Use of saline-soaked bacterial culture swabs increases bacterial recovery in dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis.

Background: Canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (SBF) is a common recurrent condition with a growing requirement for culture and susceptibility as a consequence of increased antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship. Different opinions persist about the ideal technique for culture sample acquisition, which varies with lesion characteristics.

Objective: To determine if a difference exists in the recovered quantity of bacteria acquired when sampling nonexudative clinical lesions of SBF (crusts and epidermal collarettes) between a dry culture swab and a saline-moistened culture swab.

Applications for Laser in Veterinary Dermatology.

Laser usage in veterinary dermatology has increased in popularity over the last several decades. Carbon dioxide (CO) laser is the leading modality in surgical laser for veterinary dermatology because of its unmatched performance with soft tissue, particularly the skin. This laser cuts and coagulates tissue via the photothermal effect of laser energy when interacting with soft tissues with high water content, such as skin.

Comparison of Aerobic Bacterial Culture Among Four Veterinary Microbiology Laboratories from Dogs with Superficial Pyoderma.

Bacterial culture and susceptibility are widely used in veterinary medicine to determine the specific bacteria causing infection as well as aid in appropriate antimicrobial selection. Previous studies have shown variable results with culture and susceptibility depending on the laboratory and methodology used. Samples from dogs with superficial pyoderma were obtained to make a homogeneous solution of bacteria.

Retrospective evaluation of ceruminous gland tumors confined to the external ear canal of dogs and cats treated with biopsy and CO laser ablation.

Background: Treatments currently available for ceruminous gland tumors include surgery and radiation therapy, which come with high financial costs and frequent complication and recurrence rates.

Hypothesis: To evaluate the treatment, response, complication, and recurrence of ceruminous gland tumors confirmed with biopsy and ablated using CO laser.

Methods: Retrospective review of medical records from Iowa State University and the University of Illinois between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex: A retrospective study of 64 dogs from the Central United States (1997-2020).

Background: There are limited clinical studies evaluating the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex, with most reports confined to small case studies. Additionally, the studies are dated and provide limited information on response to newer or currently available therapies.

Hypothesis/objectives: The aim of the study was to determine if there is a breed prevalence, lesion distribution and seasonality associated with the T.

Putative antimicrobial-associated phototoxicity in three dogs.

This case series describes putative doxycycline phototoxicity in three dogs, with one also undergoing a possible sulfamethoxazole phototoxic reaction.

Evaluation for Postoperative Infections Following Cutaneous Punch Biopsies in Dogs and Cats: 154 Cases (2013-2018).

Antimicrobial stewardship is becoming more important every day with increasing bacterial resistance and limitations on antibiotics. Prophylactic antibiotics are not necessary with all procedures, which has been shown previously with a variety of human and veterinary surgeries. Medical records were retrospectively evaluated for cases who had a cutaneous punch biopsy performed between 2013 and 2018 including the following information: species, signalment, concurrent diseases, concurrent medications, location of biopsy, histopathologic diagnosis, and bacterial infections postoperatively.

Survey of dermatophytes in stray dogs and cats with and without skin lesions in Puerto Rico and confirmed with MALDI-TOF MS.

Dermatophytosis is a common and highly contagious zoonotic skin disease in companion animals. This disease is a major concern in geographical areas that contain large numbers of stray animal populations. Numerous surveys on dermatophytosis among stray animal populations worldwide range between 27% to 50%.

Effect of light exposure on growth rate of veterinary clinical dermatophyte isolates.

Background: Veterinary textbooks and literature suggest that exposure to light is inhibitory to growth of clinical dermatophyte isolates.

Hypothesis/objectives: We hypothesized that this idea was derived from experiments that examined the effect of high doses of ultraviolet and visible light exposure on dermatophyte growth, and that exposure to typical room lighting would not adversely affect dermatophyte growth rate.

Methods And Materials: Isolates of common veterinary dermatophytes (three each of Microsporum canis, Nannizia gypsea and Trichophyton benhamiae) were exposed to typical fluorescent room lighting, incubated in a closed drawer, or exposed at close range to fluorescent wide-spectrum light.

The effect of topical lidocaine on intradermal testing in atopic dogs.

Background: Intradermal testing (IDT) most often requires sedation. Topical lidocaine offers an adjunct or alternative to sedation.

Hypothesis/objectives: We hypothesized that topical lidocaine would significantly reduce reactions to intradermal injections and that atopic dogs treated with topical lidocaine would have similar results with IDT to atopic dogs tested without topical lidocaine.

Prophage-Mediated Disruption of Genetic Competence in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSP) is a major cause of soft tissue infections in dogs and occasionally infects humans. Hypervirulent multidrug-resistant (MDR) MRSP clones have emerged globally. The sequence types ST71 and ST68, the major epidemic clones of Europe and North America, respectively, have spread to other regions.

Evaluation of hair follicle parameters using TrichoScale Pro in healthy dogs: a pilot study.

Background: Trichoscopy, in combination with image analysis software, is a readily available, efficient diagnostic tool for assessing hair follicle parameters of people in vivo. Systems designed for use in human dermatology must be evaluated and validated with animal skin/hair before they can be used for veterinary applications.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of a commercial software package for image analysis of canine hair follicles and to define hair follicle parameters.

Urticaria pigmentosa-like skin disease in a domestic shorthair cat.

Case Summary: A 14-month-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat presented with an 8 month history of severe pruritus, alopecia, papules and excoriations. Initial evaluation and treatment prior to referral included skin scrape, cytology, two strict food trials, dermatophyte culture, and bacterial culture and sensitivity, as well as antibiotic therapy, empiric treatment for mites, steroids and ciclosporin A (Atopica; Elanco). The cat was referred to the Dermatology and Otology Clinic at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital for further diagnostics and treatment.

Prevalence of CD20 cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma in dogs: a retrospective analysis of 24 cases (2011-2018) in the USA.

Background: Limited information is known about the baseline frequency of canine CD20 positive ( ) cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma. A single canine case report has been published.

Objectives: To characterize the baseline frequency of CD20 staining in cases of canine cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma; to assess its values as a prognostic indicator.

Comparing dermoscopy and histological examination of normal equine skin.

Background: Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that allows visualization of structures of the superficial dermis not visible with the naked eye.

Hypothesis/objectives: To assess the usefulness and applicability of dermoscopy for evaluation of healthy equine skin.

Animals: Twelve healthy horses from a research herd.

Coordinate expression of cytokeratins 7 and 14, vimentin, and Bcl-2 in canine cutaneous epithelial tumors and cysts.

Forty-seven canine cutaneous epithelial tumors and cysts were examined to determine coordinate expression of cytokeratins 7 (CK7) and 14 (CK14), vimentin, and Bcl-2 using commercially available antibodies. Within non-affected normal skin adjacent to tumors or cysts, CK7 expression was observed in luminal cells in apocrine glands; CK14 expression was observed in the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, basal layer of outer root sheath, sebaceous glands, and myoepithelial cells of apocrine glands; vimentin expression was observed in dermal papilla and scattered non-epithelial cells within the epidermis; and Bcl-2 expression was observed in scattered non-epithelial cells in the epidermis and some apocrine glands. The pattern of expression of CK7 and CK14 in cases of adenocarcinoma of the apocrine gland of the anal sac (CK7+/CK14-) and hepatoid gland tumors (CK7-/CK14+) may prove useful for diagnostic purposes.