Circulating autoantibodies in dogs with chronic liver disease

Circulating autoantibodies are important diagnostic markers in human liver disease. Antinuclear antibodies, smooth muscle antibodies and liver membrane antibodies are characteristic of human autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, while antimitochondrial antibodies are most frequently found in primary biliary cirrhosis. The role of these autoantibodies in the pathogenesis and course of these diseases is not known, but they are routinely measured in order to discriminate between different liver diseases. This, in turn, helps to predict the response to different kinds of treatment. The present study reports the occurrence of circulating autoantibodies in sera of dogs with different forms of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, and in dogs with other liver diseases, such as acute hepatitis, liver degeneration and tumours. The results indicate several differences compared to the autoantibody patterns in human liver disease.     

Upregulation of toll-like receptors in chronic enteropathies in dogs

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is thought to result from a dysregulated interaction between the host immune system and commensal microflora. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), but their role in enteropathies in dogs is unknown. HYPOTHESIS: That there is a dysregulation of TLRs recognizing bacterial MAMPs in dogs with IBD. ANIMALS: Sixteen healthy beagles and 12 dogs with steroid-treated (ST) and 23 dogs with food-responsive (FR) diarrhea. METHODS: Prospective, observational study. mRNA expression of canine TLR2, 4, and 9 was evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in duodenal and colonic biopsies obtained before and after standard therapy. Samples from control dogs were taken at necropsy, with additional biopsies of stomach, jejunum, ileum, and mesenteric lymph node in 6 dogs. RESULTS: There were significant differences (P< or = .017) in expression of TLR2, 4, and 9 between the 6 sampled locations in healthy control dogs (lymph node > small intestine > or = colon). Before therapy, ST expressed more mRNA than control dogs for all 3 receptors (P < .05). There were no significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment values, even though 32/35 dogs improved clinically. No associations were found when comparing receptor mRNA expression with either histology or clinical activity scores. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Bacteria-responsive TLR2, 4, and 9 are upregulated in duodenal and colonic mucosa in IBD. This might lead to increased inflammation through interaction with the commensal flora. The absence of significant changes after therapy despite clinical improvement might point toward the existence of a genetic predisposition to IBD as described in human IBD.     

Effects of castration on chronic bacterial prostatitis in dogs

An Escherichia coli bacterial prostatitis was experimentally induced in dogs to determine the effect of castration on chronic bacterial prostatitis. Two weeks after instillation of bacteria directly into the prostate gland, 17 of 22 adult mixed-breed male dogs had positive urine or prostatic fluid cultures or both. Seven of the 17 dogs were randomly chosen to be castrated, and 10 of the 17 served as sham-operated controls. At weekly intervals, urine was obtained from 17 dogs for aerobic microbiologic culturing. At each week, dogs with no bacterial growth in the cultured urine had prostatic fluid collected for aerobic microbiologic culture. Dogs with negative urine, prostatic fluid, and prostatic tissue needle biopsy culture results at week 7 were euthanatized. For remaining dogs, weekly cultures were continued until the dogs were euthanatized at week 12. None of the 7 castrated dogs and 6 of the 10 dogs subject to sham operation had prostatic infection at the time of necropsy. The castrated dogs had a mean infection duration of 4.2 weeks, which was statistically shorter than the 9.5-week mean duration of infection in the sham-operated controls. Cultures of prostatic tissue obtained immediately after euthanasia correlated 100% with urine and prostatic fluid cultures taken before euthanasia. All of the 6 dogs with positive prostatic cultures at termination had moderate to marked lymphoplasmacytic chronic prostatitis. The 11 dogs that were not infected at the end of the study had normal to moderate lymphoplasmacytic chronic prostatitis on histologic examination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Observational study of 14 cases of chronic pancreatitis in dogs

