Diagnosis of canine sino-nasal aspergillosis: is quantification of Aspergillus DNA a useful technique?

in Proceedings of the 24th VCRS meeting (2006)

Distribution of leucocyte subsets in the canine pharyngeal tonsil

in Journal of Comparative Pathology (2006), 135(2-3, Aug-Oct), 63-73

This report describes the distribution and nature of lymphoid tissue in the nasopharyngeal mucosa of six puppies (mean age +/- SD, 0.3 +/- 0.25 years) and eight adult dogs (mean age +/- SD, 8.8 +/- 2.67 ... [more ▼]

This report describes the distribution and nature of lymphoid tissue in the nasopharyngeal mucosa of six puppies (mean age +/- SD, 0.3 +/- 0.25 years) and eight adult dogs (mean age +/- SD, 8.8 +/- 2.67 years) without respiratory disease. A non-encapsulated area of organized mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue was observed in the caudal part of the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, distal to the openings of the auditory tubes. This structure was consistent with the pharyngeal tonsil and was microscopically more extensive in puppies than in adult dogs. Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were used to characterize and enumerate the leucocyte subsets in this part of the nasopharynx. Mast cells were found immediately beneath the respiratory epithelium but were also scattered in the glandular and muscular tissue. IgA(+) plasma cells outnumbered IgG(+) and IgM(+) plasma cells, especially in the glandular tissue. All classes of plasma cells were present in significantly greater numbers in adults than in puppies. MHC class II+ cells were mainly observed in areas containing diffuse and follicular aggregates of lymphoid cells. Both MHC class II+ cells and CD1c(+) cells with a dendritic morphology were predominantly found immediately beneath or within the epithelium, and cells expressing these markers were more abundant in puppies than in adult dogs. The anti-L1 marker labelled low numbers of cells with a neutrophilic morphology, which were significantly more abundant in puppies than in adult dogs. The majority of lymphoid cells were CD3(+) T lymphocytes and these were particularly abundant in areas containing aggregates of lymphold cells; CD4(+), CD8(+) and TCR alpha beta(+) cells had the same distribution as the CD3(+) cells. CD4(+) cells were more numerous than CD8(+) cells. The quantitative and qualitative data obtained will enable comparisons to be made with similar studies in dogs suffering from nasopharyngeal diseases, or when the local immune system needs to be investigated. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Inhaled fluticasone reduces bronchial responsiveness and airway inflammation in cats with mild chronic bronchitis

in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2006), 8(1), 45-54

This study investigated the effect of inhaled fluticasone on lower airway inflammation and bronchial responsiveness (BR) to inhaled carbachol in cats with very mild, chronic bronchitis (n = 5) that were ... [more ▼]

This study investigated the effect of inhaled fluticasone on lower airway inflammation and bronchial responsiveness (BR) to inhaled carbachol in cats with very mild, chronic bronchitis (n = 5) that were compared with healthy cats serving as controls (n = 6). Chest radiographs, BR tests performed non-invasively by barometric whole body plethysmography (BWBP) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed before and after treatment. BR was quantified by calculating the concentration of carbachol inducing bronchoconstriction (C-Penh300%), defined as a 300% increase of baseline Penh, an index of bronchoconstriction obtained by BWBP. BAL fluid was analyzed cytologically and the oxidant marker 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) was determined. At test 1, healthy cats and cats with bronchitis were untreated, whereas for test 2 inhalant fluticasone (250 mu g once daily) was administrated for 2 consecutive weeks to cats with bronchitis. Control cats remained untreated. Inhaled fluticasone induced a significant increase in C-Penh300% and a significant decrease of BAL fluid total cells, macrophages, neutrophils and 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) in cats with bronchitis, whilst untreated control cats did not show significant changes over time. This study shows that a 2-week fluticasone treatment significantly reduced lower airway inflammation in very mild bronchitis. BR could be successfully monitored in cats using BWPB and decreased significantly in response to inhaled fluticasone. 8-Iso-PGF(2 alpha) in BAL fluid was responsive to treatment and appeared as a sensitive biomarker of lower airway inflammation in cats. [less ▲]

Omega 3 fatty acid complementation (fish oil) in an experimental model of feline asthma : effect on bronchial reactivity, airway inflammation and oxidative stress markers

in Proceedings: 24th Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society,”Respiratory infections and zoonoses (2006)

Effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (fish oil) on bronchial reactivity, airway inflammation and oxidative stress markers in a feline model of asthma

in Proceedings: 16th Congress European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine – companion animals (2006)

Suspected drug-induced destructive cholangitis in a young dog.

in Journal of Small Animal Practice (2006), 47(6)

Whole body barometric plethysmography measurements in dogs with brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome : preliminary results

in 15th ESVIM Meeting - Glasgow - Ecosse - Septembre 2005 (2005, September)

Comparison of bronchoalveolar lavage cytospins ans smears in small animals

in 15th ESVIM Meeting - Glasgow - UK - 2005 (2005, September)

Whole-body barometric plethysmography in healthy dogs : influence of jet nebulizer and bias flow rate on the results of a bronchoprovocative test

in ACVIM Meeting - Baltimore (USA) - juin 2005 (2005, June)

An immunohistochemical study of canine nasal aspergillosis

in Journal of Comparative Pathology (2005), 132(4), 283-288

In this study, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were used to characterize the phenotype and distribution of leucocytes in the distal nasal mucosa of 15 dogs with nasal aspergillosis. The most ... [more ▼]

In this study, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were used to characterize the phenotype and distribution of leucocytes in the distal nasal mucosa of 15 dogs with nasal aspergillosis. The most consistent histopathological finding was a severe, predominantly lymphoplasmacytic, inflammatory infiltration of the lamina propria. Fungal hyphae were not observed to invade the mucosa but were found at the mucosal surface and within material collected from the nasal cavity. The main immunohistochemical findings were (1) a predominance of IgG(+) plasma cells over IgA(+) and IgM(+) plasma cells, (2) significant numbers of macrophages and dendritic cells expressing MHC class 11 molecules, (3) macrophages and neutrophils expressing L1 antigen and (4) a mixture of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. These findings are consistent with a dominant Th1-regulated cell-mediated immune response. The nature of the inflammatory infiltrate and the lack of invasiveness of the mucosa by the fungus, together with the clinical course of the disease and the apparent immunocompetence of the affected dogs, suggest that canine nasal aspergillosis resembles the chronic erosive non-invasive fungal sinusitis described in human patients. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]