Urinary cortisol-creatinine ratio in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism

Background Basal serum cortisol (BSC) >= 2 mu g/dL (>55 nmol/L) has high sensitivity but low specificity for hypoadrenocorticism (HA). Objective To determine whether the urinary corticoid:creatinine ratio (UCCR) can be used to differentiate dogs with HA from healthy dogs and those with diseases mimicking HA (DMHA). Animals Nineteen healthy dogs, 18 dogs with DMHA, and 10 dogs with HA. Methods Retrospective study. The UCCR was determined on urine samples from healthy dogs, dogs with DMHA, and dogs with HA. The diagnostic performance of the UCCR was assessed based on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, calculating the area under the ROC curve. Results The UCCR was significantly lower in dogs with HA (0.65 x 10(-6); range, 0.33-1.22 x 10(-6)) as compared to healthy dogs (3.38 x 10(-6); range, 1.11-17.32 x 10(-6)) and those with DMHA (10.28 x 10(-6); range, 2.46-78.65 x 10(-6)) (P < .0001). There was no overlap between dogs with HA and dogs with DMHA. In contrast, 1 healthy dog had a UCCR value in the range of dogs with HA. The area under the ROC curve was 0.99. A UCCR cut-off value of <1.4 yielded 100% sensitivity and 97.3% specificity in diagnosing HA. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The UCCR seems to be a valuable and reliable screening test for HA in dogs. The greatest advantage of this test is the need for only a single urine sample

Utility of the Ratio between Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Activity and Total Nucleated Cell Counts in Effusions (LDH/TNCC Ratio) for the Diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Background: We tested the hypothesis that the ratio between lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and total nucleated cell counts (TNCC) in effusions may be useful to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Methods: LDH/TNCC ratio was retrospectively evaluated in 648 effusions grouped based on cytology and physicochemical analysis (step 1), on the probability of FIP estimated by additional tests on fluids (step 2) or on other biological samples (step 3, n = 471). Results of different steps were statistically compared. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were designed to assess whether the ratio identify the samples with FIP “probable/almost confirmed”. The cut-offs with the highest positive likelihood ratio (LR+) or Youden Index (YI) or with equal sensitivity and specificity were determined. Results: A high median LDH/TNCC ratio was found in FIP effusions (step1: 2.01) and with probable or almost confirmed FIP (step 2: 1.99; 2.20 respectively; step 3: 1.26; 2.30 respectively). The optimal cut-offs were 7.54 (LR+ 6.58), 0.62 (IY 0.67, sensitivity: 89.1%; specificity 77.7%), 0.72 (sensitivity and specificity: 79.2%) in step 2 and 2.27 (LR+ 10.39), 0.62 (IY 0.65, sensitivity: 82.1%; specificity 83.0%), 0.54 (sensitivity: 82.1%; specificity 81.9%) in step 3. Conclusions: a high LDH/TNCC ratio support a FIP diagnosis

Use of recombinant canine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to increase leukocyte count in dogs naturally infected by canine parvovirus

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is one of the most important cause of mortality in young dogs and no specific treatment exists. Since prolonged leukopenia greatly increases the risk of death in infected pups, strategies to counteract this decline were investigated. The outcomes of CPV naturally infected pups treated with the recombinant canine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rcG-CSF), in combination with the routine therapy, were compared with similarly-managed infected pups not treated with rcG-CSF. A non-randomized prospective clinical trial was performed on 62 CPV infected pups with WBC counts <3000 cells/μL and two different groups were selected based on a non-randomized approach. Group A dogs (31/62) received 5 μg/Kg of rcG-CSF daily from the hospitalization day until WBC reached the reference range (3–5 days) and group B (31/62) received 1 ml of placebo injection. All dogs in group A recovered, while five dogs in group B died. The rcG-CSF treatment demonstrated a statistically significant effect on WBC counts (p < 0.0001) and, surprisingly, also on lymphocytes and monocytes counts (p < 0.0001). There was no significant effect of treatment on neutrophil count (p = 0.5502). Although lymphocytes and monocytes are not a specific target for rcG-CSF, our study highlights that rcG-CSF is able to improve haematological parameters compared to untreated dogs and a clear increase in their number was detected, as previously described for humans treated with the homologous molecule

Accuracy of cytology in distinguishing adrenocortical tumors from pheochromocytoma in companion animals

Background: The distinction between adrenocortical tumors and pheochromocytoma can be challenging using clinical findings, diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests. Cytology might be a simple, minimally invasive method to reach a correct diagnosis. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of cytology in differentiating cortical from medullary tumors of the adrenal glands in dogs and cats. Methods: Cytologic key features of adrenocortical tumors and pheochromocytoma were defined by one reference author. Cytologic specimens from primary adrenal tumors were submitted to 4 cytopathologists who were asked to classify the tumors based on the previously defined key features without knowledge of previous classification. Results: Twenty specimens from histologically confirmed adrenal tumors (Group 1) and 4 specimens from adrenal tumors causing adrenal-dependent Cushing's syndrome (Group 2) were evaluated by the 4 cytopathologists. Accuracy in differentiating cortical from medullary origin ranged from 90% to 100%, with a Kappa coefficient of agreement between cytopathologists of 0.95. Conclusions: The origin of an adrenal tumor can be easily determined by cytology alone in many cases. However, cytology was not reliable in distinguishing benign from malignant neoplasia. Additional studies are needed to assess possible risks and complications associated with fine-needle biopsy of adrenal tumors in dogs and cats