Search

Background: In dogs, the gastric Helicobacter spp. have been well studied, but there is little information regarding the other parts of the alimentary system. The incidence of Helicobacter spp. infection in dogs is largely unknown and to our knowledge there are no data about their potential pathogenic role. In light of these considerations, the aims of this study were (i) to assess the prevalence of Helicobacter spp. in colonic biopsies of healthy and symptomatic stray dogs also (ii) we isolate and characterize helicobacters in canine colonic biopsies to compare the commonly used tests for the identification of Helicobacter spp. and to determine the occurrence of these species in dogs., Methods: Tissues from fifteen stray dogs (8 males and 7 females, age 6 months -10 years) were used in this study. From each stray dog, multiple colonic biopsies were taken for PCR. Biopsies for PCR of cecum and colon were immediately frozen and stored at -20°C until DNA extraction. Samples for histological examination were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin wax., Results: In the cecum and colon, Helicobacter spp. DNA was detected in all dogs. H.canis, H.bizzozeronii, H. bilis, H.felis, H.salomonis and H.pylori Identified by specific polymerase chain reaction. Histopathology demonstrated that Helicobacter organisms were localized within the surface mucus and the intestinal crypts. Dogs with heavy Helicobacter spp. colonization were significantly in younger as well as had a higher level of mucosal fibrosis/atrophy than dogs with uncolonized or poorly colonized biopsies (p<0.05)., Conclusions: We have indicated that the crypts of the cecum and colon of healthy and symptomatic dogs are heavily colonized by Helicobacter spp.. Combined molecular and histological approaches demonstrated that enterohepatic Helicobacter spp. infection is rather common in colonic biopsies of healthy and symptomatic stray dogs, with Helicobacter spp. specialy H. canis, H.bizzozeroni, H.billis, H.felis and H. salomonis identified as the most common species., Virtual Slides: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1957989294118782.

Background: Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a serious viral infection in cats. FeLV is found in some tissues, such as spleen, lymph nodes and epithelial tissues. However, there is controversy about the organ in which the virus can be reliably detected in infected cats. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of viral infection in hemolymphatic tissues, including blood, bone marrow and spleen by reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: A total of 31 cats with clinical signs of FeLV infection associated with at least a single lineage hematologic cytopenia were included in this study. Peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen samples were obtained from each cat. Complete blood counts, biochemical tests, and a rapid test to detect FeLV p27 antigen in blood samples of cats were performed. Of 31 cats, 9 had anemia alone, 4 had thrombocytopenia alone, 2 had neutropenia alone, 9 had bicytopenia of anemia and thrombocytopenia, 3 had bicytopenia of anemia and neutropenia, and 4 had pancytopenia. FeLV RNA was then detected by RT-qPCR in the whole blood, bone marrow and spleen. Viral RNA copy numbers were detected in all cats by RT-qPCR whereas 24 out of 31 cats were positive for the serum FeLV antigen. We detected a significantly greater number of viral RNA in the spleen compared with the whole blood and bone marrow. Conclusion: Spleen is a site where FeLV is most frequently detected in cats with hematologic cytopenias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter spp. have been detected in different parts of gastrointestinal tract of dogs including the oral cavity, stomach, intestines and recently, hepatobilliary system. However, the transmission pathways of Helicobacter spp. have not been yet fully elucidated. Research in the last decade has proposed that oral-oral and fecal-oral transmissions, among others, may be a plausible route of this gastric infection. This study was carried out primarily to determine the existence of pylori and non- pylori Helicobacter spp. in the oral secretions and dental plaque of stray dogs of Iran as one of the possible routes of humans and animal infection and, secondly, to evaluate the accordance between oral and gastric colonization of Helicobacter spp. in these dogs. Forty-eight adult stray dogs were studied by PCR using 16S rRNA, Helicobacter felis, Helicobacter heilmannii, and Helicobacter pylori specific primers. Positive samples for 16S rRNA specific primers that did not meet the specified species of Helicobacter genus were randomly subjected to sequencing. Helicobacter spp. DNA was found in the oral and gastric specimens of 100 % of the stray dogs. There was not, however, any agreement between Helicobacter colonization at these two locations, at neither genus nor species level. Our study confirmed that the oral cavity of stray dogs routinely exposed to transient forms of bacteria and may temporarily harbor Helicobacter spp and Wolinella spp. Therefore, oral cavity as a source of Helicobacter spp. may act as a reservoir for transmission. However, it may not necessarily reflect the colonization status of the gastric mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-month female shitzu was presented with depression, anorexia, fever, weakness, lethargy, consecutive coughing, sneezing and severe itching of ears. There was otitis externa with corneal ulcer and keratoconjunctivitis. Microscopic examination of impression smears of all samples revealed numerous yeasts typical of Malassezia sp. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and additional tests confirmed the identification of Malassezia pachydermatis. Histopathological examination of skin biopsies revealed oval spores in the superficial layer of the affected skin. There were also follicles containing Demodex spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piroplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoan disease transmitted by ticks. The full geographical range of canine piroplasms has been found in dogs in the Middle East, parts of Africa, North America, and Europe. Following our studies on molecular detection of piroplasmosis in the south of Iran, we found Theileria annulata in two herd dogs, as well as information on their 18S rRNA gene sequences. Piroplasmosis agents were detected by PCR of 280 blood samples collected from dogs in seven regions of the Shiraz suburbia in southern Iran, between November 2009 and June 2011. Two positive samples from Shiraz were infected with T. annulata, and one sample was infected with Babesia canis. PCR positive samples were further analyzed by sequence analysis. The results of this study reconfirmed that T. annulata are not always as host specific as accepted. This is the first report of T. annulata in herd dogs in southern Iran and the second report of T. annulata in dogs worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]