CARE Guidelines for Publication of (Human Medical) Case Reports

Gagnier JJ, Kienle J, Altman DG, Moher D, Sox H, Riley D, the CARE Group. The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development. J Med Case Reports 2013; 7: 223. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24228906

Reprints: Click Here (Open Access)

Comments: These recent consensus guidelines were disseminated widely last year in the medical literature. These guidelines, and especially the items 1-11 of table 1 (CARE guidelines checklist), are likely to prove very helpful to residents wishing to better structure their writing of case reports for publication in veterinary medical journals.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

A Review on Papillomaviruses in Domestic and Wild Felids

Munday JS. Papillomavirus in felids. Vet J 2014; 199: 340-347. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24456796

Reprint: J. Munday

Comments: This recent review first highlights the methods to detect PVs in lesions, then nicely summarizes the clinical, pathologic and viral characteristics of papillomavirus infections of domestic (mostly) and wild cats. For the former, readers will find pertinent information on cutaneous papillomas, viral plaques, Bowenoid in situ carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), sarcoids, as well as oral papillomas and SCCs.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

A Review on Fungal Diseases of Horses

Cafarchia C, Figueredo LA, Otranto D. Fungal diseases of horses. Vet Microbiol 2013; 167: 215-234. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 23428378

Reprint: C. Cafarchia 

Comments: This extensive review covers cutaneous, subcutaneous and deep mycoses of horses. There are two large tables that summarize the data and that will be very useful to those individuals studying for the board-examination.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

The Skin Microbiome of Normal and Allergic Dogs

Rodrigues Hoffmann A, Patterson AP, Diesel A, Lawhon SD, Ly HJ, Elkins Stephenson C, Mansell J, Steiner JM, Dowd SE, Olivry T, Suchodolski JS. The skin microbiome in healthy and allergic dogs. PLoS One 2014; 9: e83197. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24421875

Reprints: Open Access

Comments: This is the first original report on the skin microbiome of normal dogs, which was established using skin surface PCR of the 16S rRNA gene, a gene common to all bacteria, with sequencing and identification of all products. This paper, albeit complex, provides interesting results on the variability and most abundant bacterial phyla at different skin and mucosal sites. As in humans, the skin microbiome of a small number of allergic dogs was found to be less diverse than that of normal individuals.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Mechanism of Lesions in Canine Leishmaniosis

Koutinas AF, Koutinas CK. Pathologic mechanisms underlying the clinical findings in canine leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum/chagasi. Vet Pathol 2014; 51: 527-538. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24510947

Reprint: AF Koutinas 

Comments: This is a very useful paper that reviews first the general and then the organ-specific mechanisms (e.g. skin, ocular, renal, musculo-skeletal...) of lesions that occur during leishmaniosis in dogs. A must read for those studying for their dermatology diploma.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Skin Diseases in Exotic Animals

Fisher PG (editor). Select topics in dermatology. Vet Clin N Amer Exotic Anim Pract 2013: 523-820. 

PubMed ID (PMID): multiple

Reprint: N/A

Comments: The entire September 2013 issue of this journal is devoted to various subjects of exotic animal dermatology. Some articles are likely to be very relevant to veterinary dermatologists and their residents: there are etiology-specific papers (ex: "ectoparasites in small exotic mammals", others are on syndromes (ex: "bumblefoot" in rabbits, rodents and birds) or on common diseases (ex: ovarian cysts in the Guinea pig). As these topics are rarely covered in review papers, this specific issue of this journal is likely to be of great value to individuals seeing exotics and/or residents studying for their examination.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Neurogenic Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca with Ipsilateral Dry Nose

Matheis FL, Walser-Reinhardt, Spiess BM. Canine neurogenic keratoconjunctivitis sicca: 11 cases (2006-2010). Vet Opthalmol 2012; 15: 288-290. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 22051024

Reprint: FL Matheis 

Comments: This short communication is about an uncommon cause of keratoconjunctivitis sicca that is often accompanied by usually unilateral (ipsilateral) dry nose with hyperkeratosis and/or crusting. If nasal lesions are present, damage to the preganglionic parasympathetic fibers proximal to the pterygopalatine ganglion is suspected. Treatment with oral pilocarpine drops appears to yield some benefit. Note: this paper does not provide much detail on nasal lesions, but it explains, in the introduction, the neurologic basis of this syndrome.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Pemphigus Variants in Humans

Joly P, Litrowski N. Pemphigus group (vulgaris, vegetans, foliaceus, herpetiformis, brasiliensis). Clin Dermatol 2011; 29: 432-436. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 21679871

Reprint: P Joly 

Comments: This paper is a short review of the epidemiology, clinical signs, histopathology and immunologic characteristics and prognosis of the most common variants of pemphigus in humans. This paper does not cover the treatment options for each disease.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Lepidopterism Due to Contact with Setae of the Pine Processionary Carterpillar in Dogs

Niza ME, Ferreira RL, Coimbra IV et al. Effects of pine processionary caterpillar Thaumetopoea pityocampa contact in dogs: 41 cases (2002-2006). Zoonoses Public Health 2012; 59: 35-38. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 21824369

Reprint: ME Niza 

Comments: In Meditarrean countries, dogs living near pine trees are often in contact with irritant hair (setae) from the pine processionary caterpillars. These setae are rich in thaumetopoein, an urticating protein, and irritant reactions consist most often of drooling, dysphagia and  pain with tongue ulceration and necrosis. This paper provides relevant clinical information based upon a large series of cases of canine lepidopterism, a disease rarely reported before in the veterinary literature.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Desmocollin-1 is a Major Antigen for Canine Pemphigus Foliaceus

Bizikova P, Dean GA, Hashimoto T, Olivry T. Cloning and establishment of canine desmocollin-1 as a major autoantigen in canine pemphigus foliaceus. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2012; 149: 197-207. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 22884397

Reprint: T. Olivry 

Comments: A set of studies demonstrate that most dogs affected with pemphigus foliaceus (PF) have circulating anti-desmocollin-1 (DSC-1) IgG autoantibodies. This establishes this desmosomal cadherin as a major target autoantigen in canine PF. This is an important step forward in our understanding of the pathogenesis of this most common autoimmune disease in dogs.

Recommended by: Svetlana Belova, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia