Since the identification of canine parvovirus type 2, three variants have subsequently been observed differing from the historical CPV-2 and each other by 1-2 amino acids only. As a result there has been considerable research into differential diagnostics, with some researchers indicating there is a need for new vaccines containing different strains of CPV-2. In this study we investigated whether vaccination with a CPV-2b containing vaccine would induce cross-reactive antibody responses to the other CPV-2 variants. Two studies where dogs were vaccinated with a multivalent vaccine, subsequently challenged with CPV-2b and sera samples analysed are presented. Six week old pups with defined serological status were vaccinated twice, three weeks apart and challenged either 5 weeks (MDA override study) or one year after vaccination (duration of immunity study). Sera samples were collected before each vaccination and at periods throughout each study. In each study the antibody profiles were very similar; serological responses against CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c were higher than those for CPV-2. Nevertheless, responses against CPV-2 were well above levels considered clinically protective. In each study dogs also showed a rapid increase in antibody titres following vaccination, reached a plateau following second vaccination with a slight decline to challenge after which rapid anamnestic responses were seen. Evaluation of the serological responses suggests vaccination with CPV-2b would cross-protect against CPV-2a and CPV-2c, as well as against CPV-2 which is now extinct in the field. In conclusion we have demonstrated that vaccination of minimum aged dogs with a multivalent vaccine containing the CPV-2b variant strain will induce serological responses which are cross-reactive against all currently circulating field strains, CPV-2a and CPV-2c, and the now extinct field strain CPV-2.

• Keywords
• Canine, Cross-protection, Parvovirus,
• MeSH
• Parvoviridae Infections immunology   prevention & control   veterinary   MeSH
• Dog Diseases immunology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Antibodies, Neutralizing blood   MeSH
• Parvovirus, Canine classification   MeSH
• Antibodies, Viral blood   MeSH
• Dogs immunology   MeSH
• Vaccination veterinary   MeSH
• Viral Vaccines immunology   MeSH
• Cross Protection MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Dogs immunology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antibodies, Neutralizing MeSH
• Antibodies, Viral MeSH
• Viral Vaccines MeSH

The concentration of lactoferrin was measured in canine sera from groups of healthy male dogs as well as pregnant and non-pregnant female dogs and was compared with that of bitches with pyometra. Lactoferrin concentrations were higher in bitches with pyometra. The role of elevated lactoferrin concentrations in the suppression of lymphocyte activity was examined in sera from bitches with pyometra in a series of investigations. Although the sera from bitches with pyometra were capable of suppressing lymphocyte activity, lactoferrin was not found to be involved in this action.

• MeSH
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay veterinary   MeSH
• Lactoferrin blood   MeSH
• Dog Diseases blood   MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Pyometra blood   veterinary   MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Lactoferrin MeSH

Morphometric assessment of the canine hip joint using acetabular angle of retrotorsion was used in this study. The aim of our study was to compare the acetabular angle of retrotorsion (AAR) with values of the Norberg angle (NA) and the hip score (HS) in the Leonberger dog breed and to determine the cut-off point of AAR that distinguish between normal and dysplastic hip status on the basis of Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) hip evaluation. Retrospective analysis of NA and AAR was measured from standard ventrodorsal pelvic radiographs with extended femurs in 387 Leonberger dogs (141 males and 246 females) from 18 to 63 months of age, which were then divided into five age-groups. Through analysis of these radiographs, it was determined that the cut-off point for NA was 105°, AAR was 15°, and the acetabular angle of retrotorsion was positively correlated with Norberg angle and negatively correlated with hip score. The results of our study indicate that the acetabular angle of retrotorsion may represent a reliable morphometric assessment tool in evaluating acetabular cup conformation, and values of AAR may help to assess the FCI grade of canine hip dysplasia.

