The concept that clinical failure is linked to increased MICs is debatable, because significantly higher concentrations (in most cases at least 1,000 × the MIC) of the antifungals that were included in our study are routinely used in formulated products.

BackgroundA multi-centre field trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of afoxolaner based chewables (NexGard® or NexGard Spectra®) for the treatment of generalised demodicosis caused by Demodex canis in dogs under field conditions in France, Italy and Poland.MethodsClient-owned dogs, diagnosed positive for Demodex mites by pre-treatment skin scrapings and presenting clinical signs of generalised demodicosis were included. Dogs were orally treated with afoxolaner three times at monthly intervals. Of the 50 dogs enrolled, 48 completed the whole study. Efficacy of the treatments was assessed monthly by Demodex mite counts and physical examination with special regard to the severity and extension of skin lesions.ResultsTreatments were well tolerated in all dogs and resulted in a rapid reduction of mites, with all post-treatment mite counts significantly lower than baseline. The number of mites was reduced by 87.6%, 96.5% and 98.1% on Days 28, 56 and 84, respectively. In addition, the skin lesion severity and extent scores as well as the pruritus were all significantly lower at all post-treatment visits compared to the pre-treatment assessment.ConclusionsThis clinical field study demonstrated that monthly administrations of afoxolaner in NexGard® or NexGard Spectra®, offered a convenient and reliable solution for the treatment of canine generalised demodicosis.

This study suggests that Tregs may be involved in the pathogenesis of CAD and that ciclosporin therapy does not affect the circulating lymphocyte subpopulations.

No abstract

BackgroundFeline nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis (NFHD) is a frequent cause of over‐grooming, scratching and skin lesions. Multimodal therapy often is necessary.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo investigate the efficacy of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA‐um) in maintaining methylprednisolone‐induced remission in NFHD cats.AnimalsFifty‐seven NFHD cats with nonseasonal pruritus were enrolled originally, of which 25 completed all study requirements to be eligible for analysis.Methods and materialsCats were randomly assigned to PEA‐um (15 mg/kg per os, once daily; n = 29) or placebo (n = 28) while receiving a 28 day tapering methylprednisolone course. Cats responding favourably to methylprednisolone were then administered only PEA‐um (n = 21) or placebo (n = 23) for another eight weeks, followed by a four week long treatment‐free period. Cats were maintained in the study until relapse or study end, whichever came first. Primary outcome was time to relapse. Secondary outcomes were pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS), SCORing Feline Allergic Dermatitis scale (SCORFAD) and owner Global Assessment Score (GAS).ResultsMean relapse time was 40.5 days (±7.8 SE) in PEA‐um treated cats (n = 13) and 22.2 days (±3.7 SE) for placebo (n = 12; P = 0.04). On Day 28, the severity of pruritus was lower in the PEA‐um treated cats compared to placebo (P = 0.03). Mean worsening of pruritus at the final study day was lower in the PEA‐um group compared to placebo (P = 0.04), whereas SCORFAD was not different between groups. Mean owner GAS at the final study day was better in the PEA‐um than the placebo‐treated group (P = 0.05).Conclusion and clinical importanceUltramicronized palmitoylethanolamide could represent an effective and safe option to delay relapse in NFHD cats.

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess whether, in contrast to serum creatinine, which is higher in Birman cats than in other breeds, the serum concentration of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is comparable in clinically healthy Birmans and in the general feline population. This could allow, in this breed, to better evaluate chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods Serum creatinine and SDMA were measured in clinically healthy Birmans (n = 50) and in cats of other breeds (n = 46), and the results were statistically compared. A breed-specific reference interval (RI) was established for Birmans and compared with the RI for the general feline population (0.0-14.0 µg/dl). Results Creatinine (1.58 ± 0.36 mg/dl) and SDMA (12.2 ± 2.8 µg/dl) were higher ( P <0.001) in Birmans than in cats of other breeds (1.19 ± 0.17 mg/dl; 10.3 ± 2.5 µg/dl). In 20/50 Birman cats (40.0%) serum creatinine was higher than both the non-breed-specific RI of our laboratory and the threshold recommended to classify cats as IRIS stage 2 (1.6 mg/dl). The concentration of SDMA was higher than the pre-existing RI in 10/50 Birmans (20.0%) and in four cats of other breeds (8.7%). Among Birmans, the proportion of cats with SDMA >14 µg/dl was lower ( P <0.017) than the proportion of cats with creatinine >1.60 mg/dl. However, the deviation from the upper limit of the RI was lower than the analytical variability of the method in 7/10 Birmans and in 4/4 cats of other breeds. The breed-specific RI (3.5-18.7 µg/dl) overlapped with the pre-existing one. Conclusions and relevance SDMA may be a better marker of CKD in Birman cats than creatinine when non-breed-specific RIs are utilised. The coupled analysis of creatinine and SDMA could help prevent errors in diagnosing and staging CKD in Birman cats.

The two kittens showed chronic blood loss which reflects the ability of D. gallinae mites to switch host. For the indoor cat, mites were presumed to be carried by birds regularly present on the balcony of the apartment. This demonstrates that mite infestation is possible even in urban areas, through contact with birds or their abandoned nests. When birds are not present, cats or other small mammals as well as humans, can be infested.

No abstract