Displaying results 41 - 50 of 68 items found.
41. Development of Anti-IgE Peptide for Treatment of Canine Allergy
(Web Page; Tue May 04 15:07:00 CDT 2021)
Description:
Treatment of chronic allergic diseases in dogs, often seen as recurring dermatitis, frequently results in less than optimal outcomes. When the disease can be linked to exposure to specific allergens, such house dust mites, desensitization injections can be effective in some individuals when carried out over an extended time; however, most cases are not resolved by desensitization and require a combination of allergen avoidance and anti-inflammatory drugs. The prolonged use of these drugs, such as corticosteroids, can result in severe side effects. These same challenges exist for human allergy suffers, but recently there has been a major breakthrough in the development of a new, safe and effective therapy using a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds and neutralizes human IgE that is responsible for activating inflammation-producing cells. This new product is called Xolair� and it has been used safely by millions of allergy patients for more than 5 years. Our laboratory has developed a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds canine IgE in the same manner as the monoclonal antibody used to develop Xolair�. There are two obstacles remaining in providing the canine equivalent to Xolair� for treatment of allergies in dogs and they are the Objectives of this proposal: 1. Modifying the monoclonal antibody to reduce the dog's natural response to clear this protein; and, 2. Developing cost effective production of the modified antibody. Our Approach is to: 1. Generate a single chain recombinant peptide from the IgE-binding region of our canine IgE-specific monoclonal antibody that is small in size and of limited antigenic potential; and 2. Develop a transgenic plant (eg. tobacco) containing the gene for this recombinant peptide using well established techniques that will allow production of the therapeutic peptide in kilogram quantities. The expected outcome will be to provide a new, safe and highly effective treatment option for canine allergic diseases that is affordable to use for maintenance therapy.
42. Evaluation of the Serum and Cutaneous Levels of Chemokines in Atopic Dogs
(Web Page; Mon Feb 28 09:57:00 CST 2022)
Description:
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is very common in dogs and children. AD is affected by complex and yet incompletely understood interactions between many factors such as environment, different types of white blood cells, and immunological factors. Chemokines are one of the factors that are used to modulate the immune system, leading to AD. Specific inflammatory chemokines were chosen for this study based on their relevance to AD from previously published studies in human and veterinary medicine. This study will evaluate the levels of these chemokines in blood, exosomes (a small pouch from cells that is used for communication between cells via blood), and skin of dogs with AD. In addition, the investigators will look for a correlation between the levels of these chemokines and severity of AD with a long-term goal to find a potential tool for monitoring and treating AD in dogs and humans.
43. CHF Awards 21 Research Grants for 2012
(Web Page; Tue Nov 15 08:32:00 CST 2011)
Description: The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is committing more than $1.5 million in 2012 on research grants to help dogs live longer, healthier lives. CHF approved 21 OAK grants to 14 research institutions and universities to conduct research covering canine health issues such as cataracts, carcinoma, dermatitis, epilepsy, liver disease, lymphoma, melanoma, and osteosarcoma.
(Web Page; Wed Aug 21 09:05:00 CDT 2019)
Description: Atopic dermatitis or skin allergies is a chronic debilitating disease that is widely distributed among the breeds of dogs. This inherited disease is listed as a high research priority for the following breeds: Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Bull Terrier, Cairn Terrier , Dalmatian, Vizsla, Welsh Terrier and West Highland White Terrier. The skin mast cell and circulating basophil are the cells mainly responsible for itching and skin damage seen in atopic dermatitis. This laboratory has just recently discovered that mast cells from atopic dogs release significantly more of the inflammatory mediator, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?), than normal dog mast cells when stimulated with lectins that bind glycoproteins on the surface of mast cells. If there is an inherited difference in how surface glycoproteins signal release of TNF-?, then knowledge of the molecular basis for this difference will lead to being able to identify dogs that will have a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis. To accomplish this, atopic and nonatopic dogs will be compared with regard to the identity and quantity of the cell surface glycoproteins on basophils that are responsible for signaling immediate TNF-? release stimulated by lectins.
45. Studies of the Host (Canine) Immune Response to the Opportunistic Pathogen Malassezia pachydermatis
(Web Page; Tue Aug 27 14:52:00 CDT 2019)
Description:
This study confirmed that the immune system of allergic dogs recognizes a specific yeast as a contributor to allergies that the dog's body is mounting an allergic response to the yeast, not just reacting to a yeast infection. The yeast, Malassezia pachydermatis, is present in many dogs with skin allergies, causing itching, infection and sometimes licking to the point of self-mutilation. The most common symptoms of the yeast are ear canal infections and paw licking. Dogs with the yeast allergy can react to a quantity of yeast that would be considered within normal limits for healthy dogs. This discovery provides evidence and hope that it might be possible to manage that allergic reaction through the development of yeast-specific allergy shots, rather than relying on anti-fungal medications, which carry a possibility of side effects and don't stop the allergic reaction from recurring.
46. Lipid Profiles to Diagnose Atopy
(Web Page; Fri Jan 14 10:05:00 CST 2022)
Description: Fat levels in blood and skin may be helpful to diagnose atopy in dogs.
