Association of Blood Monocyte and Lymphocyte Count and Disease‐Free Interval in Dogs with Osteosarcoma

Background: Identification of biomarkers that predict outcomes in dogs with osteosarcoma (OSA) would be valuable to veterinarians and owners. Leukocyte numbers in peripheral blood are associated with outcomes in some types of cancer in humans. Hypothesis/Objectives: We hypothesized that increased numbers of monocytes would be associated with reduced disease‐free interval (DFI) in dogs with OSA. Animals: Medical data from 69 dogs with appendicular OSA treated with amputation and chemotherapy were selected for study. Methods: Retrospective study. Statistical associations were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Information about DFI and leukogram values, tumor location, and serum alkaline phosphatase was abstracted from the medical record. Results: Higher numbers of circulating monocytes (>0.4 × 10³ cells/μL) and lymphocytes (>1.0 × 10³ cells/μL) before treatment were found to be significantly (P < .05) associated with shorter DFI in dogs with OSA. Other parameters associated with poor outcomes were increased alkaline phosphatase, primary tumor location, and age. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: These results indicated that pretreatment evaluation of monocyte and lymphocyte counts provided prognostic information for dogs with appendicular OSA. Notably, most animals in this study had monocyte counts within the normal reference range, indicating that variations within the reference range of leukocyte values might also have prognostic significance.     

Feline discrete high‐grade gastrointestinal lymphoma treated with surgical resection and adjuvant CHOP‐based chemotherapy: retrospective study of 20 cases

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcome of cats treated with surgical intervention for a discrete intermediate‐/high‐grade gastrointestinal lymphoma prior to CHOP‐based chemotherapy. Variables including sex, breed, haematocrit, white blood cell count, serum albumin concentration, clinical stage of disease, gastrointestinal obstruction and peritonitis were assessed for their effect on survival. Twenty cats met the inclusion criteria with three cats still alive at the time of data analysis. The overall median survival time (MST) was 417 days (range: 12–2962 days). The disease‐free interval (DFI) was 357 days (range: 0–1585 days) with six cats still deemed in remission prior to death. Only clinical stage had a significant effect on both MST and DFI. Cats with discrete intermediate/high‐grade gastrointestinal lymphoma that undergo surgical resection followed by adjuvant CHOP chemotherapy may achieve acceptable overall survival times.     

Chemotherapy‐induced diarrhoea in dogs and its management with smectite: Results of a monocentric open‐label randomized clinical trial

Chemotherapy‐induced diarrhoea (CID) is a frequent chemotherapy adverse event in dogs. Yet, there is currently no consensus regarding its management. Smectite is a natural medical clay, widely used in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in humans. The objectives of this study were to assess the efficacy of smectite in the management of CID in dogs, and to collect epidemiological data on CID. For each episode of diarrhoea, dogs were randomized into two management groups: Smectite group, receiving smectite at 0.5 g/kg PO per day divided in two to three doses initiated at the start of CID; control group, without initial medication. In both groups, rescue metronidazole was prescribed if CID progressed or was not improved within 48 hours. Sixty dogs were recruited and received 426 chemotherapy administrations between June 2017 and March 2019. The incidence rate of CID was 110/426 (25.8%, 95% CI: 21.7%‐30.2%), and significantly differed between the chemotherapeutic drugs administered (P < .001). Metronidazole was administered in 5/54 events (9.3%, 95% CI: 3.1%‐20.3%) in the smectite group and in 40/56 events (71.4%, 95% CI: 57.5%‐82.3%) in the control group (P < .001). The time to resolution of diarrhoea was shorter (P < .001) in the smectite group (median: 19.5 hours, interquartile range [IQR]: 13.5‐32 hours) compared with the control group (median: 53 hours, IQR: 31.5‐113.5 hours). The results of this study support the administration of smectite in the first‐line management of CID in dogs.     

