Establishing canine clinical chemistry reference values for the Hitachi ® 912 using the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) recommendations

The aim of this study was to establish population-based canine clinical chemistry reference values for the Hitachi 912 (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany) with regard to age, sex, breed, housing and intended use. Reference biochemistry values for 22 variables are presented from 308 clinical healthy dogs, 145 females and 163 males, approximately 1 month to 13 years of age and of various breeds. For each variable the data were examined for homogeneity and, when suspected, outliers were excluded using the range test. Non-parametric analysis was used to calculate the conventional central 95% interval. Then the two-sided non-parametric 0.9 confidence interval of each percentile was determined. Finally, the effects of subgrouping were examined using the Kruskal-Wallis test and p <0.05 was considered significant. Significant age influences were found for 20 of the 22 variables, 14 showing clinical relevance. Significant breed effects could be found for 10 of the 22 parameters, including clinically relevant lower total protein concentrations for retrievers, lower lipase activity for sled dogs, lower total bilirubin concentrations for terriers and higher total bilirubin for Molossians. Differences between male and female were present for six of the 22 variables but had no clinical relevance. Housing and intended use influenced some of the values, but these differences were of no clinical significance. We successfully established canine clinical chemistry reference values for the Hitachi 912. The IFCC Recommendations on Reference Values offered a good framework for establishing standardised reference values, and make it possible for several laboratories to share the same values. Our results clearly indicate that subgrouping according to age and breed is necessary to obtain accurate reference value

Canine Genetics and Epidemiology is now Canine Medicine and Genetics

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: registration 2020-07-17, online 2020-07-27, pub-electronic 2020-07-27, collection 2020-12Publication status: Publishe

Gastric Motility Disorders in Dogs and Cats

Gastric motility disorders present both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and likely are under-recognized in small animal practice. This review includes a comparative overview of etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation of gastric motility disorders, suggests a practical approach to the diagnosis of these conditions, and provides an update on methods to evaluate gastric motor function. Furthermore, management of gastric dysmotility is discussed, including a review of the documented effect of gastric prokinetics

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Dogs

In people, fecal microbiota transplantation is recognized as the best treatment modality for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in people, and its value is currently investigated in the treatment of other diseases associated with an abnormal gut microbiome. In dogs, intestinal dysbiosis has been documented in many acute and chronic digestive diseases as well as in diseases of other organ systems. There are only few published studies evaluating the benefits of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in canine gastrointestinal disorders. They provide evidence that FMT may be beneficial in the treatment of acute intestinal diseases and hope that the technique might also be useful for the management of chronic enteropathies

Evaluation of endosonography as a new diagnostic tool for feline pancreatitis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate endosonography (EUS) as a potential diagnostic tool for feline pancreatitis. Eleven healthy cats and six cats diagnosed with pancreatitis based on an increased serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI) concentration were included. Transabdominal ultrasound (AUS) and EUS were performed in all cats. The widths of both pancreatic limbs and echogenicity and homogenicity were assessed by AUS and EUS. Finally, findings from both modalities were subjectively compared. In the healthy cats, the right pancreatic limb was significantly smaller on EUS compared to AUS. Also, subjectively, general visualization of the normal pancreas was superior with EUS and, the pancreatic margins and parenchyma could be resolved better with EUS in all sick patients. In this study, EUS findings did not alter the diagnosis in six cats with pancreatitis when compared to AUS. However, EUS may be useful in cases where AUS fails due to obesity, hyperechoic mesentery, or excessive intestinal gas

Small intestinal intussusception in five dogs with acute renal failure and suspected leptospirosis (L. australis)

OBJECTIVES This case series describes 5 dogs with small intestinal intussusception and acute kidney injury due to infection with Leptospira interrogans serovar Australis. CASE SERIES SUMMARY Small intestinal intussusception was observed in 4 dogs diagnosed with acute kidney injury due to leptospirosis presented between 1997 and 2005. Intussusception was diagnosed at initial presentation or later during hospitalization. An additional dog fulfilling our inclusion criteria was presented to a small animal specialty clinic nearby and was included. Upon admission, all dogs were severely azotemic and thrombocytopenic. All 5 dogs showed the strongest microscopic agglutination test serology reaction to L. interrogans serovar Australis. Two dogs survived with no apparent residual renal damage, 1 survived with subsequent mild chronic kidney disease, and 2 dogs were euthanized at the owners' request due to a guarded prognosis. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED Intussusception can occur or may be seen in dogs with leptospirosis due to L. interrogans serovar Australis and patients should be monitored closely for this potential complication. As all 5 dogs described in this case series showed the highest titer for L. interrogans serovar Australis, these precautions may be especially applied in geographic areas where this particular serovar is seen

Cloning and expression of the gene encoding the major surface protein 5 (MSP5) of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and potential application for serodiagnosis

BACKGROUND: Anaplasma phagocytophilum (formerly known as the human granulocytic ehrlichia, Ehrlichia equi and Ehrlichia phagocytophila) is an obligate intracellular organism causing clinical disease in humans and various species of domestic animals. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this investigation were to sequence and clone the major surface protein 5 (MSP5) of A phagocytophilum and to evaluate the suitability of this antigen in the serologic diagnosis of anaplasmosis in humans and dogs. METHODS: The msp5 gene of A phagocytophilum was sequenced, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The predicted amino acid sequence homology of the various MSP5/major antigenic protein 2 orthologs was compared among various Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species. Recombinant MSP5 of A phagocytophilum was used in an ELISA to detect antibodies in serum samples from humans and dogs infected with the organism. RESULTS: Serum samples from 104 individuals previously diagnosed with A phagocytophilum infection, as well as samples from clinically healthy humans, were tested. In addition, multiple samples from 4 dogs experimentally infected with 2 different geographic isolates of A phagocytophilum and 5 dogs naturally infected with a Swiss isolate were tested using ELISA. Using this group of immunofluorescent antibody test-positive and immunofluorescent antibody test-negative samples, we found the overall agreement between assays to be >90%. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that recombinant MSP5 has potential for use as a diagnostic test antigen to detect infection with A phagocytophilum in both dogs and humans. However, sequence similarities among orthologs of MSP5 in related species of anaplasma and ehrlichia suggest that cross-reactivity among these pathogens is likely if the entire peptide is used as a test antigen