Successful Treatment and Management of Canine Ehrlichiosis-Leishmaniosis-Heartworm Comorbidity

Background: Canine vector borne diseases (CVBD) are common in tropical countries where the climate favors arthropods abundance. Comorbidity with one or more CVBD are reported as clinical complication and worsen prognostic. Canine visceral leishmaniosis (CanL) is an endemic zoonotic disease in Brazil caused by Leishmania infantum, with several restrictions to canine treatment and suggestion of reservoirs euthanasia for disease control. Heart worm (HW) is a helminthic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs. It is a chronic heart disease, which can lead to death by congestive heart failure. Canine ehrlichiosis (CE) is caused by Ehrlichia canis bacterial infection with a zoonotic potential and fatal to dogs in acute and chronic presentations. Exposed the above, this study aims to describe a successful treatment and management of a dog with CanL, CE, and HW comorbidity. Case: A 3-year-old male uncastrated black Labrador dog, weighing 35 kg, was admitted to the veterinary clinic due to immunochromatographic CanL positive test performed by municipal zoonosis control center active surveillance in August 2014. Clinical exam showed a mild shedding, intermittent eye white/yellow discharge and popliteal lymph nodes enlargement. After positive for CanL, veterinary requested more laboratorial exams. IFAT and ELISA were positive for CanL, blood smear showed presence of microfilaria, and bone marrow cytology showed Ehrlichia spp. morulae and microfilaria. Initial treatment prescribed was oral doxycycline, omeprazole, ranitidine, and domperidone for 30 days, and allopurinol and ivermectin until further recommendation. Additionally, repellent collar, repellent spray and vitamin supplement was indicated. After first month, marbofloxacin for 30 days and three doses of immune stimulant protocol were administrated. After three months of treatment, dog still positive for heartworm, ehrlichiosis, and CanL. Doxycycline protocol was repeated. Dog became consistently negative for all pathogens one year later with persistent thrombocytopenia but without clinical signs, ergo allopurinol and ivermectin were discontinued. After four years of follow up, the animal had an acute pancreatitis and died, with unremarkable total blood count and negative for all pathogens. Discussion: CVBD coinfections are commonly reported as worsen prognostic in endemic regions. The pathogens reported here share a host immunomodulation competence. L. infantum and Ehrlichia spp.downregulates Th1 response, whereas D. immitis increase as Th2 profile. The therapeutic protocol was iniciated by staging CanL. Since the patient had clinical signs, allopurinol was prescribed as a well-established drug for CanL. Marbofloxacin was added due to its high safety drug in clinical improvement of infected dogs with and without renal disease and in vitro effectiveness against L. infantum. Domperidone was used to promote Th1 cytokine profile as INF-γ, IL-2, IL-12, and TNF-α. We used an immunostimulant protocol to favor polarization to the Th1 profile comprised by 30 days of domperidone protocol followed by a vaccine and an immunomodulator. Doxycycline was used successfully for Ehrlichia spp. and HE clearance after two treatment courses and one year of ivermectin every 15 days. The animal presented intermittent coughing episodes on the first treatment course, but no medical intervention was needed besides exercise restriction. Our report shows the successful management of one dog with CanL, CE and HE comorbidity. This success was possible due to early detection and good therapeutic choice.Keywords: canine visceral leishmaniosis, coinfection, Dirofilaria immitis, Erhlichia canis, Leishmania infantum, treatment.

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Frequency of co-seropositivities for certain pathogens and their relationship with clinical and histopathological changes and parasite load in dogs infected with Leishmania infantum

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0247560 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. e0247560

Author(s):

Valéria da Costa Oliveira ◽

Artur Augusto Velho Mendes Junior ◽

Luiz Claudio Ferreira ◽

Tatiana Machado Quinates Calvet ◽

Shanna Araujo dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Dirofilaria Immitis ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Parasite Load ◽

Inflammatory Cells ◽

Canine Leishmaniosis ◽

Conventional Pcr ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Histological Changes

