Assessment of SPP1 and FN1 in serum, BALF and lung tissue samples from dogs affected with CIPF

Background: Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) is a chronic disease affecting West Highland white terriers (WHWTs)1,2. Osteopontin (SPP1) and fibronectin (FN1) are associated with pulmonary fibrosis in men3-6 and are overexpressed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) macrophage clusters in CIPF7. Study premise: The aim is to investigate whether these molecules are potential disease markers. SPP1 and FN1 serum and BALF concentrations were measured using canine ELISA kits in CIPF WHWTs (n=24), healthy aged-matched WHWTs (n=13) and healthy terriers (n=15). Proteins were also localized in lung tissue by immunohistochemistry. Results: SPP1 serum concentrations were higher in CIPF compared with healthy WHWTs and terriers, and in healthy WHWTs compared with terriers. There were negatively correlated with PaO2 in WHWTs. Higher SPP1 BALF concentrations were found in CIPF and healthy WHWTs compared with terriers. Intense labelling was reported in all groups in ciliated epithelial cells, smooth muscular cells surrounding large vessels and some macrophages. Moreover, in all CIPF WHWTs, the pneumocytes II and the extra cellular matrix were labelled, while it was the case in only 57% of healthy WHWTs and not present in terriers. FN1 serum concentrations were lower in CIPF and healthy WHWTs compared with terriers. No difference was found between groups in BALF. There was no evidence of differences in FN1 labelling. Conclusions: The results suggest that SPP1 is involved in CIPF pathogenesis and could predispose that breed to the disease. However, further studies are required to determine its interest as biomarker or potential therapeutic target

Utility of Computed Tomographic Angiography for Pulmonary Hypertension Assessment in a Cohort of West Highland White Terriers With or Without Canine Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

West Highland white terriers (WHWTs) affected with canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) are at risk of developing precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). In humans, thoracic computed tomography angiography (CTA) is commonly used to diagnose and monitor patients with lower airway diseases. In such patients, CTA helps to identify comorbidities, such as PH, that could negatively impact prognosis. Diameter of the pulmonary trunk (PT), pulmonary trunk-to-aorta ratio (PT/Ao), and right ventricle-to-left ventricle ratio (RV/LV) are CTA parameters commonly used to assess the presence of PH. Pulmonary vein-to-right pulmonary artery ratio (PV/PA) is a new echocardiographic parameter that can be used in dogs to diagnose PH. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the use of various CTA parameters to diagnose PH. An additional aim was to evaluate the correlation of RV/LV measurements between different CTA planes. CTA and echocardiography were prospectively performed on a total of 47 WHWTs; 22 affected with CIPF and 25 presumed healthy control dogs. Dogs were considered to have PH if pulmonary vein-to-right pulmonary artery ratio (PV/PA) measured on 2D-mode echocardiography was less than to 0.7. WHWTs affected with CIPF had higher PT/Ao compared with control patients. In WHWTs affected with CIPF, PT size was larger in dogs with PH (15.4 mm) compared with dogs without PH (13 mm, p = 0.003). A cutoff value of 13.8 mm predicted PH in WHWTs affected with CIPF with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 87% (AUC = 0.93). High correlations were observed between the different CTA planes of RV/LV. Results suggest that diameter of the PT measured by CTA can be used to diagnose PH in WHWTs with CIPF

Identification of pro-fibrotic macrophage populations by single-cell transcriptomic analysis in West Highland white terriers affected with canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) affects old dogs from the West Highland white terrier (WHWT) breed and mimics idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in human. The disease results from deposition of fibrotic tissue in the lung parenchyma causing respiratory failure. Recent studies in IPF using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed the presence of profibrotic macrophage populations in the lung, which could be targeted for therapeutic purpose. In dogs, scRNA-seq was recently validated for the detection of cell populations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from healthy dogs. Here we used the scRNA-seq to characterize disease-related heterogeneity within cell populations of macrophages/monocytes (Ma/Mo) in the BALF from 5 WHWTs affected with CIPF in comparison with 3 healthy WHWTs. Gene set enrichment analysis was also used to assess pro-fibrotic capacities of Ma/Mo populations. Five clusters of Ma/Mo were identified. Gene set enrichment analyses revealed the presence of pro-fibrotic monocytes in higher proportion in CIPF WHWTs than in healthy WHWTs. In addition, monocytes-derived macrophages enriched in pro-fibrotic genes in CIPF compared with healthy WHWTs were also identified. These results suggest the implication of Ma/Mo clusters in CIPF processes, although, further research is needed to understand their role in disease pathogenesis. Overexpressed molecules associated with pulmonary fibrosis processes were also identified that could be used as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets in the future

CSF omeprazole concentration and albumin quotient following high dose intravenous omeprazole in dogs.

peer reviewedClinical signs of syringomyelia and hydrocephalus occur secondary to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation within the central nervous system. Omeprazole is recommended to treat these conditions despite little evidence of its capacity to decrease CSF production in the dog. Studies into new treatments are hampered by difficulties in measuring CSF production. The albumin quotient (QAlb), the ratio between CSF and serum albumin concentrations, may reflect CSF production and any decrease in CSF production should be associated with an increase in QAlb. The primary objective of this study was to determine CSF omeprazole concentration after administration of a high intravenous dose of omeprazole and to evaluate its impact on QAlb in the dog. The second aim was to validate QAlb as a surrogate marker of CSF production. Eighteen dogs were included in this prospective crossover placebo-controlled study. Each dog received omeprazole (10 mg/kg), acetazolamide (50 mg/kg) combined with furosemide (1 mg/kg) and saline. Blood and CSF samples were obtained on day 0 and then every 7 days, one hour after drug administration. Omeprazole concentrations (2.0 ± 0.4 μmol/L) reached in CSF after high dose omeprazole were lower than the concentrations previously described as decreasing CSF production in dogs. There was no significant increase in QAlb following administration of acetazolamide/furosemide, prohibiting validation of QAlb as a surrogate marker for CSF production. Several dogs presented transient mild side effects after injection of acetazolamide/furosemide. High dose omeprazole was well tolerated in all dogs

RABBIT GENERAL ANESTHESIA FOR CATARACT SURGERY USING CISATRACURIUM AS NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKING DRUG. CASE STUDY

Abstract Surgeries on rabbits are more and more frequently as they are used as pet animals and the owner is interested in their welfare. Cataract surgery is already a routine intervention in small animals as dogs and cats. This is why the aim of this study is to present a case study of a rabbit anesthesia for cataract surgery. Our subject was a three year old female laboratory rabbit which weight 2.07 kg. We premedicated him using butorphanol 0

Neuromuscular blockade as part of an anaesthetic protocol for cataract surgery in an alpaca

peer reviewedA six-month-old alpaca was presented to the veterinary teaching hospital of the University of Liège (Belgium) with a bilateral cataract. A decision was made to perform bilateral cataract surgery after an ocular ultrasound and electroretinogram were performed to assess the posterior segment and retinal function, respectively. As a premedication, the alpaca received xylazine, butorphanol and midazolam intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was induced subsequently with ketamine and midazolam intravenously and maintained with isoflurane on oxygen/air mixture. The alpaca was mechanically ventilated during surgery. Neuromuscular blockade was induced and maintained with cis-atracurium intravenously. The dose of cis-atracurium was permanently adapted using a peripheral nerve stimulator. This case report brings new knowledge regarding the use and dosage of cis-atracurium in alpacas