This study reports the clinical, clinicopathological and ultrasonographic findings from dogs with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Fourteen dogs with clinical signs consistent with CP and histological confirmation of the disease were evaluated. Abdominal ultrasound and clinical pathology results were recorded. Sensitivities of pancreatic enzymes for diagnosis of CP were calculated with two different cut-off values. The mean age of affected dogs was 9.1 years. Spaniels were the most common breed with CP, representing seven of the 14 dogs in this study. CP was histologically severe in nine cases. Most dogs showed chronic low-grade gastrointestinal signs and abdominal pain. Five dogs had exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and five dogs had diabetes mellitus. The sensitivity of elevated trypsin-like immunoreactivity for CP was 17 per cent. The sensitivities of canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, lipase and amylase for CP were 44 to 67 per cent or 14 to 28 per cent depending on the cut-off value used. Cholesterol was elevated in 58 per cent of samples. Liver enzymes were often elevated. The pancreas appeared abnormal on 56 per cent of ultrasound examinations. Ten dogs had died by the end of the study period; only one case was due to CP.     

Immunophenotype predicts survival time in dogs with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a hematologic disorder in dogs, but studies on prognostic factors and clinical outcome are lacking. In people, several prognostic factors have been identified and currently are used to manage patients and determine therapy. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine if the immunophenotype of neoplastic cells predicts survival in canine CLL. Design: Retrospective study. Animals: Forty‐three dogs with CLL. Procedures: Records of dogs with a final diagnosis of CLL were reviewed. For each included dog, a CBC, blood smear for microscopic reevaluation, and immunophenotyping data had to be available. Data on signalment, history, clinical findings, therapy, follow‐up, as well as date and cause of death were retrieved. Results: Seventeen dogs had B‐CLL (CD21+), 19 had T‐CLL (CD3+ CD8+), and 7 had atypical CLL (3 CD3? CD8+, 2 CD3+ CD4? CD8?, 1 CD3+ CD4+ CD8+, and 1 CD3+ CD21+). Among the variables considered, only immunophenotype was associated with survival. Dogs with T‐CLL had approximately 3‐fold and 19‐fold higher probability of surviving than dogs with B‐CLL and atypical CLL, respectively. Old dogs with B‐CLL survived significantly longer than did young dogs, and anemic dogs with T‐CLL survived a significantly shorter time than dogs without anemia. Conclusions: Although preliminary, results suggested that immunophenotype is useful to predict survival in dogs with CLL. Young age and anemia are associated with shorter survival in dogs with B‐CLL and T‐CLL, respectively.     

Diagnosis and prognosis of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in dogs

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the significance of enzymatic and biochemical analyses in the classification of chronic inflammatory liver disease and to evaluate the prognosis of these diseases. Chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis were diagnosed by histopathological examination in 79 dogs. Decreased appetite and lethargy were the most common owner complaints (46/79). Vomiting and, or, diarrhoea were reported in 27/79 dogs. Ascites was the most common clinical sign (43/79), whereas icterus was a more unusual finding demonstrated in 16/79 dogs. Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed most frequently, in 33/79 dogs, followed by chronic progressive hepatitis (22/79), chronic cholangiohepatitis (13/79), and chronic non-specific hepatitis (11/79). Hypoalbuminaemia was the most consistent biochemical aberration in liver cirrhosis (25/26) and in chronic progressive hepatitis (13/18). These diseases also showed normal to mildly increased concentrations of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and a moderate to marked increase of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and fasting serum bile acid (SBA) concentrations. As expected, icterus and markedly elevated ALT, ALP, GGT and SBA levels were demonstrated in chronic cholangiohepatitis. In this disease hypoalbuminaemia was shown in 6/12 dogs, whereas in dogs with chronic non-specific hepatitis, mean SBA and albumin concentrations were normal. In liver cirrhosis the prognosis was poor, with 94 per cent of the dogs dead within one week of established diagnosis. For dogs with the other types of chronic hepatitis the prognosis was more favourable with the mean survival time ranging from 21-1 to 36-4 months.     

