Use of activity monitors for assessment of pruritus in an acute model of canine atopic dermatitis

Schwab-Richards, Rachel; Prost, Christine; Steffan, Jean; Seewald, Wolfgang; Nenci, Chiara; Roosje, Petra

doi:10.1111/vde.12133

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…One study reported a correlation between wrist accelerometer data and clinical assessments of disease severity, extent and intensity as well as AD-associated chemokine markers [ 31 ]. Three previous studies in dogs [ 9 , 10 , 32 ] have evaluated the use of collar-mounted accelerometers for assessment of pruritus. Using Actiwatch ® monitors, higher mean activity levels were seen in AD dogs compared to healthy dogs during the day, evening and overnight [ 9 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using Actiwatch ® monitors, higher mean activity levels were seen in AD dogs compared to healthy dogs during the day, evening and overnight [ 9 ]. Two studies found strong correlations between nocturnal Acti-Cal ® accelerometer data and video analysis of scratching [ 10 , 32 ]. In flea-sensitized dogs, the accelerometer also detected differences between baseline and post-challenge periods as well as between prednisolone-treated and untreated groups [ 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two studies found strong correlations between nocturnal Acti-Cal ® accelerometer data and video analysis of scratching [ 10 , 32 ]. In flea-sensitized dogs, the accelerometer also detected differences between baseline and post-challenge periods as well as between prednisolone-treated and untreated groups [ 32 ]. Overall, these data show that accelerometers have been used successfully to monitor pruritic activity in groups of dogs, although associations with subjective assessments of itch have not been consistently found.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of Accelerometer Activity Monitors to Detect Changes in Pruritic Behaviors: Interim Clinical Data on 6 Dogs

Wernimont¹,

Thompson

Mickelsen³

et al. 2018

Sensors

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Veterinarians and pet owners have limited ability to assess pruritic behaviors in dogs. This pilot study assessed the capacity of the Vetrax® triaxial accelerometer to measure these behaviors in six dogs with pruritus likely due to environmental allergens. Dogs wore the activity monitor for two weeks while consuming their usual pet food (baseline), then for eight weeks while consuming a veterinary-exclusive pet food for dogs with suspected non-food-related skin conditions (Hill’s Prescription Diet® Derm DefenseTM Canine dry food). Veterinarians and owners completed questionnaires during baseline, phase 1 (days 1–28) and phase 2 (days 29–56) without knowledge of the activity data. Continuous 3-axis accelerometer data was processed using proprietary behavior recognition algorithms and analyzed using general linear mixed models with false discovery rate-adjusted p values. Veterinarian-assessed overall clinical signs of pruritus were significantly predicted by scratching (β 0.176, p = 0.008), head shaking (β 0.197, p < 0.001) and sleep quality (β −0.154, p < 0.001), while owner-assessed quality of life was significantly predicted by scratching (β −0.103, p = 0.013) and head shaking (β −0.146, p < 0.001). Among dogs exhibiting pruritus signs eating the veterinary-exclusive food, the Vetrax® sensor provided an objective assessment of clinically relevant pruritic behaviors that agreed with owner and veterinarian reports.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of Accelerometer Activity Monitors to Detect Changes in Pruritic Behaviors: Interim Clinical Data on 6 Dogs

Wernimont¹,

Thompson

Mickelsen³

et al. 2018

Sensors

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“…There is currently no properly validated canine model of pruritus to reproduce the itch associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) of dogs and humans. Although a "canine model of atopic pruritus" was published recently, this model (laboratory beagles sensitized to house dust mite [HDM]) showed only inconsistent allergen-induced itch behaviour (1). Similarly, the application of cowhage spicules induces inconsistent itch in Maltese-beagle atopic (MBA) dogs, and this makes such model unsuitable for the evaluation of new therapeutic options (2).…”

Section: Short Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of an Allergen-induced Atopic Itch Model in Dogs: A Preliminary Report

