Calculation of urinary enzyme excretion, with renal structure and function in dogs with pyometra

The urinary enzyme markers of renal damage, alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal biopsies were studied to evaluate renal status in dogs with pyometra. After ovariohysterectomy, urinary enzymes were measured daily for 12 days in 55 dogs, and again at a later follow-up visit. Thirteen dogs had high levels of at least one enzyme at initial presentation. Seventeen dogs had a transient increase in urinary enzyme values between one and five days after surgery. Enzyme values usually declined to low activities within 12 post-operative days. Renal biopsies demonstrated tubular abnormalities in many dogs. Mean GFR was 2.4 and 2.0 ml min(-1) kg(-1), respectively on day 1 post-operatively and at the follow-up visit 1-4 months later. High urinary enzyme values often reflected extensive lesions in renal proximal tubular cells and sometimes reduced GFR.     

Disseminated Mycobacterium celatum (type 3) infection in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 4-year-old male ferret (Mustela putoriusfuro) had a 6-month history of weight loss and gradual development of depression and coughing. Necropsy findings included pale gray tissue around the distal trachea, multiple nodules in the lungs, a single nodule in the stomach wall, gray foci in the liver, and enlarged lymph nodes. Histologic examination revealed multifocal to coalescing granulomatous inflammation in the trachea, lungs, stomach, liver, and lymph nodes, with acid-fast bacteria in epithelioid cells and macrophages. The acid-fast bacteria were identified as Mycobacterium celatum (type 3) using DNA sequence analysis of the 16S ribosomal DNA gene. M. celatum is a recently described mycobacterium isolated mainly from immunocompromised humans. This is the first report of M. celatum infection in an animal.     

Larval development in European hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) reared in a semi-intensive culture system

Eggs of European hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) were stripped from fish caught at sea. Larvae were kept under semi‐intensive conditions at around 12°C. In addition, eggs were incubated in single wells at 9.2, 12.7 and 14.5°C, where hatching, development and survival were closely examined. During the larval stage, a total of 299 larvae were sampled to follow development and growth. In addition a small number of juveniles were sampled. Larvae hatched approximately 4 days after fertilization, and were 2.9 mm in total length (TL). At 6‐day post hatching (dph), the larvae were 4.1 mm (TL), the jaw apparatus was developed, and the larvae had started to feed. Most of the growth during the early larval period is restricted to the head, and there is almost no increase in length for the first 3–4 weeks post hatching. Teeth and pelvic fins appear at 25 dph. Development of unpaired fins at approximately 30 dph marks the start of the larval–juvenile transition. Weaning to formulated feed was accomplished 50 dph, when external morphology was similar to that of adult hake.     

Urinary alkaline phosphatase and 7-glutamyl transferase as indicators of acute renal damage in dogs

Urinary alkaline phosphatase (AP) and 7-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were measured in normal dogs, dogs with chronic renal failure, and dogs with acute renal failure, as confirmed by renal histology. The median values for urinary AP were 5–8 iu/litre/mmol creatinine for normal dogs, 6–7 for dogs with chronic renal failure and 49-4 for dogs with acute renal failure. The median values for urinary GGT were 3–4 iu/litre/mmol creatinine for normal dogs, 4–9 for dogs with chronic renal failure and 9-6 for dogs with acute renal failure. The results suggest that urinary AP can be used as an indicator of acute renal damage in the dog. GGT was shown to be less useful. No clear correlations were found between urinary enzyme levels and the extent of morphological kidney damage.     

Use of capillary electrophoresis to quantitate carbamylated hemoglobin concentrations in dogs with renal failure

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quantification of the amount of carbamylated hemoglobin (CarbHb), using capillary electrophoresis (CE) and a new dynamic capillary coating system to separate hemoglobin derivatives, and to assess the use of CarbHb amounts to evaluate long-term urea exposure and differential diagnoses of azotemia in dogs. ANIMALS: 8 dogs with renal failure, 2 dogs with diabetes mellitus, and 7 control dogs. PROCEDURE: Optimal analytic conditions for separation of CarbHb and other hemoglobin derivatives in blood samples obtained from dogs were determined, using a commercial analysis system developed for the detection of glycohemoglobin Hb A1c (GlycHb) in human blood samples. Relative content of hemoglobin derivatives in blood from 10 dogs with renal failure or endocrine diseases were compared with values for 7 dogs without renal or endocrine diseases. RESULTS: Satisfactory resolution of hemoglobin derivatives was obtained, which permitted identification and quantitation of the amount of CarbHb as a percentage of the total amount of hemoglobin. Normal or increased amounts of GlycHb did not interfere with CarbHb analysis. Dogs with chronic renal failure had considerably higher peak amounts of CarbHb than dogs with acute renal failure, a dog with chronic renal failure that was treated by use of hemodialysis, or dogs without renal disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Amounts of CarbHb in blood samples obtained from dogs can be readily quantified by use of capillary electrophoresis. Assessment of the amount of CarbHb can be used to facilitate evaluation of the cause of azotemia in dogs.     

