Background: The anatomy of the canine oral cavity and its variations should be understood to facilitate clinical and surgical approaches. Several conditions can be identified during inspection of the oral cavity, including persistent deciduous teeth, enamel hypoplasia, gingival retraction, tooth abrasion and mobility, absence of dental elements, and periodontal disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the occurrence of dental disorders in dogs older than one year, from the microrregion Ilhéus - Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil. Materials, Methods &Results: A total of 74 dogs were evaluated immediately prior to surgical procedures for periodontal disease treatment. After visual inspection and examination with a millimeter probe, the dogs were classified into three groups according to the degree of periodontal disease. All other findings were recorded on an odontogram. Of the 74 dogs, 23 were classified as mild periodontal disease (mean age, 3.6 years), 26 as moderate periodontal disease (mean age, 5.7 years), and 25 as severe periodontal disease (mean age, 9.7 years). There was significant correlation (0.7 p ≤ 0.01) between age and severity of periodontal disease. Fifteen of the 74 dogs did not present any other dental disorder than periodontal disease. Of the remaining 59, nine showed a single dental problem, and 50 had more than one dental problem. Six dogs (of the breeds Pinscher, Yorkshire Terrier, and Lhasa Apso) had deciduous teeth. Of the nine deciduous teeth, all were canine (dental elements 104, 204, and 304). Ten dogs had dental fractures and of the 11 fractured teeth, three were canine (dental elements 104 and 404). Dental wear was observed in 25 dogs (154 teeth). Of the evaluated dogs, seven showed furcation defects and 10 had teeth mobility. Dental absence was observed in 47 dogs.Discussion: In the present study, increased age had a positive correlation with the degree of periodontal disease; this is consistent with reports in the literature, which indicate severity of periodontal disease increases with advancing age. In one of the three cases of enamel hypoplasia, the dog owner reported that the dog presented clinical signs compatible with distemper before the teeth changed, corroborating studies that showed that this virus can act on the enamel cells causing hypoplasia lesions. All the deciduous teeth found were dental elements 104, 204, and 304, consistent with literature reports that these teeth are among the most frequently affected by this condition. In the present paper, of all the teeth examined, the canine teeth presented the majority of fractures. Canine teeth are used for grasping and tearing food, and defense, and are more vulnerable to fractures. Dental wear was observed in many dogs in the present study, presenting as loss of dental surface caused by friction, abrasion, or erosion from a variety of causes. Dental wear may be considered as a physiological process as long as it does not compromise function. Dental mobility is an important clinical sign of periodontal disease and generates pain and discomfort to the patient; in the presence of advanced periodontitis, there is a marked loss of periodontal tissues, including alveolar bone, which is an irreversible process. As the dogs evaluated in the present study were older than one year, any absent teeth could be verified as being due to periodontal disease. In conclusion, disorders of the oral cavity have high prevalence in dogs and must receive special attention to be properly diagnosed and treated.
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is an infectious disease caused by a gram-negative bacterium Ehrlichia canis that has a high global prevalence that leads to high rates of morbidity and mortality in dogs. Among the clinical changes, ophthalmic diseases can lead to permanent blindness and it can be an important clinical sign. The objective of this study was to perform nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to diagnose E. canis infection in dogs with bilateral uveitis from the Veterinary Hospital of the Santa Cruz State University. Blood samples were collected and DNA for the molecular diagnosis was extracted from 66 adult dogs of both genders and mixed breeds diagnosed with bilateral uveitis. Thirtyfive (53%) dogs showed positive results and presented with iridocyclitis, posterior uveitis, panuveitis, or uveitis with secondary glaucoma. This study demonstrates that nested PCR is an important tool for the differential diagnosis of dogs with bilateral uveitis, as it provides evidence of the infectious agent in the animal. Key words: Eye. Glaucoma. Infectious Uveitis. Nested PCR. Rickettsia. ResumoErliquiose Monocítica Canina (EMC) é uma doença infecciosa causada por uma bactéria gram negativa da espécie Ehrlichia canis, que possui alta prevalência mundial e conduz a elevadas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade em cães. Dentre as alterações clínicas, as oftalmopatias podem levar a cegueira permanente e é ser um importante sinal clínico. Objetivou-se realizar nested-PCR para diagnosticar infecção por E. canis em cães portadores de uveíte bilateral provenientes da casuística do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz. Sessenta e seis cães adultos, de ambos sexos e raças variadas, diagnosticados com uveíte bilateral foram submetidos a coleta de sangue e o DNA para realização do diagnóstico molecular foi extraído destas amostras. Foram positivos no teste 35 (53%) cães, que apresentaram iridociclite, uveíte posterior, panuveíte ou uveíte com glaucoma secundário. Esse estudo demonstra a nested-PCR como ferramenta importante no diagnóstico diferencial de cães com uveíte
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is an important virus that can be differentiated into two serotypes: feline enteric coronavirus (FECoV) and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus (FIPV). Researchers have suggested that a mutation of FECoV to FIPV leads to the emergence of FIP, a disease with worldwide distribution and a high mortality rate. Furthermore, in December 2019, a human infectious disease, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), which is also caused by a coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) emerged, and clarity regarding its relationship with FCoV remains lacking. Studies have shown that cats are susceptible to infection with this novel coronavirus (i.e., SARS-CoV-2). The aim of the present study was to detect and semi-quantify the presence of feline antibodies to FIPV in cats examined at the Veterinary Hospital of Santa Cruz State University, microregion of Ilhéus and Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil, between January and April 2018. Blood samples were collected from 68 domestic cats to perform complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical tests, and an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to detect FCoV infection. Of the 68 samples evaluated, seropositivity was observed in 4.4% (3/68) at titers of 1:20; only one sample remained seropositive at titers of 1:40 and 1:80. Two positive animals exhibited CBC and biochemical values within the normal range, while the other positive animals exhibited a mild decrease in platelet count (173,000 uL-1), mild lymphocytosis (7395 uL-1), and mildly increased alkaline phosphatase level (134 uL-1). Twelve months after the tests, none of the positive animals exhibited clinical signs consistent with FIP. Although the IFAT can facilitate diagnosis of FPIV, it cannot be used to differentiate antibodies for the FECoV and FIPV serotypes. Results of the present study demonstrated that FCoV was present in the population studied, and is an important risk factor for the development of FIP. In addition, the new COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of studies investigating FCoV because it was not possible to rule out, until now, the possibility of FCoV mutations in infected cats if it encounters SARS-CoV-2.
