Faculty Research and Program Support

Faculty Research and Program Support

Faculty research pictureThe CCAH provides grant funding on a competitive basis to faculty for studies dedicated to advancing the health of dogs, cats and exotic pets. For over 30 years the CCAH has been supporting these efforts, and has awarded more than $21 million. In 2022-23, the CCAH funded 34 faculty grants totaling $700,028, and 10 matching grants in the amount of $67,835.

 

 

FACULTY GRANTS FUNDED

Some of the new CCAH awarded faculty grants for 2023-2024 include:

Interrogation of downstream OLFML3 signaling in canine glioma: a comparative approach (Toedebusch) 

The effects of inhaled rhIL-15 therapy on pulmonary micro-metastasis of osteosarcoma (Rebhun) 

Inter-laboratory variation in serologic test results for Coccidioidomycosis (Sykes) 

Volatilome analysis of nasal lavage specimens for diagnosis of canine sinonasal aspergillosis (Sykes) 

Oral sotalol dosing strategies in the control of ventricular arrhythmias in dogs (Gagnon) 

Canine LINE-1 (long interspersed nuclear element 1) ORF1 antibody (Bannasch) 

Use of total-body 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for staging of canine lymphoma (McLarty) 

Platelet function, viability, sterility in canine platelet concentrate units stored at 4C for 14 day (Farrell) 

Use of artificial intelligence to predict echocardiographic left heart enlargement on radiographs (Ames) 

Pharmacokinetic comparison of transdermal, oral, and intravenous cisapride in healthy dogs (Marks) 

Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in canine oral tumors (Goldschmidt) 

Exploring the therapeutic potential of targeting mutant p53 for canine osteosarcoma (Chen) 

The mysterious oral epulides of carnivores - who is who and where did they come?  Can we finally settle this? (Murphy) 

Effects of rivaroxaban on viscoelastic coagulation in cats (Jandrey) 

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of nirmatrelvir with and without ritonavir in cats (Reagan) 

Candidate biomarkers for treatment stratification in feline chronic gingivostomatitis (Soltero-Rivera) 

Immunoneutral stem cells for cats (Vapniarsky-Arzi) 

Effects of exercise on hepatic and plasma lipids in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) (Beaufrere) 

Pharmacokinetics of oral acetaminophen with and without silymarin administration in orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica) (Guzman) 

Determination of reference intervals for venous blood gas and clotting parameters in miniature pigs (Vanhoy) 

  • Efficacy and safety of the nucleoside analog GS-441524 for treatment of cats with naturally occurring feline infectious peritonitis
  • Pedersen NC, Perron M, Bannasch M, Montgomery E, Murakami E, Liepnieks M, Liu H

    The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of the drug GS-441524 to treat cats suffering from various forms of naturally acquired feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). 31 cats were enrolled in the study. Cats ranged from 3.4-73 months of age. 26 had effusive or dry-to-effusive FIP and 5 had non-effusive disease. Cats with severe neurological and ocular FIP were not recruited. The group was started on GS-441524 at a dosage of 2.0 mg/kg SC q24h for at least 12 weeks and increased when indicated to 4.0 mg/kg SC q24h. Four of the 31 cats that presented with severe disease died or were euthanized within 2-5 days and a fifth cat after 26 days. The 26 remaining cats completed the planned 12 weeks or more of treatment. Eighteen of these 26 cats remain healthy at the time of publication after one round of treatment, while eight others suffered disease relapses within 3-84 days. Three of the eight relapsing cats were treated again at the same dosage, while five cats had the dosage increased from 2.0 to 4.0 mg/kg q24h. The five cats treated a second time at the higher dosage, including one with neurological disease, responded well and also remain healthy at the time of publication. However, one of the three cats re-treated at the original lower dosage relapsed with neurological disease and was euthanized, while the two remaining cats responded favorably but relapsed a second time. These two cats were successfully treated a third time at the higher dosage, producing 25 long-time survivors. One of the 25 successfully treated cats was subsequently euthanized due to presumably unrelated heart disease, while 24 remain healthy. GS-441524 was shown to be a safe and effective treatment for FIP. The optimum dosage for this drug was found to be 4.0 mg/kg SC q24h for at least 12 weeks.
  • Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of twice-daily famciclovir administration on infectious upper respiratory disease in shelter-housed cats
  • Cooper AE, Thomasy SM, Drazenovich TL, Kass PH, Potnis SS, Leutenegger CM, Maggs DJ

