Evaluation of the LaserCyte: an in-house hematology analyzer for dogs and cats

In the present study, the LaserCyte instrument, a fully automated flow cytometer for use in veterinary practice, was evaluated for dogs and cats. Precision (coefficient of variation, CV) for red blood cell (RBC) parameters was ≤3.9%, for reticulocytes between 14.9 and 102%, for white blood cells (WBC) between 3 and 9.5%, for neutrophils between 3.9 and 6.5%, for lymphocytes between 7 and 17.9%, for monocytes between 4.9 and 13.1%, for eosinophils between 10.4 and 32.1%, for basophils between 7.8 and 32%, for platelets between 3.1 and 13.2%, and for platelet indices between 0 and 28.2%. The range of linearity extended the reference ranges. The agreement with reference methods (coefficient of correlation, r) were ≥0.96 (RBC), ≥0.94 (hematocrit), ≥0.96 (hemoglobin), ≥0.95 (mean corpuscular volume), ≥0.94 (WBC), ≥0.93 (neutrophils), ≥0.77 (lymphocytes), ≥0.77 (monocytes), ≥0.29 (eosinophils), ≥0.03 (basophils), ≥0.13 (reticulocytes), and ≥0.86 (platelets). The LaserCyte allowed the correct assessment of RBC and WBC parameters with respect to clinical relevance in the majority of samples. Lymphocytopenia was detected in only 51 out of 89 cases and monocytopenia in one out of 11 cases. The reticulocyte counts were correctly estimated in 85 out of 149 cases. It was concluded that the LaserCyte allowed reliable determination of the RBC parameters, WBCs, neutrophils in both species and platelets in dogs. Based on its capability to reliably determine feline platelets and of the parameters mentioned above, this instrument is considered a useful in-house analyzer for the veterinary practice. Qualitative microscopic assessment of blood smears is still necessary for detecting abnormal cell morphologies, certain cell precursors and blood parasite

Efficacy of medium chain triglyceride oil dietary supplementation in reducing seizure frequency in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy without cluster seizures : a non-blinded, prospective clinical trial

This study was fully funded by Nestlé Purina ResearchDespite appropriate antiseizure drug (ASD) treatment, around two-thirds of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) have seizures long-term and 20-30per cent of affected dogs remain poorly controlled. The current study aim is to test in a field trial the efficacy and tolerability of a commercially available diet enriched with 6.5per cent medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil in dogs (n=21) with at least a tier 1 idiopathic epilepsy diagnosis, without cluster seizures, in 10 veterinary practices across Europe. Each dog's quality of life (QoL), ataxia, sedation and frequency and severity of seizures were recorded by owners throughout the study. The mean seizure frequency per month, averaged over the entire 84-day study, significantly (P=0.04) decreased 32per cent compared with the baseline monthly seizure frequency recorded during the month immediately before feeding the diet. Similarly, the seizure days rate (days/month) also declined (P8.5/10) in 20 of the 21 dogs before starting the diet and this remained unchanged during the trial. This study demonstrates the use of a diet enriched with MCTs as an adjunct to ASD treatment may have some antiseizure properties for dogs diagnosed with IE, as demonstrated in previous studies

Evaluation of the LaserCyte® : an in-house haematology analyzer for dogs and cats

