The aim of the present study was to compare the prevalence of microbial agents involved in canine otitis externa and their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs in two periods: 2007–2011 and 2013–2017. For 2013–2017, coagulase-positive staphylococci were the dominating bacterial species (186 isolates), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (82 strains). The rate of isolated yeasts (mainly Malassezia pachydermatis) was substantially high (152 isolates). Compared to the earlier period (2007–2011) a tendency to more frequent occurrence of co-infections was noted – 61.7% and more than 80% of co-infections involved yeasts. Antibacterial resistance patterns showed a clear trend to increased resistance of coagulase-positive staphylococci and β-haemolytic streptococci to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (42% and 50% respectively) and gentamicin (29%, 40%). Increased resistance of P. aeruginosa was established to gentamicin (16%) and amikacin (18%). The prevalence of pseudomonads resistant to enrofloxacin was lower (27%).

In this article, we present an assessment of the risk of the potential introduction and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in cows in Bulgaria. In the spring of 2024, we witnessed an unprecedented spread of the virus in dairy herds in the USA. This crossing of interspecies barriers by the virus creates a real danger of pandemic manifestations in humans. The continued spread of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in dairy populations and other mammalian species and efficient animal-to-animal transmission increases the risk of infection and subsequent spread of the virus in human populations. According to registers, as of 1 November 2022, a total of 559,544 cattle were bred in Bulgaria. The total number of dairy cows decreased by 5.2% year-on-year to 197,996. Farms breeding dairy cows as of 1 November 2022 were 12,439, which is 22.1% less than the previous year. The production of cow’s milk in 2022 amounted to 748,278 thousand liters. Traditionally, the largest share in the total yield of cow’s milk is occupied by the south-central region with 25.9%, followed by the southeastern region with 18.5%. Due to potential risk factors such as the high concentration of dairy cows in high-risk areas for avian influenza A, the possibility of HPAI jumping the interspecies barrier and spreading in dairy herds in Bulgaria is very high. We therefore set out to assess the risk of virus penetration in these herds.

Background: Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and canine granulocytic anaplasmosis (CGA), caused by Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, are prevalent tick-borne diseases in dogs. Both trigger systemic inflammation, with C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as potential biomarkers of severity. Aim: To compare serum CRP and TNF-α in CME, CGA, and co-infected dogs, and to assess their relationships with hematological, biochemical, and liver enzyme changes. Methods: In 134 dogs showing clinical signs of CME/CGA, infections were confirmed using SNAP® 4Dx® Plus, indirect immunofluorescence assay, and PCR. CRP and TNF-α were quantified using canine-specific ELISA kits. Results: Of the dogs tested, 112 (83.6%) were seropositive and 77 (68.8%) PCR positive (E. canis: 27; A. phagocytophilum: 29; co-infection: 21). Co-infected group had the highest CRP (135.2–154.8 mg/L) and TNF-α (161.5–174.0 pg/mL), significantly exceeding in CME (104.6–120.9 mg/L; 148.7–162.2 pg/mL), CGA (88.5–104.4 mg/L; 140.1–156.5 pg/mL), PCR-negative (33.1–45.8 mg/L; 12.3–18.9 pg/mL) and control groups (0.9–4.0 mg/L;0.2–2.3 pg/mL) with p < 0.001. Thrombocytopenia was common in all infected groups, with the lowest platelet counts in co-infected dogs (median 106.0 ×10⁹/L, p < 0.001). ALT and AST were significantly elevated only in co-infections (ALT: 89.25 U/L; AST: 69.38 U/L; p < 0.001). CRP correlated moderately with ALT/AST; TNF-α showed weaker positive associations. Conclusion: CRP and TNF-α are valuable indicators of systemic inflammation in CME and CGA, with maximal increases and stronger links to liver injury in co-infections, supporting their use in diagnosis and prognosis.