Quantification of mucin gene expression in tracheobronchial epithelium of healthy dogs and dogs with chronic bronchitis

OBJECTIVE: To develop a real-time PCR assay for the quantification of mucin gene expression in tracheobronchial brushing specimens from dogs and compare mucin gene expression in specimens from dogs with naturally occurring chronic bronchitis with that in specimens from healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 7 healthy dogs and 5 dogs with chronic bronchitis. PROCEDURES: Primers that were designed to span the predicted intron-exon boundaries of a canine MUC5AC-like gene were used to develop a real-time PCR assay for quantification of expression of that gene. Total mRNA was isolated from tracheobronchial brushing specimens obtained from dogs with and without bronchitis during anesthesia; MUC5AC-like gene expression in those samples was quantified by use of the real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: The PCR assay was sensitive and specific for the target sequence, the predicted amino acid sequence of which had greatest homology with human, porcine, and rat MUC5AC. The assay was able to quantify the target over a wide dynamic range. Dogs with chronic bronchitis had a 3.0-fold increase in the quantity of MUC5AC-like mRNA, compared with healthy dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ability to measure mucin gene expression from tracheobronchial brushing specimens collected from client-owned dogs during routine bronchoscopy should prove to be a useful tool for the study of bronchitis in dogs and expand the usefulness of airway inflammation in dogs as a model for bronchitis in humans.     

Antisperm responses in male dogs with chronic Brucella canis infections

Male Beagles infected with Brucella canis for greater than or equal to 3 months developed serum antibodies that agglutinated normal canine spermatozoa. Titers were highest in dogs that had been infected for 4 to 6 months. Lower spermagglutinin titers were detected in sera collected 10 months after inoculation. Antibodies were also observed in seminal plasma of chronically infected dogs. Seminal plasma from infected, but not from clinically normal dogs, caused head-to-head agglutination of normal sperm. In contrast to macroagglutination of sperm by serum antibodies, agglutination by seminal plasma antibodies was detected only by microscopic examination. Seminal plasma agglutinins were not inactivated by heat (56 C, 1 hour) or by reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol. When seminal plasma and sperm were mixed with 2 hemolytic units of guinea pig complement, spermatozoa were not inactivated. Spermagglutinin activity was present in the first 2 spectral absorption peaks of Sephadex G-200 fractionated seminal plasma. Fractions that had the highest spermagglutinin titers contained mostly immunoglobulin A. Seminal plasma from infected dogs also contained cytophilic factors for normal splenic macrophages that caused sperm adherence to macrophages. Dogs with a bacteremia lasting greater than 4 months had cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions when tested with soluble canine testicular extracts. Reactions did not occur in normal dogs. Dogs with testicular atrophy had the most severe skin test responses. Seemingly, isoimmune responses to sperm antigens are involved in infertility caused by B canis infection of male dogs.     

Spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects in dogs: a review

Spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) in dogs are typically found in middle-aged dogs of all breeds. These epithelial defects may be present for weeks to months, particularly if left untreated or if treated inappropriately. Typical histopathological findings include loss of the corneal epithelial basement membrane and formation of a superficial, acellular, hyalinized zone in the stroma. Together, these histological abnormalities lead to delayed wound healing and poor epithelial adhesion. Epithelial debridement, anterior stromal puncture, grid keratotomy, and superficial keratectomy are the most common treatment options applied to the defects. Procedures that address the stromal changes present generally have a higher success rate than epithelial debridement alone.     

