Acute phase protein response in goats

Acute phase proteins (APPs) are important diagnostic indicators of inflammatory disturbances in animals. The objectives of the current study were to validate analytical methods for measuring haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), acid soluble glycoprotein (ASG), fibrinogen, and albumin concentrations in goats and to evaluate their response to an inflammatory stimulus in this species. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation (CVs) were in the range 0.07-9.31% and 1.83-12.68%, respectively, for all APPs and showed good precision. All assays determined APPs in a linear manner at different sample dilutions with high correlation coefficients with the exception of fibrinogen, which was measured by the heat precipitation method. Subcutaneous injection Of turpentine oil induced all increase in Hp, SAA, ASG, and fibrinogen serum concentrations and a decrease in albumin concentration

Epidemiological, clinical and immunohistochemical aspects of canine lymphoma in the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil

This paper describes the epidemiological, clinical and immunohistochemical characteristics of canine lymphomas diagnosed in the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Thirty dogs were enrolled in the study; most of them were male (60%), mixed-breed (23%) and middle-aged or older. The majority (87%) of affected dogs showed the multicentric form. The B-cell phenotype was most frequently detected (62%); 37% of the animals were in clinical stage IV, and 83% were classified as sub-stage "b". Lymphadenopathy was observed in 67% of the cases, and dyspnea, prostration, decreased appetite and vomiting were the most common clinical signs encountered. Anemia was a frequently encountered laboratory alteration (57%), as were leukocytosis (40%), thrombocytopenia (33%), lymphopenia (30%), hyperglobulinemia (20%) and hypercalcemia (13%). The results of this study indicate that the clinical features of dogs with lymphoma in the region of Porto Alegre are similar to those observed worldwide

Hematological findings and factors associated with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) positivity in cats from southern Brazil

ABSTRACT: Using a retrospective study, 493 cats tested for FeLV and FIV were selected for analysis of the association between hematologic findings and positivity at immunoassay test. Individual and hematologic variables were assessed considering the influence of results using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Out 153 of the 493 cats were positive for FeLV (31%), 50 were positive for FIV (10.1%) and 22 were positive for both FIV and FeLV (4.4%). Multivariate analysis detected significant associations between FeLV infection and age below 1 year (p=0.01), age from 1 to 10 years (p=0.03), and crossbreed (p=0.04). Male cats were more likely to be FIV-positive (p=0.002). Regarding hematological changes, FeLV-positive cats have higher odds to anemia, leukopenia and lymphopenia than FeLV-negative cats. FIV-positive cats are more likely to have anemia than negative. Identification of associated factors related to animal status and correlation of hematological disorders with infection by retroviruses in cats could be useful for detecting these retroviral diseases in cats

Paraneoplastic hematological, biochemical, and hemostatic abnormalities in female dogs with mammary neoplasms

ABSTRACT: Paraneoplastic laboratory abnormalities are identified in several types of cancers in dogs and cats. In veterinary medicine, particularly in mammary cancer, there are few studies that correlate abnormal laboratory findings with tumor type and staging. The aim of this study was to evaluate hematological, biochemical, and hemostatic abnormalities and correlate them with mammary tumor staging in female dogs with mammary cancer. Blood samples from 24 female dogs were evaluated, and the hematological, biochemical, and hemostatic parameters were correlated with tumor staging obtained by physical examination, imaging exams, and histopathological surgical biopsies. The groups were organized according to tumor staging: group 1 (stages I and II), group 2 (stage III), and group 3 (stages IV and V). Anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, monocytosis, eosinophilia, thrombocytosis, hypoalbuminemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, and low blood urea were observed. The variables MCHC, TPP, and RDW were correlated with tumor staging with no clinical relevance. Thrombin time and fibrinogen were significant between the groups in the coagulation test, being associated with tumor staging. The findings suggest influence of the proinflammatory cytokines released during tumor growth

Metabolic evaluation of dairy cows submitted to three different strategies to decrease the effects of negative energy balance in early postpartum

In early lactation dairy cattle suffer metabolic alterations caused by negative energy balance, which predisposes to fatty liver and ketosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic condition of high yielding dairy cows subjected to three treatments for preventing severe lipomobilization and ketosis in early lactation. Fifty four multiparous Holstein cows yielding >30 L/day were divided into four groups: control (CN= no treatment), glucose precursor (PG= propylene-glycol), hepatic protector (Mp= Mercepton®), and energy supplement with salts of linolenic and linoleic faty acids (Mg-E= Megalac-E®). Treatments were administrated randomly at moment of calving until 8 weeks postpartum. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 postpartum. Body condition score (BCS) was evaluated at the same periods and milk yield was recorded at 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th weeks of lactation. Concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), albumin, AST, ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), cholesterol, glucose, total protein, urea and triglycerides were analyzed in blood samples. Cut-off points for subclinical ketosis were defined when BHBA >1.4 mmol/L and NEFA >0.7 mmol/L. General occurrence of subclinical ketosis was 24% during the period. An ascendant curve of cholesterol and glucose was observed from the 1st to the 8th week of lactation, while any tendency was observed with BHBA and NEFA, although differences among treatments were detected (p<0.05). BCS decreased from a mean of 3.85 at 1st week to 2.53 at 8th week of lactation (p=0.001). Milk yield was higher in the Mg-E group compared with the other treatment groups (p<0.05) Compared with the CN group, the treatments with Mp and PG did not show significant differences in blood biochemistry and milk yield. Cows receiving PG and Mg-E showed higher values of BHBA and NEFA (P<0.05), indicating accentuated lipomobilization. Supplementation with Mg-E also resulted in significant higher concentrations of cholesterol, BHBA, urea, AST and lower values of glycemia. This performance may be explained by the highest milk yield observed with this treatment. Treatments with PG and Mp did not improve milk yield, compared with control cows, but did not show metabolic evidence of ketosis, fat mobilization or fatty liver. These results suggest that treatment with Mg-E improves milk production but induces a higher negative energy balance leading to moderated lipomobilization and ketone bodies production, increasing the risk of fatty liver