Age, weight and circulating concentrations of total testosterone are associated with the relative prostatic size in adult intact male dogs

Prostatic hyperplasia (PH) is an androgen-dependent condition associated with increased prostatic size that is common in intact dogs, and similar to the condition in men. In dogs, the increase in prostatic size is most prominent the first years, and after approximately four years (in beagles), a plateau is reached, and further growth is slower. Why the prostate continues to grow more in some individuals is not clear. Most testosterone in the circulation is bound to albumin or sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and only a minor part is unbound and biologically active. The binding to SHBG has higher affinity than that to albumin. In addition, SHBG has own biological functions, modifying testosterone action. The aim of the present study was to investigate if there is an association between relative prostatic size and the vari-ables total testosterone concentration, SHBG concentration, an estimation of bioavailable testosterone: the ratio between testosterone and SHBG (free androgen index, FAI), estradiol concentration, the estradiol/testosterone ratio, dog age and dog weight. Hormone concentrations were measured in serum from 79 intact male dogs aged >= four years, weighing >= five kg. The size of the prostate was estimated using ultrasonography, and relative prostate size, Srel, was calculated as the estimated size related to the normal size for a 4-year-old dog of the same weight. There as a negative correlation between testos-terone concentration and age (p =-0.27, P = 0.018) and a positive correlation between age and Srel (p = 0.27, P = 0.016) and between SHBG and weight (p = 0.38, P = 0.001). The FAI was negatively correlated with dog weight (p =-0.32, P = 0.004). There were no significant correlations between Srel and SHBG or FAI or between estradiol or estradiol/testosterone and Srel, age or weight. A multiple regression analysis showed significant associations between log Srel and log testosterone concentration, log age and log weight of the dog, with an adjusted R2 of 9.5%. Although the variables total testosterone concentration, age and weight of the dog were all significantly associated with Srel, the coefficient of determination was low, indicating that they only explained a minor part of the prostatic size. The results support the analysis of total testosterone in studies of prostatic growth in the dog.(c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Diagnostic possibilities from a serum sample - Clinical value of new methods within small animal reproduction, with focus on anti-Mullerian hormone

During the last decade, analysis of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), highly conserved between mammalian species, has contributed to new information in reproductive endocrinology, due to clinically available diagnostic assays. AMH is produced solely in the gonads, in the Sertoli cells of testes and granulosa cells of the ovary, and thus offers possibilities to diagnose physiologic and pathologic conditions involving these organs. This article reviews indications for AMH analysis in cats and dogs, including diagnosing the presence of gonads, and granulosa or Sertoli cell tumours. Diagnostic challenges are addressed. One specific organ, the prostate, is commonly affected by pathologic changes in older dogs. A commercial assay for analysing canine prostatic specific esterase (CPSE) enables analysis of CPSE in clinical practice, of potential value in the workup of benign prostatic hyperplasia in male dogs. This is described in this review, as is a new method for analysis of steroids: liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry LC-MS/MS. Steroids have since long been analysed in studies on reproduction, and LC-MS/MS has the advantage of allowing analysis of panels of multiple steroids from small sample volumes. Altogether, these available methods may give new insights into small animal reproduction and are valuable tools for the practicing veterinarian

A retrospective study of bitches with pyometra, medically treated with aglepristone

AbstractPyometra is a common and life-threatening disease of intact bitches caused by hormonal influence of the uterus in combination with bacterial infection. The treatment of choice is ovariohysterectomy, but several purely medical options are available. Common drugs used for medical treatment in combination with antimicrobials are progesterone receptor blockers, prostaglandins, and dopamine agonists. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term recovery and fertility after treatment with the progesterone receptor blocker aglepristone in bitches with pyometra. Data from 28 bitches with pyometra, admitted to the University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, during a 9-year period, were studied retrospectively and followed up by telephone interviews with the owners. The bitches had been treated with aglepristone at a dose of 10 mg/kg on a median of four occasions. All bitches had also been treated with antimicrobial drugs for a mean duration of 23 days, the most frequently used being enrofloxacin. Escherichia coli were the most commonly isolated bacteria from cranial vagina. The outcome was assessed for up to 6 years after treatment. The success rate, determined as restored clinically healthy status, was 75% (21/28 bitches), and the recurrence rate of disease was 48% (10/21 bitches). The mean time until recurrence was 10.5 months after the end of treatment. After treatment, 69% (9/13) of the mated bitches produced puppies. Of the seven bitches that did not have a successful treatment, six were ovariohysterectomized and one was euthanized. In conclusion, medical treatment with aglepristone in combination with antimicrobial therapy was successful in 75% of the bitches studied and the recurrence rate was 48%