Determination of calcium fractionation in dogs with chronic renal failure

OBJECTIVE: To determine concentrations of calcium (total [tCa], ionized [iCa], protein-bound [pCa], and complexed [cCa]) in dogs with chronic renal failure (CRF). ANIMALS: 23 dogs with CRF. PROCEDURE: Serum calcium was fractionated by use of a micropartition system. Total calcium and iCa concentrations and pH were measured in unfractionated serum, and tCa concentration was measured in the ultrafiltrate. The pCa fraction was calculated by subtracting tCa of the ultrafiltrate from tCa concentration of unfractionated serum. The iCa concentration in unfractionated serum was subtracted from tCa concentration in the ultrafiltrate to determine the concentration of cCa. RESULTS: Concentrations of tCa, iCa, pCa, and cCa had wide ranges among dogs with CRF Dogs with significantly low tCa concentration (770 +/- 1.73 mg/dL) had cCa concentration (0.76 +/- 0.38 mg/dL) within reference range, whereas dogs with reference range to high tCa concentration (10.85 +/- 1.13 mg/dL) had significantly high cCa concentration (2.62 +/- 1.04 mg/dL). There was no significant difference in iCa or pCa concentrations between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Concentrations of tCa, iCa, cCa, and pCa varied widely in dogs with CRF Overall, cCa concentration was high, although subpopulations differed in cCa and tCa concentrations. Differences in tCa concentration were primarily attributable to differences in cCa fraction.     

Cardiopulmonary function in dogs with serious chronic heartworm disease.

Cardiopulmonary function was examined in 18 dogs with serious chronic heartworm disease showing ascites, subcutaneous edema, prostration, weakness, jaundice and so on. After surgical heartworm removal from the pulmonary arteries, 10 dogs recovered (surviving group), and 8 dogs died or were euthanatized because of poor prognosis (nonsurviving group). The number of live heartworms residing in the pulmonary arteries of the surviving group tended to be larger than that in the nonsurviving group. At necropsy, severe pulmonary arterial lesions such as thromboembolism including dead heartworms, proliferative and villous lesions and intimal hyperplasia were noticed in all dogs examined, and tended to be severer in the nonsurviving group. Heartworm-coiling around the tricuspid valve chord was found in 1 dog of the surviving group and 4 dogs of the nonsurviving group. Before heartworm removal, there was no significant difference in the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) between the surviving and nonsurviving group. Right atrial pressure (v-wave) was higher, and the cardiac index (CI) was lower in the nonsurviving group. Arterial oxygen tension was lower in the surviving group than in the heartworm-free group, and it was lower in the nonsurviving group than in the surviving group. Carbon dioxide tension was lower in the surviving group than in the heartworm-free group. Bicarbonate concentration (HCO3-) was lower both in the surviving and nonsurviving groups than in the heartworm-free group. One week after heartworm removal, MPAP decreased (P less than 0.05), and CI and HCO3- tended to increase in the surviving group.     

Therapeutic options for the treatment of chronic pain in dogs

Chronic pain is a widely recognised problem in humans and is being increasingly recognised as a significant problem in dogs. Whilst a large number of therapies are described and utilised to treat chronic pain in dogs, there is a severe shortage of evidence to guide practitioners in selection of treatments. Until more evidence becomes available, practitioners should adopt a cautious approach, utilising licensed treatments first when possible. Non‐pharmacological therapies should be incorporated into the chronic pain management plan whenever possible. Given the probable prevalence of chronic pain in dogs there is an urgent need for research to identify effective treatments.     

Cutaneous neosporosis in two adult dogs on chronic immunosuppressive therapy.

Antemortem diagnosis of generalized ulcerative and pyogranulomatous dermatitis with numerous intralesional tachyzoites was made from skin biopsy specimens from 2 adult dogs on chronic immunosuppressive therapy. A 9-year-old Italian Greyhound was on long-term corticosteroid therapy for the treatment of a lupus-like systemic autoimmune disorder, and a 7-year-old Labrador Retriever had received several months of chemotherapy for lymphosarcoma. The tachyzoites were identified as Neospora caninum by immunoperoxidase immunohistochemistry. Both dogs were treated with clindamycin. Lesions in the Greyhound resolved; however, the Labrador Retriever was euthanized because of evidence of neuromuscular disease, despite improvement of the skin lesions. These 2 cases indicate that cutaneous neosporosis can occur in adult dogs on chronic immunosuppressive therapy. The disease may result from reactivation of a congenital infection and/or a recently acquired primary infection.