Person: Villaescusa Fernández, Alejandra
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First Name
Alejandra
Last Name
Villaescusa Fernández
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Veterinaria
Department
Medicina y Cirugía Animal
Area
Medicina y Cirugía Animal
Identifiers
3 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Item Prevalence and appropriateness of omeprazole prescription in dogs at a veterinary teaching hospital before and after the publication of the ACVIM consensus statement on the rational administration of gastrointestinal protectants(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2024) Sainz Rodríguez, Ángel; García-Sancho Téllez, Mercedes Guadalupe; Villaescusa Fernández, Alejandra; Rodríguez Franco, Fernando; Díaz-Regañón Fernández, David Rafael; Olmeda García, Patricia; Marks, Stanley L.Introduction: Overprescribing of acid suppressants is a common phenomenon in human and small animal patients, leading to potential deleterious gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI consequences. The impact of consensus statements on veterinary prescribing habits in clinical practice have not been fully evaluated. This study aimed to compare the prescribing habits of the proton pump inhibitor (PPI), omeprazole, in dogs in an academic veterinary teaching hospital before and after the publication of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus statement on rational use of gastrointestinal protectants. Methods: Evaluation of the prescribing habits of omeprazole in dogs during the years 2017 and 2021 was retrospectively compared. These years were selected to reflect a 12-month period prior to and following the publication of the consensus statement. One hundred dogs from each year were randomly selected. Dose, frequency of administration, duration of treatment, concurrent prescription of more than one gastroprotectant and indications for prescribing omeprazole were analyzed. Results: A significant increase in the cases that received omeprazole q12h (p < 0.0001) or that underwent a tapering dose after ≥4 week-therapy (p > 0.0001) was detected after the publication of the 2018 ACVIM consensus statement. Considering the indications, there was also a significant increase in the appropriate prescription of omeprazole in the second compared to the first period of study (p < 0.0001). Fifteen of 16 clinicians (94%) involved in the prescription of omeprazole indicated that their reading of the consensus statement had changed their clinical practice regarding PPI administration in dogs. Discussion: These results support the beneficial impact of the ACVIM consensus statement on the judicious prescribing of omeprazole in an academic veterinary hospital. These results should not be extrapolated to first-opinion veterinary practices, and further efforts should be made to ensure that PPIs are prescribed prudently with a clear indication and regular review of the appropriateness of continued administration to minimize possible risks and adverse drug interactions.Item Peripheral and intestinal T lymphocyte subsets in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy(Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2024) Agulla Pérez, Beatriz; Villaescusa Fernández, Alejandra; Sainz Rodríguez, Ángel; Díaz-Regañón Fernández, David Rafael; Rodríguez Franco, Fernando; Calleja Bueno, Lydia; Olmeda, Patricia; García-Sancho Téllez, Mercedes GuadalupeBackground: Dysregulated T lymphocyte response is thought to play a key role inchronic intestinal inflammation (CIE). Objectives: To evaluate the presence of changes in peripheral and intestinal T lym-phocyte subsets and to describe potential immune and inflammatory biomarkers indogs with CIE. Animals: Sixteen healthy dogs and 26 dogs were diagnosed with CIE. Methods: Prospective case-control study evaluating peripheral and intestinal T lym-phocytes using flow cytometry and inflammatory markers obtained from completeblood cell counts. Results: Dogs with CIE had higher peripheral activated T helper (Th) lymphocytes(87/μL [18-273] CIE, 44/μL [16-162] healthy control (HC,P=.013) and regulatory Tcells (Treg; 108/μL [2-257] CIE, 34/μL [1-114] HC,P=.004). In the intestinal epithe-lium, CIE dogs presented lower percentages of Th (4.55% [1.75-18.67] CIE, 8.77%[3.79-25.03] HC,P=.002), activated Th cells (0.16% [0.02-0.83] CIE, 0.33%[0.05-0.57] HC,P=.03) and CD4/CD8 ratio (0.08 [0.02-0.39] CIE, 0.21 [0.07-0.85]HC,P=.003). Conversely, higher percentage of activated T cytotoxic cells (20.24%[3.12-77.12] CIE, 12.32% [1.21-39.22] HC,P=.04) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)producing T lymphocytes (7.36% [0.63-55.83] CIE, 1.44% [0.00-10.56] HC,P=.01) within the epithelium was observed. In the lamina propria the percentage of Treglymphocytes was higher (6.02% [1.00-21.48] CIE, 3.52% [0.18-10.52] HC,P=.02). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Systemic and intestinal immune alterationsoccur in dogs with CIE suggesting that blood IFN-γproducing T lymphocytes and the systemic immune-inflamation index (SII) could potentially serve as biomarkers for the disease.Item Twenty-year evolution of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs in Valdeorras (Galicia, Northwestern Spain): implication of climatic factors and preventive measures(Parasites and Vectors, 2024) Olmeda García, Patricia; Díaz-Regañón Fernández, David Rafael; Villaescusa Fernández, Alejandra; Amusátegui Amusátegui, Inmaculada; García, Adolfo; Herrero, Francisco; Tesouro, Miguel A.; Rodríguez Franco, Fernando; García-Sancho Téllez, Mercedes Guadalupe; Martín Fraile, Daniel; Sainz Rodríguez, ÁngelBackground: Abiotic factors play a significant role in the evolution of Leishmania infantum infection due to its vectorial nature. This study aims to assess the evolution in the detection of new L. infantum infection cases in Valdeorras (Ourense, Northwestern Spain) over a 20-year period and how different climatic variables and preventive measures may have affected it. Methods: Indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests (IFAT) were performed on serum samples collected from dogs attending the ‘Servicios Veterinarios de Sil’ veterinary clinic (Valdeorras, Northwestern Spain) between May 2003 and April 2023 to detect L. infantum exposure. The percentage of new cases of L. infantum infection was calculated from May of one year to April of the following year. Climatic conditions in the region, global sales of ectoparasiticides and the number of vaccines against L. infantum delivered in the veterinary clinic from 2003 to 2022 were recorded. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the associations between these factors and the percentage of new cases of L. infantum infection. Results: A total of 2909 dogs were assessed, and 3785 IFAT tests were performed between May 2003 and April 2023. The mean percentage of new seropositive cases over the 20-year period studied was 21.65 ± 10.8%, with a decline from the beginning to the end of the period studied. The percentage was significantly higher between May 2003 and April 2008 compared with the other periods (May 2008 to April 2013, May 2013 to April 2018 and May 2018 to April 2023). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of new cases of L. infantum infection and the maximum relative humidity in winter. Conversely, there was a negative correlation between the percentage of new cases and sales of ectoparasiticides and vaccination against L. infantum. Conclusions: This study is one of the longest evaluations of the evolution of L. infantum infection in a fixed location and its association with external factors including climatic conditions and preventive measures. The results confirm that Valdeorras is a high-risk area for L. infantum infection. The use of ectoparasiticides and vaccines against L. infantum has been shown to play a significant role in preventing L. infantum infection, highlighting the crucial role of veterinarians in the fight against this disease.