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Introduction Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by impaired immune function. Changes in the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and the serum concentrations of cytokines in the pathogenesis of cAD have been described. Objectives To assess whether the changes in the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of atopic dogs at the time of diagnosis are related to the severity of the disease. Furthermore, we determined whether the changes in the serum concentrations of the cytokines IL-31, IL-34, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were different between atopic and control dogs. Procedures Fifty-six client-owned dogs with atopic dermatitis and 53 healthy control dogs were used. The percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were determined by imaging flow cytometry. The index of CADESI-03 was calculated. Serum cytokine levels were analyzed using ELISA. Results Atopic dogs showed a higher percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes, a lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio than healthy dogs, and a positive correlation with CADESI-03. Atopic dogs also showed higher serum IL-31 and IL-34 levels and lower IL-10 levels. A moderate positive correlation was found between serum IL-31 and CADESI-03. Conclusions The CD4+/CD8+ ratio may be a sensitive parameter that positively correlates with the severity of cAD, and elevated serum levels of IL-31 and IL-34 may facilitate diagnosis of the disease.

Background: Antibiotic resistance and impaired wound healing are major concerns in S. aureus superficial skin infections, and new therapies are needed. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a new therapeutic approach for infections, but it also improves healing in many wound models.Objective: To compare the antimicrobial activity and the effects on wound healing of aPDT based on Methylene Blue (MB-aPDT) with mupirocin treatment, either alone or in combination, in superficial skin wounds of S. aureus-infected mice. Additionally, to evaluate the clinical, microbiological, and cosmetic effects on wound healing.Materials and Methods: A superficial skin infection model of S. aureus was established in SKH-1 mice. Infected wounds were treated with MB-aPDT, MB-aPDT with a daily topical mupirocin or only with mupirocin. No treatment was carried out in control animals. Daily clinical and microbiological examinations were performed until complete clinical wound healing. Histopathological studies and statistical analysis were performed at the end of the study.Results: MB-aPDT treatment induced the best wound healing compared to mupirocin alone or to mupirocin plus MB-aPDT. Superficial contraction at 24 h and a greater reduction in size at 48 h, quicker detachment of the crust, less scaling, and absence of scars were observed. Histopathological studies correlated with clinical and gross findings. By contrast, mupirocin showed the highest logaritmic reduction of S. aureus.Conclusions: MB-aPDT and mupirocin treatments are effective in a murine superficial skin infection model of S. aureus. One session of MB-aPDT was the best option for clinical wound healing and cosmetic results. The addition of mupirocin to MB-aPDT treatment improved antimicrobial activity; however, it did not enhance wound healing. No synergistic antibacterial effects were detected.

Canine leishmaniosis is a disease caused by Leishmania infantum, a vector-borne parasite. Due to the zoonotic potential of canine leishmaniosis, infected dogs must be identified. Serological assays are the most common methods for the detection of L. infantum infection in dogs used in veterinary practice. The aim of the study was to assess the performance of a rapid immunochromatographic test (FASTest LEISH®, MEGACOR Diagnostik) for the detection of specific antibodies to that of the L. infantum in dog sera. The results were simultaneously compared using a commercial brand of indirect immunofluorescence antibody test and an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as references. Between the two reference tests, 232 serum samples out of 244, produced concordant results while 12 exhibited discordant results. Of the 232 concordant samples, 121 were classified as L. infantum seropositive, and 111 samples were previously classified as L. infantum seronegative by a combination of the reference assays. All samples that were seropositive by the reference tests were also positive according to the rapid test, and only one sample that was seronegative according to the two reference assays was positive according to the rapid test. Compared with the reference tests, the rapid test sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 99.1%, accuracy was 99.6%, Cohen’s kappa coefficient was 0.99, and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.995. The FASTest LEISH® is a rapid, qualitative in-clinic test with high sensitivity and specificity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13028-019-0473-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A three-year-old entire male French bulldog was brought in with the following clinical signs: apathy, vomiting and abdominal distension. Physical examination showed dehydration, tachypnoea and presence of jaundice. Abdominal radiology revealed the presence of an important loss of details in the abdominal structures compatible with peritoneal effusion, confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography. Findings detected by ultrasonography consisted of splenomegaly with alteration of the echotexture, hepatomegaly with presence of nodules and irregular areas in the liver capsule. An ultrasound-guided sample of the peritoneal fluid was taken for laboratory analysis. Abnormal clinicopathological results included pancytopenia, hyperglobulinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, and elevation of the hepatic parameters and total bilirubin. High antibodies to Leishmania infantum were detected by ELISA in serum and peritoneal fluid samples. However, PCR for L infantum showed a negative result from the peritoneal fluid sample. This is the first reported case of canine leishmaniosis with the specific detection of L infantum antibodies in peritoneal effusion.

