Pilot study to investigate owner education and proficiency in recognising clinical signs of feline osteoarthritis (OA) in UK first opinion practice

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a fungal infection with high mortality and morbidity rates. This disease is caused by several Aspergillus species and affects patients with an underlying respiratory condition. This pilot study aims to recognize CPA among patients with different respiratory diseases. Twenty-one out of 47 patients were classified as CPA based on the examination of clinical signs and symptoms, radiological findings, mycological culture of respiratory samples and analysis of Aspergillus IgG antibodies. There was a close association between high levels of Aspergillus IgG antibodies and the presence of cavities. Although Aspergillus flavus was the predominant species among clinical isolates, the number of isolates was small to reach conclusions on the prevalence of this species as main cause of CPA in Cuba. From the eleven evaluable patients for the treatment with itraconazole (Lozartil®), nine improved their health status while two did not show any recovery. This drug is included in the therapy schemes for aspergillosis in Cuba.

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Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effect of Topical Dimethicone on Clinical Signs and Skin Barrier Function in Dogs with Naturally Occurring Atopic Dermatitis

Veterinary Medicine International ◽

10.1155/2013/239186 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C. Pellicoro ◽

R. Marsella ◽

K. Ahrens

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Naturally Occurring

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Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effect of Oral Supplementation of Enterococcus Faecium SF68 on Cats with Latent Feline Herpesvirus 1

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.jfms.2008.12.006 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 650-654 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Michael R. Lappin ◽

Julia K. Veir ◽

Ebenezer Satyaraj ◽

Gail Czarnecki-Maulden

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Enterococcus Faecium ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Clinical Results ◽

Fecal Microbiome ◽

Oral Supplementation ◽

Feline Herpesvirus ◽

Herpesvirus 1 ◽

Faecium Strain

Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) infection is extremely common in cats and is frequently associated with morbidity because of recurrent ocular and respiratory clinical signs of disease. Enterococcus faecium strain SF68 is an immune-enhancing probiotic used as a dietary supplement. In this pilot study, 12 cats with chronic FHV-1 infection were administered either SF68 or a placebo, monitored for clinical signs of disease, monitored for FHV-1 shedding, and evaluated for FHV-1 specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and fecal microbiome stability. Fecal microbial diversity was maintained throughout the study in cats supplemented with SF68, but decreased in cats fed the placebo, indicating a more stable microbiome in cats fed SF68. While clinical results varied among individual cats, the overall findings suggest that administration of the probiotic lessened morbidity associated with chronic FHV-1 infection in some cats. Additional study is warranted to determine efficacy in a clinical setting.

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Comparison of Short- versus Long-Course Antimicrobial Therapy of Uncomplicated Bacterial Pneumonia in Dogs: A Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11113096 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3096

Author(s):

Aida I. Vientós-Plotts ◽

Isabelle Masseau ◽

Carol R. Reinero

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Antimicrobial Therapy ◽

Bacterial Pneumonia ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Primary Study ◽

Study Objective ◽

Primary Study Objective ◽

Double Blinded

Current treatment for canine bacterial pneumonia relies on protracted courses of antimicrobials (3–6 weeks or more) with recommendations to continue for 1–2 weeks past resolution of all clinical and thoracic radiographic abnormalities. However, in humans, bacterial pneumonia is often treated with 5–10-day courses of antimicrobials, and thoracic radiographs are not considered useful to guide therapeutic duration. The primary study objective was to determine whether a short course of antimicrobials would be sufficient to treat canine bacterial pneumonia. Eight dogs with uncomplicated bacterial pneumonia were enrolled in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study comparing clinical and radiographic resolution with differing durations of antimicrobial therapy. Dogs received a course of antimicrobials lasting 10 (A10) or 21 (A21) days. Dogs randomized to the A10 group received placebo for 11 days following antimicrobial therapy. Patients were evaluated at presentation and 10, 30 and 60 days after the initiation of antimicrobials. At 10 days, 6/8 dogs had resolution of both clinical signs and inflammatory leukogram, and 5/8 dogs had improved global radiographic scores. After 60 days, clinical and hematologic resolution of pneumonia was noted in all dogs regardless of antimicrobial therapy duration; however, 3/8 dogs had persistent radiographic lesions. Thoracic radiographs do not appear to be a reliable marker to guide antimicrobial therapy in canine bacterial pneumonia as radiographic lesions may lag or persist despite clinical cure. This pilot study suggests a 10-day course of antimicrobials may be sufficient to treat uncomplicated canine bacterial pneumonia.

