Antioxidant status and biomarkers of oxidative stress in dogs with congestive heart failure

Alterations in antioxidant status and oxidative stress have been documented in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The purpose of this study was to more broadly assess this relationship in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF). Malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-F(2alpha)-isoprostane, protein carbonyls, reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, vitamins A, C, and E, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were measured from a single venous blood sample from dogs with CHF secondary to DCM or chronic valvular disease (CVD) and in healthy controls. Nineteen dogs with CHF (14 CVD and 5 DCM) and 12 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Concentrations of 8-F(2alpha)-isoprostane (CHF: 44.6 pg/mL [range, 27.1-98.0 pg/mL], controls: 25.3 pg/ mL [range, 11.1-80.4 pg/mL]) but not MDA (CHF: 4.11 microM [range, 1.89-6.39 microM], controls: 3.88 microM [range, 2.14-4.72 microM]) or protein carbonyls (0.69 nmol/mg protein [range, 0.37-1.67 nmol/mg protein], controls: 0.80 nmol/mg protein [range, 0.40-1.14 nmol/mg protein]) were significantly higher in the dogs with CHF than in the controls. Vitamin E concentration (CHF: 2,215 microg/ dL [range, 916-3,499 microg/dL], controls: 2,820 microg/dL [range, 1,738-3,775 microg/dL]) and GSH:GSSG (CHF: 12.0 [range, 3.69-30.1], controls: 22.7 [range, 12.5-227]) were significantly lower, whereas ORAC (CHF: 824 micromol Trolox equivalent/L [range, 304-984], controls: 497 micromol Trolox equivalent/L [range, 258-759]) and vitamin C (CHF: 0.90 mg/dL [range, 0.55-2.02 mg/dL], controls: 0.72 mg/dL [range, 0.43-0.85 mg/dL]) concentrations were higher in dogs with CHF than in controls. Vitamin A concentrations were not different between dogs with CHF and controls. No differences in any of the parameters were detected between dogs with DCM versus those with CVD. Some antioxidant defenses are decreased in dogs with CHF, and some biomarkers of oxidative stress are increased in dogs with CHF. The effect of dietary interventions to correct this imbalance in antioxidant defenses warrants further study.     

Evaluation of antioxidant status and oxidative stress in sheep naturally infected with Babesia ovis

The present study aimed to assess antioxidant status and oxidative stress in sheep naturally infected with Babesia ovis. Red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), piroplasm parasitemia percentage, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activities and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined in 52 sheep naturally infected with B. ovis as well as same number of healthy sheep in West-Azerbaijan province, Iran. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears revealed B. ovis infection. The parasitological diagnosis was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis by amplifying a partial small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene sequence of B. ovis of 52 diseased sheep, 18 (34.61%), 11 (21.15%), 16 (30.76%) and 7 (13.48%) had <1%, 1-2%, 2-3% and >3% parasitemia, respectively. Compared to controls, the activities of erythrocyte GSH-Px, SOD, TAC and CAT showed a significant decrease, whereas the concentration of MDA in erythrocytes of infected sheep increased significantly. Parasitemia rate was positively correlated with MDA and negatively correlated with PCV, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and TAC. Also, MDA was negatively correlated with PCV, SOD, catalase, GSH-Px and TAC. The study demonstrated that B. ovis plays an important role in the occurrence of oxidative damage to RBCs and anemia in ovine babesiosis.     

Evaluation of antioxidant status and oxidative stress in cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata

To assess the antioxidant status and oxidative stress in bovine theileriosis due to Theileria annulata blood samples were collected from 35 clinically affected cattle referred to Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. Complete blood count, piroplasm parasitemia percentage, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities, malondialdehyde concentration, osmotic fragility test and median corpuscular fragility were determined and the results were compared with those of 50 healthy controls. Of 35 affected cattle, 12 (34.28%) had severe anemia and 23 had mild to moderate anemia and parasitemia varied from 5 to 40%. The activities of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly lower (P<0.0001) and the activity of catalase was significantly higher in the affected cattle than in healthy ones (P<0.001). Malondialdehyde concentration in erythrocytes of affected cattle was significantly more than those of healthy cattle (P<0.001). The affected cattle showed increased fragility of erythrocytes, so that median corpuscular fragility (MCF) in affected group was significantly lower than those of healthy group (P<0.0001). Median corpuscular fragility showed a positive correlation with the severity of parasitemia (r=0.81, P<0.0005) and a negative correlation with the activities of GSH-Px (r=-0.78, P<0.0001), SOD (r=-0.71, P<0.0005), catalase (r=-0.53, P<0.018) and G6PD (r=-0.58, P<0.0005). The results of this study suggest that oxidative damage to RBCs may contribute to the pathogenesis of anemia in bovine theileriosis.     