• MeSH
• Acetabulum diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Hip Dysplasia, Canine diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Femur diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Hip Joint anatomy & histology   diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Sex Characteristics MeSH
• Dogs anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Radiography methods   veterinary   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Dogs anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Samples of blood (serum, smears and blood preserved with ethanol) were collected from dogs during a vaccination campaign in northern Kenya in the years 2006 and 2007. Blood was screened for filarial parasites using molecular and microscopy methods and sera were tested for antibodies against canine distemper virus (CDV). Parasitological examination revealed the presence of two species of canine filariae: Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides and A. reconditum. The DNA from the former species was detected in 58% dogs sampled in 2006 and 36% dogs sampled in 2007, whereas the latter was found only in 4.2% samples collected in 2007. Microfilariae were found in 33.8% blood smears collected in 2006 and 10.6% blood smears collected in 2007. The seroprevalence of CDV was 33.4% in 2006 and 11.2% in 2007. The effect of sex, age and CDV-seropositivity/seronegativity on the occurrence of A. dracunculoides was evaluated. Infection by A. dracunculoides was more common in males and in dogs with a positive antibody titer for canine distemper, but evenly distributed among different age groups. The difference in the prevalence of A. dracunculoides in two isolated mountain ranges was not statistically significant. Methodologies available for detection and determination of canine filariae are compared, underlining methodical pitfalls arising through the determination of less common filarial species. The role of single epidemiological factors and possible association between canine distemper and filariasis are discussed.

• MeSH
• Filariasis complications   epidemiology   parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Microfilariae * MeSH
• Dog Diseases epidemiology   etiology   parasitology   virology   MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Distemper complications   epidemiology   MeSH
• Aging MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Kenya epidemiology   MeSH

Monoclonal antibodies targeting immune checkpoints have revolutionized oncology. Yet, the effectiveness of these treatments varies significantly among patients, and they are associated with unexpected adverse events, including hyperprogression. The murine research model used in drug development fails to recapitulate both the functional human immune system and the population heterogeneity. Hence, a novel model is urgently needed to study the consequences of immune checkpoint blockade. Dogs appear to be uniquely suited for this role. Approximately 1 in 4 companion dogs dies from cancer, yet no antibodies are commercially available for use in veterinary oncology. Here we characterize two novel antibodies that bind canine PD-1 with sub-nanomolar affinity as measured by SPR. Both antibodies block the clinically crucial PD-1/PD-L1 interaction in a competitive ELISA assay. Additionally, the antibodies were tested with a broad range of assays including Western Blot, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The antibodies appear to bind two distinct epitopes as predicted by molecular modeling and peptide phage display. Our study provides new tools for canine oncology research and a potential veterinary therapeutic.

• Keywords
• PD-1, PD-L1, cancer immunotherapy, canine cancer, comparative oncology, immune checkpoint, monoclonal antibody, veterinary oncology,
• MeSH
• B7-H1 Antigen immunology   antagonists & inhibitors   metabolism   MeSH
• Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor * antagonists & inhibitors   immunology   MeSH
• Epitopes immunology   MeSH
• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors immunology   pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Antibodies, Monoclonal * immunology   MeSH
• Neoplasms immunology   veterinary   drug therapy   MeSH
• Dog Diseases immunology   drug therapy   MeSH
• Dogs * MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Dogs * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• B7-H1 Antigen MeSH
• Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor * MeSH
• Epitopes MeSH
• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors MeSH
• Antibodies, Monoclonal * MeSH

