ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7412-9398
Current Organisation
The University of Edinburgh
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.PREVETMED.2015.01.013
Abstract: Antimicrobial resistant bacteria are increasingly detected from canine s les but few studies have examined commensal isolates in healthy community dogs. We aimed to characterise faecal Escherichia coli from 73 healthy non-veterinarian-visiting and non-antimicrobial treated Labrador retrievers, recruited from dog shows in the North West United Kingdom between November 2010 and June 2011. Each enrolled dog provided one faecal s le for our study. E. coli were isolated from 72/73 (99%) faecal s les. Disc diffusion susceptibility tests were determined for a range of antimicrobials, including phenotypic extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC-production. PCR assay detected phylogenetic groups and resistance genes (blaCTX-M, blaSHV, blaTEM, blaOXA, blaCIT, qnr), and conjugation experiments were performed to investigate potential transfer of mobile genetic elements. Multivariable logistic regression examined potential risk factors from owner-questionnaires for the presence of antimicrobial resistant faecal E. coli. Antimicrobial resistant, multi-drug resistant (≥3 antimicrobial classes MDR) and AmpC-producing E. coli were detected in 63%, 30% and 16% of s les, respectively. ESBL-producing E. coli was detected from only one s le and conjugation experiments found that blaCTX-M and blaCIT were transferred from commensal E. coli to a recipient strain. Most isolates were phylogenetic groups B1 and A. Group B2 isolates were associated with lower prevalence of resistance to at least one antimicrobial (P<0.001) and MDR (P<0.001). Significant at P<0.003, was the consumption of raw meat for clavulanate-amoxicillin (OR: 9.57 95% CI: 2.0-45.7) and third generation cephalosporin resistance (3GCR) (OR: 10.9 95% CI: 2.2-54.0). AMR E. coli were surprisingly prevalent in this group of non-antimicrobial treated and non-veterinarian-visiting dogs and consumption of raw meat was a significant risk factor for antimicrobial resistance. These findings are of concern due to the increasing popularity of raw-meat canine diets, and the potential for opportunistic infection, zoonotic transmission and transmission of antimicrobial resistant determinants from commensal isolates to potential pathogenic bacteria.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-06-2013
DOI: 10.1111/VDE.12044
Abstract: Intradermal tests are used to identify allergens for avoidance and immunotherapy in atopic dogs. To evaluate cross-reaction or co-sensitization among 53 intradermal test allergens. Six hundred and fifty-one client-owned dogs with atopic dermatitis. Intradermal tests were performed with 53 house dust/storage mite, epidermal, insect, tree, weed and grass pollen and mould allergens. Pairwise comparisons were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and statistical significance for the results of each allergen pair, with significance at P < 0.0006 (Holm-Bonferroni correction to reduce the false-detection rate). Apart from cotton, cockroach, red clover, grain smut and Penicillium, the results for the allergens within each group were statistically associated [ORs from 4.7 (CI 2.5-8.9) to 1229.4 (CI 166.5-1795.1) P = 0.0005 to P < 0.0001]. Excluding red clover and cotton, 94% of results between tree, weed and grass pollens were also statistically associated [ORs from 8.3 (CI 3.6-24.7) to 117 (CI 29.1-341) P = 0.0005 to P < 0.0001]. In contrast, few allergens from unrelated groups were statistically associated [ORs from 0.12 (CI 0.03-1.1) to 27.7 (CI 0.2-93) P = 1.0 to P < 0.0001]. The mean (SD) of the log e transformed ORs for the related and statistically associated allergens [5.3 (1.3)] was significantly greater than those for related but nonstatistically associated [1.7 (1.6)] or unrelated allergens [1.4 (1.4) P < 0.0001]. This suggests that there is cross-reaction or co-sensitization between related allergens. This could have implications for allergen selection in testing and immunotherapy, but further studies are required to differentiate cross-reaction from co-sensitization.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-3164.2011.00993.X
Abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate (HCA) spray (Cortavance(®) Virbac SA) in 10 cats with presumed allergic dermatitis. The cats initially received two sprays/100 cm(2) of skin once daily. Clinical lesions (a Feline Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index FeDESI), pruritus (10 cm visual analog scale with grade descriptors) and owner assessments of efficacy, tolerance and ease of use (from 1=very poor to 5=excellent) were assessed every 14 days. The frequency of treatment was reduced after day 28 in cats with a >50% reduction in FeDESI and pruritus scores. One cat was lost to follow up at day 28 and two at day 42. Intention-to-treat data were analysed. The FeDESI [mean (SD): day 0, 42.2 (15.7) and day 56, 9.9 (11.7) P<0.0001] and pruritus scores [day 0, 61.2 mm (20.1) and day 56, 14.6 mm (16.1) P<0.0001] significantly decreased throughout the trial. The owner scores for tolerance [median (range): day 14, 4 (1-5) and day 56, 4 (3-5) P=0.003] and ease of administration [day 14, 3 (2-5) and day 56, 4 (2-5) P=0.02] significantly increased during the trial, but there was no significant change in efficacy scores [day 14, 4 (3-5) and day 56, 4 (2-5) P=0.5]. There were no adverse effects attributable to the HCA spray, no significant changes in weight [mean (SD): day 0, 5.0 kg (1.4) and day 56, 5.0 kg (1.6) P=0.51] and no significant changes in haematology, biochemistry or urinalysis (n=4). Six cats required every-other-day treatment and four required daily treatment. In conclusion, HCA spray appeared to be effective and safe in these cats, although it is not licensed for use in this species.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-08-2020
DOI: 10.1111/VDE.12873
Abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease of dogs. Interleukin (IL)-34 is a monocyte/macrophage growth factor, produced mainly by keratinocytes, that has been implicated in several human inflammatory conditions including human AD. Canine serum IL-34 concentrations are increased in dogs with AD and correlate with clinical lesion and pruritus scores. Forty seven client-owned dogs diagnosed with AD and 25 healthy, unaffected control dogs. A commercially available IL-34 ELISA was optimized for the measurement of IL-34 in canine serum s les. Information regarding treatment, clinical lesion scores [Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, 4th iteration (CADESI-04)] and pruritus Visual Analog Score (pVAS) were recorded for each dog at the time of serum collection. Dogs with AD had significantly increased serum IL-34 concentrations compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IL-34 concentrations and CADESI-04 and pVAS scores. Concentrations of IL-34 remained increased in dogs with AD receiving steroids or the JAK1 inhibitor, oclacitinib, compared to unaffected control dogs. Serum IL-34 concentrations are increased in dogs with AD and are correlated with clinical severity and pruritus. IL-34 may be a suitable candidate therapeutic target for canine AD.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-3164.2009.00804.X
Abstract: Bacterial adhesion is a key step in colonization of the skin. Staphylococcus intermedius adheres strongly to canine and feline corneocytes, and adhesion is greater to corneocytes from dogs affected with atopic dermatitis, but comparatively little is known about adhesion‐receptor interaction compared to S. aureus . The aim of this study was to compare the binding of S. intermedius isolates from healthy ( n = 21) and atopic dogs ( n = 33) to immobilized human fibronectin and epidermal cytokeratin and canine fibrinogen in vitro . Staphylococcus intermedius and the positive control S. aureus P1 exhibited concentration‐dependent binding to all three protein layers. The negative control S. aureus Newman strain and S. hominis did not bind. The majority of S. intermedius isolates adhered strongly, and there was no significant difference between isolates from atopic and healthy dogs or from lesional or nonlesional skin of atopic dogs (fibronectin P = 0.971 and 0.837 fibrinogen P = 0.811 and 0.564 cytokeratin P = 0.409 and 0.564). These results suggest that S. intermedius may possess specific microbial components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules, like S. aureus , that bind to the substrates used in this study. Adherence and therefore colonization and infection in canine atopic dermatitis, however, are more likely to be related to host factors rather than the possession of specific virulence factors.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-05-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-3164.2009.00756.X