[EN] Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of the most used methodologies in the teaching of medical disciplines such as veterinary medicine, since it allows applying the knowledge acquired in a real context. In addition, urinalysis is a laboratory technique essential in the veterinary clinical practice for the diagnostic approach of clinical cases. Therefore, we set out to carry out an experience with two objectives: 1) to promote the acquisition of skills in the laboratory, especially in urinalysis, and 2) to promote the acquisition of competencies by integrating the results of urinalysis in the diagnostic approach of a real case. The experience was carried out with students of the last courses of the veterinary degree at the Veterinary Hospital of Zaragoza. The students assessed various aspects of the proposed objectives through a survey. 47 students participated, valuing the experience as very satisfactory. The majority perceived to have increased their skills in the laboratory by performing the urinalysis technique, and considered as very useful the integration of urinalysis results in the diagnostic approach of the cases, considering in general, that the knowledge acquired could be very useful in their professional future., [ES] El aprendizaje basado en problemas (ABP) es una de las metodologías más empleadas en la docencia de disciplinas biomédicas como la medicina interna veterinaria, ya que permite afianzar el aprendizaje de una forma muy sólida aplicando los conocimientos previos adquiridos en materias más básicas a un contexto real. Permite a los estudiantes poner en valor el conocimiento adquirido previamente y da sentido a los planteamientos académicos, que, de otra forma, no acaban de ser entendidos por los propios estudiantes. Por otro lado, el urianálisis es una técnica laboratorial imprescindible en la práctica clínica veterinaria para el abordaje diagnóstico de todos los casos clínicos relacionados con enfermedades del sistema urinario, pero que, además, coplementa la valoración de la situación global de cualquier proceso orgánico. Por ello, nos propusimos realizar una experiencia con dos objetivos: 1) fomentar la adquisición de habilidades en el laboratorio, especialmente en el urianálisis y 2) fomentar la adquisición de competencias integrando los resultados del urianálisis en el abordaje diagnóstico de un caso real. La experiencia se llevó a cabo con alumnos/as de últimos cursos del grado de Veterinaria en el Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad de Zaragoza. El alumnado evaluó, mediante una encuesta, distintos aspectos sobre los objetivos planteados. 47 alumnos/as participaron valorando la experiencia como muy satisfactoria. La mayoría percibió haber aumentado sus destrezas en el laboratorio mediante la realización de la técnica de urianálisis, y valoró como muy útil la integración de los resultados del urianálisis en el abordaje diagnóstico de los casos, considerando en general, que los conocimientos adquiridos podrían serles muy útiles en su futuro profesional y poniendo mucho mas en valor los conocimientos que poseían de la materia relacionada de cursos precedentes, lo que se traduce en un incremento de su autoestima al hacerse conscientes de la proyección real que pueden tener los conocimientos adquiridos.

Leishmania infantum infection including treatment and follow up in domestic animals other than dogs and cats has not been described at this moment. This article describes the anti-Leishmania treatment and follow-up of a ferret (Mustela putorius furo) with leishmaniosis. A combined therapeutic protocol established for the patient, not yet approved for ferrets, was a combination of meglumine antimoniate plus allopurinol. A follow-up was established monthly during the first year in order to monitor the health condition of the patient. Six months after commencing allopurinol therapy, xanthine crystalluria was observed in urine sediment with no other urine alterations detected by urine analysis. The ferret worsened progressively with diarrhoea and weight loss after cohabiting with another ferret diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidium parvum was isolated in faecal samples from the patient detected by three different methods including Ziehl-Neelsen staining, a qualitative test to detection of C. parvum antigens and finally a specific molecular analysis to characterize the species. To the best of the authors´ knowledge, this is the first report providing information about anti-Leishmania protocol therapy used and follow-up in a domestic ferret with clinical leishmaniosis. Veterinarians practicing in endemic areas should be aware of this infection in ferrets at risk and their susceptibility especially when immunosuppressive conditions are present.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) on the immunological responses of horses. Blood samples were taken from thirty-two horses with allergic dermatitis treated with ASIT and 10 healthy control horses at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months to investigate the evolution of the percentage of regulatory T cells (Treg) in the peripheral blood and the serum levels of cytokines and immunoglobulins. Clinical improvement was appreciated by the majority of the horses' owners (56.6%). No effect of ASIT on CD4+CD25High Treg cells was found during the one year treatment period. No differences in the percentage of CD4+ T cells were observed between the groups, and no effects of ASIT over time were observed. The percentage of CD25+ T cells was always higher in the ASIT group (17.9 ± 11.3%) than in the control group (7.3 ± 4.4%, p < 0.001). We did not detect any effect of ASIT on the serum levels of TGF-β, IL-10 and IFN-γ or on the serum concentrations of IgA and IgG4. A reduction in the serum levels of total IgE in the horses with allergic dermatitis was observed at the 6th month (p < 0.05), but increased again at the end of the study. The results indicate that immunotherapy was insufficient to induce significant changes that could indicate T cell tolerance, a shift in cytokine production to more protective Th1 cells. More studies are needed with new vaccine compositions and administration protocols to improve the immunological responses of the horses with allergic dermatitis.

