Investigation of hypertriglyceridemia in healthy Miniature Schnauzers

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia has been reported in Miniature Schnauzers (MS). However, studies investigating the prevalence of this disorder in a large population of MS are lacking. HYPOTHESIS: Hypertriglyceridemia is prevalent in healthy MS. ANIMALS: This study used 192 healthy MS and 38 healthy dogs of other breeds (control dogs). METHODS: Serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were measured and statistically compared in both the MS and control group. Dogs were categorized based on their age, and median serum triglyceride concentrations were compared among different age groups. RESULTS: A total of 63 (32.8%) of the 192 MS had serum triglyceride concentrations above the reference range. In contrast, of the 38 control dogs, only 2 (5.3%) had serum triglyceride concentrations above the reference range. The median serum triglyceride concentration in MS was 73.5 mg/dL, which was significantly higher as compared to that of the control group (median, 55 mg/dL; P = .0005). Serum cholesterol concentration was above the reference range in 9 (9.0%) of 100 MS and in 2 (5.3%) of the control dogs. Mean serum cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .1374). Median serum triglyceride concentrations in MS increased significantly with age (P < .0001), and there was a significant positive correlation between serum triglyceride concentrations and age (Spearman r = 0.47; P < .0001). There was no difference in serum triglyceride concentrations between male and female MS (P = .48). CONCLUSION: Healthy MS have a high prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia as compared to healthy dogs of other breeds. Both the prevalence and severity of hypertriglyceridemia increase with age.     

Serum triglyceride concentrations in Miniature Schnauzers with and without a history of probable pancreatitis

Background: The association between hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis remains obscure in dogs. A possible role of hypertriglyceridemia as a cause of pancreatitis in Miniature Schnauzers has been suspected. Hypothesis/Objectives: To compare serum triglyceride concentrations between Miniature Schnauzers with and without a recent history of pancreatitis. Animals: Seventeen Miniature Schnauzers with a history of pancreatitis (group 1) and 34 age‐matched Miniature Schnauzers without a history of pancreatitis (group 2) were prospectively enrolled. Methods: Prospective case‐control study. Two samples were collected from each of the 17 Miniature Schnauzers with pancreatitis: 1 during pancreatitis and 1 after clinical and biochemical resolution of pancreatitis. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were compared between group 1 (after resolution of pancreatitis) and group 2. Results: Miniature Schnauzers in group 1 were significantly more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia (>108 mg/dL) (71%) after resolution of pancreatitis than Miniature Schnauzers in group 2 (33%; odds ratio = 5.02; 95% confidence interval = 1.4–17.8; P= .0163). Serum triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in dogs of group 1 (median: 605.0 mg/dL) after resolution of pancreatitis than in dogs of group 2 (median: 73.5 mg/dL; P= .002). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Miniature Schnauzers with a history of pancreatitis were 5 times more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia than controls. Hypertriglyceridemia might be associated with the development of pancreatitis in some dogs of this breed. Additional studies are needed to further clarify the role of hypertriglyceridemia in the development of pancreatitis in Miniature Schnauzers as well as other dog breeds.     

Characterization of the urogenital microbiome in Miniature Schnauzers with and without calcium oxalate urolithiasis

BackgroundCalcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths are common in dogs. Humans with CaOx urolithiasis exhibit alterations of the urinary and urogenital microbiomes that might mediate urolith formation. Detection of urogenital microbes associated with CaOx in dogs could inform disease pathophysiology.ObjectiveTo identify compositional differences in the urogenital microbiome of Miniature Schnauzers with and without CaOx uroliths.AnimalsNineteen midstream, voided urine samples from Miniature Schnauzers with (n = 9) and without (n = 10) a history of CaOx urolithiasis.MethodsAnalytical cross‐sectional study. Microbial DNA was extracted from previously frozen urine samples and sequenced for the bacterial 16S rRNA V3‐V4 hypervariable regions. Diversity and composition of microbial populations were compared between urolith formers and controls.ResultsAlpha and beta diversity measures were similar between groups. Five individual bacterial taxa differed in abundance (indicator values >0.5 and P < .05): Acinetobacter, 2 Geobacillus variants, and Hydrogenophaga were overrepresented in the urine of urolith formers, and Sphingopyxis was overrepresented in controls. Two distinct subtypes of urine microbial composition were observed based on beta diversity measures, independent of urolith status, and other clinical variables.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAlthough we did not detect a difference in the overall urogenital microbial composition between groups, observed differences in individual bacterial taxa might be clinically relevant. For example, Acinetobacter was overrepresented in urolith formers and is associated with CaOx urolithiasis in humans. Two unique clusters of the microbiome were identified, independent of urolith status, which may represent distinct urotypes present in Miniature Schnauzers.     

Serum C-reactive protein concentrations in healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs

Background: C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker for inflammation in people and dogs. In people, an association between CRP concentration and atherosclerosis has been reported. Atherosclerosis is rare in dogs, but the Miniature Schnauzer breed may be at increased risk for developing this vascular disease. It is not known if CRP concentrations in Miniature Schnauzer dogs differ from those in other dog breeds. Objectives: Our objectives were to validate an automated human CRP assay for measuring CRP in dogs and compare CRP concentrations in healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs with those in non‐Miniature Schnauzer breeds. Methods: Sera from 37 non‐Miniature Schnauzer dogs with inflammatory disease were pooled and used to validate a human CRP immunoturbidimetric assay for measuring canine CRP. Blood was collected from 20 healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs and 41 healthy dogs of other breeds. Median serum CRP concentration of healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs was compared with that of healthy non‐Miniature Schnauzer dogs. Results: The human CRP assay measured CRP reliably with linearity between 0 and 20 mg/L. CRP concentration for healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs (median 4.0 mg/L, minimum–maximum 0–18.2 mg/L) was significantly higher than for the healthy non‐Miniature Schnauzer dogs (median 0.1 mg/L, minimum–maximum 0–10.7 mg/L); 17 of the 20 Miniature Schnauzer dogs had values that overlapped with those of the non‐Miniature Schnauzer dogs. Conclusions: Median CRP concentration of Miniature Schnauzer dogs was slightly higher than that of other breeds of dogs. A relationship between higher CRP concentration in Miniature Schnauzer dogs and idiopathic hyperlipidemia, pancreatitis, and possible increased risk for atherosclerosis remains to be determined.     