Malignant teratoid medulloepithelioma with brain and kidney involvement in a dog

ANIMAL STUDIED: A tumor of the left eye with involvement of the brain and kidney was diagnosed in a 4-year-old Neapolitan mastiff. PROCEDURE: The dog presented with acute glaucoma of the left eye. Peripheral corneal vascularization and severe corneal edema obscured examination of deeper structures. Because of concurrent progressive neurologic signs the dog was euthanized and a postmortem examination was performed. The eyes, brain and samples from the lung, heart, liver and kidneys were fixed in 4% neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections were examined by light microscopy including histochemical and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The ocular tumor originated from the ciliary body and was composed of small islets and cords of poorly differentiated, oval to polyhedral cells surrounded by abundant ground substance. Areas with chondroid differentiation were observed. Rosettes were not found. Metastases with the same morphology were present in the brain and in one kidney. CONCLUSION: An intraocular malignant teratoid medulloepithelioma with metastases to the brain and kidney is presented.     

Vasopressin secretion in response to osmotic stimulation and effects of desmopressin on urinary concentrating capacity in dogs with pyometra

OBJECTIVE: To determine vasopressin (VP) secretory capacity during osmotic stimulation and the response to desmopressin treatment in dogs with pyometra and control dogs. ANIMALS: 6 dogs with pyometra before and after ovariohysterectomy and 6 control dogs. PROCEDURE: Urine osmolality (Uosm) was measured during 12 hours. Values measured on the first day defined the basal Uosm pattern. On the second day, dogs were given desmopressin to induce a desmopressin-stimulated Uosm pattern. On day 3, the VP response to osmotic stimulation was examined. RESULTS: Median Uosm on day 1 was 340 mOsm/kg (range, 104 to 1,273 mOsm/kg) and 807 mOsm/kg (range, 362 to 1,688 mOsm/kg) in dogs with pyometra before and after surgery, respectively, and 1,511 mOsm/kg (range, 830 to 1,674 mOsm/kg) in control dogs. Median Uosm during desmopressin treatment was 431 mOsm/kg (range, 168 to 1,491 mOsm/kg) and 1,051 mOsm/kg (range, 489 to 1,051 mOsm/kg) in dogs with pyometra before and after surgery, respectively, and 1,563 mOsm/kg (range, 1,390 to 2,351) in control dogs. In dogs with pyometra, threshold for VP secretion was lower before surgery (median, 340 mOsm/kg; range, 331 to 366 mOsm/kg) than after surgery (median, 358 mOsm/kg; range, 343 to 439 mOsm/kg) or in control dogs (median, 347 mOsm/kg; range, 334 to 360 mOsm/kg). Highest maximum plasma VP values were found in dogs with pyometra. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dogs with pyometra had increased urine concentration in response to desmopressin but not to the degree of control dogs, whereas VP secretory ability was not reduced.     

Evaluation of kidney injury in dogs with pyometra based on proteinuria, renal histomorphology, and urinary biomarkers

Background: Proteinuria is a feature of pyometra‐associated renal dysfunction, but its prevalence and clinical relevance are not well characterized. Objectives: To define which subset of dogs with pyometra has clinically relevant kidney injury by quantification of proteinuria; light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic examination of kidney biopsy specimens; and measurement of urinary biomarkers. Animals: Forty‐seven dogs with pyometra. Ten clinically healthy intact bitches of comparable age. Methods: Prospective study. Routine clinicopathological variables including urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPC) were analyzed. Validated assays were used to quantify urinary biomarkers for glomerular (urinary albumin, urinary immunoglobulin G, urinary C‐reactive protein, urinary thromboxane B₂) and tubular function (urinary retinol‐binding protein, urinary N‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐glucosaminidase). Kidney biopsy specimens from 10 dogs with pyometra and dipstick urine protein concentrations of 2+ or 3+ were collected during ovariohysterectomy. Urinalysis was repeated within 3 weeks after surgery in 9 of the 10 dogs. Results: UPC (median, range) was significantly higher in dogs with pyometra (0.48, 0.05–8.69) compared with healthy bitches (0.08, 0.02–0.16) (P < .01). Twenty‐two of 47 dogs with pyometra had UPC>0.5, 12 had UPC>1.0, and 7 had UPC>2.0. Glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial nephritis were common kidney biopsy findings in proteinuric dogs with pyometra. Dogs with glomerulosclerosis (5/10), either global or focal and segmental, had UPC>1.0 at ovariohysterectomy and afterward. Dogs with structural glomerular and tubular changes mostly had urinary biomarker to creatinine ratios above the 75th percentile. Conclusion: Dogs with pyometra and UPC>1.0 or high ratios of urinary biomarkers appear likely to have clinically relevant renal histologic lesions and require monitoring after ovariohysterectomy. Future studies should evaluate the role of pyometra‐associated pathogenic mechanisms in causing or exacerbating focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis in dogs.