Correlations between peripheral parasite load and common clinical and laboratory alterations in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

Intensity of peripheral parasite infection has an important role in the transmission of Leishmania spp. from one host to another. As parasite load quantification is still an expensive procedure to be used routinely in epidemiological surveillance, the use of surrogate predictors may be an important asset in the identification of dogs with high transmitting ability. The present study examined whether common clinical and laboratory alterations can serve as predictors of peripheral parasitism in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania spp. Thirty-seven dogs were examined in order to establish correlations between parasite load (PL) in multiple peripheral tissues and common clinical and laboratory findings in canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine PL in conjunctival swabs, ear skin, peripheral blood and buffy coat. Additionally, a series of hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress markers were quantified. Correlations between net peripheral infection and severity of clinical alterations and variation in laboratory parameters were assessed through a new analytical approach, namely Compressed Parasite Load Data (CPLD), which uses dimension reduction techniques from multivariate statistics to summarize PL across tissues into a single variable. The analysis revealed that elevation in PL is positively correlated with severity of clinical sings commonly observed in CVL, such as skin lesions, ophthalmic alterations, onycogriphosis, popliteal lymphadenomegaly and low body mass. Furthermore, increase in PL was found to be followed by intensification of non-regenerative anemia, neutrophilia, eosinopenia, hepatic injury and oxidative imbalance. These results suggest that routinely used clinical and laboratory exams can be predictive of intensity of peripheral parasite infection, which has an important implication in the identification of dogs with high transmitting ability

Leucemia em cão portador de Leishmaniose visceral. Relato de caso

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Leucemia monocítica em cão. Relato de caso

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USO DA IMPEDÂNCIA NA DETERMINAÇÃO DO VOLUME GLOBULAR DAS ESPÉCIES FELINA, EQUINA E BOVINA

The aim of this study was to determinate the correlation of packed cell volume (PCV) between cats, horses and cows with two different methods: by impedance and by the Strumia method. For this purpose, blood samples from 70 cats, 80 horses and 77 cows were analyzed. The PCV data, in both methods, were determined at 20 – 120 minutes after blood collection.  The PCV data obtained by Strumia and impedance methods (r = 0.98 cats, r = 0.98 horses and r = 0.96 cows) were extremely significant (p < 0.0001) for the three species. In conclusion, the PCV data determined by impedance was reliable and it is recommended for clinical use in feline, equine and bovine species. Objetivou-se determinar a correlação entre os valores de volume globular (VG) das espécies felina, equina e bovina com dois diferentes métodos: por impedância e pelo método de Strumia. Para tal, amostras de sangue de 70 gatos, 80 cavalos e 77 bois foram analisadas. Os valores de VG, em ambos os métodos, foram obtidos num período compreendido entre 20 - 120 minutos após a colheita. Os valores de VG obtidos pelos métodos de Strumia e impedância apresentaram correlação (r = 0,98 gatos, r = 0,98 cavalos e r = 0,96 bois) extremamente significante (p < 0,001) para as três espécies. Concluiu-se que o valor do VG determinado por impedância revelou-se confiável e é recomendado para o uso clínico nas espécies felina, equina e bovina

Diagnóstico e tratamento de um potro neonato acometido de polidactilia com dedo extra-numerário completo

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High concentrations of glucose reduce the oxidative metabolism of dog neutrophils in vitro

Background: Dogs are commonly affected by hyperglycemic conditions. Hyperglycemia compromises the immune response and favors bacterial infections; however, reports on the effects of glucose on neutrophil oxidative metabolism and apoptosis are conflicting in humans and rare in dogs. Considering the many complex factors that affect neutrophil oxidative metabolism in vivo, we investigated in vitro the specific effect of high concentrations of glucose on superoxide production and apoptosis rate in neutrophils from healthy dogs.Results: The capacity of the neutrophils to reduce tetrazolium nitroblue decreased significantly in the higher concentration of glucose (15.13 ± 9.73% (8 mmol/L) versus 8.93 ± 5.71% (16 mmol/L)). However, there were no changes in tetrazolium nitroblue reduction at different glucose concentrations when the neutrophils were first activated with phorbol myristate acetate. High concentrations of glucose did not affect the viability and apoptosis rate of canine neutrophils either with or without prior camptothecin stimulation. This study provides the first evidence that high concentrations of glucose inhibit the oxidative metabolism of canine neutrophils in vitro in a manner similar to that which occurs in humans, and that the decrease in superoxide production did not increase the apoptosis rate.Conclusions: A high concentration of glucose reduces the oxidative metabolism of canine neutrophils in vitro. It is likely that glucose at high concentrations rapidly affects membrane receptors responsible for the activation of NADPH oxidase in neutrophils; therefore, the nonspecific immune response can be compromised in dogs with acute and chronic hyperglycemic conditions. © 2013 Bosco et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils in sheep treated with sodium monensin and experimentally submitted to ruminal acidosis

Ruminal acidosis is due to excessive ingestion of carbohydrates of rapid fermentation without previous adaptation of the microorganisms, causing severe metabolic disturbances to the animals. The objective of the present study was to assess the neutrophilic oxidative metabolism in sheep treated with sodium monensin in experimentally induced ruminal lactic acidosis. A total of 18 male sheep, half-bred (ideal x Merino), fistulated in the rumen, were used; nine of them received 33 mg/kg of the ionophore diet per day, for 30 days; the others were controls. The acidosis was induced by supplying 15g of sucrose/kg of body weight. The clinical evaluation and the rumen and blood samples were obtained before (0h) and at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours post-induction. In both groups, all the animals presented clinical manifestations of ruminal lactic acidosis 6 hours after the induction. From this period on, a significant pH decrease (P<0.05) was observed in the ruminal fluid, which reached levels below 5. There were relevant differences (P<0.05) between the groups 12 hours after the induction, when the sheep treated with monensin had higher values than those of the control group. During this period, the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils remained inhibited, and the reestablishment of this function only occurred in the sheep which received monensin. Blood pH, plasmatic glucose and the ionizable calcium suffered alterations within its levels. The seric cortisol concentration rose significantly (P<0.05) in both groups, although differences (P<0.05) between them were found at the end of the observation period. The treatment with monensin did not influence the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils inhibited by the lactic acidosis; however, a faster recovery of this metabolism was verified in the animals treated with the ionophore