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Efficacy of adjunctive therapy using Vizoovet in improving clinical signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs: A pilot study

Veterinary Ophthalmology ◽

10.1111/vop.12763 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 632-639

Author(s):

D. Dustin Dees ◽

Michael S. Kent

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Adjunctive Therapy ◽

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca ◽

Clinical Signs

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Aerosol disinfection from weaning: a pilot study to assess the impacts on clinical signs of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/anv55n12ab035 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 55 (12) ◽

pp. 1530

Author(s):

C. L. Collins ◽

P. McKenzie ◽

S. Beer ◽

K. S. O'Halloran ◽

A. Woeckel

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae

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Retinal malperfusion in albuminuric Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients without clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy: a prospective pilot study

International Journal of Retina and Vitreous ◽

10.1186/s40942-017-0102-y ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fernando Korn Malerbi ◽

Caio Vinicius Regatieri ◽

João Roberto de Sa ◽

Paulo Henrique Morales ◽

Michel Eid Farah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Prospective Pilot Study

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Risk Factors for Failure of Hard Palate Mucoperiosteal Flap Repair of Acquired Oronasal Communication in Dogs: A Pilot Study

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.762842 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Kendall Taney ◽

Mark M. Smith ◽

Nathan P. Cummings ◽

Alicia J. Lozano

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Body Weight ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Hard Palate ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Strict Adherence ◽

Time Of Surgery ◽

Initial Surgery ◽

Potential Risk Factors ◽

Mucoperiosteal Flap

The objective of this retrospective pilot study was to describe potential risk factors for failure of hard palate mucoperiosteal flaps (HPF) transposed for closure of oronasal communication. Dogs (n = 28) with acquired oronasal communication defects were included in the study population. Functional success of an HPF was determined by visual inspection at the last examination and lack of clinical signs. Risk factors for HPF failure including age, sex, body weight, presence of neoplasia at the time of surgery, presence of neoplasia after surgery due to incomplete or narrow margins, use of CO2 laser, previous surgeries in the same location, HPF blood supply, size of the HPF as a percentage of the total area of the hard palate mucoperiosteum, and distance traveled by the apex of the HPF were evaluated using descriptive statistics and unadjusted logistic regression modeling. Seven out of 28 (25%) hard palate flap procedures resulted in persistent oronasal communication and were considered failures. Body weight (Median: 17 vs. 25 kg, OR = 0.94, 80% CI = 0.90, 0.99), presence of neoplasia at the time of surgery (86 vs. 57%, OR = 4.50, 80% CI = 1.01, 20.06), HPF area (Median: 0.49 vs. 0.41, OR = 84.40, 80% CI = 1.66, 4,298) and apex travel distance (Median: 2.06 vs. 0.67, OR = 5.15, 80% CI = 2.14, 12.38) were associated with flap failure. Within this sample, the presence of neoplasia at the time of initial surgery, increasing the area of the HPF, and distance traveled by the HPF apex were associated with a greater odds of HPF failure. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm repeatability of these results. HPFs remain a viable surgical option for closure of oronasal communication. Careful surgical planning, strict adherence to surgical principles, and awareness of anatomical limitations can increase the likelihood of success.

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Effect of tablets containing probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus reuteri) on early caries lesions in adolescents: a pilot study

Beneficial Microbes ◽

10.3920/bm2013.0089 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 403-407 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M.K. Keller ◽

I. Nøhr Larsen ◽

I. Karlsson ◽

S. Twetman

Keyword(s):

Placebo Group ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Lactobacillus Reuteri ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Test Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Lesion Area ◽

Early Caries ◽

Caries Lesions ◽

Over Time

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of tablets containing probiotic lactobacilli on early caries lesions in adolescents with quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF). 36 healthy adolescents of both sexes (12-17 years of age) were enrolled and randomly allocated to a placebo-controlled trial with two parallel groups. The test group received two tablets daily containing two strains of Lactobacillus reuteri (DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289) for a period of three months, while the control group got identical placebo tablets without live bacteria. The primary outcome was QLF-readings (change in fluorescence, ΔF and lesion area, mm2) at baseline and after 3 months, conducted at two buccal sites of each individual, pre-selected with clearly visible clinical signs of enamel demineralisation (white spots). Significantly more premolars were allocated to the placebo group, while the test group had more incisors (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in fluorescence values between the groups, neither at baseline, nor at the follow-up. There was however a significant decrease in fluorescence over time in the test group, but not in the placebo group (P<0.05). No alterations of the lesion area (ΔA) were found in any group. The inter-examiner intra-class correlation coefficient-value for QLF-readings was excellent. No side- or adverse effects were reported during the intervention period. This pilot study found a significant decrease over time in the test group. However, no statistically significant differences in fluorescence values between the groups were found. Hence, the null hypothesis could not be rejected.

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