A survey on the prevalence of diarrhea in a Portuguese population of police working dogs

Assessment of gastrointestinal health in racing Alaskan sled dogs using capsule endoscopy and inflammatory cytokines

OBJECTIVES

Exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome occurs in dogs and people and might compromise athlete performance by increasing intestinal permeability and causing gastrointestinal erosions. Racing sled dogs often receive acid suppressant prophylaxis which decreases the incidence of gastric erosions induced by exercise. The objectives were to quantify intestinal injury by measuring serum pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations before and after exercise and to evaluate gastrointestinal mucosa using video capsule endoscopy after exercise.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective study of 12 racing Alaskan sled dogs receiving approximately 1 mg/kg omeprazole once daily from the day before the race until race completion. Blood was drawn before and 8 to 10 hours after an endurance race for the quantification of cytokines. Gastrointestinal tract mucosa was assessed with video capsule endoscopy immediately post-race.

RESULTS

Eight of nine dogs (89%; 95% confidence interval 52 to 100%) had gastric erosions; all dogs (100%, 95% confidence interval 63 to 100%) had small intestinal erosions. Most of the dogs (seven of nine) had straw or foreign material present. Cytokine levels were not different from before to after the race.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Video capsule endoscopy identified gastrointestinal tract mucosal erosions after exercise in all dogs receiving once-daily omeprazole treatment, though other causes for the lesions besides exercise are possible.

Effect of the Administration of a Lyophilised Faecal Capsules on the Intestinal Microbiome of Dogs: A Pilot Study

Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is a promising strategy for modulating the gut microbiome. We aimed to assess the effect of the oral administration of capsules containing lyophilised faeces on dogs with diarrhoea for 2 months as well as evaluate their long-term influence on animals' faecal consistency and intestinal microbiome. This pilot study included five dogs: two used as controls and three with diarrhoea. Animals were evaluated for four months by performing a monthly faecal samples collection and physical examination, which included faecal consistency determination using the Bristol scale. The total number of viable bacteria present in the capsules was quantified and their bacterial composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which was also applied to the faecal samples. During the assay, no side effects were reported. Animals' faecal consistency improved and, after ending capsules administration, Bristol scale values remained stable in two of the three animals. The animals' microbiome gradually changed toward a composition associated with a balanced microbiota. After FMT, a slight shift was observed in its composition, but the capsules' influence remained evident during the 4-month period. Capsules administration seems to have a positive effect on the microbiota modulation; however, studies with more animals should be performed to confirm our observations.

A Comparison of Intra-Articular Blood Cell Secretome and Blood Cell Secretome with Triamcinolone Acetonide in Dogs with Osteoarthritis: A Crossover Study

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing welfare problem for dogs and a challenge to manage for the clinician, and most therapeutic options aim to control pain. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 2-way, 2-period crossover study, we aimed to evaluate the use of Blood Cell Secretome (BCS) administrated intra-articularly, with or without the combination with triamcinolone, in dogs with bilateral hip OA. BCS is an acellular orthobiologic containing anti-inflammatory and anabolic proteins produced from the patient’s own blood through extended coagulation in a defined environment. Fifteen dogs were initially assigned to a BCS group (BCSG, n = 5), a triamcinolone group (TG, n = 5), or a combination group (BCS+TG, n = 5). All had bilateral hip OA. After a 180-day follow-up, the crossover was performed with BCSG (n = 7) and BCS+TG (n = 7). BCSG received a single intra-articular administration of 3 mL of Blood Cell Secretome, and BCS+TG received BCS plus 0.5 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL). The volume in BCSG was corrected to 3.5 mL with saline. In all patients, both hips were treated. For treatment follow-up, a copy of the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (divided into pain interference score—PIS and Pain Severity Score—PSS), Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD), and Canine Orthopedic Index (COI, divided into function, gait, stiffness, and quality of life) was completed on days 0, 8, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180. Results were analyzed with the Mann−Whitney U test, effect size, and Kaplan−Meier estimators, followed by the log-rank test. p was set at <0.05. Patients of the sample had a mean age of 9.6 ± 2.9 years and a body weight of 29.2 ± 3.9 kg. Seven hips were classified as severe osteoarthritis, and eight were classified as moderate. No differences were found between groups at T0. Significant differences were observed in PSS scores at +8d, with BCS+TG exhibiting better results. PIS, PSS, LOAD, stiffness, and function scores were also lower in BCS+TG from +15 to +60d. The two groups showed similar improvements from +90 to +120d. Kaplan−Meier estimators showed that dogs in BCS+TG showed clinically-important differences for longer, despite a positive result in BCSG. The intra-articular administration of BCS alone was able to improve the overall condition of OA patients. Its combined use with triamcinolone acetonide lead to a faster and longer-lasting improvement in pain scores.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Prevalence of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli from Dogs and Cats in Northeastern China from 2012 to 2021

(1) Background: there has been a growing concern about pet-spread bacterial zoonosis in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the trend in drug-resistance of canine Escherichia coli isolates in northeast China between 2012-2021 and the differences in drug-resistance of E. coli of different origins in 2021. (2) Methods: E. coli were isolated from feces or anal swab samples from dogs and cats, and their antibiotic susceptibility profiles and phylogenetic grouping were identified. PCR was applied on the extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli for antibiotic resistance genes. (3) Results: five hundred and fifty-four E. coli isolates were detected in 869 samples (63.75%). The multidrug resistance (MDR) rates of E. coli in pet dogs showed a decreasing trend, but working dogs showed the opposite trend. Resistance genes blaCTX-M and blaCTX-M+TEM were dominant among the ESBL producers (n = 219). The consistency between the resistance phenotypes and genes was high except for fluoroquinolone-resistant ESBL E. coli. All ESBL E. coli-carrying blaNDM were isolated from working dogs, and one of the strains carried mcr-1 and blaNDM-4. Phylogroup B2 was the dominant group in pet cats, and more than half of the isolates from companion cats were ESBL E. coli. (4) Conclusions: the measures taken to reduce resistance in China were beginning to bear fruit. Companion cats may be more susceptible to colonization by ESBL E. coli. The problem of resistant bacteria in working dogs and pet cats warrants concern.