In canine leishmaniosis caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum, little is known about how co-infections with or co-seropositivities for other pathogens can influence aggravation of this disease. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency of co-infections with or co-seropositivities for certain pathogens in dogs seropositive for L. infantum and their relationship with clinical signs, histological changes and L. infantum load. Sixty-six L. infantum-seropositive dogs were submitted to clinical examination, collection of blood and bone marrow, culling, and necropsy. Antibodies against Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Ehrlichia spp. and Toxoplasma gondii and Dirofilaria immitis antigens were investigated in serum. Samples from different tissues were submitted to histopathology and immunohistochemistry for the detection of Leishmania spp. and T. gondii. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess the L. infantum load in spleen samples. For detection of Coxiella burnetii, conventional PCR and nested PCR were performed using bone marrow samples. All 66 dogs tested positive for L. infantum by qPCR and/or culture. Fifty dogs (76%) were co-seropositive for at least one pathogen: T. gondii (59%), Ehrlichia spp., (41%), and Anaplasma spp. (18%). Clinical signs were observed in 15 (94%) dogs monoinfected with L. infantum and in 45 (90%) dogs co-seropositive for certain pathogens. The L. infantum load in spleen and skin did not differ significantly between monoinfected and co-seropositive dogs. The number of inflammatory cells was higher in the spleen, lung and mammary gland of co-seropositive dogs and in the mitral valve of monoinfected dogs. These results suggest that dogs infected with L. infantum and co-seropositive for certain pathogens are common in the region studied. However, co-seropositivities for certain pathogens did not aggravate clinical signs or L. infantum load, although they were associated with a more intense inflammatory reaction in some organs.

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First Autochthonous Infection of a Cat with Dirofilaria immitis in Austria

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10091104 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1104 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lisa-Maria Kulmer ◽

Maria Sophia Unterköfler ◽

Hans-Peter Fuehrer ◽

Varvara Janovska ◽

Matus Pagac ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Dirofilaria Immitis ◽

Complete Blood Count ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Surgical Removal ◽

Negative Results ◽

Heartworm Disease ◽

History Of ◽

One Year ◽

The Right

This case report is about a seven-year-old male neutered European Shorthair cat infected by Dirofilaria immitis as the first reported autochthonous Dirofilaria immitis infection in Austria. There was no history of periods abroad. Echocardiography showed suspected D. immitis in the right cardiac chamber with increased pulmonary pressure and ascites. Surgical removal of the heartworms was performed. Twenty adult heartworms were removed by transvenous jugular approach under general anesthesia and stored in 4% formalin. Five out of 20 specimens were examined via light and stereomicroscopy and feline heartworm infection was confirmed. Amplification of a 203 bp or 724 bp fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene was unsuccessful. After surgery the cat developed acute renal failure but recovered quickly. One year later, the cat underwent a control examination including echocardiography and blood work. There were no more D. immitis detectable at echocardiography. Lung pressure was mildly increased. Complete blood count and creatinine were unremarkable. The Knott’s test and Dirofilaria-Antigen-test produced negative results. The cat did not show any clinical signs during the follow-up period. The aim of this case report is to highlight the growing risk of acquiring infection with D. immitis not only for Austrian dogs, but also for cats. This case report represents the first report of autochthonous D. immitis infection in Austria. Moreover, even if the prognosis in cats with caval syndrome due to feline heartworm disease is guarded to poor, surgical removal of the filariae can be a successful treatment option.

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First report on clinical feline heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in Romania

Helminthologia ◽

10.2478/helm-2020-0009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (1) ◽

pp. 49-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D. Pană ◽

A. Rădulescu ◽

I. L. Mitrea ◽

M. Ionita

Keyword(s):

Dirofilaria Immitis ◽

Serological Test ◽

Main Pulmonary Artery ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Veterinary Clinic ◽

First Report ◽

Prophylactic Measures ◽

Heartworm Infection ◽

Endemic Areas

SummaryDirofilaria immitis (Nematoda: Filarioidea) is the causative agent of heartworm disease (HWD), a severe and potentially fatal condition in dogs. Although cats are considered more resistant to infection than dogs, they are also susceptible to heartworm infection. Moreover, the clinical importance of feline dirofilariosis has increased in recent years, especially in heartworm endemic areas. In contrast to dog, definitive antemortem diagnosis of heartworm infection in cat is difficult to achieve and a combination of testing methods must be used for clinical confirmation. Here we describe a clinical case of heartworm infection in a 12-year-old male mixed breed cat, originated from Southern Romania, which was referred to a veterinary clinic with a history of vomiting and clinical signs of respiratory distress. The thoracic radiograph showed a diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern of the pulmonary parenchyma. The serological test for D. immitis circulating antibody was positive and heartworms were visualized by echocardiography in the main pulmonary artery. In conclusion, the present study clearly shows that cats are at risk for D. immitis infection in heartworm-endemic areas in Romania. Additionally, the findings highlight the urgent need for increased awareness among veterinary practitioners of the existence of feline heartworm diseases and for adequate prophylactic measures to be applied. To our knowledge, this is the first report on clinical evolution and radiographic and echocardiographic features of a naturally heartworm-infected cat in Romania.

