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.

Background The diagnosis of otoacariasis due to Otodectes cynotis is based on the visualization of the parasite, either directly by otoscopy or indirectly after microscopic examination of cerumen collected by several methods. Objectives To compare the sensitivity of three techniques: conventional handheld otoscopy, Volkmann's curette sampling and cotton‐tipped swabbing. Animals Five dogs and 12 cats (30 naturally infested ears). Methods and materials For each case, following otoscopy, the order of examinations (swab or curette) was chosen randomly and the samples were observed on a slide mixed with lactophenol and covered with a coverslip. Parasite detection was noted as positive or negative and parasitic stages were counted separately. Results The diagnostic sensitivity of otoscopy alone was 67% (positive in 20 of 30 cases), using the curette sampling it was 93% (28/30) and 57% (17/30) for the swabbing. The curette technique had a significantly higher sensitivity than classic ear‐swabbing (P = 0.001) or otoscopy alone (P = 0.02). Combining otoscopy and the curette, we obtained a sensitivity of 100% compared to 86% when otoscopy and swabbing were combined. Moreover, the parasite count in the curette samples (average 25 ± 30 SD) was significantly higher than the swab samples (4.5 ± 11) (P < 0.001). Conclusions and clinical importance When suspecting O. cynotis infestation, otoscopic examination should be performed. To confirm the nature of the parasites observed or whenever this examination result is negative, doubtful or cannot be performed, the curettage sampling method for microscopic cerumen examination is recommended.

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and Ghent, Belgium were searched in a similar manner. The time periods included in the searches varied by institution.Results -At UCD, 83 of 346 (24%) of donkeys had skin disease noted in their records. The most common diagnoses were insect bite hypersensitivity, sarcoid and habronemiasis. At Nantes, 36 of 144 (25%) had skin disease and the most common diagnoses were sarcoid and superficial pyoderma. At Utrecht 23 of 143 (16%) had skin disease and the most common diagnosis was dermatophytosis. At Ghent, 14 of 320 (4%) had skin disease and the most common diagnosis was sarcoid.Conclusions and clinical importance -Cutaneous conditions in donkeys are common. Age, sex and breed predisposition and the most common diagnoses varied with geographical location. Clinicians should include a dermatological examination regardless of the reason for presentation. Statistical analysisBreed and sex predisposition for skin disease was measured using Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-square test when there were more than five donkeys in a breed. Association between

Background -Different sets of criteria are available in veterinary dermatology for the diagnosis of canine atopic dermatitis (cAD); there are limited data to assess their reliability.Hypothesis/Objectives -The aim of this study was to assess the discriminative and predictive ability of four sets in diagnosing cAD in a population of dogs with different skin diseases.Animals -Two hundred and fifty dogs examined in the dermatology unit of a veterinary teaching hospital.Methods and materials -Dogs were diagnosed with cAD, flea infestation (FI), flea bite hypersensitivity (FBH), sarcoptic mange (SM) and other skin diseases (OD). FI, FBH and SM were pooled in one group of dermatoses mimicking cAD (MD). All nonatopic dogs were grouped as a "global population" (GP). Four criteria sets were applied to all dogs. For each set of criteria, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), likelihood ratios (LR) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated.Results -When applied to the GP, sensitivities ranged from 54 to 83%, specificities from 68 to 75% and PPVs from 35 to 43%. NPVs ranged from 87 to 94%. LRs and DORs were poor. When applied to MD, sensitivities remained unchanged, specificities and PPV were mildly higher, whereas NPVs were mildly lower and LRs and DORs were comparable.Conclusions and clinical importance -This study showed that each set of criteria had a low diagnostic reliability when used alone. The use of more discriminant criteria integrated into a thorough clinical approach excluding MDs should be considered.

Actinobacillosis usually is a sporadic infection that affects the tongue in cattle (“wooden tongue”) with possible spread to the digestive tract. Two 4‐year‐old Rouge‐des‐Prés cows from a single French beef herd were referred for chronic (2‐6 months) swelling and cutaneous nodules in the distal hind limbs. In addition to cutaneous signs, physical examination disclosed cachexia, lameness, lymphadenitis of the hind limbs, and pneumonia in both cows. Cytologic examination of direct skin smears was inconclusive, and no parasites were observed in examination of multiple skin scrapings. Histopathological examination of skin and lung biopsy specimens identified chronic, diffuse, severe pyogranulomatous dermatitis, associated with Splendore‐Hoeppli phenomenon and intralesional Gram‐negative bacteria. Cultures from skin, lymph nodes, and lungs (both cows were euthanized for welfare reasons) identified a Pasteurellaceae organism, confirmed as Actinobacillus lignieresii by partial sequencing of the rpoB gene. This report emphasizes that actinobacillosis can appear as a small outbreak in cattle with cutaneous and respiratory signs.

Summary Cutaneous expression of behavioural processes remains unexplored in donkeys. This case report describes a case of traumatic alopecia in two donkeys secondary to mutual hair plucking behaviour. Two genetically unrelated, male castrated, 4‐year‐old Cotentin donkeys living together were presented for a 2‐year history of alopecic, mainly nummular, nonpruritic lesions developing on the back, loin and croup. The general physical examination and behavioural assessment were unremarkable. Trichoscopy, scrapings and cytology were performed. Superficial bacterial infection was diagnosed but a 2‐week course of antibacterial treatment showed no improvement. Histopathological examination showed features compatible with traumatic alopecia and consistent with several behavioural causes of alopecia resembling human trichotillomania or acute traction alopecia, canine traction alopecia, feline self‐induced alopecia and murine barbering. Separation of the donkeys led to complete long‐term remission. Clinical and histopathological findings in our case share lots of similar features with the different mechanical traumatic alopecic disorders mentioned above, making it impossible to simply classify the described affection. Whether alopecic lesions resulted from an exclusive behavioural process (either abnormal excessive mutual grooming or other social interactions) or were associated with underlying causes of pruritus is uncertain. Mechanical alopecia secondary to a behavioural process should therefore be suspected in cases of permanent patchy alopecic nummular lesions on donkeys living in groups.

Background Hamsters are popular companion animals which may present to veterinarians for treatment of skin diseases. Most descriptions of dermatoses in hamsters have primarily been in case reports and in text books. Hypothesis/Objectives To document skin diseases and their prevalence in companion hamsters examined in northern California, USA, and Nantes, France, and to investigate predilections for the most common conditions documented in medical records over a 33 year or 15 year period, respectively. Animals One hundred and one hamsters from two hospital populations. Methods and material A computerized search of medical records of all hamsters seen at the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC‐Davis in California, USA, from 1 January 1985 to 1 January 2018, was performed using the key search words “skin” and “dermatitis”. The medical records of all hamsters presenting to the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Nantes, from 1 September 1998 to 1 December 2013, were reviewed for skin diseases. The presence of lesions noted in key search words for the California records were used as inclusion guidelines for both institutions. Cases of suspected mammary neoplasia were excluded. Results Of the 65 hamsters seen in California, 34 (54%) had skin disease; of a total of 164 hamsters in Nantes, 67 (41%) had skin disease. Nodules were the most common lesions noted by both institutions. Conclusions and clinical importance Cutaneous conditions in companion hamsters are common. Clinicians should include a dermatological examination when examining these rodents.