Do pets reduce the likelihood of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy?

Purpose: To assess the relationship between the presence of pets in homes of epilepsy patients and the occurrence of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Methods: Parents or relatives of SUDEP patients collected over a ten-year period (2000-2009) in a large epilepsy unit were asked if the patient lived together with any domestic pet at the time of death or not. Patients who did not experience SUDEP served as controls. Results and conclusions: Eleven out of the 1092 included patients (1%) experienced SUDEP, all with refractory symptomatic epilepsy, but none of them had pets in their homes at the time of death. In contrast, the frequency of pet-ownership in the control group (n = 1081) was 61%. According to previous studies there are some indications that human health is directly related to companionship with animals in a way that domestic animals prevent illness and facilitate recovery of patients. Companion animals can buffer reactivity against acute stress, diminish stress perception and improve physical health. These factors may reduce cardiac arrhythmias and seizure frequency, factors related to SUDEP. Companion animals may have a positive effect on well-being, thus irnproving epilepsy outcome. (c) 2012 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phenotypical characterization and adhesin identification in Escherichia coli strains isolated from dogs with urinary tract infections

Pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli are the most common bacteria associated with urinary tract infections in both humans and companion animals. Standard biochemical tests may be useful in demonstrating detailed phenotypical characteristics of these strains. Thirteen strains of E. coli isolated from dogs with UTIs were submitted to biochemical tests, serotyping for O and H antigens and antimicrobial resistance testing. Furthermore, the presence of papC, sfa, and afa genes was evaluated by PCR, and genetic relationships were established using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR). The antimicrobial that showed the highest resistance rate among the isolates was nalidixic acid (76.9%), followed by cephalotin (69.2%), sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim (61.5%), tetracycline (61.5%), streptomycin (53.8%), ciprofloxacin (53.8%), ampicillin (46.2%), gentamicin (30.8%) and chloramphenicol (23.1%). No isolate was resistant either to meropenem or nitrofurantoin. Among the five clusters that were identified using ERIC-PCR, one cluster (A) had only one strain, which belonged to a serotype with zoonotic potential (O6:H31) and showed the genes papC+, sfa+, afa-. Strains with the genes papC-, sfa+, afa- were found in two other clusters (C and D), whereas all strains in clusters B and E possessed papC-, sfa-, afa- genes. Sucrose and raffinose phenotypic tests showed some ability in discriminating clusters A, B and C from clusters D and E.

Strategie nutrizionali finalizzate alla modulazione del microbiota intestinale del cane e del gatto

Il microbiota intestinale riveste un ruolo importantissimo nell’influenzare la salute dell’ospite. È stato dimostrato come la composizione della dieta possa condizionare lo stato di benessere dell’animale, inducendo importanti cambiamenti tra le popolazioni batteriche che coabitano l’intestino; l’uso di prebiotici rappresenta una delle strategie maggiormente impiegate per modulare positivamente la composizione ed il metabolismo dell’ecosistema gastroenterico. Il presente progetto di dottorato si è proposto di indagare gli effetti sul microbiota intestinale del cane e del gatto di diete a diverso tenore proteico e contenenti proteine di diversa digeribilità in presenza o meno di sostanze prebiotiche. Inoltre, sono stati valutati gli effetti della presenza di un estratto di Yucca schidigera e di tannini sulla microflora intestinale del gatto. In ultima istanza, sono state valutate le conseguenze di dosi crescenti di lattosio sul benessere intestinale del cane. I risultati del presente studio hanno rilevato come le sostanze prebiotiche influiscono sulla composizione e sul metabolismo della microflora del cane e del gatto, e come l’impiego di diete ricche di proteine possa avere conseguenze negative sull’ambiente intestinale. Tuttavia, la presenza di oligosaccaridi non sembra contrastare gli effetti negativi che diete ad alto tenore proteico potrebbero avere sull’ecosistema intestinale dell’animale. Nella successiva prova è stato evidenziato come l’inclusione nella dieta di estratti di Yucca e tannini possa contribuire a mitigare l’emanazione di sostanze maleodoranti dalle deiezioni degli animali da compagnia. Nel corso dell’ultima prova, nonostante non siano state osservate differenze tra le popolazioni microbiche intestinali, la somministrazione di dosi crescenti di lattosio ha indotto una certa riduzione delle fermentazioni proteolitiche microbiche. Ulteriori studi sono necessari per stabilire in che misura la dieta e gli alimenti “funzionali” possano influire sul microbiota intestinale del cane e del gatto e come queste informazioni possono essere utilizzate per migliorare miratamente l’alimentazione e lo stato di salute degli animali da compagnia.