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A comparative study of nested-PCR and direct agglutination test (DAT) for the detection of Leishmania infantum infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic domestic dogs

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-021-05654-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yonas Yimam Ayene ◽

Mehdi Mohebali ◽

Homa Hajjaran ◽

Behnaz Akhoundi ◽

Saeedeh Shojaee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nested Pcr ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Agglutination Test ◽

Domestic Dogs ◽

Direct Agglutination Test ◽

Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Endemic Areas ◽

Visceral Leishmaniosis

Abstract Objective Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is the main source of human visceral leishmaniosis (HVL) in Mediterranean region, including Iran and is spread from domestic dogs to Phlebotomine sand flies vectors to humans. To control the transmission of HVL, early and accurate detection of infected dogs is paramount importance despite it remains a confronting challenge. Herein, we evaluated the performance of direct agglutination test (DAT) against gold standard nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) for CVL diagnosis in symptomatic and asymptomatic domestic dogs from endemic areas of Iran. Results Venous blood samples were collected from dogs without clinical signs (n = 30) and with clinical signs (n = 35) suggestive of Leishmania infantum infection. Among 65 samples examined, Leishmania DNA was detected by nested-PCR in 89.23% (58/65). Furthermore, 86.15% (56/65) nested-PCR positive samples were also DAT positive. The results of the DAT sensitivity test were 96.43% and 96.67% in symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs, respectively, while the specificity was 100.00% and 60.00% in symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs, respectively. The results of this study also pointed out substantial concordance between DAT test and nested-PCR method in both symptomatic dogs (Κ = 0.783; P < 0.001) and asymptomatic dogs (Κ = 0.618; P < 0.001). Thus, DAT represents as a simple and economic tool for initial diagnosis of CVL particularly in endemic areas of the disease.

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Efficacy of ozonized sunflower oil as treatment of canine generalized demodicosis

Insights in Veterinary Science ◽

10.29328/journal.ivs.1001030 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 015-021

Author(s):

Rodriguez Zullyt Zamora ◽

Lemus Marielys ◽

González Eduardo Fleitas ◽

Lozano Oscar Ernesto Ledea

Keyword(s):

Body Surface ◽

Sunflower Oil ◽

Animal Species ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Clinical History ◽

The Body ◽

Study Methods ◽

Veterinary Clinic ◽

History Of ◽

One Year

Background: The acaricidal action of Ozonized sunflower oil (OSO) has demonstrated in different clinical cases of different animal species, such as psoroptic rabbits and pig sarcoptic scabies and recently in demodesic goat. Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of OSO as treatment for generalized demodicosis mange in dogs. Animals: Twenty dogs of different breeds, between six months and one year of age with generalized demodicosic mange that attended to Veterinary Clinic “José Luis Callejas” Havana, Cuba, during the year 2015, were included in the study. Methods: The demodicosis diagnostic was based on its clinical history, the mite’s presence by deep scraping and clinical signs. All cases had a history of receiving before conventional treatments without solution. OSO treatment was topically applied daily, every 12 hours, after shaving all affected areas. Monitoring of clinical signs, mite counting on scaling, pruritus and capillary regrowth (7, 14, 28, 56 and 84 days) were performed. Results: The results showed a significant reduction of mite counts, clinical signs and pruritus since the 7th day of application. The animals recovered the fur on more than 90% of the body surface. All the animals (100%) recovered from generalized demodesic mange in 84 days of treatment. Conclusion: The effectiveness and safety of OSO as election treatment of generalized demodicosis mange in dogs was demonstrated.

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Sonographically guided, transcatheter foam sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein

Phlebologie ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1622198 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 36 (06) ◽

pp. 309-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

T. Schulz ◽

M. Jünger ◽

M. Hahn

Keyword(s):

Saphenous Vein ◽

Great Saphenous Vein ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Duplex Sonography ◽

Foam Sclerotherapy ◽

Average Loss ◽

One Year ◽

The Cost

Summary Objective: The goal of the study was to assess the effectiveness and patient tolerability of single-session, sonographically guided, transcatheter foam sclerotherapy and to evaluate its economic impact. Patients, methods: We treated 20 patients with a total of 22 varicoses of the great saphenous vein (GSV) in Hach stage III-IV, clinical stage C2-C5 and a mean GSV diameter of 9 mm (range: 7 to 13 mm). We used 10 ml 3% Aethoxysklerol®. Additional varicoses of the auxiliary veins of the GSV were sclerosed immediately afterwards. Results: The occlusion rate in the treated GSVs was 100% one week after therapy as demonstrated with duplex sonography. The cost of the procedure was 207.91 E including follow-up visit, with an average loss of working time of 0.6 days. After one year one patient showed clinical signs of recurrent varicosis in the GSV; duplex sonography showed reflux in the region of the saphenofemoral junction in a total of seven patients (32% of the treated GSVs). Conclusion: Transcatheter foam sclerotherapy of the GSV is a cost-effective, safe method of treating varicoses of GSV and broadens the spectrum of therapeutic options. Relapses can be re-treated inexpensively with sclerotherapy.