Effects of supplementing low‐quality roughages with tree foliages on digestibility,nitrogen utilization and rumen characteristics in sheep: a meta‐analysis

Thirty‐six published studies containing 219 treatment means and 1069 sheep were included in the dataset for meta‐analysis to elucidate responses of foliage supplementation on digestibility, nitrogen balance and rumen parameters. Major predictive variables were percentages of foliages in diets (FL), crude protein (CP) in foliages (FCP), NDF in foliages (FNDF), NDF in basal forages (BNDF), CP in basal forages (BCP), CP in total diets (DCP) and foliage CP intake (FCPI). Organic matter digestibility increased linearly (p = 0.10) with increasing FL, but responded quadratically to DCP (p = 0.021) and BCP (p < 0.001), with maximal OM digestibility occurred at 14.6% of CP in diets (R² = 0.12). The digestibility of CP was affected by FL (p = 0.01), FCPI (p < 0.026), FCP (p < 0.001), FNDF (p < 0.001) and DCP (p < 0.032) positively and quadratically, and maximal response was at 14.1% DCP (p < 0.001), 51% FL (p < 0.001), 29% FCP (p < 0.001) and FCPI of 122 g/day (p < 0.001). The digestibility of NDF increased quadratically (p = 0.09) with increasing FL, peaking at 16% foliage levels, decreased quadratically (p = 0.001) with increasing FNDF and decreased linearly (p = 0.048) with increasing FCPI. Digestible OM and CP intakes were the highest at 37.2% and 42.1% FL, respectively. Fecal N excretion increased linearly with increasing FL (p < 0.001) and DCP (p < 0.001, R² = 0.66). However, FCPI (p = 0.082), FCP (p = 0.003) and BCP (p < 0.001) affected fecal N excretion positively and quadratically. Urinary N excretion increased linearly (p < 0.001) with increasing FL (R² = 0.45), FCPI (R² = 0.79), FCP (R² = 0.51), BCP (R² = 0.72) and DCP (R² = 0.77). Rumen NH₃ concentration was affected positively and quadratically (p = 0.023) by FL with a peak rumen NH₃ level of 160 mg/l at 17.3% FL. However, rumen NH₃ concentration (mg/l) increased linearly with increasing FCP (p = 0.001), FCPI (p = 0.01) and DCP (p < 0.001). In conclusion, catalytic foliage supplementation at low levels, preferably, at 16% may enhance nutrient utilization, while foliage levels up to 42% may result greater performance of sheep fed on low‐quality roughages.     

Gastrointestinal health and function in weaned pigs: a review of feeding strategies to control post‐weaning diarrhoea without using in‐feed antimicrobial compounds

For the last several decades, antimicrobial compounds have been used to promote piglet growth at weaning through the prevention of subclinical and clinical disease. There are, however, increasing concerns in relation to the development of antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains and the potential of these and associated resistance genes to impact on human health. As a consequence, European Union (EU) banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in swine and livestock production on 1 January 2006. Furthermore, minerals such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are not feasible alternatives/replacements to antibiotics because their excretion is a possible threat to the environment. Consequently, there is a need to develop feeding programs to serve as a means for controlling problems associated with the weaning transition without using antimicrobial compounds. This review, therefore, is focused on some of nutritional strategies that are known to improve structure and function of gastrointestinal tract and (or) promote post‐weaning growth with special emphasis on probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, trace minerals and dietary protein source and level.     

Stoichiometry of a semi‐aquatic plethodontid salamander: Intraspecific variation due to location,size and diet

Ecological stoichiometry provides a framework to investigate an organism's relationship to nutrient cycles. An organism's stoichiometry is thought to constrain its contribution to nutrient cycles (recycling or storage), and to limit its growth and reproduction. Factors that influence the stoichiometry of a consumer are largely unstudied, but what is known is that consumer stoichiometry is influenced by the elemental requirements of the consumer (e.g. for growth, reproduction and cell maintenance) and the availability of elements. We examined whole‐body stoichiometry of larval southern two‐lined salamanders (Eurycea cirrigera) and described the influence of location, body size, stoichiometry of diet items, and environmental nutrient supply on whole‐body stoichiometry. Mean composition of phosphorous was 2.6%, nitrogen was 11.3%, and carbon was 39.6%, which are similar for other aquatic vertebrate taxa. The most significant predictor of whole‐body stoichiometry was the site where the samples were collected, which was significant for each nutrient and nutrient ratio. Body size and stoichiometry of diet items were also predictors of Eurycea cirrigera stoichiometry. Our study suggests that spatial differences in environmental nutrient supply have a stronger influence on consumer whole‐body stoichiometry among similar‐sized larvae compared to life history traits, such as body size or diet.     

