Monitoring the response of canine hyperadrenocorticism to trilostane treatment by assessment of acute phase protein concentrations

<b>Background</b>: Acute phase proteins (APPS) include haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA). Increased Hp concentrations may be induced by endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoids in dogs. <b>Objectives</b>: To assess whether control of hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) affects the concentrations of Hp, CRP, SAA, alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and cholesterol, to determine whether these analytes can be used to assess control of HAC following trilostane treatment, and whether a combination of these tests offers a valid method of assessing disease control. <b>Methods</b>: Hp, CRP, SAA, ALKP and cholesterol were assessed in 11 dogs with spontaneous HAC before and after treatment with trilostane. Adequate control of HAC was defined as post-ACTH cortisol less than 150 nmol/l. <b>Results</b>: Significant reductions in Hp, ALKP, cholesterol and SAA (P<0·05) but not of CRP were found after control of HAC. Only Hp, cholesterol and ALKP were moderately informative (Se & Sp>0·7) of disease control when compared to adrenocorticotropin or corticotropin (ACTH) stimulation test. SAA and CRP were unhelpful (Se & Sp<0·7). The analysis of the combination of the analytes did not improve the correlation with ACTH stimulation test. <b>Clinical Relevance</b>: Relying on these analytes does not provide additional information over ACTH stimulation test results when assessing control of HAC treated with trilostane

Microbial Community Analysis During Start-up of Anaerobic Co-digestion Based on Quinone Profiles Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Quinone profile is well known as a useful tool for the analysis of microbial community dynamics in mixed cultures in terms of quantification, simplicity, and reproducibility. The application of quinone profile method in anaerobic digestion is to monitor and overcome instability during fermentation process. A lab-scale anaerobic digestion treating a mixture of milk cow manure (CM) and simulated food waste (FW) during start-up process at mesophilic conditions was used to monitor the change of microbial community dynamics and stability. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) experiments using CO2 and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was applied for extract and determination of ubiquinones (UQ) and menaquinones (MK) species. Quinone can be a helpful tool to make the link between microbial community and anaerobic digestion parameters in order to overcome digester instability during the start-up process

Stability of selected enzymes in saliva of pigs under different storage conditions : a pilot study

Stability of α-amylase (α-A), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), lipase, adenosine deaminase (ADA) and total esterase activity (TEA) in two pools of porcine saliva was studied after 1 and 4 days at 4°C, and after 30, 90 and 360 days at −20° and −80°C. At 4°C, BChE, lipase and TEA were stable less than 1 day, α-A less than 4 days and ADA for up to 4 days. At −20°C, BChE and TEA were stable less than 30 days, α-A and lipase less than 90 days and ADA up to 360 days. At −80°C, TEA was stable less than 30 days, α-A and lipase less than 360 days, and BChE and ADA for up to 360 days

Evaluation of various biomarkers for kidney monitoring during canine leishmaniosis treatment

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the evolution of the profile currently recommended by the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) (sCr, UPC and sSDMA) with a panel of other different kidney biomarkers during treatment for canine leishmaniosis. This panel included three urinary glomerular biomarkers (uIgG, uCRP and uferritin) and three urinary tubular biomarkers (uGGT, uNAG and uRBP). These biomarkers were measured in two groups of dogs with canine leishmaniosis at IRIS stage I. Group 1: dogs showing proteinuria (UPC > 0.5) before treatment which did not decrease after treatment; Group 2: dogs showing proteinuria before treatment which decreased after treatment. Results: Group 1 showed no significant changes in any biomarker after treatment. In group 2, among the biomarkers recommended by the IRIS, only UPC showed a significant decrease after treatment. However all biomarkers of glomerular damage showed a significant decrease after treatment, with uIgG/Cr and uCRP/Cr showing the greater decreases. In addition uRBP/Cr and uNAG/Cr showed significant decreases after treatment. Conclusions: In dogs with leishmaniosis at IRIS stage I that reduced UPC after treatment, there were no significant changes in serum creatinine and sSDMA. However, all the urine biomarkers evaluated with exception of uGGT showed a significant decrease. These decreases were more evident in those markers related with glomerular function, being uIgG/Cr the biomarker more associated with UPC. Further studies involving a larger number of animals and histological analysis of the kidney would be recommended to confirm these findings and evaluate the routine practical use of these urine biomarkers in canine leishmaniosis