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Successful Treatment of Congenital Shoulder Luxation in a Dog by Closed Pinning

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1633091 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 07 (04) ◽

pp. 170-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. A. Read

Keyword(s):

Early Diagnosis ◽

Successful Treatment ◽

Humeral Head ◽

One Year

Congenital shoulder luxation in the dog is commonly associated with deformity of the humeral head and glenoid, making reduction and stabilization difficult. Early diagnosis of congenital luxation of the shoulder in a Papillon made it possible to successfully reduce and stabilize the luxation using a closed pinning technique. One year later the joint was functionally and radiographically normal.

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Correlations between tissue parasite load and common clinical signs in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 291 ◽

pp. 109368

Author(s):

Úrsula Maira Russo Chagas ◽

Daniel Moreira de Avelar ◽

Andreza Pain Marcelino ◽

Gustavo Fontes Paz ◽

Célia Maria Ferreira Gontijo

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Parasite Load

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PROGRESSIVE ATHEROSCLEROTIC CORONARY ARTERIES IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERAL ISCHEMIC EVENTS IN ANAMNESIS

"Medical & pharmaceutical journal "Pulse" ◽

10.26787/nydha-2686-6838-2021-23-9-113-119 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 113-119

Author(s):

Parkhomenko O.M. ◽

Lozhkina N.G.

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Coronary Arteries ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Syntax Score ◽

One Year ◽

The Moment ◽

Microsoft Office ◽

Ischemic Events

Вackground. Progressive atherosclerosis is accompanied by unfavorable clinical outcomes; study and understanding of this process is necessary to identify the appropriate risk groups. Purpose of the study to study the dynamics of atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries in patients with several ischemic events in history. Patient Characterization and Research Methods. The present subanalysis included 51 patients with recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) out of the initially included 100 patients with index MI. All 100 patients had a history of two or more ischemic coronary or cerebral events, which corresponds to the clinical signs of progressive atherosclerosis. The dynamics of the degree of coronary stenosis from the moment of index MI to repeated MI was assessed according to the data of selective coronary angiography. The statistical program Microsoft Office Excel 2019 was used. Results. All patients with recurrent myocardial infarction (51 people) had signs of progression of coronary artery stenosis: "mild" progression - 82.3%, "moderate" and "severe" - 15.6% and 2.1%, respectively. SYNTAX Score> 22.5 points was a predictor of one-year adverse outcomes: OR 6.349, CI (2.548-15.823). The results obtained make it possible to distinguish a group of patients with accelerated atherosclerosis syndrome in order to stratify the risk and optimally manage this complex category of patients.

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Clinical features, treatment, and outcome of dogs with Coccidioides osteomyelitis

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association ◽

10.2460/javma.20.12.0696 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Stephanie L. Shaver ◽

Daniel S. Foy ◽

Todd D. Carter

Keyword(s):

Electronic Medical Records ◽

Medical Records ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Test Results ◽

Serologic Test ◽

Rapid Improvement ◽

Radiographic Appearance ◽

One Year ◽

Positive Results

Abstract OBJECTIVE To describe signalment, clinical signs, serologic test results, treatment, and outcome of dogs with Coccidioides osteomyelitis (COM) and to compare those findings with findings for dogs with osteosarcoma (OSA). ANIMALS 14 dogs with COM and 16 dogs with OSA. PROCEDURES Data were retrospectively gathered from electronic medical records. RESULTS Dogs with COM were younger and weighed less than dogs with OSA. Six dogs with COM had appendicular lesions, 5 had axial lesions, and 3 had both appendicular and axial lesions; 9 had monostotic disease, and 5 had polyostotic disease. Axial lesions and nonadjacent polyostotic disease were more common in dogs with COM than in dogs with OSA, but radiographic appearance was not different between the 2 groups. Median IgG titer at diagnosis of COM was 1:48 and was significantly decreased after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Percentage of dogs with COM that had clinical signs was significantly decreased after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. One year after initiation of treatment, 9 of 9 dogs were still receiving fluconazole and 8 of 9 dogs had positive results for serum IgG titer testing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dogs with COM typically had a rapid improvement in clinical signs after initiating treatment with fluconazole but required long-term antifungal treatment. Dogs with COM differed from dogs with OSA, but radiographic features had a great degree of overlap between groups, confounding the ability to make a diagnosis on the basis of diagnostic imaging alone.

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