Cistatina C sérica em cães criticamente enfermos em UTI

RESUMO: A lesão renal aguda (IRA) é uma síndrome complexa, associada à progressão desfavorável, especialmente em cães na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) e apresenta alta morbidade e mortalidade. O diagnóstico de IRA requer combinação de testes laboratoriais, como a creatinina sérica e ureia, considerados pouco sensíveis e específicos para a detecção precoce de graus discretos durante a perda de função renal. O biomarcador cistatina C é considerado superior por apresentar uma melhor correlação com a taxa de filtração glomerular. No entanto, existem poucos estudos que demonstram a utilidade da cistatina C em cães na UTI. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a cistatina C com o nível sérico de creatinina para detectar o estágio inicial da IRA em cães em terapia intensiva. As dosagens desses analitos foram realizadas no momento da admissão, 24 e 48 horas após. A cistatina C apresentou concentrações mais elevadas em 78,6%, enquanto a creatinina sérica aumentou apenas em 28,5% dos cães. Os resultados demonstraram que a cistatina C pode ser utilizada para a detecção precoce de lesão renal aguda em cães de UTIs devido à sua maior sensibilidade em relação aos marcadores tradicionais

Prevalence and in vitro susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) from skin and nostrils of dogs with superficial pyoderma

ABSTRACT: In order to assess the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from skin and nostrils of dogs with pyoderma, to determine its in vitro susceptibility, and to correlate these data with the presence of the mecA gene, 43 dogs were selected. Samples were collected from secretion of their skin lesions and right nostril, cultured, and analyzed for phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the bacteria studied. In 62 samples (91%) the microorganism was classified as S. pseudintermedius. The rate of resistance against antibiotics ranged from 7% (amikacin; 4/62) to 77% (sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim; 48/62). Resistance against oxacillin was found in 34% of the samples (21/62). Twenty-five samples (37%) were strains that carried the mecA gene. A significant correlation (P<0.01) was found between presence of the mecA gene and oxacillin resistance. Seventeen dogs were mecA gene carriers, and 8 (47%) of them had the gene in the skin lesions and nostril. A significant correlation (P<0.01) was also observed between the presence of mecA gene in the skin lesions and nostrils. Oxacillin resistance in vitro can be safely used to indicate the presence of mecA gene in MRSP samples. The nostrils can be a reservoir of MRSP in dogs

Apoptosis in epithelial cells and its correlation with leukocyte accumulation in lamellar tissue from horses subjected to experimental sepsis-associated laminitis

Inflammation and apoptosis in the hoof lamellar interface both contribute to the early stages of sepsis-associated laminitis, but it is not clear whether apoptosis is occurring before the onset of inflammation or is being provoked by inflammation. Apoptosis and inflammation were therefore measured in lamellar tissues obtained at different time points throughout the early stages of experimentally induced laminitis. Apoptotic cells and leukocyte were enumerated in archived paraffin embedded lamellar tissue samples from previous experiments in which acute laminitis was induced using Black Walnut Extract (BWE) or starch (CHO). BWE-derived samples from 20 horses were allocated into four groups: Control (CON = 5); Early Time Point (ETP, 1.5 h after induction, n = 5); Developmental Time Point (DTP, 3-4 h after induction, n = 5); Obel Grade 1 (OG1, Onset of Lameness, n = 5). CHO-derived samples from 25 horses were allocated into four groups: CON (n = 8); DTP (10-12 h after induction, n = 6); OG 1 (n = 6); Obel 3 (OG3, lameness progression, n = 5). Apoptotic cells were enumerated using a horse validated TUNEL technique. Compared to controls, significant increases in apoptotic cell counts were not detected in lamellar epithelial cells during the developmental phase or at the onset of lameness during laminitis induction. A negative correlation between apoptosis and leukocyte infiltration was detected in the BWE model (P \u3c 0.05). In conclusion, apoptosis does not play an important role in the initial stages of sepsis-related laminitis