Feline parasites and the emergence of feline lungworm in the Portland metropolitan area, Oregon, USA 2016-2017.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of internal parasites in feral and free-roaming owned cats in the region of Portland, Oregon, USA. METHODS: Fecal samples from asymptomatic cats were opportunistically collected from feral cats presented for surgical sterilization (n = 46), as well as free-roaming owned cats (n = 86) presented to primary care clinics. Fecal analysis was performed using the Baermann technique, centrifugal flotation, fluorescent auramine and fluorescent antibody for Giardia species. RESULTS: Lungworm infection was identified in 24.2% of owned cats and 17.2% of feral cats. At least 11 unique parasite species were identified in this study. Taenia species and Toxocara cati were identified in higher proportions in feral cats, whereas Giardia species were significantly higher in owned cats. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The prevalence of lungworm was higher than has been previously documented in other areas of the USA. In addition, feral cats were infected with a higher percentage of Toxocara species and Taenia but a significantly lower percentage of Giardia species.

Small animal general practice veterinarians' use and perceptions of synchronous video-based telemedicine in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To assess small animal general practice veterinarians' use and perceptions of synchronous video-based telemedicine before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. SAMPLE: 550 respondent veterinarian members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). PROCEDURES: An anonymous online survey was used to gather data from VIN-member veterinarians in small animal general practice regarding their perceptions and use of synchronous video-based telemedicine. Two emails to all VIN members were used to distribute the web-based questionnaire. For consistency, only responses from North American veterinarians who reported working in small animal general practice were included in analyses. Responses were collected between September 28, 2020, and October 21, 2020. RESULTS: There were 69,488 recipients and 680 respondents (1.0% response rate), 550 of whom had North American internet protocol addresses and reported working in small animal general practice. Not all respondents answered all questions. Use of video-based telemedicine substantially increased among respondents during the COVID-19 pandemic, and most (86/130 [66.2%]) reported little to no difficulty in adopting videoconferencing. Respondents also reported that telemedicine took less time (61/135 [45.2%]) and resulted in less financial compensation (103/135 [76.3%]) than in-person consultation. Several respondents reported concerns regarding legal issues and potential inferiorities of telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our results indicated that a substantial proportion of respondents incorporated synchronous video-based telemedicine into their practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite low perceived difficulty in adopting videoconferencing telemedicine, many planned to discontinue it for some clinical applications once the pandemic is over. Further research is required to elucidate the perceptions and challenges in successful use of veterinary telemedicine.

Detection of parasites in canine feces at three off-leash dog parks in Portland, Oregon 2014.

Gastrointestinal parasitism is common in dogs attending parks, with variable prevalences of parasites based on geographical region and demographic factors. In this study, canine fecal samples were opportunistically collected from three off-leash dog parks in Portland, Oregon and analyzed for parasites. While some similarities with previous research was seen, much higher rates of Giardia (25.6%) and Toxocara canis (8.67%) were identified in this study. Additional findings of unexpected parasites and those with zoonotic potential make these results significant.

Owner satisfaction with use of videoconferencing for recheck examinations following routine surgical sterilization in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate owner satisfaction with a home-based, synchronous videoconferencing telemedicine application as an alternative to in-clinic appointments for conducting recheck examinations after surgical sterilization in dogs. DESIGN Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS 30 client-owned dogs undergoing elective surgical sterilization and postsurgical recheck examination between September 27, 2017, and February 23, 2018. PROCEDURES Dogs were randomly assigned to have their recheck examinations performed remotely (the telemedicine group) or at the veterinary clinic (the control group). After the recheck examination, owners completed a survey regarding their satisfaction with the recheck examination and their dogs' behavior during it. Information regarding the surgery and recheck examination was obtained from the electronic medical record. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare results between the telemedicine and control groups. RESULTS Owners were equally satisfied with recheck examinations performed by videoconference and in-clinic appointments. Owners of dogs in the telemedicine group indicated that their dogs were less afraid during the virtual appointment, compared with what was typical for them during in-clinic appointments, but the difference was not statistically significant. Most owners who completed a postsurgical recheck examination by videoconferencing preferred this method for similar appointments in the future. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that owners were satisfied with videoconferencing as a means of conducting a postsurgical recheck examination. Further research is needed to assess videoconferencing's ability to reduce signs of fear in dogs during veterinary examinations, its economic feasibility, and the willingness of veterinarians and animal owners to adopt the technology.

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF RECURRENT EOSINOPHILIC GRANULOMA IN TWO BLACK RHINOCEROS (DICEROS BICORNIS).

Recurrent eosinophilic granuloma (EG) in two captive eastern black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis michaeli) was effectively managed with glucocorticoids and antihistamines. The first case was a female and the second case was a male. The animals were housed at separate institutions and initially presented with hemorrhagic oral lesions. Multifocal lesions occurred in the second case. Multiple biopsies were taken from each animal, all of which were consistent with EG. Each animal was anesthetized multiple times for surgical treatment but experienced frequent recurrence. Due to lack of response to therapy and the risks and adverse events associated with repeated anesthesia, medical treatment was initiated in both cases using a tapering dose of oral dexamethasone. The lesions dramatically improved, but would recur frequently after treatment. Hydroxyzine, an oral antihistamine, greatly reduced the incidence and severity of the lesions. Medical management with glucocorticoids and antihistamines minimized stressful anesthetic events in both cases and contributed to the successful management of this recurrent disease. The exact pathogenesis of EG in black rhinoceros remains unknown but response to antihistamines suggests an allergic etiology.