    In humans with herpetic disease, early or pre-emptive famciclovir therapy, which is an antiviral drug,  reduces disease duration and severity. This prospective, masked, placebo-controlled study tested therapeutic and prophylactic effects of two famciclovir doses given to cats for 7 days following shelter entry. Cats were assigned to prophylactic or therapeutic study arms based on clinical evidence of herpetic disease at study entry. Cats in the therapeutic arm received no treatment (n = 19), placebo (lactose; n = 18) or famciclovir at ~30 (n = 21) or ~90 mg/kg (n = 20) by mouth twice daily for 7 days. Cats in the prophylactic arm received no treatment (n = 25) or famciclovir at ~30 (n = 28) or ~90 mg/kg (n = 27) by mouth twice daily for 7 days. Disease scores, body weight, conjunctival feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) shedding, and adoption rates were recorded on days 1 (admission), 8 (end of therapy) and 15 (1 week after cessation of therapy). No significant differences in clinical scores were observed among groups in the prophylactic or therapeutic arms at any of the three time points. However, within the therapeutic arm, viral shedding on day 8 was significantly higher in cats receiving no treatment compared to  those receiving ~30 or ~90 mg/kg famciclovir, and this effect persisted 1 week after famciclovir was stopped (day 15) only in cats receiving ~30 mg/kg, although this approached significance in cats receiving ~90 mg/kg. No significant differences in adoption rates were detected among groups in either arm throughout the study. Although we did not demonstrate a statistically or clinically significant effect of famciclovir administration upon clinical signs of infectious upper respiratory disease or adoption, when it was administered at ~30 or ~90 mg/kg twice daily for 1 week famciclovir reduced conjunctival FHV-1 shedding. This suggests a potential role in interrupting the infectious cycle within a shelter population; however, cost in time and resources, and stress and pathogen transmission induced by oral administration should be considered.
  • Determination of mammalian DNA in commercial canine diets with uncommon and limited ingredients
  • Fossati LA, Larsen JA, Villaverde C, Fascetti AJ

    Over-the-counter (OTC) commercially available, limited ingredient diets for dogs could be reliable alternatives to veterinary therapeutic diet formulations for the diagnosis and management of adverse food reaction (AFR). However, the possibility of undeclared ingredients jeopardizes the efficacious use of OTC options for medical purposes. The objective was to determine the presence of undeclared ingredients in OTC canine dry diets marketed as limited or single protein source diets. Twenty-one OTC adult canine diets marketed as limited or single protein source diets were purchased. Multiplex PCR was used to screen for DNA of 10 mammalian species. The presence of DNA from one or more species not declared on the label was identified in all 21 diets tested and included cow (Bos taurus), pig (Sus scrofa), sheep (Ovis sp.), goat (Capra hircus) and bison (Bison bison). Twenty diets were positive for the declared protein source and one diet was negative for the declared species. Cat (Felis catus), dog (Canis sp.), horse (Equus sp.), mouse (Mus musculus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) DNA was not identified in any samples. The presence of undeclared mammal species in OTC canine dry diets marketed as having limited or single protein source ingredients may complicate AFR diagnosis and treatment. However, PCR can detect a miniscule amount of DNA which might not be clinically significant, because the amount needed to elicit a response is unknown. Quantification of the contamination was not determined in this study, precluding discrimination of intentional adulteration from unavoidable cross-contamination.

2022-2023 CCAH published donor funded studies:

Anesthesia

Pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine and its metabolite norbuprenorphine in neutered male cats anesthetized with isoflurane
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
(July 2023)
Pypendop BH, Stoddard S, Barter LS

Effects of dopamine, norepinephrine or phenylephrine on the prevention of hypotension in isoflurane-anesthetized cats administered vatinoxan or vatinoxan and dexmedetomidine
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
(January 2022)
Kobluk K, Pypendop BH

Cancer

A variant in the 5′UTR of ERBB4 is associated with lifespan in Golden Retrievers
Geroscience
(October 2023)
Rebhun RB, York D, De Graaf FMD, Yoon P, Batcher KL, Luker ME, Ryan S, Peyton J, Kent MS, Stern JA, Bannasch DL

Changes in diet and supplement use in dogs with cancer
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
(August 2023)
Kramer ML, Larsen JA, Kent MS

Intra- and Intertumoral Microglia/Macrophage Infiltration and Their Associated Molecular Signature Is Highly Variable in Canine Oligodendroglioma: A Preliminary Evaluation
Veterinary Sciences
(June 2023)
Toedebusch RG, Wei NW, Simafranca KT, Furth-Jacobus JA, Brust-Mascher I, Stewart SL, Dickinson PJ, Woolard KD, Li CF, Vernau KM, Meyers FJ, Toedebusch CM

Fractionated oral dosing and its effect on cyclophosphamide pharmacokinetics in dogs with high-grade multicentric lymphoma
Veterinary and Comparative Oncology
(March 2023)
Veluvolu S, Willcox JL, Skorupski KA, Al-Nadaf S, Rebhun R, Wittenburg L

Longevity and mortality in cats: A single institution necropsy study of 3108 cases (1989-2019)
PLOS ONE
(December 2022)
Kent MS, Karchemskiy S, Culp WTN, Lejeune AT, Pesavento PA, Toedebusch C, Brady R, Rebhun R

Fluid Therapy

Continuous fluid infusion per rectum compared with intravenous fluid infusion in pigs
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
(August 2023)
Chigerwe M, Blasczynski SJ, Abi-Nader BA, Condy PM, Kretsch CM, Depenbrock SM