Comparison of ultrasonic Doppler flow monitor,oscillometric, and direct arterial blood pressure measurements in ill dogs

Objective – To compare blood pressure measurements obtained via ultrasonic Doppler flow monitor (DOP) and 2 oscillometric noninvasive blood pressure monitors (CAR and PAS) to invasive blood pressure (IBP) in hospitalized, conscious dogs with a range of blood pressures. Design – Prospective clinical study. Setting – University teaching hospital. Animals – Eleven client‐owned dogs aged between 4 months and 11.5 years (median 6 y), and weighing between 5.8 and 37.5 kg (median 30.2 kg). Interventions – Blood pressure measurement. Measurements and Main Results – Three consecutive measurements of systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded for each of the 3 indirect devices (only systolic for DOP), along with concurrent IBP measurements. The data were categorized into 3 groups: hypotensive (direct MAP<80 mm Hg), normotensive (80 mm Hg≤direct MAP≥100 mm Hg), and hypertensive (direct MAP>100 mm Hg). Each indirect method was compared with the corresponding direct arterial pressure using the Bland‐Altman method. Within the hypotensive group, each indirect method overestimated the corresponding IBP. Within the normotensive group all indirect systolic measurements and the PAS diastolic measurements underestimated the corresponding IBP. The remaining indirect measurements overestimated the corresponding IBP. Within the hypertensive group, DOP and CAR systolic measurements underestimated the corresponding IBP, and the remaining indirect measurements overestimated the corresponding IBP. In hypertensive dogs oscillometric systolic measurements were more accurate than MAP. In hypotensive dogs MAP measurements were more accurate than systolic measurements. All indirect measurements were most accurate in hypertensive dogs. Conclusions – The noninvasive blood pressure monitors in our study did not meet the validation standards set in human medicine. However, CAR diastolic and MAP measurements within the normotensive group, CAR MAP measurements within the hypertensive group, and PAS diastolic measurements in all groups were close to these standards. All indirect measurements showed greater bias during hypotension. Precision was poorer for all indirect systolic measurements than for MAP.     

Epidemiology,clinical management,and outcomes of dogs involved in road traffic accidents in the United Kingdom (2009–2014)

Objective

To estimate the prevalence and risk factors for road traffic accidents (RTA) in dogs and describe the management and outcome of these dogs attending primary‐care veterinary practices in the United Kingdom.

Design

Retrospective cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Primary‐care veterinary practices in the United Kingdom.

Animals

The study population included 199,464 dogs attending 115 primary‐care clinics across the United Kingdom.

Measurements and main results

Electronic patient records of dogs attending practices participating in the VetCompass Programme were assessed against selection criteria used to define RTA cases. Cases identified as RTAs were identified and manually verified to calculate prevalence. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods were used to evaluate associations between risk factors and RTA. The prevalence of RTA was 0.41%. Of the RTA cases, 615 (74.9%) were purebred, 322 (39.2%) were female, and 285 (54.8%) were insured. The median age at RTA was 2.5 years. After accounting for the effects of other factors, younger dogs had increased odds of an RTA event: dogs aged under 3 years showed 2.9 times the odds and dogs aged between 6–9 years showed 1.8 times the odds of an RTA event compared with dogs aged over 14 years. Males had 1.4 times the odds of an RTA event compared with females. Overall, 22.9% of cases died from a cause associated with RTA. Of dogs with information available, 34.0% underwent diagnostic imaging, 29.4% received intravenous fluid‐therapy, 71.1% received pain relief, 46.0% were hospitalized, and 15.6% had surgery performed under general anesthetic.

Conclusions

This study identified important demographic factors associated with RTA in dogs, notably being young and male.