Monitoring of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) after Multidrug Chemotherapy and Its Correlation to Outcome in Dogs with Lymphoma: A Proof‐of‐Concept Pilot Study

Background: Tumor cell burden in dogs with lymphoma cannot be assessed accurately by diagnostic evaluation during clinical complete remission (CR). Recent advances in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based methods enabled us to quantify minimal residual disease (MRD) in canine lymphoma. Hypothesis/Objectives: To quantify MRD in dogs with lymphoma treated with multidrug chemotherapy and to correlate it with remission duration after chemotherapy. Animals: Seventeen dogs with lymphoma that achieved CR by multidrug chemotherapy. Methods: Rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain or T‐cell receptor γ chain gene fragments from lymphoma cells were PCR amplified and sequenced to prepare clone‐specific primers and probes for real‐time PCR to quantify MRD. MRD in the peripheral blood was monitored during and at the end of a 25‐week multidrug chemotherapy protocol. Correlation between MRD at the end of chemotherapy and remission duration after chemotherapy was analyzed. Results: MRD gradually decreased after initiation of multidrug chemotherapy, reached a nadir as low as <0.019–1.0 cells/μL at weeks 4–17, and remained low or slightly increased until week 25. MRD at the end of chemotherapy was negatively correlated with remission duration from the end of chemotherapy to relapse. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: MRD could be an objective marker to indicate tumor cell burden in dogs with lymphoma even in clinical CR. MRD at the end of chemotherapy could be a prognostic factor to predict remission duration after chemotherapy.     

Reproductive performance of seasonally anovular mixed‐bred dairy goats induced to ovulate with a combination of progesterone and eCG or estradiol

Adult goats (n = 32) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments (n = 8, each): (i) progesterone (P₄) + equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), treated with 25 mg progesterone intramuscularly (i.m.) + 250 IU eCG 24 h later; (ii) cronolone + eCG, treated with vaginal sponges ‐ 20 mg cronolone × 7 days + 250 IU eCG at pessary removal; (ii) P₄ + estradiol (E₂), treated with 25 mg progesterone i.m. + 1 mg estradiol 24 h later; (iv) cronolone + E₂, treated with vaginal sponges ‐ 20 mg cronolone × 7 days + 1 mg of estradiol i.m. at pessary removal. Goats were tested for estrus throughout the presence of a buck. Seven days prior and after treatment, an ovarian ultrasonographic scanning was performed to determine ovarian function and structures. An ultrasonographic pregnancy diagnosis was performed on day 30 post‐service. In all groups, 100% estrus response was observed within 96 h post‐treatment. While ovulation occurred in 100% of P₄ + eCG and cronolone + eCG treated goats, the other groups only depicted 50% ovulatory activity (P < 0.05). Pregnancy rate was higher (P <0.05) in the P₄ + eCG and cronolone + eCG groups (88 and 100%, respectively), compared with 38% in P₄ + E₂ and cronolone + E₂ groups. The best treatments were those in which eCG was applied. The P₄ + eCG treatment was a pessary‐free, cheaper and effective protocol to induce ovulation in goats during the seasonal anovulatory period.     

Canine complete blood counts: a comparison of four in‐office instruments with the ADVIA 120 and manual differential counts

