Association between faecal shedding of feline coronavirus and serum alpha1-acid glycoprotein sialylation

The sialylation pattern of serum alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) in non-symptomatic cats infected by feline coronavirus (FCoV) and its possible relationship with the amount of FCoVs shed in faeces were investigated. Blood from three specific pathogen-free cats (group A) and from 10 non-symptomatic FCoV-positive cats from catteries with low (group B, three cats) or high (group C, seven cats) levels of faecal shedding were collected monthly. AGP was purified from serum and Western blotting followed by lectin-staining of alpha(2,3)-linked and alpha(2,6)-linked sialic acid. Faecal shedding was quantified in group C by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Variations of AGP sialylation were recorded only in cats from group C, on which viral shedding peaked before the occurrence of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in the cattery, and decreased 1 month later, when serum AGP had an increase of alpha(2,3)-linked sialic acid. These results suggest that hypersialylation of AGP may be involved in host-virus interactions.     

The feline acute phase reaction

The acute phase reaction (APR) is a response to potentially pathogenic stimuli. It begins with the release of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha from inflammatory cells. These cytokines induce fever, leucocytosis and release of serum acute phase proteins (APPs). In this review, the characteristics of the feline APR are described. In cats with inflammatory conditions, fever is a common finding, with leucocytosis due to the release of cells from the marginal pool, followed by activation of myelopoiesis. Because excitement frequently causes leucocytosis in cats, a diagnosis of inflammation should therefore be supported by additional findings such as the presence of toxic neutrophils. The major APPs are serum amyloid A and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP), which both increase a few hours after the inflammatory stimulus and remain elevated for as long as the inflammation persists. AGP plays an important role in the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and may also be useful also in studies of FIP pathogenesis.     

Influence of age and foaling on plasma protein electrophoresis and serum amyloid A and their possible role as markers of equine neonatal septicaemia

A field study was undertaken to investigate plasma protein electrophoresis (PPE) and serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations at 1, 3 and 7 days of age in foals born by oxytocin-induced (group A, n =17) or spontaneous (group B, n =12) parturition. The putative diagnostic role of PPE and SAA in four septicaemic foals was also examined. At birth, beta-gamma-globulins were higher in group B, and then increased in both groups, probably due to colostrum intake. At day 3, no significant differences between the groups were detectable. In both groups, SAA values increased from day 0 to day 3, then decreased at day 7. Septicaemic foals had decreased concentrations of many electrophoretic fractions (probably reflecting decreased colostrum intake and circulating bacterial proteases) and an increased SAA concentration. It was concluded that both PPE and SAA concentrations vary with age and type of foaling and may be useful in the early diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia.     

Validation of thromboelastometry in horses

Background: Thromboelastometry is used for identifying or monitoring coagulation abnormalities. It has been validated in several species but not in horses and the characteristics of the equine thromboelastogram have not yet been detailed. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to validate a thromboelastometer to be used with equine blood and to define the normal equine thromboelastogram. Methods: A Rotem-gamma thromboelastometer (Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany) was used on 38 citrated blood samples to investigate native coagulation, the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, the function of fibrinogen (largely dependent on its concentration), and the presence of fibrinolysis. Using classic validation approaches, we evaluated the imprecision of the method and the influence of hemolysis and storage time and temperature. The normal thromboelastogram was defined in both saddle and racing horses (the latter sampled before and after the race). Results: For imprecision tests, the analytical variations were <10%. The equine thromboelastogram had a pattern similar to those of other species, but the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways were less and more efficient, respectively. Reference intervals in racing horses, especially after exercise, were different from those of saddle horses, most likely due to a higher RBC mass. Coagulability decreased in hemolyzed samples and significant changes were found between nonrefrigerated and refrigerated blood samples stored for 20 hours. Conclusions: The Rotem-gamma thromboelastometer is a precise instrument for use with equine blood samples. The equine thromboelastogram is similar to that of other species, but reference intervals vary with aptitude and exercise. Hemolysis and refrigeration alter thromboelastometric results.     