     

Lithium dilution cardiac output and oxygen delivery in conscious dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome

Objective: Compare cardiac index (CI) and oxygen delivery index (DO₂I) in conscious, critically ill dogs to control dogs; evaluate the association of CI and DO₂I with outcome. Design: Prospective non‐randomized clinical study. Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital. Animals: Eighteen client‐owned dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and 8 healthy control dogs. Measurements and Main Results: CI of dogs with SIRS was measured using lithium dilution at times 0, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours. Data collected included physical exam, arterial blood gas (ABG) and hemoximetry. CI of control dogs was measured 3 times with 1 measurement of ABG. Mean CI ± SE in SIRS patients was 3.32 ± 0.95 L/min/m²; lower than controls at 4.18 ± 0.22 L/min/m² (P<0.001). Mean DO₂I ± SE in SIRS patients was 412.91 ± 156.67 mL O₂/min/m²; lower than controls at 785.24 ± 45.99 mL O₂/min/m² (P<0.001). There was no difference in CI (P=0.49) or DO₂I (P=0.51) for dogs that survived to discharge versus those that did not. There was no difference in mean CI (P=0.97) or DO₂I (P=0.50) of survivors versus non‐survivors for 28‐day survival. Survivors had lower blood glucose (P=0.03) and serum lactate concentrations (P=0.04) than non‐survivors. Conclusions: CI and DO₂I in conscious dogs with SIRS were lower than control dogs, which differs from theories that dogs with SIRS are in a high cardiac output state. CI and DO₂I were not significantly different between survivors and non‐survivors. Similar to previous studies, lactate and glucose concentrations of survivors were lower than non‐survivors.     

Comparison of two questionnaires to assess gastrointestinal toxicity in dogs and cats treated with chemotherapy*

Questionnaires completed by pet owners are widely used instruments to monitor adverse gastrointestinal (GI) effects in the owners' animals undergoing chemotherapy and for reporting toxicoses in clinical trials; however, no questionnaires have been formally evaluated. This study compares two questionnaire-based evaluations of adverse GI events: a basic, open-ended questionnaire and a detailed questionnaire modelled after the grading in the Veterinary Co-operative Oncology Group-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (VCOG-CTCAE). Owners completed both questionnaires after their dog or cat received moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Results were used to derive toxicity grades for anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea. We evaluated 123 pairs of questionnaires. Disagreement in grade of anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea was found in 24, 7 and 13% of paired questionnaires, respectively (κ = 0.63, 0.83 and 0.71, respectively). Although 'good' to 'very good' agreement was found, the potential for only 'fair' agreement between questionnaire methods is of concern and suggests a need to adopt a standardized form.     

Development of a questionnaire assessing health-related quality-of-life in dogs and cats with cancer

Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) has been studied extensively in human medicine. There is currently no standard HRQoL evaluation for veterinary oncology patients. The aim of this study was to assess the practicality, usefulness and robustness, from a pet owner and clinician perspective, of a questionnaire for the assessment of HRQoL in canine and feline cancer patients. A HRQoL assessment entitled 'Cancer Treatment Form' and two questionnaires entitled 'Owner Minitest' and 'Clinician Minitest' were designed. The first and second were completed by owners of patients presenting to a veterinary oncology referral service and the third by attending clinicians. The 'Cancer Treatment Form' was well received by owners and clinicians and provided a valuable assessment of HRQoL with 98% (82/84) of owners reporting an accurate reflection of their pet's quality-of-life. Following this, minor improvements to the form could be suggested prior to regular use in evaluation of clinical oncology patients.     

Patterns of lymph node metastasis identified following bilateral mandibular and medial retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy in 31 dogs with malignancies of the head

Variable pathways of lymphatic drainage have been described in the dog head and neck. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the patterns of lymph node metastasis in dogs with malignancies of the head following bilateral mandibular and medial retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy. Thirty‐one dogs were included. Median age at surgery was 10 years (range: 5 months to 14 years) and mean bodyweight was 21.4 ± 11.9 kg. Lymph node metastasis occurred in 14 dogs (45%), with spread to mandibular lymph nodes in 14 dogs and medial retropharyngeal metastasis in 11 dogs. Eight of 13 dogs (62%) with lymphatic metastasis and a lateralised lesion showed contralateral dissemination, while 12/13 (92%) showed ipsilateral metastasis. Of 13 dogs with oral malignant melanoma, four showed metastasis to all four lymph centres. Contralateral metastasis may occur in dogs with malignancies of the head and should be considered during staging and management.