Accidental infection of veterinary personnel with Mycobacterium tuberculosis at necropsy: a case study

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the main cause of human tuberculosis. Infection in companion animals is mainly acquired from close contact to a diseased human patient and hence rarely diagnosed in countries with low tuberculosis incidence rates. Therefore the general awareness of the disease might be low. Here we report the potential risk of infection for veterinary personnel with M. tuberculosis during the clinical and pathological examination of a dog with unexpected disseminated tuberculosis. The dog had presented with symptoms of a central nervous system disease; rapid deterioration prevented a complete clinical workup, however. Post-mortem examination revealed systemic mycobacteriosis, and M. tuberculosis was identified by PCR amplification of DNA extracts from paraffin-embedded tissue sections and spoligotyping. Contact investigations among the owners and veterinary personnel using an IFN-? release assay indicated that the index dog did not infect humans during its lifetime. Serological and IFN-? release assay results of one of two cats in direct contact with the index dog, however, suggested that transmission of M. tuberculosis might have occurred. Importantly, all three pathologists performing the necropsy on the dog tested positive. Accidental infection was most likely due to inhalation of M. tuberculosis containing aerosols created by using an electric saw to open the brain cavity. As a consequence routine necropsy procedures have been adapted and a disease surveillance program, including tuberculosis, has been initiated. Our results highlight the importance of disease awareness and timely diagnosis of zoonotic infectious agents in optimizing work safety for veterinary personnel.

Low rate of methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococcal colonization of veterinary personnel in Hong Kong

Elevated rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage have been reported in veterinary personnel, suggesting an occupational colonization risk. Hong Kong veterinary personnel (n = 150) were sampled for coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) nasal colonization. Risk factors for colonization were assessed by questionnaire. Isolates were identified and antibiotic susceptibility determined. All CPS isolates were investigated for mecA carriage, SCCmec type and PVL genes. Two subjects were colonized with methicillin-resistant CPS: one with MRSA (spa type t002 (CC5), SCCmec type II) and one with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) (MLST type ST71, SCCmec type II-III). MLST type ST71 S. pseudintermedius strain is the predominant MRSP clone circulating in dogs in Europe and in Hong Kong. The low MR-CPS colonization rate may be associated with low levels of large animal exposure or low rates of MRSA colonization of companion animals in Hong Kong. Colonization with non-aureus CPS, which may cause human infection, must also be considered in veterinary personnel.

A comprehensive test system to identify suitable antibodies against p53 for immunohistochemical analysis of canine tissues

The tumour suppressor p53 is commonly detected in tissues of companion animals by means of antibodies raised against the human protein. The following three-step procedure was devised to test the suitability of such antibodies for immunohistochemistry on canine tissues. (1) Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses on bacterially expressed recombinant canine protein to assess human-to-canine cross-reactivity. (2) Immunohistochemistry of cultured, UVB-irradiated canine keratinocytes to evaluate suitability for detection of endogenous p53. (3) Immunohistochemistry on tissue arrays to further substantiate suitability of the antibodies on a panel of normal and neoplastic human and canine tissues. Five of six antibodies cross-reacted with recombinant canine p53. Three of these (PAb122, PAb240, CM-1) also immunolabelled stabilized wild type p53 in cell cultures and elicited a consistent, characteristic labelling pattern in a subset of tumours. However, two alternative batches of polyclonal antibody CM-1 failed to detect p53 in cell cultures, while showing a characteristic labelling pattern of a completely different subset of tumours and unspecific labelling of normal tissues. The test system described is well suited to the selection of antibodies for immunohistochemical p53 detection. The results emphasize the need to include appropriate controls, especially for polyclonal antibodies.

Bovine viral diarrhoea: a playground for virologists and a target for eradication.

197 adverse reactions of Swissmedic-authorized veterinary medicinal products were reported during the year 2012 (2011: 167). Species and drug classes remain unchanged over the years: most of the reports related to reactions following the use of antiparasitic products (37.6 %), antiinfectives (15.7 %) or non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (11.7 %) in companion animals (94 dogs and 53 cats) followed by cattle/calves (29). Additionally, 45 cases transmitted by the Swiss Toxicological Information Centre in Zürich were processed. We discuss a paradoxical reaction under the potential influence of acepromazine as well as a modified protocol for treating permethrin intoxication in cats. Finally, the vaccinovigilance program received 95 declarations following the application of various vaccines, mainly to dogs or cats.

