No abstract

Background Human studies suggest that the cytokines, interleukin 10 (IL‐10) and transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐ß1) may play an important role in allergen‐specific immunotherapy (ASIT). However, there is little known about the function of these cytokines in atopic dogs. This study compared the plasma levels of IL‐10 and TGF‐ß1 in atopic and control dogs and investigated their changes during different ASIT approaches. Methods A total of 54 atopic and 32 control dogs were included. Immunotherapy was performed in 30 atopic dogs. The dogs undergoing immunotherapy were allocated to four groups of different ASIT approaches (namely subcutaneous, intralymphatic, sublingual ASIT and subcutaneous ASIT with recombinant allergens). Blood samples were collected at four timepoints throughout the one year of ASIT. Canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index, pruritus visual analogue scale and medication score were recorded at each timepoint. Commercially available ELISA kits were used to quantify IL‐10 and TGF‐ß1 in plasma. Results There was no significant difference in IL‐10 and TGF‐ß1 between atopic and control dogs. The IL‐10 levels were significantly increased in the intralymphatic group at the end of the study. No significant differences were found in the other groups for both IL‐10 and TGF‐ß1. Conclusion The findings of this work suggest that IL‐10 and TGF‐ß1 cannot be used to monitor the course of the disease during ASIT.

Background -The gold standard to diagnose food allergy in dogs is an eight week elimination diet trial (EDT) followed by a re-challenge. A recent study demonstrated that a shorter EDT is possible if prednisolone is administered initially.Hypothesis/Objectives -The goal was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the EDT based on the number of relapses after prednisolone discontinuation. In addition, the aim was to determine whether the initial treatment length or the replacement of prednisolone with oclacitinib would influence the outcome.Animals -Eighty-seven dogs with atopic dermatitis.Methods and materials -Dogs were fed an elimination diet and treated with either prednisolone or oclacitinib for two to three weeks. Relapsing dogs were treated a second time. In the absence of a relapse after two weeks off medication, dogs then were challenged. Dogs never achieving two weeks off treatment without relapse received the regular EDT.Results -Fifty-eight of 87 dogs completed the study. Thirty-nine of 58 dogs received prednisolone; 21 of these were diagnosed with FIAD and had no relapse (n = 14), one relapse (n = 6) or two relapses (n = 1). Nineteen of 58 dogs received oclacitinib; 11 of these were deemed food-allergic and had no relapse (n = 7) or two relapses (n = 4). The initial treatment duration did not influence the outcome. The threshold of one relapse or less for the diagnosis of FIAD was associated with a sensitivity of 95% for prednisolone and 63% for oclacitinib. The specificity was 100% for both drugs.Conclusion and clinical importance -Initial prednisolone or oclacitinib use in EDT shortens the time to diagnosis of FIAD.

Phaeohyphomycosis was diagnosed in a 6-year-old, male castrated Dachshund on immunosuppressive treatment. The fungus was identified by culture and PCR as Phialophora americana. This is the first reported case of infection with this pathogen in a dog. The infection was successfully managed medically, without surgical intervention.

Cyclosporin induzierte generalisierte Hyperkeratose bei einem HundCyclosporin ist ein starkes immunsuppressives Mittel, das in der Veterinärmedizin zur Behandlung einer Vielzahl von entzündlichen oder immunvermittelten Erkrankungen verwendet wird. Viele Nebenwirkungen sind mit diesem Medikament verbunden, die meisten davon treten jedoch selten auf. Eine 5 Jahre alte, weibliche intakte französische Bulldogge wurde mit multiplen, multifokal verteilten, schweren hyperkeratotischen und papillomatösen/verrukösen Plaques vorgestellt. Der Hund wurde wegen einer Meningoenzephalitis unbekannter Ursache (MUO) mit Cyclosporin über einen langen Zeitraum behandelt. Vorgeschichtlich wurde eine atopische Dermatitis und Calcinosis cutis diagnostiziert. Eine Papillomavirus-Infektion wurde durch Polymerase-Kettenreaktion (PCR) ausgeschlossen, und die histopathologische Analyse ergab eine chronische lymphoplasmatische unspezifische Dermatitis, Perifollikulitis und Periadnexitis sowie eine fokale Follikulitis mit papillomatöser epidermaler Hyperplasie und orthokeratotischer Hyperkeratose. Es wurde die Diagnose "Cyclosporin-induzierte epidermale Hyperplasie mit sekundärer Pyodermie" gestellt. Das Cyclosporin wurde abgesetzt und um die MUO zu kontrollieren stattdessen eine Therapie mit Mycophenolatmofetil begonnen. Eine antimikrobielle Behandlung wurde für drei Wochen verschrieben. Nach vier Monaten waren die Hautläsionen vollständig abgeheilt. Bis heute zwei Jahre nach Therapiewechsel ist der Hund immer noch in Remission.