47. Lopamudra Kher, BVSc&AH, MVSc, MS
(Web Page; Mon Nov 29 11:56:00 CST 2021)
Description: Dr. Lopamudra Kher is a doctoral candidate in the Small Animal Clinical Sciences Department of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
48. Transcriptome Profiling of Canine Familial Dermatomyositis (DMS) Skin Lesions and Treatment
(Web Page; Thu Apr 08 07:34:00 CDT 2021)
Description:
Cutaneous dermatomyositis (DMS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease that exhibits severe inflammatory lesions leading to skin scarring with disfiguration. The inflammatory skin process in human DMS is characterized by an upregulated interferon signature and activation of Janus kinase (JAK) pathway; the JAK inhibitors represent a novel treatment modality for human cutaneous DMS. Presently, little is known about the pathogenesis of canine familial DMS-associated skin lesions in Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs and the treatment is rarely successful. Oclacitinib is safe and well-tolerated JAK inhibitor that has been used for the control or treatment of allergic dermatitis in dogs; however, the therapeutic effect of oclacitinib on canine familial DMS has not been investigated.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the molecular signature of canine familial DMS using RNA sequencing. We will perform transcriptomic analyses of lesional skin biopsy specimens from 20 dogs (Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs) with familial DMS; biopsy specimens from 10 healthy dogs will serve as a control. Alignment of RNA-seq reads and detailed comparative analysis will be identified using software services. Furthermore, we will evaluate the effect of oclacitinib, a veterinary JAK inhibitor, on the modulation of the cutaneous DMS clinical signs in dogs in a 12-week open-label study. This is the first evaluation of a targeted immune JAK antagonist in dogs with familial DMS. The robust transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq will define novel pathogenic (innate, adaptive and inflammatory) pathways canine DMS disease drivers, with potential for the development of new targeted therapeutics.
Participation Requirements:
Client-owned Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs of any age, body weight and sex, with active cutaneous DMS diagnosed based on currently accepted standards (i.e. compatible history, clinical signs and microscopic demonstration of cell-poor interface dermatitis with vasculopathy, follicular atrophy and fibrosis on previous skin biopsy) will be enrolled into the study.
To limit the influence of medications on active DMS skin lesions, withdrawal times for all dogs from previous medications will be recommended to the client.
Owner's Responsibilities:
Once the patient is accepted into the study, the primary investigator will be in contact with the clients to organize a one-time skin biopsy collection procedure at a veterinary dermatologist clinic or a primary veterinarian clinic. The primary investigator is responsible for the shipments of all materials. Samples can be sent from other clinics/owners.
If the clients pursue treatment with oclacitinib, the primary investigator will contact the clients directly with clinical scoring materials and the client will be responsible to bring the patient for a clinical visit rechecks to a veterinary dermatologist or a primary veterinarian.
49. Fecal microbiota transplantation for the treatment of allergies in dogs
(Web Page; Fri Feb 02 12:01:00 CST 2024)
Description:
Goal: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic allergic disease that usually requires lifelong treatment. Allergy treatment is usually based on suppressing the symptoms – such as itching, and skin and ear infections – but is not able to cure the disease. Researchers are constantly looking for new and healthy ways to treat an allergy. The AKC Canine Health Foundation Grant # 03162 is designed to study if fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is efficacious for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis in the West Highland White Terrier breed. If the researchers show that FMT, a yet novel etiological treatment approach, improves the clinical course of the disease, millions of dogs and their owners worldwide could benefit from this research.
Dog in the study will receive a rectal transplant (enema) 3 times in 1-month intervals. The enema takes a few minutes and is not painful. It is beneficial if your dog has already defecated before. In addition, you will receive tasteless capsules, which you administer 1x daily on an empty stomach. The therapy has no side effects.
Timeline: The study duration is 3 months (4 visits). Additionally, we would like to see patients who respond successfully after 6 and 12 months. Owners will have to bring feces in a normal poop bag to each recheck, keep a diary of your dog’s symptoms, administer the capsules and keep the scheduled appointments.
Eligibility:
Allergic dogs should fulfill the following inclusion criteria
- Dogs with an environmental allergy lasting > 1 year and continuous (all-year round) symptoms
- Dogs, which are positive in the allergy test at least against house dust mite allergens
- Dogs that still show significant allergy symptoms despite a strict elimination diet
- These dogs may have concurrently also a food allergy
The study also includes healthy dogs to study which patients will benefit from this form of therapy in the future and to understand how the therapy is functioning.
Healthy dogs should fulfill the following inclusion criteria
- Age 3-10 years and not overweight
- Healthy (no allergies or other systemic diseases)
- Did not receive any medication in the last 6 months
50. Evaluation of Fungal Flora in Normal and Diseased Canine Ears
(Web Page; Fri Aug 16 12:36:00 CDT 2019)
Description: Otitis externa is defined as inflammation of the ear canal and affects an estimated 10-20% of dogs. Otitis can be caused by numerous primary diseases and can be complicated by infections. Otitis can be a source of chronic pain and inflammation and until the primary cause is identified secondary bacterial or fungal infections will recur and perpetuate disease. It has been estimated that nearly 75% of otitis cases are due to primary atopic dermatitis (environmental allergy). When there is disruption of the skin�s natural barrier due to allergy secondary infections occur. Bacteria and fungal organisms such as Malassezia and Candida are commonly isolated as secondary pathogens in otitis while filamentous fungal organisms such as Aspergillus are less commonly isolated. 4, 8, 9, 10 These filamentous fungal organisms can be overlooked as exacerbating factors in serious otic disease. Currently there is limited knowledge on fungal flora that may be encountered in canine normal and diseased external ear canals in North America. In humans, fungal otitis may be under recognized in cases of chronic otitis externa, especially those cases treated with long term antibiotic therapy.11, 12 The purpose of this study is to isolate and identify pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungal organisms present in normal and diseased ears.
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.