Background: Tickborne diseases are frequent in tropical countries such as Brazil. Protozoa of the Babesia genus and bacteria of the Ehrlichia genus spread throughout the country with high prevalences in urban and rural areas, causing clinical or subclinical diseases in dogs. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of infection from Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia chaffeensis in the dog population in the municipality of Ituberá, Bahia, Brazil, and to verify the risk factors associated with the infections.Materials, Methods & Results: A cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of the following procedures: clinical examination and blood samples collection from 380 dogs and application of a structure questionnaire to dog owners to collect epidemiological data. All dogs were evaluated for the presence of ticks and clinical signs associated with the infections. Blood samples were collected and tested for Babesia spp. through capillary blood smears, indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFAT), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR); all the samples were also tested for E. chaffeensis through nested PCR. Intra-erythrocyte piroplasms were visualized in the blood smears of two animals (2/380; 0.5%) in the cytology exams. Anti-B. canis antibodies were detected in 140/380 (36.8%) dogs, at 1:40 dilution. By PCR, 147/380 (38.7%) dogs tested positive for infection by Babesia sp., but no animal was infected by E. chaffeensis. Only 115/380 dogs (30.3%) were infested by ticks. In total, 223/380 dogs (58.7%) were found infected by Babesia spp. No clinical signs were it found to be significant for the infection. The infected (Ht = 40%) and uninfected dogs’ (Ht = 39%) hematocrit averages were not found to significantly differ (P = 0.47). No hematological changes were found to be significant for the disease. The evaluated variables sex, habitat (urban or rural), exposure to other dogs, age, and infestation by ticks were not found to be risk factors. The condition of semirestriction of 175/223 (78.4%) dogs was found as a risk factor for the infection (P = 0.01; OR = 1.75; IC 95% = 1.10-2.78).Discussion: The low detection from blood smears was inferior to the lowest prevalences found in Brazil. On the other hand, the high seroprevalence rate by IFAT observed in this study was found in other Brazilian states. The low infection prevalence in the cytologic analysis associated with high seroprevalence are characteristics of chronic or subclinical infections. The high seroprevalence rates may also indicate chronicity and/or subclinical disease when associated with low parasitemia and may also be indicated by the low title variation observed. In this study, some dogs that tested positive for Babesia by serology tested negative in the PCR, which suggests a previously exposure to this pathogen and maintenance of detectable levels of antibodies, or that they were subclinical or chronic carriers of the infection. The equal hematocrit averages of dogs either carrying or not the disease suggests that the infected animals, especially the seemingly healthy dogs, are subclinical or chronic carriers, either asymptomatic or otherwise, that are adapted to the disease, which may contribute to the agent remaining in this population. The fact that no clinical sign of hematological change was significant for the infection may demonstrate the low pathogenicity of this agent in the evaluated population. The semi-restricted condition of the dogs as a risk factor is probably due to the increased exposure of these animals to canine babesiosis vectors during their movement through different neighborhood areas and villages in the municipality. The combination of diagnostic methods is important to identify the infection and determine its prevalence in epidemiological studies. Also, PCR was fundamental in this study, to identify the infection in asymptomatic dogs.
A Erliquiose Monocítica Canina (EMC) é uma hemoparasitose de grande importância no cenário brasileiro, acometendo cães através da picada do carrapato vetor Rhipicephalus sanguineus infectado durante o repasto sanguíneo. Esta doença tem alta prevalência principalmente em âmbito nacional, causando altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade. Alterações oftálmicas são consideradas de grande importância nos animais acometidos pois podem ser a única manifestação clínica da doença e causar cegueira permanente. Objetivou-se com este artigo abordar as principais alterações oftálmicas associadas à EMC, assim como sua fisiopatogenia, métodos diagnóstico, opções terapêuticas e prognóstico, visando o melhor entendimento desses sinais dentro da clínica médica de pequenos animais. Para tal, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica buscando estudos de correlação entre a EMC e as alterações oftálmicas em cães onde foi observado que a úvea é a porção mais acometida, por ser altamente vascularizada e imunossensível. Dessa forma, as consequências oftálmicas podem ser graves e permanentes quando o diagnóstico e o tratamento são tardios, e, portanto, essa atualização é de grande valia para os médicos veterinários que trabalham com a clínica geral de pequenos animais.
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