Effects of stimulus intensity for electroretinogram in conscious Miniature Schnauzers

The aim of this study was to determine the most effective light intensity for flash electroretinogram (ERG) examination in conscious dogs using ERG equipment with a contact lens electrode with a built-in LED light source. ERG was performed on the bilateral eyes of ten clinically healthy Miniature Schnauzers at 6 different intensities (0.025, 0.079, 0.25, 0.79, 2.5 and 7.9 cd.s/m2) after dark adaptation for 20 min. With the increase in stimulus intensity, the most significant increase in a and b-wave amplitudes were observed at 2.5 cd.s/m2 (p<0.05). As the intensity of light was increased, the implicit times of both waves significantly decreased. Therefore, the most effective intensity of stimulus was 2.5 cd.s/m2 in the conscious Miniature Schnauzers. This suggests that this procedure would be applicable for evaluation of retinal function in conscious dogs, especially in high-risk patients.     

Effect of age on liver enzyme activities in serum of healthy quarter horses

Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), 5'nucleotidase (5'NT), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), and aspartate transaminase activities were measured in 10 clinically healthy foals, 10 yearlings, and 10 two-year-old Quarter Horses. Enzyme activities in foals at 0.5 to 3 days, 2 to 3 weeks, and 5 to 7 weeks of age were compared with enzyme activities from yearling and 2-year-old horses. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed significantly higher enzyme values in foals (P less than 0.002). This increase was mainly a result of higher ALP and GGT activities, with lesser effects due to higher SDH and 5'NT activities. Standard deviations for ALP and GGT were also larger in foals than in adult horses. The wide variation of ALP and GGT activities may limit their usefulness in the diagnosis of hepatic disease in foals. Standard deviations for serum AST, SDH, and 5'NT activities were smaller. These enzymes may be indicators of hepatobiliary disease in foals. The high serum enzyme activities in healthy foals may reflect a physiologic difference between foals and adult horses. Relative hepatic mass (as a percentage of body weight) and enzyme activity per gram of hepatic tissue are high in young animals, indicating that the high serum enzyme activities in foals are due partly to a high rate of enzyme production and release.     

Predisposition for primary hyperlipidemia in Miniature Schnauzers and Shetland sheepdogs as compared to other canine breeds

Miniature Schnauzers are the first canine breed, in the United States, reported to suffer from primary hyperlipidemia, but this has yet to be documented in other regions. Using over 900 canine plasma samples collected from over seven different veterinary clinics across Japan, the aim of this study was to compare plasma triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol concentrations between Miniature Schnauzers and other purebreeds in Japan. In addition, we investigated the influence of aging and sex on changes to hyperlipidemia incidence in purebred dogs. Our results indicated that both Miniature Schnauzers and Shetland sheepdogs in Japan exhibited remarkably high concentrations of plasma TG and total cholesterol, which are considered to be signs of hyperlipidemia, as compared to other purebred and mixed (Mongrel) canine breeds. Interestingly, the cause and conditions of primary hyperlipidemia in Miniature Schnauzers and Shetland sheepdogs might be different, with hypertriglyceridemia predominantly occurring with Miniature Schnauzers and hypercholesterolemia occurring in Shetland sheepdogs. However, with the influence of aging, the hyperlipidemia evolves into both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in both groups indicating that the severity of hyperlipidemia positively correlates with aging. Gender differences were also observed with regards to severity. In fact, a higher severity was prevalent with female Miniature Schnauzers than their male counterparts whereas it was more balanced between genders for Shetland sheepdogs.     

Digestive enzyme concentrations and activities in healthy pancreatic tissue of horses

OBJECTIVE: To measure concentrations and activities of major digestive enzymes in healthy equine pancreatic tissue. ANIMALS: 7 adult horses with normal pancreatic tissues. PROCEDURES: Small pieces of pancreatic tissue were collected immediately after euthanasia, immersed in liquid nitrogen, and maintained at -80 degrees C until analyzed. Concentrations and activities of amylase, lipase, chymotrypsin, trypsin, and elastase were determined by use of a microtiter technique. Relative pancreatic protein concentrations were determined by use of bovine serum albumin as the standard. Pancreatic DNA was extracted and con-centrations determined by use of the diphenylamine method with calf thymus DNA as the standard. RESULTS: The pancreatic cellular concentration of each enzyme, expressed as units per milligram of DNA, was consistent among horses. Cellular concentration of lipase (1,090.8 +/- 285.3 U/mg of DNA) was highest, followed by amylase (59.5 +/- 9.8 U/mg of DNA). Elastase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin were detected in small concentrations (1.9 +/- 0.6, 3.5 +/- 1.5, and 9.6 +/- 2.9 U/mg of DNA, respectively). Similar results were obtained for specific activities of the enzymes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results were unexpected because, under natural conditions, the predominant energy source for horses is carbohydrate. These results may indicate, in part, the reason horses seem to tolerate large amounts of fat added to their diet.