BACKGROUND: Albuminuria, an important marker of decreased kidney function in chronic kidney disease (CKD), is not routinely used for CKD detection or proteinuria appearance. Its relationships with biochemical parameters and blood pressure in dogs are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of albuminuria with various CKD markers, its correlation with the urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPC), and hypertension in dogs with early stages of CKD. It also sought to determine the usability of the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UAC) for CKD screening. METHODS: The study reviewed records of 102 dogs, categorising them into four groups based on disease status. UAC and UPC ratio, biochemistry and haematology variables, age, and systolic blood pressure were determined. RESULTS: The Pearson's correlation coefficient between log-transformed values of UPC and UAC was r = 0.902 (95% CI: 0.87 to 0.93). Median UAC ratio values were 2.1 mg/g for the Healthy control group (n = 17), 54.2 mg/g for early stages CKD (n = 42), 5.8 mg/g for Acute sick control (n = 30), and 104 mg/g for Chronic sick control (n = 13). Thresholding UAC ratio as an indicator for impaired kidney function with the threshold of 10 mg/g (established based on the receiver operating characteristic curve) had a sensitivity 81.8%, specificity of 89.4%, positive predictive value (PPV) 90%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 80.1%. The correlation of UAC with biochemistry and haematology variables was statistically significant; for SDMA (μg/L), it was r = 0.566 and for other variables, it was weak to moderate. UAC was markedly elevated in cases of severe hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: UAC ratio was significantly different among dogs with impaired and not impaired kidney function. The correlation strength for the UAC and UPC ratios was high. UAC ratio may be a promising marker for proteinuria analysis in dogs with CKD or other kidney function alterations.

• Keywords
• albuminuria, canine, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, proteinuria, renal biomarkers,
• MeSH
• Albuminuria veterinary   diagnosis   urine   MeSH
• Renal Insufficiency, Chronic * veterinary   urine   MeSH
• Hypertension * urine   veterinary   MeSH
• Creatinine urine   MeSH
• Dog Diseases * diagnosis   MeSH
• Proteinuria veterinary   MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Dogs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Creatinine MeSH

BACKGROUND: Increasing prevalence of cognitive impairment in an aging canine population poses a serious health problem. Identifying risk factors, which may influence the onset of cognitive decline, is becoming increasingly important. Here we investigated whether age, sex, weight, nutrition, dogs' housing and reproductive state were associated with increased risk of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) in Slovakia. RESULTS: Age was associated with cognitive decline and nutrition emerged as a significant predictor variable. Dogs fed controlled diets had 2.8 times lower odds of developing CCDS when compared with dogs fed uncontrolled diets. Sex, weight, reproductive state and dogs' housing were not significantly associated with cognitive decline. Further, the prevalence of CCDS was similar in both small and medium/large sized dogs aged 8-11 years, but differed in dogs at an age of 11-13 years. CONCLUSION: Age was found to be the most prominent risk factors of CCDS. Nutrition may influence the cognitive state of dogs. This finding suggests that nutritional interventions may modify canine cognitive functions.

• MeSH
• Incidence MeSH
• Cognition * MeSH
• Cognition Disorders epidemiology   etiology   MeSH
• Dog Diseases epidemiology   etiology   MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Slovakia epidemiology   MeSH

The known data resulting from individual surveys of canine dirofilariosis point to the great differences in the epidemiological situation among countries where Dirofilaria parasites emerged approximately at the same time. In this regard, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, neighboring countries situated in Central Europe, could serve as an illustrative example of such a situation. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of canine dirofilariosis in both countries and to discuss the reasons for potential differences shown. Between October and December 2019, 429 dogs from the Czech Republic and 644 from Slovakia were examined for canine dirofilariosis using the Knott test for microfilariae detection and conventional PCR for the species determination. The results' analyses showed notable differences. While in the Czech Republic autochthonous Dirofilaria repens cases are reported sporadically and Dirofilaria immitis infections have been confirmed only as imported so far, in Slovakia, both Dirofilaria species seem to have become endemic. Concretely, in the Czech Republic, microfilariae were detected in the peripheral blood of 8 dogs (1.86%): in seven, D. repens was confirmed, and in one dog, mixed infection with D. repens and D. immitis was diagnosed. Seven infected animals came from the eastern part of the country neighboring Slovakia. In Slovakia, microfilariae were detected in 68 (10.56%) dogs examined. DNA analysis confirmed D. repens mono-infection in 38 (5.90%) dogs, single D. immitis infection in 21 (3.26%) animals, and both Dirofilaria species were detected in 9 (1.40%) samples. Although we are unable to determine the cause of the differences, our study confirmed that the long-registered low number of canine dirofilariosis cases in the Czech Republic is not due to insufficient investigation (monitoring), but due to a low prevalence of the parasite in this area.

