Unenriched skin microbiota transplantation for cats: new road story for treating feline atopic skin syndrome.

Manipulation of skin biogeography has been the subject of study by the present authors for a very long while. Previous description and report identified the benefical application of skin microbiota transplantation (SMT) by the same researcher group, whom described unenriched skin microbiota transplantation at clinical veterinary practice for the first time among dogs. This study to our knowledge again for the first time reported herein aimed to investigate Un-smt application for treatment of feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS). This novel treatment intervention was performed similarly to previous description and methodology by use of Nivea Refining Clear-Up Strips (Ni-RcUs) either in autologue or heterologue route. Clinical biomarker for detecting the efficacy of Un-smt via Ni-RcUs evolved epidermal corneometric analytes (i.e. epidermal hydration and pH), relevant clinical scores The Feline Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (FeDESI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS pruritus) and clinical observations performed weekly, at least. Both FeDESI and VAS pruritus scores were changed in relationship with smt. Pre-treament day 0 FeDESI scores (median ± SE) (72.5 ± 9.34), were significantly (p=0.001) higher than scores on day 10 (13.5 ± 2.55) switching the severity of the disease in all cases. Besides day 0 VAS pruritus scores were 6.0 ± 0.49 (median ± SE) (prior to treatment), whereas owner VAS pruritus score was decreased to 2.0 ± 0.34 (median ± SE) significantly (p=0.001). There were no side effects attributable to treatment applications. All cases were monitored for 6 months after completion of treatment in which no recurrence was observed. As a preliminary conclusion with selected number of cats with FASS, Un-smt with Ni-RcUs should be novel strategy for manuplating skin microbiome with treatment success.

Evaluation of cardiovascular injury in dogs coinfected with visceral leishmaniasis and monocytic ehrlichiosis by echocardiographic examination and selected biomarker measurements.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (ME), which are an important zoonotic diseases of dogs, causing multiple organ dysfunction and has a poor prognosis when not interfered. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the cardiovascular injury that develops in dogs that co­infected with VL and ME with cardiovascular biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters. The animal material of this study was consisted of 14 owned dogs in total; 7 diseased dogs which were determined to be co­infected with VL and ME according to the results of clinical examination and rapid test kits, and 7 healthy dogs, which were determined to be healthy as a result of the same examinations. As a result of echocardiographic examinations, decreased left ventricular cytolic and diastolic diameters (LVIDs, LVIDd), fractional shortening (FS) and increased ratio of left atrium to left aortic root diameter (LA/Ao) values were determined in the Co­infected Group compared with the Healthy Group. Also, as a result of biomarker analysis, higher cTnI) D­dimer and NT­proBNP levels were detected in the Co­infected Group. In conclusion, considering studies of dogs infected with VL and/or ME alone, it was concluded that similar cardiovascular injury develops in dogs co­infected with VL and ME.

Effects of chronic light/dark cycle on iron zinc and copper levels in different brain regions of rats.

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether chronic shift in light/dark cycle alters brain trace element concentrations. For this purpose, 20 male Wistar albino adult rats were weighed and randomly divided into three groups. The first group (n = 6) was the control and had been subjected to 12/12-h light/dark cycle for 30 days. The second group (n = 7) was subjected to 6/18-h light/dark cycle for 15 days, and the third group (n = 7) was also subjected to 6/18-h light/dark cycle for 15 days and then returned to normal 12/12-h light/dark cycle for 15 days. When light/dark cycle protocols were completed, tissue specimens of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and brain stem were collected. Iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) concentrations of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and brain stem were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. When compared with controls, Fe levels of the temporal lobe significantly increased in 6/18-h light/dark cycle group (p < 0.05), whereas it was statistically unchanged in rats which were exposed to 6/18-h light/dark cycle then returned to the normal 12/12-h light/dark cycle period. Our results show that chronic shift in light/dark cycle affects trace element concentrations of the brain, especially Fe level in the temporal lobe, and these changes are reversible.