Trace Elements and Ferritin in Pig Saliva : Variations during Fattening, Time of Sampling, Effect of Dirtiness and Stability under Different Storage Conditions

Altres ajuts: The European Next Generation Funds RYC2021-033660-IThe objective of this study was to evaluate the possible changes of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and ferritin during the entire productive cycle in fattening pigs and at different diurnal sampling times. Moreover, the possible effects of the presence of pen contaminants and storage stability at different temperature conditions were assessed. The analytes changed along the different phases of the fattening productive cycle, showing, in general, higher values at the initial phases. In addition, statistically significant variations were found in Zn and Cu measurements at different sampling times of the day. In the spectrophotometric assays, the values of all analytes significantly increased after adding high concentrations of feces or feed. However, when low concentrations of feces or feed were added, only Cu showed a significant increase. Overall, the salivary levels of Zn, Cu, Fe and ferritin in pigs can change during different fattening phases and the different hours of the day. These analytes were more stable at −80 °C and, if saliva is contaminated with feces or feed, it can lead to an increase in these analytes

Perioperative stress response in dogs undergoing elective surgery : variations in behavioural, neuroendocrine, immune and acute phase responses

The aim of this trial was to describe the behavioural, neuroendocrine, immune and acute phase stress responses in dogs undergoing elective surgery in normal, clinical practice conditions. Sixteen dogs were submitted to elective orchiectomy or ovariohysterectomy using a standardised surgical protocol. Each animal was confined to the Intensive Care Unit during pre- and post-surgery and perioperative behavioural, neuroendocrine, immune and acute phase responses were studied. Behavioural categories, cortisol, prolactin, white blood cell, C-reactive protein and haptoglobin variation were evaluated. Values at different times were compared with basal values shown by the dog in its usual environment. Communicative and explorative behaviours showed high occurrence pre-surgery and were inhibited post-surgery. Decreases in post-surgery activity, interactive behaviours and changes in waking/sleeping patterns were observed. The most sensitive marker of psychological stress, cortisol, in comparison with basal values, showed a significant increase both during pre- and post-surgery confinement in the ICU cage. Prolactin values were characterised by a significant decrease early into the post-surgery period. The immune response was characterised by long-term neutrophilia and monocytosis, but by short-term lymphopaenia and eosinopaenia, limited to the early post-operative period. With regard to the acute phase response, both C-reactive protein and haptoglobin showed a long-term increase, post-surgery. Changes in behavioural, haematological and biochemical markers showed that perioperative stress represents a major challenge to dog welfare

Oral chondroitin sulfate and prebiotics for the treatment of canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic enteropathy of unknown etiology, although microbiome dysbiosis, genetic susceptibility, and dietary and/or environmental factors are hypothesized to be involved in its pathogenesis. Since some of the current therapies are associated with severe side effects, novel therapeutic modalities are needed. A new oral supplement for long-term management of canine IBD containing chondroitin sulfate (CS) and prebiotics (resistant starch, β-glucans and mannaoligosaccharides) was developed to target intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, and restore normobiosis, without exhibiting any side effects. This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in dogs with IBD aims to evaluate the effects of 180 days administration of this supplement together with a hydrolyzed diet on clinical signs, intestinal histology, gut microbiota, and serum biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. RESULTS Twenty-seven client-owned biopsy-confirmed IBD dogs were included in the study, switched to the same hydrolyzed diet and classified into one of two groups: supplement and placebo. Initially, there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05) for any of the studied parameters. Final data analysis (supplement: n = 9; placebo: n = 10) showed a significant decrease in canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI) score in both groups after treatment (p < 0.001). After treatment, a significant decrease (1.53-fold; p < 0.01) in histologic score was seen only in the supplement group. When groups were compared, the supplement group showed significantly higher serum cholesterol (p < 0.05) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) levels after 60 days of treatment (p < 0.01), and the placebo group showed significantly reduced serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels after 120 days (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups at any time point for CIBDAI, WSAVA histologic score and fecal microbiota evaluated by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). No side effects were reported in any group. CONCLUSIONS The combined administration of the supplement with hydrolyzed diet over 180 days was safe and induced improvements in selected serum biomarkers, possibly suggesting a reduction in disease activity. This study was likely underpowered, therefore larger studies are warranted in order to demonstrate a supplemental effect to dietary treatment of this supplement on intestinal histology and CIBDAI

