Di seguito un importante lavoro di analisi puntuale e aggiornata rispetto alla fisiopatologia, diagnosi e trattamento clinico delle epatiti croniche nel cane, svolto dall’American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) nel 2018 e pubblicato meno di un mese fa su “Journal of  Veterinary Internal Medicine

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs

Cynthia R. L. Webster  Sharon A. Center  John M. Cullen  Dominique G. Penninck  Keith P. Richter David C. Twedt  Penny J. Watson

Courtesy of Wiley Online Library

Abstract:

This consensus statement on chronic hepatitis (CH) in dogs is based on the expert opinion of 7 specialists with extensive experience in diagnosing, treating, and conducting clinical research in hepatology in dogs. It was generated from expert opinion and information gathered from searching of PubMed for manuscripts on CH, the Veterinary Information Network for abstracts and conference proceeding from annual meetings of the American College of Veterinary Medicine and the European College of Veterinary Medicine, and selected manuscripts from the human literature on CH. The panel recognizes that the diagnosis and treatment of CH in the dog is a complex process that requires integration of clinical presentation with clinical pathology, diagnostic imaging, and hepatic biopsy. Essential to this process is an index of suspicion for CH, knowledge of how to best collect tissue samples, access to a pathologist with experience in assessing hepatic histopathology, knowledge of reasonable medical interventions, and a strategy for monitoring treatment response and complications.

 

A proposito di Leishmaniosi

La movimentazione di cani sul territorio italiano, dal Sud al Nord e viceversa, è da molti anni in aumento, grazie alle migliori possibilità di spostamento e all’evoluzione naturale dei costumi del Paese. Tuttavia questo fenomeno comporta anche delle conseguenze epidemiologiche che meritano delle considerazioni.

Ogni Veterinario è consapevole che la prevalenza e l’incidenza delle patologie, in Italia, sono diverse da regione a regione e ne siano un esempiole malattie parassitarie, tra le quali la Leishmaniosi, i cui vettori sono comuni soltanto in determinate aree geografiche e condizioni climatiche, ma i cani affetti sono ormai distribuiti su tutto il territorio nazionale.

 

Comparison of Standard Protocols for the Treatment of Canine Leishmaniasis in an Endemic Area with and Without Zinc Oral Supplementation

Paola Paradies 1*, George Lubas 2*, Fabrizio Iarussi 1*, Donatella Pulpito 1*, Emanuele Pezzuto 3*, and Mariateresa Sasanelli 1*.
1*Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Italy
2*Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Italy
3*Practitioner, Lecce, Italy

Abstract:

Successful treatment of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) depends on an effective cellular immune response. Zinc is an essential trace element for the immune system and in dogs with clinical leishmaniasis low serum zinc levels have been reported. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of zinc oral administration during treatment of CanL.

Eighteen dogs from an endemic area were enrolled showing clinical signs of leishmaniasis and diagnosed by positive parasitological and serological tests. Dogs were subdivided in three treatment groups: MA, meglumine antimoniate 50 mg/kg SC for 30 days with allopurinol 10 mg/kg PO BID for 7 months; MZ, meglumine antimoniate 50 mg/kg SC BID for 30 days with zinc 2.2 mg/kg/die PO for 12 months; MAZ, same as MA group plus supplemented with zinc 2.2 mg/kg/die PO for 12 months. Each dog was monitored for 12 months using clinical and skin scores and some blood biochemical markers.

Dogs in MZ and MAZ group showed a better and earlier improvement of clinical and skin scores in comparison to control dogs (MA group). Among few blood markers studied (hemoglobin, albumin, γ globulins and A/G ratio) dogs in MAZ group did improve and earlier than other groups suggesting that zinc improves the condition where allopurinol is also present.

The supplementation of zinc in the treatment protocol for CanL increased the serum zinc concentrations. In addition, preliminary data showed in group MZ and MAZ dogs a faster response to therapy and the elongation of the disease-free interval time.