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Tympanokeratomas (cholesteatomas) are destructive keratinic masses of the middle ear that are often treated surgically. In humans, nonechoplanar (non-EP) diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI is efficient in diagnosing tympanokeratomas and differentiating recurrent tympanokeratomas from granulation or fibrous tissue after surgery. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the characteristics of non-EP DWI of histologically or cytologically confirmed canine tympanokeratomas, (2) determine the performance of non-EP DW images, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map and ADC values in discriminating between tympanokeratomas and other causes of otitis media in dogs, and (3) find an optimal ADC cut-off value. Medical records of dogs diagnosed on MRI with otitis media in two veterinary hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-two ears with a cytological or pathological diagnosis of either tympanokeratoma (36/62) or nontympanokeratoma otitis media (26/62) were selected. Diffusion-weighted images had an accuracy of 77.4%, a sensitivity of 94.4%, and a specificity of 53.8% for the detection of tympanokeratoma. The ADC value of middle ear content ranged from 517 to 1355.10 -6  mm 2 /s in tympanokeratoma and from 454 to 2447 × 10 -6  mm 2 /s in nontympanokeratoma otitis media. An ADC value below 916 × 10 -6  mm 2 /s interpreted as a tympanokeratoma yielded an accuracy of 78.7%, a sensitivity of 92.6%, and a specificity of 60%. In the study population, combined qualitative analysis of DW images and ADC maps was the most effective method for diagnosing tympanokeratomas with an accuracy of 80.9%, a sensitivity of 92.6%, and a specificity of 65%., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.)

Background: The diagnosis of otoacariasis due to Otodectes cynotis is based on the visualization of the parasite, either directly by otoscopy or indirectly after microscopic examination of cerumen collected by several methods., Objectives: To compare the sensitivity of three techniques: conventional handheld otoscopy, Volkmann's curette sampling and cotton-tipped swabbing., Animals: Five dogs and 12 cats (30 naturally infested ears)., Methods and Materials: For each case, following otoscopy, the order of examinations (swab or curette) was chosen randomly and the samples were observed on a slide mixed with lactophenol and covered with a coverslip. Parasite detection was noted as positive or negative and parasitic stages were counted separately., Results: The diagnostic sensitivity of otoscopy alone was 67% (positive in 20 of 30 cases), using the curette sampling it was 93% (28/30) and 57% (17/30) for the swabbing. The curette technique had a significantly higher sensitivity than classic ear-swabbing (P = 0.001) or otoscopy alone (P = 0.02). Combining otoscopy and the curette, we obtained a sensitivity of 100% compared to 86% when otoscopy and swabbing were combined. Moreover, the parasite count in the curette samples (average 25 ± 30 SD) was significantly higher than the swab samples (4.5 ± 11) (P < 0.001)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: When suspecting O. cynotis infestation, otoscopic examination should be performed. To confirm the nature of the parasites observed or whenever this examination result is negative, doubtful or cannot be performed, the curettage sampling method for microscopic cerumen examination is recommended., (© 2019 ESVD and ACVD.)

Background: Different sets of criteria are available in veterinary dermatology for the diagnosis of canine atopic dermatitis (cAD); there are limited data to assess their reliability., Hypothesis/objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the discriminative and predictive ability of four sets in diagnosing cAD in a population of dogs with different skin diseases., Animals: Two hundred and fifty dogs examined in the dermatology unit of a veterinary teaching hospital., Methods and Materials: Dogs were diagnosed with cAD, flea infestation (FI), flea bite hypersensitivity (FBH), sarcoptic mange (SM) and other skin diseases (OD). FI, FBH and SM were pooled in one group of dermatoses mimicking cAD (MD). All nonatopic dogs were grouped as a "global population" (GP). Four criteria sets were applied to all dogs. For each set of criteria, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), likelihood ratios (LR) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated., Results: When applied to the GP, sensitivities ranged from 54 to 83%, specificities from 68 to 75% and PPVs from 35 to 43%. NPVs ranged from 87 to 94%. LRs and DORs were poor. When applied to MD, sensitivities remained unchanged, specificities and PPV were mildly higher, whereas NPVs were mildly lower and LRs and DORs were comparable., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: This study showed that each set of criteria had a low diagnostic reliability when used alone. The use of more discriminant criteria integrated into a thorough clinical approach excluding MDs should be considered., (© 2019 ESVD and ACVD.)