Genetics

FGF4L2 retrogene copy number is associated with intervertebral disc calcification and vertebral geometry in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers
American Journal of Veterinary Research
(January 2023)
Bianchi CA, Marcellin-Little DJ, Dickinson PJ, Garcia TC, Li CF, Batcher K, Bannasch DL

Infectious Disease

Clinical assessment of a point-of-care assay to determine protective vaccinal antibody titers to canine viral diseases
The Veterinary Journal
(September 2023)
Ad Y, Halperin IM, Olstad EC, Gershwin LJ, Sullivan L, Reagan KL

Efficacy of oral Remdesivir compared to GS-441524 for treatment of cats with naturally occurring effusive Feline Infectious Peritonitis: A blinded, non-inferiority study
Viruses
(August 2023)
Cosaro E, Pires J, Castillo D, Murphy BG, Reagan KL

Characteristics of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing enterobacterales isolated from dogs and cats, 2011-2021
Veterinary Sciences
(February 2023)
Woerde DJ, Reagan KL, Byrne BA, Weimer BC, Epstein SE, Schlesener C, Huang BC, Sykes JE

Tyzzer disease in 19 preweaned orphaned kittens
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
(March 2023)
Fingerhood S, Mendonca FS, Uzal FA, Marks SL, Vernau KM, Navarro MA, Choi EA

An optimized bioassay for screening combined anticoronaviral compounds for efficacy against Feline Infectious Peritonitis virus with pharmacokinetic analyses of GS-441524, Remdesivir, and Molnupiravir in cats
Viruses
(November 2022)
Cook S, Wittenburg L, Yan VC, Theil JH, Castillo D, Reagan KL, Williams S, Pham CD, Li C, Muller FL, Murphy BG

Efficacy of a multidose acyclovir protocol against cyprinid herpesvirus 3 infection in koi (Cyprinus carpio)
Viruses
American Journal of Veterinary Research
(November 2022)
Sosa-Higareda M, Yazdi Z, Littman EM, Quijano Carde EM, Yun S, Soto E

Neurology

Oral cytarabine ocfosfate pharmacokinetics and assessment of leukocyte biomarkers in normal dogs
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
(September 2023)
Zwueste DM, Vernau KM, Vernau W, Pypendop BH, Knych HK, Rodrigues CA, Kol A, Questa M, Dickinson PJ

Tolerability and pharmacokinetics of intravenous allopregnanolone with and without midazolam pretreatment in two healthy dogs
Epilepsia Open
(January 2023)
Bruun DA, MA B, Chen YJ, Wu CY, Aleman M, Zolkowska D, Smiley-Jewell SM, Rogawski MA, Lein PJ

Ophthalmology

Symblepharon in kittens: a retrospective study of 40 kittens and 54 eyes (2002-2022)
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
(February 2023)
Bruun DA, MA B, Chen YJ, Wu CY, Aleman M, Zolkowska D, Smiley-Jewell SM, Rogawski MA, Lein PJ

The TGM2 inhibitor cysteamine hydrochloride does not impact corneal epithelial and stromal wound healing in vitro and in vivo
Experimental Eye Research
(January 2023)
Minella AL, Casanova MI, Chokshi TJ, Kang J, Cosert K, Gragg MM, Bowman MA, Mccorkell ME, Daley NL, Leonard BC, Murphy CJ, Raghunathan VK, Thomasy SM

Ocular morphologic traits in the American Cocker Spaniel may confer primary angle closure glaucoma susceptibility
Scientific Reports
(November 2022)
Park S, Casanova MI, Bannasch DL, Daley NL, Kim S, Kuchtey J, Gomes FE, Leonard BC, Good KL, Da Costa Martins B, Murphy CJ, Thomasy SM

Topical Ripasudil for the treatment of primary corneal endothelial degeneration in dogs
Translational Vision Science and Technology
(September 2022)
Michalak SR, Kim S, Park S, Casanova MI, Bowman MAW, Ferneding M, Leonard BC, Good KL, Li JY, Thomasy SM

Pain Management

Twice-daily oral administration of a cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid-rich hemp extract was well tolerated in orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica) and has a favorable pharmacokinetics profile
American Journal of Veterinary Research
(February 2023)
Sosa-Higareda M, Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Knych H, Lyubimov A, Zakharov A, Gomez B, Beaufrere H

Respiratory

Prospective evaluation of the efficacy of inhaled steroids administered via the AeroDawg spacing chamber in management of dogs with chronic cough
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
(March 2023)
Chan JC, Johnson LR

Surgery / Orthopedics

Metal reactivity is present in dogs with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and total hip replacement implants
American Journal of Veterinary Research
(January 2023)
Filliquist B, McKay R, Marcellin-Little DJ, Irvin JJ, Garcia TC, Vernau W, Chou PY, Kapatkin AS, Vapniarsky N

 

Prior Publications