Das Ziel der Studie war, den LaserCyte®, der erste Flow Zytometer für die Bestimmung der hämatologischen Parameter von Katzen- und Hundeblutproben in der Privattierarztpraxis, zu evaluieren. Die Präzision wurde mittels Berechnung der Variationskoeffizenten (CV) bestimmt: Erythrozyten ≤ 3.9%, Retikulozyten 14.9% - 102%, Gesamtleukozytenzahl 3% - 9.5%, Neutrophile 3.9% - 6.5%, Lymphozyten 7% - 17.9%, Monozyten 4.9% - 13.1%, Eosinophile 10.4% - 32.1%, Basophile 7.8% - 32%, Thrombozyten 3.1% - 13.2% und Thrombozytenindizes 0% - 28.2%. Die Linearität ist auch ausserhalb des Referenzbereiches gegeben. Die Korrelationskoeffizienten (r) als Mass der Richtigkeit ergeben folgende Werte: ≥ 0.96 (Erythrozyten), ≥ 0.94 (Hämatokrit), ≥ 0.96 (Hämoglobin), ≥ 0.95 (MCV), ≥ 0.94 (Leukozyten), ≥ 0.93 (Neutrophile), ≥ 0.77 (Lymphozyten), ≥ 0.77 (Monozyten), ≥ 0.29 (Eosinophile), ≥ 0.03 (Basophile), ≥ 0.13 (Retikulozyten), und ≥ 0.86 (Thrombozyten). In Anbetracht der klinischen Relevanz wurden Proben mit Lymphozytenpenien in 51 von 89 Fällen, Monozytopenien in 1 von 11 Fällen und die Retikulozytenzahlen in 85 von 149 Fällen korrekt wiedergegeben. Zuverlässige Resultate werden für das rote Blutbild mit Ausnahme der Retikulozytenbestimmung, der Leukozytengesamtzahl und der Neutrophilenanzahl bei beiden Tierarten sowie der Thrombozyten beim Hund erhalten. Zur Erkennung von pathologischen Zellmorphologien, Vorläuferzellen und Blutparasiten ist die mikroskopische Untersuchung nach wie vor unerlässlich. In the present study, the LaserCyte®1 instrument, an automated flow cytometer for use in veterinary practice, was evaluated for dogs and cats. Precision (coefficient of variation, CV) for red blood cell (RBC) parameters was ≤ 3.9%, for reticulocytes between 14.9% and 102%, for white blood cells (WBC) between 3% and 9.5%, for neutrophils between 3.9% and 6.5%, for lymphocytes between 7% and 17.9%, for monocytes between 4.9% and 13.1%, for eosinophils between 10.4% and 32.1%, for basophils between 7.8% and 32%, for platelets between 3.1% and 13.2%, and for platelet indices between 0% and 28.2%. The range of linearity extended the reference ranges. The agreement with reference methods (coefficient of correlation, r) were ≥ 0.96 (RBC), ≥ 0.94 (haematocrit), ≥ 0.96 (haemoglobin), ≥ 0.95 (mean corpuscular volume), ≥ 0.94 (WBC), ≥ 0.93 (neutrophils), ≥ 0.77 (lymphocytes), ≥ 0.77 (monocytes), ≥ 0.29 (eosinophils), ≥ 0.03 (basophils), ≥ 0.13 (reticulocytes), and ≥ 0.86 (platelets). The LaserCyte® allowed the correct assessment of RBC and WBC parameters with respect to clinical relevance in the majority of samples. Lymphocytopenia was detected in only 51 out of 89 cases and monocytopenia in 1 out of 11 cases. The reticulocyte counts were correctly estimated in 85 out of 149 cases. It was concluded that the LaserCyte® allowed reliable determination of the RBC parameters, WBCs, neutrophils in both species and platelets in dogs. Based on its capability to reliably determine feline platelets and of the parameters mentioned above, this instrument is considered a useful analyzer for the veterinary practice. Qualitative microscopic assessment of blood smears is still necessary for detecting abnormal cell morphologies, cell precursors and blood parasites

Evaluation of the LaserCyte: an in-house hematology analyzer for dogs and cats

In the present study, the LaserCyte instrument, a fully automated flow cytometer for use in veterinary practice, was evaluated for dogs and cats. Precision (coefficient of variation, CV) for red blood cell (RBC) parameters was ≤3.9%, for reticulocytes between 14.9 and 102%, for white blood cells (WBC) between 3 and 9.5%, for neutrophils between 3.9 and 6.5%, for lymphocytes between 7 and 17.9%, for monocytes between 4.9 and 13.1%, for eosinophils between 10.4 and 32.1%, for basophils between 7.8 and 32%, for platelets between 3.1 and 13.2%, and for platelet indices between 0 and 28.2%. The range of linearity extended the reference ranges. The agreement with reference methods (coefficient of correlation, r) were ≥0.96 (RBC), ≥0.94 (hematocrit), ≥0.96 (hemoglobin), ≥0.95 (mean corpuscular volume), ≥0.94 (WBC), ≥0.93 (neutrophils), ≥0.77 (lymphocytes), ≥0.77 (monocytes), ≥0.29 (eosinophils), ≥0.03 (basophils), ≥0.13 (reticulocytes), and ≥0.86 (platelets). The LaserCyte allowed the correct assessment of RBC and WBC parameters with respect to clinical relevance in the majority of samples. Lymphocytopenia was detected in only 51 out of 89 cases and monocytopenia in one out of 11 cases. The reticulocyte counts were correctly estimated in 85 out of 149 cases. It was concluded that the LaserCyte allowed reliable determination of the RBC parameters, WBCs, neutrophils in both species and platelets in dogs. Based on its capability to reliably determine feline platelets and of the parameters mentioned above, this instrument is considered a useful in-house analyzer for the veterinary practice. Qualitative microscopic assessment of blood smears is still necessary for detecting abnormal cell morphologies, certain cell precursors and blood parasites