SummaryThe present work was designed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites and some vector-borne pathogens in dogs in Bulgaria. A total of 172 owned dogs, keeping outside, were included in the study. Fecal samples were examined using standard flotation and sedimentation methods. Blood samples were processed by Knott’s technique, SNAP™ 4Dx Plus Test (IDEXX) and Angio Detect™ Test (IDEXX). The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 64.5%. Eggs of hookworms (Ancylostoma sp. and Uncinaria sp.) were the most frequently detected (54.1%), followed by Trichuris vulpis (15.1%), Capillaria sp. (11.0%), Toxocara canis (6.4%), Cystoisospora sp. (4.1%), Sarcocystis sp. (2.3%), Toxascaris leonina (1.7%), Taenia sp. (1.2%) and Linguatula serrata (0.6%). In addition, hookworms were the most commonly involved in the cases of single infection (20.3%). Combinations between Capillaria sp./hookworms and T. vulpis/hookworms were the most common co-infections (4.1% and 2.9%, respectively). Blood samples revealed the presence of antibodies against Ehrlichia sp. (13.4%), Anaplasma sp. (13.4%) and Borrelia burgdorferi (1.7%). Antigens of Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum were detected in 10.5% and 0.6% of the samples tested, respectively. Microfilariae of Dirofilaria repens were found in 5.8% of the blood samples. Additionally, the prevalence of D. immitis and Ehrlichia sp. was significantly higher in adult than in young dogs (p<0.05). In contrast, the gender was not considered as a risk factor contributing to the occurrence of infections.

In this study are presented clinical approaches in lambs with experimentally induced haemonchosis. Eighteen lambs aged about 3 months were included in the investigation. The animals were divided into 3 groups and were inoculated by Haemonchus contortus infective larvae (L 3 ) in following order: G1 -6000 L 3 ; G2 -4000 L 3 and G3 served as a noninfected control group. Clinical signs were observed weekly for 77 days. Simultaneously, we also studied the changes in bodyweight and egg shedding from the lambs. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of infective dose on degree of clinical manifestation and bodyweight, and also a rate of egg excretion by feces. The results showed that the most common clinical signs in haemonchosis are weakness, lethargy, lack of appetite, thirst, increased heart rate and breathing, pale conjunctiva and gingiva and mushy stools. Those signs started at 21 st day after infection and were most pronounced about 35 th day in G2 and 49 th day in G1.

SummaryThe present report describes the first clinically manifested and serologically proven case of Dirofilaria immitis infection in a cat in Bulgaria. A 10-year-old intact male cat was referred to the Small Animal Clinic, Trakia University with a history of anorexia, weight loss, intermittent coughing and itching skin lesions on the head and neck. Physical examination revealed abnormal heart sounds and respiration, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, and generalized enlargement of the lymph nodes. Mild infestation with hard ticks and fleas was also detected during the initial skin inspection. In addition, adult Otodectes cynotis mites were observed in the skin lesions. The fecal sample was positive for larvae of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and eggs of Toxocara cati. Blood serology revealed antigens of D. immitis as well as antibodies against both feline immunodeficiency virus and D. immitis. Thoracic radiographic findings included a pronounced generalized reticular interstitial pattern; alveolar and bronchial shades with multiple nodular thickenings throughout the lungs. Electrocardiography demonstrated a sinus tachycardia, a peaked P-wave (P-pulmonale) and an abnormally low ST-segment. The clinical signs disappeared after treatment with selamectin, doxycycline and corticosteroids. Despite the improvement in general health condition, the cat suddenly died several months later.

The present study aimed to examine two glomerular markers (urinary albumin, uALB; urinary C-reactive protein, uCRP) in healthy dogs and in dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis, and to identify some possible changes in these markers after therapy with ivermectin and doxycycline. Twenty dogs with D. immitis infection positive by both the Knott method and SNAP 4Dx (IDEXX, USA) test were included in the research, as well as twelve clinically healthy dogs of similar age which served as controls. Glomerular biomarkers (meаn, SD) increased significantly in dogs with heartworm disease (uAlB/Creatinine, Cr mg/g: 527.57±312.54; uCRP/Cr mg/g: 0.520±0.624), compared to control dogs (uAlB/Cr mg/g: 94.44±56.50; uCRP/Cr mg/g: below detection limit). Six months after the initial examination and the simultaneous treatment, all glomerular markers were considerably decreased and did not differ from those in healthy animals. In conclusion, the observed changes in glomerular biomarkers clearly indicated the transient nature of glomerular dysfunction caused by the heartworm infection in dogs, which may be of clinical relevance. Keywords: Dirofilaria immitis infection, Dogs, Nephropathy, Glomerular markers Köpeklerde Dirofilaria immitis Enfeksiyonu Nedenli Transient Glomerüler Disfonksiyon ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı sağlıklı ve Dirofilaria immitis ile enfekte köpeklerde ve ivermectin ve doxcycline ile tedavi sonrasında iki glomerüler markırdaki (üriner albumin, uALB; üriner C-reaktif protein, uCRP) muhtemel değişimleri araştırmaktır. Çalışmada Knott metodu and SNAP 4Dx (IDEXX, USA) testleriyle D. immitis ile enfekte olduğu tespit edilen yirmi köpek ile birlikte kontrol olarak aynı yaş grubunda klinik olarak sağlıklı 12 adet köpek kullanıldı. Kontrol grubuyla (uAlB/Cr mg/g: 94.44±56.50; uCRP/Cr mg/g: tespit limitinin altı) karşılaştırıldığında kalp kurdu olan köpeklerin glomerüler biomarkırlarında (ortalama, Standart sapma) (uAlB/Kreatin, Cr mg/g: 527.57±312.54; uCRP/Cr mg/g: 0.520±0.624) artma olduğu belirendi. İlk bakıdan sekiz ay sonra ve takip eden tedavi sonrasında tüm glomerüler markırların dikkati çeken derecede azaldığı ve sağlıklı olan hayvanların değerlerinden farklılık göstermediği belirlendi. Sonuç olarak, biomarkır değerlerinde gözlenen değişikliklerin köpeklerde kalp kurdu enfeksiyonu nedenli glomerüler disfonksiyonun değişken doğasını açıkça ortaya koyduğu ve bu durumun klinik değeri olabileceği gösterilmiştir.

No abstract

No abstract

The information about abamectin efficacy in cases of feline aelurostrongylosis is scarce. Six naturally infected cats were treated with combination of abamectin and praziquantel every seven days until two consecutive negative faecal test results. Abamectin was administered at a dose rate of 0.1 mg/kg. For the evaluation of the efficacy, the number of larvae per gram (LPG) was assessed 30 and 60 days after the first treatment by the Baermann’s technique. After the first 4 administrations, a rapid decline in LPG was observed and after the 8th administration, all animals were free of A. abstrusus larvae. Although the results affirm that abamectin may be successfully used in cases of aelurostrogylosis in cats, further clinical studies are needed to validate this pilot investigation.