Paps¹,

Bäumer²,

Olivry³

2016

Acta Derm Venerol

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There is currently no properly validated canine model of pruritus to reproduce the itch associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) of dogs and humans. Although a "canine model of atopic pruritus" was published recently, this model (laboratory beagles sensitized to house dust mite [HDM]) showed only inconsistent allergen-induced itch behaviour (1). Similarly, the application of cowhage spicules induces inconsistent itch in Maltese-beagle atopic (MBA) dogs, and this makes such model unsuitable for the evaluation of new therapeutic options (2). Recently, injections of recombinant canine interleukin-31 were found to induce itch in dogs (3). Importantly, modelling itch by stimulating only one pathway is fraught with the risk that interventions tested using such activators might not necessarily translate into clinical efficacy in atopic dogs or humans because of pruritogenic pathway redundancy. There is a model of flea allergy-induced itch, but it is poorly characterized (4).Our objectives were to validate a reproducible model of atopic itch in HDM-sensitized MBA dogs (5) in response to topically applied HDM. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of prednisolone, a standard-of-care anti-allergic drug. MATERIALS AND METHODSSix MBA dogs, sensitized against HDM as described earlier (5), were used for this study. To induce itch and skin lesions, 25 mg of lyophilized Dermatophagoides farinae HDM was suspended in 1 ml mineral oil and applied to an area of approximately 200 cm 2 on the previously clipped right side of the abdomen. Dogs were video-monitored for 24 h before (i.e. "baseline") and then 24 h after each HDM application. The HDM was applied once to 6 dogs and 3 times, one day apart, to 4 of the same dogs. To determine if the itch induction was reproducible, the 3 daily challenges were repeated 3 times, at least one month apart, in 4 dogs.Behavior suggesting pruritus (i.e. licking, scratching, biting) at the site of HDM application on the right side of the abdomen was recorded in 5-second epochs, which were added to yield a duration of itch manifestations (DIM) in seconds per 24 h. In parallel, accelerometers (Philips Respironics mini Mitter Acticals, Bend, OR) were used as an alternative to the direct visualization of pruritus-related movements by video. The correlation between data collected with collar-mounted accelerometers and those obtained with concurrent video monitoring was calculated.Inflammatory skin lesions at the site of HDM administration 24 h after challenge were graded as follows: erythematous macules, oedema, papules/pustules and excoriations were scored as 0 (absent), 1 (faint, mild), 2 (moderate) or 3 (strong, severe). The grades for each lesion were added to yield a skin lesion score (SLS) with a maximal score of 12 (6). To assess if there was a relationship between pruritus behavior and skin lesions, the correlation between SLS and DIM was calculated.After another wash-out period of at least 4 weeks, a proofof-concept therapeutic trial was done in 4 of the 6 dogs used previously. These were treated 3...

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“…While significant, exact pruritic behaviors could not be specified. Authors of another study observed that activity monitor data and observed behavior did not always coincide indicating a lack of specificity [ 4 ]. Each of these studies suggested increased overall activity in pruritic atopic dogs and sleep disturbance characterized by the increased activity during night-time hours.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wearable sensor shown to specifically quantify pruritic behaviors in dogs

Griffies¹,

Zutty

Sarzen³

et al. 2018

BMC Vet Res

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BackgroundWearable technology is an exciting new field in humans and animals. In dogs activity monitors have helped to provide objective measurement tools where pet owner observation had been the only source of information. Previous research has focused on measuring overall activity versus rest. This has been relatively useful in determining changes in activity in orthopedic disease or post-surgical cases [Malek et al., BMC Vet Res 8:185, 2012, Yashari et al., BMC Vet Res 11:146, 2015]. Assessment of pruritus via changes in activity, however, requires an assumption that increased activity is due to scratching or other pruritic behaviors. This is an inaccurate method with obvious flaws as other behaviors may also register as greater activity. The objective of this study was to validate the ability of a multidimensional high frequency sensor and advanced computer analysis system, (Vetrax®, AgLogica Holdings, Inc., Norcross, GA, USA) to specifically identify pruritic behaviors (scratching and head shaking). To establish differences between behaviors, sensor and time stamped video data were collected from 361 normal and pruritic dogs. Video annotations were made by two observers independently, while blinded to sensor data, and then evaluated for agreement. Annotations that agreed between the two were used for further analysis. The annotations specified behaviors at specific times in order to compare with sensor data. A computer algorithm was developed to interpret and differentiate between these behaviors. Test subject data was then utilized to test and score the system’s ability to accurately predict behaviors.ResultsResults for prediction of head shaking behavior included sensitivity and specificity of 72.16% and 99.78% respectively. Analysis of scratching produced sensitivity and specificity of 76.85% and 99.73% respectively. These results illustrate the ability of the system to accurately report both scratching and head shaking with an overall accuracy of 99.24% and 99.56% respectively.ConclusionsThis study validates the use of this system to accurately and objectively report scratching and head shaking in dogs. While a small portion of scratching or head shaking behaviors may be missed, as indicated by the sensitivity, when detected, the confidence that these behaviors occurred is extremely high. These factors make this system a very useful tool for objective assessment of pruritus in clinical and research settings.

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Use of activity monitors for assessment of pruritus in an acute model of canine atopic dermatitis

Abstract: Determination of night-time activity with activity monitors after allergen challenge appears to be an objective and practical way to assess pruritus in this experimental model of canine atopic dermatitis.

Cited by 11 publications

References 17 publications

Use of Accelerometer Activity Monitors to Detect Changes in Pruritic Behaviors: Interim Clinical Data on 6 Dogs

Use of Accelerometer Activity Monitors to Detect Changes in Pruritic Behaviors: Interim Clinical Data on 6 Dogs

Development of an Allergen-induced Atopic Itch Model in Dogs: A Preliminary Report

Wearable sensor shown to specifically quantify pruritic behaviors in dogs

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