Application of a zona pellucida binding assay (ZBA) in the domestic cat benefits from the use of in vitro matured oocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Zona pellucida binding assays (ZBAs) have proven useful in determining the fertilising ability of spermatozoa in several species. Most ZBAs use fresh or salt-stored oocytes collected from fresh ovaries but because ovaries are not easy to obtain on a regular basis, chilled and frozen-thawed ovaries have been tested, with varying results. The present study tested the hypothesis that cat spermatozoa, either fresh or frozen-thawed, can bind to homologous zona pellucida of oocytes retrieved from frozen-thawed queen ovaries to a similar extent as they can bind to the zona pellucida of fresh, <it>in vitro </it>matured oocytes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ovaries were collected from queens after routine ovario-hysterectomy and either stored in NaCl at -20°C until use (treatment animals), or used fresh (controls). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were retrieved by ovarian slicing from either source and used directly (immature oocytes from frozen-thawed ovaries; treatment animals) or after <it>in vitro </it>maturation (IVM) (fresh ovaries; controls) for 24 hours in TCM 199, supplemented with 1 IU hCG/mL and 0.5 IU eCG/mL and 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA). The oocytes were incubated for 4 hours in 5% CO₂in air at 38°C and 100% humidity in the presence of 5 × 10⁶fresh or frozen-thawed spermatozoa/mL. Representative samples of oocytes were processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa bound to the <it>in vitro </it>matured zona pellucida but significantly fewer, or no, spermatozoa bound to frozen-thawed, immature zona pellucida (P < 0.001). Also, more fresh spermatozoa than frozen-thawed spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida (P < 0.001). The zona pellucida surface differed in morphology (SEM), with <it>in vitro </it>matured oocytes showing a dense surface with few fenestrations in contrast to their frozen-thawed, immature counterparts, where fenestrations were conspicuously larger.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, under the conditions of the present study, immature oocytes recovered from ovaries frozen immersed in NaCl at -20°C are less suitable for use in feline ZBA.</p

Prevalence of heterophilic antibodies in serum samples from horses in an equine hospital, and elimination of interference using chicken IgY

BackgroundHeterophilic antibodies in serum and plasma can interfere with mammalian antibodies in immunoassays and result in false test results, usually false positive. Although studies screening for heterophilic antibodies as well as elimination studies have been conducted in dogs and cats, knowledge of the presence of heterophilic antibodies in other species in veterinary medicine is limited. In this study, a 2-site sandwich-type interference assay that detects anti-mouse antibodies was used to detect heterophilic antibodies in a population of horses treated in an animal hospital.ResultsA total of 194 serum samples from 127 individual horses were analyzed. There were 11/127 (8.7%) interference-positive horses, and these were analyzed in an assay exchanging the capture mouse IgG with chicken IgY. The positive samples were negative in the chicken IgY assay, indicating elimination of a possible interference, with the chicken-based assay. Four interference-positive samples were from geldings, and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) was analyzed from these samples. AMH concentrations were negative in these samples as expected in geldings, indicating that the heterophilic antibodies did not cause interference in the AMH assay.ConclusionThe present study shows that there are heterophilic antibodies in horse serum samples like in samples from humans, dogs, and cats. The use of chicken-based reagents, such as chicken IgY, which do not cross-react with mammalian IgG, eliminates the effects of interfering antibodies in the samples. Equine heterophilic antibodies do not necessarily cause interference in commercial immunoassays

Survival, remission, and quality of life in diabetic cats

BackgroundRemission is documented in a substantial proportion of cats with diabetes. The effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the lives of cats and their owners should be considered when evaluating treatment success. ObjectivesTo study outcome in cats with DM and the impact DM has on the life situation of cat and owner. AnimalsDomestic and pedigree cats with a diagnosis of DM (n = 477) insured by a Swedish insurance company during 2009 to 2013. MethodsRetrospective cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was sent to 1369 owners of cats diagnosed with DM. The questions concerned the cat, treatment, owner perceptions of the disease and treatment and disease outcome. Data were analyzed using multiple linear and logistic regression, with outcomes set as survival for more than 4 weeks after diagnosis, survival time, achieving remission, remission without relapse and quality of life (QoL) for the cat. ResultsThe response rate was 35%, leaving 477 questionnaires for analysis. The remission rate among treated cats was 29% (118/405). Feeding a commercially available wet diet was associated with both remission (OR 3.16, 95% confidence interval 1.27-8.12) and remission without relapse (OR 14.8, 95% confidence interval 2.25-153.8). Remission was associated with a better QoL for the cat. Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe association between feeding a commercially available wet diet and remission is important and strengthens the role of diet in treatment of DM in cats. Linking remission and a better QoL for the cat emphasizes remission as a goal in disease management