Background: A multi-centre field trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of afoxolaner based chewables (NexGard® or NexGard Spectra®) for the treatment of generalised demodicosis caused by Demodex canis in dogs under field conditions in France, Italy and Poland., Methods: Client-owned dogs, diagnosed positive for Demodex mites by pre-treatment skin scrapings and presenting clinical signs of generalised demodicosis were included. Dogs were orally treated with afoxolaner three times at monthly intervals. Of the 50 dogs enrolled, 48 completed the whole study. Efficacy of the treatments was assessed monthly by Demodex mite counts and physical examination with special regard to the severity and extension of skin lesions., Results: Treatments were well tolerated in all dogs and resulted in a rapid reduction of mites, with all post-treatment mite counts significantly lower than baseline. The number of mites was reduced by 87.6%, 96.5% and 98.1% on Days 28, 56 and 84, respectively. In addition, the skin lesion severity and extent scores as well as the pruritus were all significantly lower at all post-treatment visits compared to the pre-treatment assessment., Conclusions: This clinical field study demonstrated that monthly administrations of afoxolaner in NexGard® or NexGard Spectra®, offered a convenient and reliable solution for the treatment of canine generalised demodicosis.

Background: The diagnosis of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) remains challenging due to the lack of a simple biomarker or metabolic profile. In human medicine, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is an analytical technique used for several diseases. It requires a small amount of sample and allows the identification of structural moieties of biomolecules on the basis of their infrared absorption, with limited sample pretreatment., Hypothesis/objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of FTIR., Animals: Three groups were tested: 21 dogs with non food-induced CAD (NFICAD), 16 dogs with inflammatory conditions of various origins but without allergic dermatoses (OD) and 10 healthy dogs (H)., Methods: Peripheral blood was collected and spectra were acquired with a FTIR spectrophotometer. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the full wavenumber spectra (4000-600/cm), followed by a Fisher discriminant analysis (DA) to assess the differences between the three groups., Results: The PCA followed by the DA of whole spectra showed significant differences between the three groups. These results suggest that by using the FTIR method, dogs with NFICAD can be differentiated from healthy dogs and dogs with nonallergic inflammation. There was no overlap between the spectral data of the three groups indicating that NFICAD dogs were correctly segregated from the H and OD groups., Conclusions: A study on a larger cohort including common pruritic skin diseases is necessary to confirm these initial results and the relevance of this diagnostic technique., (© 2016 ESVD and ACVD.)

Background: The bone marrow may be involved in human atopic diseases, as shown by the release of CD34+ cells into the peripheral blood., Hypothesis/objectives: The aim was to determine the numbers of CD34+ cells in atopic dogs., Animals: The following three groups of dogs were studied: 27 dogs with nonfood-induced atopic dermatitis (NFICAD); 16 dogs with nonallergic inflammatory diseases; and 13 healthy control dogs., Methods: Dogs with NFICAD were selected after fulfilment of Favrot's criteria and exclusion of other pruritic dermatoses, including flea infestation and adverse reaction to foods. The Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-03 and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score for pruritus were used to quantify clinical signs. A phycoerythrin-conjugated anticanine CD34 antibody was used to stain peripheral blood CD34+ cells, and these were enumerated using a flow cytometer. The CD34+ cell counts were compared between groups and tested (in the NFICAD group) for correlation with the severity of clinical signs., Results: The numbers of peripheral CD34+ cells in dogs with NFICAD (median 1.7) were statistically higher than in dogs with other nonallergic inflammatory diseases (median 1.0; P = 0.01) and healthy control dogs (median 0.9; P = 0.009). In dogs with NFICAD, there was no correlation between CD34+ cell numbers and CADESI-03 scores or owner-assessed pruritus (VAS score)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The results of this study suggest the possible involvement of CD34+ cells in dogs with NFICAD. The role of CD34+ cells in the aetiopathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis remains to be determined., (© 2014 ESVD and ACVD.)

