possível caso autóctone do Rio de Janeiro.

We present the first, probably autocton, case of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in Rio de Janeiro State. The patient presented initially with fever of unknown origin and severe eosinophilia developing acute abdomen due to small bowel perfuration, peritonitis, hepatic necrosis and sepsis. At the laparotomy a segment of small bowel was ressected and a liver biopsy was performed. Histopatology revealed the presence of an intra-arterial nematode, eosinophilic arteritis and granuloma. It is discussed the clinicopathological aspects of this rare and potentially severe disease that has not an established drug treatment since oral anti-helmintics are contra-indicated. The authors emphasize the importance of avoiding indiscriminate use of oral anti-helmintic drugs based only in blood eosinophilia.

Relationship between severity of clinical symptoms and delay in gastric emptying in chronic gastritis; studied with 99mTc-DTPA scintigraphy.

The gastric emptying time is studied with 99mTC-DTPA-labeled mixed meal in 18 patients with chronic gastritis, all confirmed by endoscopic examination and biopsy. Emptying was slow in all such patients, but the intensity of symptomatology showed no correlation with gastric emptying half time.