Incidence of Diabetes Mellitus in Insured Swedish Cats in Relation to Age, Breed and Sex

Background: Diabetes mellitus ( DM) is a common endocrinopathy in cats. Most affected cats suffer from a type of diabetes similar to type 2 diabetes in humans. An increasing prevalence has been described in cats, as in humans, related to obesity and other lifestyle factors. Objectives: To describe the incidence of DM in insured Swedish cats and the association of DM with demographic risk factors, such as age, breed and sex. Animals: A cohort of 504,688 individual cats accounting for 1,229,699 cat- years at risk ( CYAR) insured by a Swedish insurance company from 2009 to 2013. Methods: We used reimbursed insurance claims for the diagnosis of DM. Overall incidence rates and incidence rates stratified on year, age, breed, and sex were estimated. Results: The overall incidence rate of DM in the cohort was 11.6 cases ( 95% confidence interval [ CI], 11.0- 12.2) per 10,000 CYAR. Male cats had twice as high incidence rate ( 15.4; 95% CI, 14.4- 16.4) as females ( 7.6; 95% CI, 6.9- 8.3). Domestic cats were at higher risk compared to purebred cats. A significant association with breed was seen, with the Burmese, Russian Blue, Norwegian Forest cat, and Abyssinian breeds at a higher risk compared to other cats. No sex predisposition was found among Burmese cats. Several breeds with a lower risk of DM were identified. Conclusions and clinical importance: Our results verify that the Burmese breed is at increased risk of developing DM. We also identified several previously unreported breeds with increased or decreased risk of DM

Effect of feline characteristics on plasma N-terminal-prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide concentration and comparison of a point-of-care test and an ELISA test

Background: Increased plasma concentration of N-terminal-prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can be detected in cats with cardiac disease. Potential effects of feline characteristics on NT-proBNP concentration may influence clinical usefulness. Objectives: To evaluate potential effects of feline characteristics on NT-proBNP plasma concentration and to compare NT-proBNP plasma concentrations in healthy cats with results in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) cats with or without left atrial enlargement (LAE) using an ELISA and a point-of-care test (POCT), and assess if POCT results reflect ELISA results. Animals: One hundred healthy cats of 3 breeds and 39 HCM cats were included. Methods: Diseases other than HCM were excluded by physical examination, blood pressure measurement, echocardiography, hematology, and serum biochemistry.Results Higher NT-proBNP concentrations were found in males than in females in healthy (P = .005) and in HCM cats (P = .0021), but breed had no effect on NT-proBNP concentrations. Using >= 100 pmol/L as a cutoff for abnormal samples, ELISA and POCT had similar sensitivity (SE; 72 and 74%) and specificity (SP; 97 and 98%) for detecting cats with HCM, cats with HCM and LAE (SE, both 100%; SP, 97 versus 98%), and cats with HCM without LAE (SE, both 69%; SP, 97 versus 98%), respectively, when compared to healthy cats. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Breed had no effect on plasma NT-proBNP concentrations, but higher concentrations were found in male than in female cats. The ELISA and POCT had similar SE and SP for detecting HCM. Both tests could identify all HCM cats with LAE but not all HCM cats without LAE

Investigation of interference from canine anti-mouse antibodies in hormone immunoassays

Background: Canine anti-mouse antibodies are a potential source of immunoassay interference, but erroneous immunoassay results are not always easily identifiable. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is a marker for the presence of gonads in dogs, but elevated AMH concentrations in neutered dogs could also be caused by antibody interference. For other assays, a discrepant result obtained after antibody precipitation might indicate antibody interference. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate if canine anti-mouse antibodies are a source of erroneous results in the AMH assay and if antibody precipitation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a useful tool for detecting antibody interference in a variety of immunoassays used in the veterinary clinical laboratory. Methods: Twenty-nine positive and 25 negative samples for anti-mouse antibodies were analyzed for AMH, canine total thyroxine (TT4), canine thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and progesterone before and after treatment with PEG. Results that differed by more than four SDs from the intra-assay coefficients of variation were considered discrepant. Elevated AMH concentrations in neutered dogs with anti-mouse antibodies and no visible gonads present were considered evidence of interference. Results: Evidence of antibody interference was found in two samples analyzed for AMH. The presence of anti-mouse antibodies did not lead to a higher proportion of discrepant results after PEG treatment for any of the immunoassays. The overall incidence of discrepant results for healthy controls was very high (73%). Conclusions Canine anti-mouse antibodies are a source of erroneous AMH results. Antibody precipitation with PEG is not a useful tool for detecting interference caused by such antibodies