Antiproliferative quillaic acid and gypsogenin saponins from Saponaria officinalis L. roots.

Nine quillaic acid and five gypsogenin bisdesmosides were isolated from roots of Saponaria officinalis L. (Caryophyllaceae). Seven of the quillaic acid saponins possessed a 3-O-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-ß-D-glucuronopyranosyl unit, but differed from each other in oligosaccharide units linked to the C-28 ester. The five gypsogenin saponins isolated from the roots all possessed the 3-O-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-ß-D-glucuronopyranosyl unit, with their oligosaccharide units linked to the C-28 ester differing. Structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The saponins were evaluated for growth inhibitory activity in two human cancer cell lines and hemolytic activity in sheep red blood cells.

Antiproliferative activity of Saponaria vaccaria constituents and related compounds.

Total methanolic extracts of Saponaria vaccaria seed derived from several varieties, as well as various purified components obtained through successive chromatographic separations of total extracts were evaluated for their growth inhibitory activity in WiDr (colon), MDA-MB-231 (breast), NCI-417 (lung) and PC-3 (prostate) human cancer cells as well as the non-tumorigenic fibroblast BJ (CRL-2522) cell line using MTT colorimetric assay. Purified bisdesmosidic saponins segetoside H and I were further examined using microscopy and apoptosis assays. Bisdesmosidic saponins exhibited dose-dependent growth inhibitory and selective apoptosis-inducing activity. Growth inhibitory effects were particularly strong in a breast (MDA-MB-231) and a prostate (PC-3) cancer cell line. Total extracts exhibited a different preference being most active against a colon cancer cell line (WiDr). In a comparison of varieties, all of the total seed extracts exhibited similar dose-dependent activities, but with some variation in potency. Monodesmosidic saponins vaccarosides A and B, phenolic vaccarin, and cyclopeptide segetalin A, co-occurring seed substituents, did not exhibit activity. The non-tumorigenic fibroblast cell line BJ (CRL 2522) was growth inhibited but did not undergo apoptosis when treated with bisdesmosidic saponins at low micromolar concentrations. Saponin-rich extracts from Kochia scoparia seed and Chenopodium quinoa were also evaluated alongside Saponaria saponins but did not exhibit activity. Closely related Quillaja saponins exhibited activity but were less potent.

Use of digitoxin and digoxin as internal standards in HPLC analysis of triterpene saponin-containing extracts.

INTRODUCTION: Saponins are widely distributed complex plant glycosides possessing a variety of structure-dependent bioactivities. Quantitation of individual saponins is difficult due to lack of available standards, mainly as a consequence of purification difficulties. Determination of total saponin content can be problematic, often relying on non-specific methods based on butanol solubility, haemolytic activity or formation of coloured derivatives. OBJECTIVE: To develop a general quantitative method based on the use of the readily available cardenolides, digitoxin (1) and digoxin (2), as internal standards in an HPLC-PAD-based analysis. METHODOLOGY: The cardenolides were run at a variety of concentrations to establish linearity and reproducibility of detector response and then evaluated as internal standards for quantitation of triterpene saponins in several plant-derived extracts by HPLC-PAD. Mixtures of saponins, largely freed from other extractables, were obtained by fractionation of total extracts on solid phase extraction columns (SPE) employing a water-methanol gradient and used for construction of calibration curves. Saponin identification and structural information was obtained via a single quadrupole mass detector using electrospray ionisation in negative ion mode (ESI(-)). RESULTS: Saponin contents in six samples from five species were determined and compared with literature results and a gravimetric method based on butanol-water partitioning. Results were generally consistent with literature reports and superior to gravimetric butanol-water partitioning. CONCLUSION: Digitoxin and digoxin are useful as internal standards in HPLC estimation of saponin content. Saponins from different species having similar structures and molecular weights afford similar calibration curves.

Analysis of bisdesmosidic saponins in Saponaria vaccaria L. by HPLC-PAD-MS: identification of new quillaic acid and gypsogenin 3-O-trisaccharides.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using photodiode array and single quadrupole electrospray mass detection for analysis and profiling of bisdesmosidic saponins in Saponaria vaccaria seed was developed. Profiles of seed extract from three different plant sources were obtained and found to contain the same saponins, albeit in different proportions. Several known saponins were identified by selected ion extraction of quasi-molecular ions from the total ion chromatogram and confirmed by their mass spectra. Application of high cone voltages afforded mass spectra containing key diagnostic fragments and relatively strong singly charged quasi-molecular ions. In addition to previously identified saponins, several new quillaic acid and gypsogenin bisdesmosides could be detected via mass spectral analysis. Five of these were tentatively identified as pentose homologues of known saponins, having an added xylosyl residue linked to the 3-O-glucuronyl group (1 --> 3). The stereochemistry and identity of the xylosyl linkage in the new saponins was determined by chemical means. Previously reported vaccaric or segetalic acid-type bisdesmosides could not be detected in any of the extracts.