• Keywords
• Canine dirofilariosis, Czech Republic, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, Slovakia,
• MeSH
• Dirofilaria immitis genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Dirofilaria repens genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Dirofilariasis epidemiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Coinfection veterinary   MeSH
• Microfilariae MeSH
• Dog Diseases epidemiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction veterinary   MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH
• Slovakia epidemiology   MeSH

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are hematopoietic neoplasms composed of mast cells. It is highly common in dogs and is extremely important in the veterinary oncology field. It represents the third most common tumor subtype, and is the most common malignant skin tumor in dogs, corresponding to 11% of skin cancer cases. The objective of this critical review was to present the report of the 2nd Consensus meeting on the Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Canine Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mast Cell Tumors, which was organized by the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Oncology (ABROVET) in August 2021. The most recent information on cutaneous and subcutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs is presented and discussed.

• Keywords
• cutaneous, dog, mast cell tumor, subcutaneous,
• MeSH
• Mast Cells pathology   MeSH
• Myeloproliferative Disorders * MeSH
• Skin Neoplasms * diagnosis   therapy   veterinary   MeSH
• Dog Diseases * diagnosis   therapy   MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Subcutaneous Tissue pathology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Dogs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

BACKGROUND: Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is an important zoonotic parasitic disease, endemic in the Mediterranean basin. In this region, transmission of Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of CanL, is through the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. Therefore, monitoring host-vector contact represents an important epidemiological tool, and could be used to assess the effectiveness of vector-control programmes in endemic areas. Previous studies have shown that canine antibodies against the saliva of phlebotomine sand flies are specific markers of exposure to Leishmania vectors. However, this method needs to be further validated in natural heterogeneous dog populations living in CanL endemic areas. METHODS: In this study, 176 dogs living in 12 different locations of an L. infantum endemic area in north-east Spain were followed for 14 months. Blood samples were taken at 5 pre-determined time points (February, August and October 2016; January and April 2017) to assess the canine humoral immune response to whole salivary gland homogenate (SGH) and to the single salivary 43 kDa yellow-related recombinant protein (rSP03B) of Phlebotomus perniciosus, a proven vector of L. infantum naturally present in this region. Simultaneously, in all dogs, L. infantum infection status was assessed by serology. The relationship between anti-SGH and anti-rSP03B antibodies with the sampling month, L. infantum infection and the location was tested by fitting multilevel linear regression models. RESULTS: The dynamics of canine anti-saliva IgG for both SGH and rSP03B followed the expected trends of P. perniciosus activity in the region. Statistically significant associations were detected for both salivary antigens between vector exposure and sampling month or dog seropositivity to L. infantum. The correlation between canine antibodies against SGH and rSP03B was moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the frequent presence of CanL vectors in the study area in Spain and support the applicability of SGH- and rSP03B-based ELISA tests to study canine exposure to P. perniciosus in L. infantum endemic areas.

• Keywords
• Canine leishmaniosis, Longitudinal study, Markers of exposure, North-east Spain, Phlebotomus perniciosus, Saliva proteins,
• MeSH
• Endemic Diseases veterinary   MeSH
• Insect Vectors parasitology   MeSH
• Immunity, Humoral MeSH
• Immunoglobulin G analysis   MeSH
• Leishmania infantum isolation & purification   MeSH
• Leishmaniasis blood   parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Longitudinal Studies MeSH
• Dog Diseases diagnosis   immunology   parasitology   MeSH
• Phlebotomus immunology   MeSH
• Antibodies, Protozoan blood   MeSH
• Antibodies blood   MeSH
• Dogs immunology   parasitology   MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• Salivary Proteins and Peptides immunology   MeSH
• Salivary Glands chemistry   parasitology   MeSH
• Saliva immunology   microbiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Dogs immunology   parasitology   MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Spain epidemiology   MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Immunoglobulin G MeSH
• Antibodies, Protozoan MeSH
• Antibodies MeSH
• Salivary Proteins and Peptides MeSH