Background: With more use of bench‐top in‐office hematology analyzers, the accuracy of reported values is increasingly important. Instruments use varied methods for cell counting and differentiation, and blood smears may not always be examined. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare canine CBC results using 4 bench‐top instruments (Hemavet 950, Heska CBC‐Diff, IDEXX LaserCyte, and IDEXX VetAutoread) with ADVIA 120 and manual leukocyte counts. Methods: EDTA‐anticoagulated canine blood samples (n=100) were analyzed on each instrument. Manual differentials were based on 100‐cell counts. Linear regression, difference plots, paired t‐tests, and estimation of diagnostic equivalence were used to analyze results. Results: Correlations of HCT, WBC, and platelet counts were very good to excellent between all in‐office instruments and the ADVIA 120, but results varied in accuracy (comparability). Hemavet 950 and Heska CBC‐Diff results compared best with ADVIA results and manual leukocyte differentials. HCT and platelet counts on the IDEXX VetAutoread compared well with those from the ADVIA. Except for neutrophil counts, leukocyte differentials from all instruments compared poorly with ADVIA and manual counts. Reticulocyte counts on the LaserCyte and VetAutoread compared poorly with those from the ADVIA. Conclusions: The Hemavet 950 and Heska CBC‐Diff performed best of the 4 analyzers we compared. HCT, WBC, and platelet counts on the LaserCyte had minimally sufficient comparability for diagnostic use. Except for neutrophils (granulocytes), leukocyte differential counts were unreliable on all in‐office analyzers. Instruments with a 5‐part leukocyte differential provided no added benefit over a 3‐part differential. Assessment of erythrocyte regeneration on the LaserCyte and VetAutoread was unreliable compared with the ADVIA 120.     

Cytologic examination of fine‐needle aspirates from mammary gland tumors in the dog: diagnostic accuracy with comparison to histopathology and association with postoperative outcome

Background: Mammary tumors are the most common neoplasms in female dogs. Malignant tumors may carry a poor prognosis and necessitate surgery. Few data are available on the value of cytologic examination as a diagnostic or prognostic tool for mammary tumors in dogs. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether cytologic findings in fine‐needle aspirate specimens of canine mammary tumors correlate with histopathologic results and whether the cytologic diagnosis is associated with postoperative outcome. Methods: In this prospective study, fine‐needle aspirate samples were obtained from 50 mammary tumors in 50 dogs. Results of cytologic and histopathologic examination were compared, using the histologic diagnosis as the reference method. Kaplan–Meier log rank analysis was used to evaluate univariate association of the cytologic diagnosis with duration of survival, local control, and metastasis‐free interval. Results: Adequate cytologic samples were obtained in 43/50 (86%) cases. The cytologic diagnosis correlated with the histologic diagnosis for benign and malignant tumors in 40/43 (93%) and 35/43 (81%) cases, respectively. Cytologic examination had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 96% for the diagnosis of malignancy. The cytologic diagnosis had significant univariate association with duration of survival (P=.016), recurrence‐free interval (P=.003), and metastasis‐free interval (P=.014). Conclusions: Cytologic examination of mammary tumors in the dog has satisfactory accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for the diagnosis of malignancy and is associated with postoperative outcome. Further studies on the diagnostic accuracy of cytology as well as multivariate analysis of its preoperative prognostic value in mammary tumors in the dog are warranted.     

Influence of feeding a fish oil‐containing diet to mature,overweight dogs: Effects on lipid metabolites,postprandial glycaemia and body weight

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding a fish oil (FO)‐containing diet on lipid and protein metabolism, postprandial glycaemia and body weight (BW) of mature, overweight dogs. Seven female dogs were randomly assigned to one of two isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets, control (CO) or FO (FO), in a crossover design. Experimental periods were 69 day, separated by a washout period of 30 day. At the beginning of the experiment, and at 30 and 60 day of feeding the experimental diets, the dogs were infused with D‐glucose (2 g/kg BW) through an intravenous catheter. Blood samples were collected for 3 hr to perform a glucose tolerance test. Nitrogen balance measurements began at 06:30 on d 63 of each experimental period and ended at 06:30 on d 69. On d 66 of each period, a single dose (7.5 mg/kg) of ¹⁵N‐glycine was administered orally for determination of protein turnover. Incremental area under the curve and glucose concentration at peak did not differ between treatments or among sampling days within treatment. Glucose half‐life tended to decrease (p < .10) in the FO treatment on day 30 when compared to baseline (day 0). β‐hydroxybutyrate, non‐esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and triglycerides did not differ within or between treatments. Cholesterol decreased (p < .05) on the FO treatment on day 30, 60 and 69 when compared to day 0. High‐density lipoprotein (HDL) decreased (p < .05) in the FO treatment on day 69 when compared to day 0. Body weight, food intake, faecal excretion, DM and N digestibilities, N balance and protein turnover were not different between diets. Overall, FO‐containing diet decreases cholesterol in mature overweight dogs; however, further research is warranted to verify the effects of FO on glucose metabolism.