Retrospective evaluation of hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis in dogs (2003-2014): 86 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize anaphylactic reactions in dogs, including clinical signs, severity, treatments, prognosis, and estimated incidence. To determine whether glucocorticoids influence clinical recovery and survival. DESIGN: Retrospective study between January 1, 2003 and April 28, 2014. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Eighty-six dogs treated for a type I hypersensitivity reaction. Nineteen dogs fulfilled the criteria for anaphylaxis, and 67 dogs had mild cutaneous reactions. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The estimated incidence was 0.04% for anaphylaxis and 0.15% for mild hypersensitivity reactions. The female:male ratio (2.3:1) was significantly higher (P = 0.032) compared to our source population (ratio of 1:1.158). Vaccines were the most frequent trigger for anaphylaxis (57.9%) and mild hypersensitivity reactions (28.4%). Seventy-four (86%) dogs had cutaneous signs, and 11 (57.9%) dogs with anaphylaxis had no cutaneous signs reported. Forty-two (48.8%) dogs received both an H1 antagonist and a glucocorticoid, 34 (39.5%) dogs received an H1 antagonist only, and 6 (6.9%) dogs received a glucocorticoid only. The majority of the dogs survived, and 1 was euthanized due to complications. Clinical signs associated with nonsurvival included respiratory signs (P = 0.006), particularly respiratory distress (P < 0.00001) and cyanosis (P < 0.00001), and circulatory shock (P = 0.005). The analysis of the interaction between etiology, clinical signs, treatment, and outcome did not show any association between pairs of variables. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, anaphylaxis had a relatively good prognosis, and cutaneous signs were not always present. Based on the present data, the use of glucocorticoids to treat mild type I hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis in dogs was not associated with clinical improvement or survival.

Canine progenitor epidermal keratinocytes express various inflammatory markers, including interleukin-8 and CD40, which are affected by certain antibiotics.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial skin infections are common in dogs and humans. Keratinocytes have phenotypic features of nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells and express various cytokines. However, little is known about the effects of antibiotics on inflammatory markers in canine keratinocytes. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To investigate inflammatory markers in canine progenitor epidermal keratinocytes (CPEKs) and to determine the effects of selected antibiotics on these markers. METHODS: The CPEKs were exposed for 2-24 h to three concentrations of amoxicillin, cefalexin, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethoxazole (or its nitroso metabolite), amikacin or enrofloxacin. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunocytochemistry were used to detect major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II. CD40 and CXCR1 [interleukin (IL)-8 receptor] were detected using ELISA. Secreted cytokines/chemokines were quantified using a multiplex kit. RESULTS: No MHC II protein was detected. CD40 protein was found at 24 h, with levels being significantly increased by enrofloxacin. The CPEKs secreted no detectable monocyte chemotactic protein-1; undetectable to low (picogram per millilitre range) concentrations of IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-15, tumour necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; and high (nanogram per millilitre range) concentrations of IL-8. Levels of IL-8 increased over 24 h following cell proliferation. They were significantly increased by enrofloxacin after 8 h, and by cefalexin, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethoxazole, its nitroso metabolite and enrofloxacin after 24 h. The CPEKs expressed CXCR1. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Canine progenitor epidermal keratinocytes express various inflammatory proteins, with expression profiles being affected by certain antibiotics. This supports previous work showing keratinocytes to be mediators of inflammation and demonstrates the potential pro-inflammatory effects of certain antibiotics in the skin.