Immunostimulants are susbstances that stimuli the response of effector cells to activate the immune response such as antigen uptake, cytokine release or antibody response. These substances can increase resistence to infection by different types of microorganisms, reducing dependence of antibiotics used in livestock animals. Recent reports have demonstrated the positive effect of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) to control animal diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the non-specific immunostimulant P. acnes on immunological functions and growth performance in goat kids. Twenty five goat kids served as control group (A) and another 25 animals received P. acnes being the experimental group (B). Kids were challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to assess humoral immunity. To assess in vivo cell immunity, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) test with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was used, clinical signs and body weight were recorded each week until 9 weeks of age when the experiment ended. Blood samples were obtained to analyze serum proteins fractions and anti-OVA specific antibodies. No clinical signs of disease and no differences (p>0.05) on body weight between groups were recorded (7.32±0.81 kg in group A, 7.13±0.65 kg in group B). Goat kids from group B had more total protein (59.8±5g/l) and albumin levels (32.8±3.3g/l) than goat kids from group A (56.6±5.7 g/l, 29.6±3.9 g/l respectively) (p

A total of 150 Large White cross Landrace pigs (110-120 kg) of both sexes were used to investigate the effects of three different lairage times (0 h, 3 h, 9 h). Blood samples were collected at exanguination and cortisol, glucose, lactate, muscle enzymes and haematological parameters were determined. Post-mortem measurements of muscle pH were taken at 20 min, 2 h and 24 h from Longissimus thoracis and Semimembranosus. Lairage time showed a significant effect on pH24, internal muscle reflectance using the fibre optic probe (FOP24), red blood cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes, glucose and enzymatic activities. Changes in blood profile and meat quality parameters indicated that three hours of lairage in Spanish commercial conditions may reduce the amount of stress exhibited by pigs at slaughter and better meat quality can be obtained. No lairage or an excessively long lairage period without food may compromise animal welfare and meat quality.

A poodle was admitted for investigation of pruritus and a lesional pattern of erythema and alopecia located in the dorsolumbar area. After differential diagnosis ruling out several processes a rare side effect to furosemide, not yet described in canine medicine was confirmed as the possible causative agent.

Two groups of 32 laying hens (Hyssex Brown) and two groups of 32 23-day-old (Hybro) broiler chickens were fed 2.5 and 5 parts/10(6) of aflatoxin in their diet for 4, 8, 16 and 32 days; 16 hens and 32 chicks were maintained as control groups (0 parts/10(6)). After the intoxication period, a clearance period was established of 1, 2, 4 and 8 days. Relative weights of liver and kidneys significantly increased in intoxicated hens, but not in broiler chickens. Histological lesions in both types of bird consisted of hepatic cell vacuolation with fatty infiltration. There was a significant decrease (P0.001) in egg production in the 5 parts/10(6) group, which started to recover during the clearance period. No morbidity or mortality due to the aflatoxicosis were observed in either type of bird. In intoxicated laying hens, cholesterol levels were not significantly (P0.05) different from control values, but triglyceride levels decreased (P0.001) in both intoxicated groups. The effect of aflatoxin on calcium and phosphorus levels was important, because on the 4th day their values decreased significantly. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum levels remained normal, whereas alanino aminotransferase (ALT) activity decreased in both intoxicated groups. The activity of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and gammaglutamil transferase (GGT) increased significantly. In intoxicated broiler chickens, aflatoxins did not alter (P0.05) the biochemical parameters studied, except that the serum calcium concentration was lower in the 5 parts/10(6) group. These data indicated that in intoxicated laying hens, a severe clinical biochemical alteration was produced, and that this together with the hepatic lesions observed in hens and broilers may aid disease diagnosis.