Swiss Feline Cancer Registry: A Retrospective Study of the Occurrence of Tumours in Cats in Switzerland from 1965 to 2008

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in companion animals. Information on the epidemiology of cancer is instrumental for veterinary practitioners in patient management; however, spontaneously arising tumours in companion animals also resemble those in man and can provide useful data in combating cancer. Veterinary cancer registries for cats are few in number and have often remained short-lived. This paper presents a retrospective study of tumours in cats in Switzerland from 1965 to 2008. Tumour diagnoses were coded according to topographical and morphological keys of the International Classification of Oncology for Humans (ICD-O-3). Correlations between breed, sex and age were then examined using a multiple logistic regression model. A total of 18,375 tumours were diagnosed in 51,322 cats. Of these, 14,759 (80.3%) tumours were malignant. Several breeds had significantly lower odds ratios for developing a tumour compared with European shorthair cats. The odds of a cat developing a tumour increased with age, up to the age of 16 years, and female cats had higher risk of developing a tumour compared with male cats. Skin (4,970; 27.05%) was the most frequent location for tumours, followed by connective tissue (3,498; 19.04%), unknown location (2,532; 13.78%) and female sexual organs (1,564; 8.51%). The most common tumour types were epithelial tumours (7,913; 43.06%), mesenchymal tumours (5,142; 27.98%) and lymphoid tumours (3,911; 21.28%).

Relatório de estágio em clínica e cirurgia de animais de companhia

O estágio curricular a que se refere o presente relatório foi realizado no Hospital Veterinário do Baixo Alentejo, em Beja, entre 15/09/2014 e 15/03/2015, sob orientação do Dr. André Cláudio. Na primeira parte é apresentada a casuística acompanhada durante o estágio e a segunda parte consiste numa monografia referente ao tema “Dirofilariose canina”, onde é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica seguida de um caso clínico. A dirofilariose canina é uma doença endémica em Portugal causada por nemátodes do género Dirofilaria, que têm como hospedeiros definitivos preferenciais os canídeos domésticos. A prevalência desta doença tem vindo a aumentar, contudo, é pouco conhecida pela população em geral. Devido à sua morbilidade e caráter zoonótico tem grande importância Médico- Veterinária e para os proprietários de cães;Abstract: Traineeship report in clinic and surgery of companion animals. The traineeship referred to in this report was carried out at the Veterinary Hospital of the Lower Alentejo, in Beja, between 15/09/2014 and 15/03/2015, under the guidance of Dr. André Cláudio. The first part presents the casuistry observed during this traineeship and the second part consists of a monograph regarding the topic "Canine heartworm disease" where a literature review followed by a case is presented. The canine heartworm disease is an endemic disease in Portugal caused by nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria, whose preferred definitive hosts are domestic canids. The prevalence of this disease has increased, however, is little known by the general population. Due to its morbidity and zoonotic characteristics, has great importance in the Medical Veterinary field and for the dog owners.

An outline of the histology of domestic animals : to be used in connection with a textbook of human histology for students of veterinary medicine, agriculture, and zoology, and for veterinary pahologists,

Reproduced from type-written copy.

A general natural history or, new and accurate descriptions of the animals, vegetables, and minerals, of the different parts of the world : with their virtues and uses ... in medicine and mechanics : ... including the history of the materia medica, pictoria, and tinctoria, of the present and earlier ages : as also observations ... with a great number of figures, elegantly engraved /

Mode of access: Internet.

Ladies' indispensable assistant. Being a companion for the sister, mother, and wife ... Also, safe directions for the management of children ... a great variety of valuable recipes, forming a complete system of family medicine ... To which is added one of the best systems of cookery.

Mode of access: Internet.

New manual of homœpathic veterinary medicine : an easy and comprehensive arrangement of diseases, adapted to the use of every owner of domestic animals /

Translation of: Homöopathische thierheilkunst.

The medical companion, or family physician; treating of the diseases of the United States, with their symptoms, causes, cure and means of prevention: common cases in surgery, as fractures, dislocations, &c. the management and diseases of women and children. A dispensatory, for preparing family medicine, and a glossary explaining technical terms. To which are added, a brief anatomy and physiology of the human body, shewing, on rational principles, the cause and cure of diseases: an essay on hygiene, or the art of preserving health, without the aid of medicine: an American materia medica, pointing out the virtues and doses of our medicinal plants. Also, the nurse's guide,

Mode of access: Internet.