Abstract: This study evaluated a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate (HCA) spray (Cortavance Virbac SA, Carros, France) in canine atopic dermatitis (AD). Initially, dogs with a canine AD extent and severity index (CADESI-03) >or= 50 were randomly allocated to receive HCA (n = 15) or placebo (n = 13) (two sprays from 10 cm away to treat an area of 100 cm(2)) once daily for 28 days. Twenty-one of the dogs then received HCA spray once daily, reducing to every other day or twice weekly over 42 days if improvement was maintained. CADESI, pruritus (14 cm visual-analogue-scale) and owner satisfaction (5-point scale) were recorded every 14 days. Haematology, biochemistry and adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation were performed at baseline, d28 and d70 (HCA n = 9 placebo n = 7). Intention-to-treat data were analysed. HCA spray significantly decreased CADESI (-61.4% versus -13.4%, P = 0.0069) and pruritus (-38.8% versus +57.6%, P = 0.0015) at d28 compared to placebo. Scores were significantly decreased at d14 (CADESI -50.5%, P < 0.0021) and d28 (CADESI P or= 50% reductions in CADESI and pruritus compared to 3 of 13 (P = 0.02) and 1 of 13 (P = 0.04) placebo dogs. Owner satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the HCA group (d28 P = 0.0001). Daily 3 of the 21 dogs required daily maintenance therapy, 7 every other day, 6 twice weekly and 5 dogs required additional therapy. Coat length did not influence the results. No adverse effects or changes to blood parameters were noted. HCA spray proved safe and effective up to 70 days. It is not, however, licensed for long-term treatment.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-3164.2009.00858.X
Abstract: This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial indicates that Phytopica can be an effective glucocorticoid sparing agent in canine atopic dermatitis (AD). Twenty-two dogs with perennial AD [Canine Atopic Dermatitis with Severity Index (CADESI-03) >or= 60] were given 200 mg/kg Phytopica or an identical placebo in food once daily for 56 days. All dogs were initially given 0.4 mg/kg methyl-prednisolone once daily, which was then adjusted according to the daily pruritus score (0-100 mm visual analogue scale). The cumulative dose and pruritus score were lower in the Phytopica than the placebo group. There were statistically significant time and treatment effects for the methyl-prednisolone dose and pruritus score, but there were no significant differences between the Phytopica and placebo groups in the proportion of dogs that achieved a > 50% reduction in dose or pruritus scores at day 56 the mean CADESI-03 scores at days 0, 28 and 56 the numbers achieving >50% reduction in CADESI-03 at days 28 and 56 or in the owners' global efficacy score at days 28 and 56. Adverse events included diarrhoea (three Phytopica and one placebo treated dog), polyuria olydipsia (three dogs in each group), and polyphagia, intermittent anorexia and panting (one dog each in the placebo group). None of these by themselves required withdrawal of treatment.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-01-2019
DOI: 10.1111/VDE.12721
Abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease of dogs. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) initiates pro-inflammatory cytokine release in human AD and serum concentrations are correlated with disease severity. Canine serum MIF concentrations are increased in dogs with AD and correlate with clinical lesion and pruritus scores. Client owned dogs (n = 49) diagnosed with AD and 17 healthy, unaffected control dogs were used for the study. A commercially available MIF ELISA was optimized for the dog and serum from clinical cases used. Information regarding treatment, Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, (CADESI-4) and pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS) were recorded for each dog at the time of serum collection. Dogs with AD which had not received steroid therapy and those treated with oclacitinib had significantly elevated serum MIF concentrations compared to controls. Concentrations of MIF were not significantly different in AD dogs receiving steroids compared to controls. There was no significant correlation between MIF concentrations and clinical scores (CADESI-4 or pVAS). Serum MIF concentrations are increased in dogs with AD and MIF might be a target for therapy.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-09-2018
DOI: 10.1093/JAC/DKY352
Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical health problem, with systemic antimicrobial therapy driving development of AMR across the host spectrum. This study compares longitudinal carriage, at multiple timepoints, of AMR faecal Escherichia coli in dogs undergoing routine antimicrobial treatment. Faecal s les (n = 457) from dogs (n = 127) were examined pretreatment, immediately after treatment and 1 month and 3 months post-treatment with one of five antimicrobials. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to a range of antimicrobials using disc diffusion for each treatment group at different timepoints the presence/absence of corresponding resistance genes was investigated using PCR assays. The impact of treatment group/timepoint and other risk factors on the presence of resistance [MDR, fluoroquinolone resistance, third-generation cephalosporin resistance (3GCR) and ESBL and AmpC production] was investigated using multilevel modelling. S les with at least one AMR E. coli from selective/non-selective agar were classed as positive. Resistance was also assessed at the isolate level, determining the abundance of AMR from non-selective culture. Treatment with β-lactams or fluoroquinolones was significantly associated with the detection of 3GCR, AmpC-producing, MDR and/or fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli, but not ESBL-producing E. coli, immediately after treatment. However, 1 month post-treatment, only amoxicillin/clavulanate was significantly associated with the detection of 3GCR there was no significant difference at 3 months post-treatment for any antimicrobial compared with pretreatment s les. Our findings demonstrated that β-lactam and fluoroquinolone antibiotic usage is associated with increased detection of important phenotypic and genotypic AMR faecal E. coli following routine therapy in vet-visiting dogs. This has important implications for veterinary and public health in terms of antimicrobial prescribing and biosecurity protocols, and dog waste disposal.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-05-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-3164.2009.00745.X
Abstract: Staphylococcal colonization was compared in healthy dogs and in dogs with atopic dermatitis. Bacterial swabs were collected from the nasal mucosa, ear and perineum of 43 healthy and 24 atopic dogs and also from potentially infected skin lesions of the atopic dogs. Coagulase positive staphylococcal isolates were identified to the species level. At the time of this study Staphylococcus intermedius was considered a single species but has since been recognized as comprising at least three species with canine isolates believed to belong to Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Of atopic dogs, 87.5% were colonized with S. intermedius compared to only 37.2% of healthy dogs. The ear was the only carriage site that showed any significant difference in S. intermedius isolation between healthy and atopic dogs. The perineum represented the most frequently colonized mucosal site for both groups. S ling the nasal mucosa alone identified 71.4% of atopic and 37.5% of healthy S. intermedius carriers. Inclusion of a perineal swab identified 100% of atopic and 93.8% of healthy carriers. S. intermedius was isolated from all the lesional sites s led from atopic dogs. Significantly fewer dogs were colonized by Staphylococcus aureus than S. intermedius, and there was no significant difference between S. aureus colonization of atopic and healthy dogs. S. aureus was not recovered from any lesions in atopic dogs. The results show that S. intermedius carriage is more prevalent in atopic dogs compared to healthy dogs and that to identify staphylococcal carriers both the nasal mucosa and the perineum should be s led.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-01-2016
DOI: 10.1111/VDE.12285
Abstract: Long-term remission between flares of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) can be difficult to achieve. Therefore, additional strategic forms of treatment are needed in order to target flare prevention. The concept of proactive therapy is recommended in the European guidelines for the treatment of human atopic eczema. To evaluate the efficacy of a proactive treatment regimen with a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate (HCA) spray for CAD. Client-owned dogs with spontaneous atopic dermatitis (AD) (n = 41). This pilot study was conducted as a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial with an end-point of treatment failure. Dogs were treated once daily to remission, then randomly assigned to receive either the HCA spray (n = 21) or a placebo (n = 20) spray on two consecutive days each week. All dogs were on appropriate flea control. No topical or systemic anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial agents were permitted. Intention-to-treat analysis was used. At Day 0, all the dogs were in remission or had mild AD based on their Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, version 3 (CADESI-03) scores. The time to relapse was significantly higher in the HCA group (median 115 d range 31-260 d) compared to the placebo group (median 33 d range 15-61 d) (P < 0.0001). No adverse events were attributable to the HCA spray. Four dogs were lost to follow-up and four were withdrawn after receiving prohibited medication. These results indicate that proactive long-term therapy of CAD with an HCA spray administered on two consecutive days each week is effective and well-tolerated.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Tim Nuttall.