Epidermal tight junctions (TJ) have been well-described in human medicine and are involved in many skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD). In dogs, there are no data regarding the implication of TJ in skin diseases including canine AD. The aim of this study was to compare the expression and the distribution of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1 in the epidermis of healthy and atopic dogs. Skin biopsies from 6 high IgE-producing beagles sensitized to house dust mite (atopic group) were used. Skin specimens from nine healthy dogs without skin issues were sampled (healthy group). Immunoperoxydase staining was used to study the staining pattern of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin and claudin-1 in the epidermis of healthy and atopic dogs. Positive controls were healthy human skin samples. Labeling patterns were assessed by 2 examiners blinded to the identities of the specimens. Comparisons between groups were performed using an exact Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. The mean total expression score of claudin-1 was lower in atopic dogs as compared to healthy subjects. Occludin and ZO-1 expression remained unchanged within each group. These results suggest a defect in claudin-1 expression in the nonlesional epidermis of atopic dogs.

Very few studies have investigated the seasonal aspect of grass pollen sensitisation or its evolution in the allergic canine population. The aim of this study was to evaluate both these aspects. A study of canine grass pollen sensitisation was performed throughout the statistical analysis of 261 intradermal skin testings (IDT=25 allergens tested on average) performed from January 1999 to December 2010. IDTs were performed on dogs with pruritic allergic skin disease. χ(2) Tests were used for statistical analysis. Two hundred and thirteen dogs (81.6 per cent) were sensitised to at least one allergen, and 56 (21.5 per cent) to at least one grass pollen. No increase in the rate of positive IDT was recorded over three periods: 1999-2002, 2003-2006 and 2007-2010. No statistical correlation was detected between sex, age or birth month and grass sensitisation. Moreover, no link was found between the season in which the IDT was performed and sensitisation, indicating that there is no seasonality to the sensitisation. However, considering the grasses tested over these three periods (grass mix and rye grass), a clear and significant increase in the percentage of dogs sensitised to grass pollen was observed between 1999-2002 and 2007-2010 (14.4 per cent and 27.7 per cent, respectively). The possible reasons for this sensitisation increase of dogs to grass pollen are discussed.

Background: Canine atopic dermatitis can be a result of exposure to aeroallergens or trophallergens. Hemodynamic alterations occur in dogs with food hypersensitivity., Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate if hemodynamic alterations occur in dogs with NFICAD with lowered resistance to diastolic flow at fasting, after feeding, or both., Animals: Ten healthy dogs and 22 dogs with NFICAD were included from the hospital population., Methods: Blinded prospective study. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), mean velocity (MV), pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI) and PSV/EDV ratio were measured at fasting for both arteries (cranial mesenteric artery [CMA], celiac artery [CA]) and at 40 minutes after feeding in CMA and at 60 minutes in CA. The results were analyzed statistically with a mixed model., Results: There was no difference detected between groups of dogs for any variable except EDV during fasting (P = .01)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: There is no decrease in resistance in NFICAD to diastolic flow. This observation could be explained by the absence intestinal inflammation in NFICAD., (Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Background: In dogs, flea infestation (FI), flea bite hypersensitivity (FBH) and canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) have been mainly characterized by their lesions but never by their pruritus. In clinical practice, many of these dogs exhibit only pruritus., Hypothesis/objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of pruritus in these dermatoses and their potential usefulness for diagnosis., Animals: Dogs included were selected from the Oniris clinical data. Cases were selected in which the dogs had only one of the three dermatoses diagnosed. The diagnosis of CAD was based on Prélaud's criteria and positive intradermal tests except flea; for FBH by compatible clinical signs and a response to an intradermal test with flea allergen; and for FI by the presence of fleas. Moreover, in each group, other primary pruritic skin diseases were excluded., Methods:   Location, behavioural manifestations, seasonality and quantification of the pruritus were evaluated. The statistical analysis used chi-squared test with a P-value <0.05., Results: Three hundred and forty-six dogs were analysed, 91 with CAD, 110 FI and 145 FBH. The period (season) of onset was not statistically different either for each dermatosis or among the three dermatoses. Some locations were highly specific for one dermatosis as follows: ventral abdomen/medial surface of thigh (chewing) and radius/carpus/tibia/tarsus (chewing) in FI; back/dorsolumbar area (chewing) and tail (chewing) in FBH; and paws (chewing/licking) and face/neck (rubbing) in CAD., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Some features of pruritus could be suggestive of the causal disease, with possible diagnostic value in pruritic dogs., (© 2012 The Authors. Veterinary Dermatology © 2012 ESVD and ACVD.)

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