Evaluation of the Effect of Sampling Time on Biomarkers of Stress, Immune System, Redox Status and Other Biochemistry Analytes in Saliva of Finishing Pigs

Saliva is a sample with a high potential in pigs since it is usually easy to obtain and its collection from animals causes less stress than blood sampling. However, the possible effects of daily variations in many salivary biomarkers are still unknown in this species. In our report, the possible variations depending on the sampling time in the day in a panel of 26 salivary biomarkers related to stress, immune system, redox status and other physiological functions in the saliva of pigs were evaluated. In our experimental conditions, daily variations were observed in cortisol, α-amylase, total esterase, butyrylcholinesterase, lipase, adenosine deaminase isoenzyme 1, uric acid, superoxide dismutase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, triglycerides and lactate. In some analytes, these differences appeared in both sexes, whereas others only showed differences in one sex. These variations should be taken into consideration for an appropriate interpretation of these analytes in the saliva of healthy pigs. This study aims to evaluate the possible variations due to the sampling time in the day in 26 analytes of pigs' saliva, related to stress, the immune system, redox status and other biomarkers related to metabolism and selected tissues and organs, in order to know the possible effects of the hour of the day in their interpretation. These analytes were measured in saliva obtained from a population of 40 clinically healthy pigs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., every 4 h in the same day. In our experimental conditions, daily variations were observed in cortisol, salivary α-amylase, total esterase activity, butyrylcholinesterase, lipase, adenosine deaminase isoenzyme 1, uric acid, superoxide dismutase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, lactate and triglycerides. These changes appeared in both sexes, except for adenosine deaminase isoenzyme 1 and superoxide dismutase which only showed differences in females. In conclusion, this report indicates that, in the experimental conditions of this trial, the time of the day and sex can influence the values obtained in various salivary analytes in pigs. These variations should thus be taken into consideration for an adequate interpretation of these analytes when used for the evaluation of health and welfare in this species

Trypanosoma cruzi co-infections with other vector borne diseases are frequent in dogs from the pacific coast of Ecuador

Este articulo describe la presentación de infecciones múltiples con Trypnosoma cruzi, Anaplasma spp., Dirofilaria immitis y Ehrlichia spp. (transmitidas por vector) en perros de una región de la costa del Pacífico de EcuadorDogs are a reservoir for Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), and other companion vectorborne diseases, including ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia ewingii), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys), dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria immitis) and Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). This study has two key objectives: 1) to determine seroreactivity against T. cruzi in dogs from the town of Col´on, in Portoviejo city, in the central coast of Ecuador; and 2) to establish the coinfection frequency of other companion vector-borne diseases in dogs positive for T. cruzi. Antibodies against T. cruzi were detected using two enzymelinked immunosorbent assays. Diagnostic consensus between ELISA tests was established using the Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Other haemoparasitic diseases were detected using the IDEXX SNAP® 4Dx® kit in dogs previously diagnosed as T. cruzi-seropositive. From 84 dogs sampled, 57.14% (48/84) tested positive for T. cruzi. Co-infection analysis of 25 dogs positive for T. cruzi revealed antibodies also against Ehrlichia spp. (48%), Anaplasma spp. (28%), and Dirofilaria immitis (12%). These results provide a novel perspective regarding the status of these pathogens which co-infect dogs in Col´on. Since all these pathogens are zoonotic, our findings should warn regional health authorities to implement sanitary programs, to better prevent and control vectors associated to these pathogens. On the other hand, human and veterinarian doctors, should consider that patients with a cardiac infection condition could be suffering co-infections with two or more vector transmitted pathogens.RMJ The research was funded by the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM) Project (4351/2017/CI). NJG National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI136031) of the National Institutes of Health