Flow cytometric expression of common antigens CD18/CD45 in blood from dogs with lymphoid malignancies: a semi-quantitative study

Flow cytometry is useful to study lymphoid malignancies since it allows both immunophenotyping of neoplastic cells and quantification of antigen expression. CD18 and CD45 are commonly exposed membrane antigens with different levels of expression on blood leukocyte and neoplastic cells. The aim of this retrospective study was to semi-quantitatively evaluate the expression of CD18 and CD45 in dogs with different lymphoid malignancies with blood involvement and to compare results with those from healthy dogs and dogs with reactive diseases. Blood samples from 13 dogs with precursor lymphoid malignancies, 20 with mature neoplasms (either chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or lymphoma), of different immunophenotypes, were compared with 24 healthy dogs and 12 dogs with different reactive diseases. The median fluorescence intensity (MFI) for CD18 and CD45 was recorded on lymphoid and granulocytic populations using dual colour flow cytometry, and the ratio between MFI for lymphoid and granulocytic populations (L/N ratio) was calculated to compare the results obtained in different sessions using an internal control (granulocyte fluorescence intensity). Significant decreases in the L/N ratio were detected in neoplastic samples for both CD18 (either precursors or mature versus controls) and CD45 (either precursors or mature versus control), while using MFI only slight differences were detectable in CD45 between precursors and controls. Neoplastic cells often exhibited lower expression of the L/N ratio for CD18, and mainly for CD45, most likely due to a less mature pattern than normal cells and/or to an aberrant quantitative expression of surface antigen. Moreover, more than 50% of neoplastic lymphoid cells exhibited L/N ratios that were not within the values observed in controls for at least one antigen. Altered L/N ratios, in particular decreases of CD45, were mainly observed in precursor neoplasms and in T-cell neoplasms. Detection of altered expression of common antigens, and in particular a L/N ratio for CD45 lower than a value of 103% may be useful as a confirmation of pseudo-clonality thus helping in differentiating reactive and neoplastic lymphocyte expansions.     

Herbal drug quality and phytochemical composition of Hypericum perforatum L. affected by ash yellows phytoplasma infection

Qualitative/quantitative phytochemical variations were observed in dried flowering tops of cultivated Hypericum perforatum L. cv. Zorzi infected by phytoplasmas of the "ash yellows" class, identified by direct and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR); this is the first report of ribosomial group 16SrVII phytoplasmas in St. John's Wort. Methanolic extracts of healthy and infected plants were separated by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography to quantify naphthodianthrones and flavonoids, while essential oils were analyzed by means of gas chromatography (GC)-GC/MS. The affected plants exhibited decreased amounts of rutin (1.96 +/- 0.23 vs 4.96 +/- 0.02 mg/g), hyperoside (2.38 +/- 0.21 vs 3.04 +/- 0.05 mg/g), isoquercitrin (1.47 +/- 0.04 vs 3.50 +/- 0.08 mg/g), amentoflavone (0.12 +/- 0.01 vs 0.39 +/- 0.02 mg/g), and pseudohypericin (1.41 +/- 0.23 vs 2.29 +/- 0.07 mg/g), whereas the chlorogenic acid content was doubled (1.56 +/- 0.11 vs 0.77 +/- 0.02 mg/g). Hypericin, quercitrin, and quercetin contents were not severely affected. The essential oil yield was drastically reduced in infected material (0.11 vs 0.75% in healthy material) and revealed an increased abundance of sesquiterpenes (beta-caryophyllene, delta-elemene, and germacrene D, in particular) and a matching decrease in monoterpene hydrocarbons and aliphatics. The consequences that the phytopathological condition of cultivated H. perforatum plants has on the commercial quality, market value, and therapeutic efficacy are outlined.     

Early Biomarkers of Inflammation in Dogs and Cats: The Acute Phase Proteins

Veterinary Research Communications - Paltrinieri, S., 2007. Early biomarkers of inflammation in dogs and cats: the acute phase proteins. Veterinary Research Communications, 31(Suppl. 1), 125–129