Dog Serum Research Articles

N-terminomics profiling of host proteins targeted by excretory-secretory proteases of the nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum identifies points of interaction with canine coagulation and complement cascade.

The cardiopulmonary nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum can cause severe disease in dogs, including coagulopathies manifesting with bleeding. We analysed A. vasorum excretory/secretory protein (ESP)-treated dog plasma and serum by N-terminome analysis using Terminal Amine Isotopic Labelling of Substrates (TAILS) to identify cleaved host substrates. In plasma and serum samples 430 and 475 dog proteins were identified, respectively. A total of eight dog proteins were significantly cleaved at higher levels upon exposure to A. vasorum ESP: of these, three were coagulation factors (factor II, V and IX) and three were complement proteins (complement C3, C4-A and C5). Comparison with human motif sequence orthologues revealed known cleavage sites in coagulation factor IX and II (prothrombin). These and further identified cleavage sites suggest direct or indirect activation or proteolysis of complement and coagulation components through A. vasorum ESP, which contains several proteases. Further studies are needed to validate their substrate specificity.

The effects of age and sex on reference intervals for cobalamin, homocysteine, and serum and urinary methylmalonic acid in healthy adult dogs.

In dogs, data on reference intervals (RIs) for cobalamin, markers of metabolism (markersB12met), age and sex effects are limited. Establish RI for serum cobalamin, homocysteine, and methylmalonic acid (sMMA) concentrations, urinary methylmalonic acid-to-creatinine ratio (uMMA:crea), and determine effects of sex and age. Prospective study using healthy dogs (1-10 years). Cobalamin and markersB12met were determined using chemiluminescence immunoassay (cobalamin) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (homocysteine, sMMA, uMMA:crea). In dogs with outlying data, changes in health, markersB12met, and onset of gastrointestinal signs were reevaluated after 9-15 months. Twelve of 120 healthy dogs had abnormal uMMA:crea ratios. No other cobalamin analyte outliers were found. Outlying data re-examination (odRE) was performed in 10/12 dogs. Chronic gastrointestinal signs occurred in 64% of odRE-dogs, whereas 36% remained healthy. In total, 112 dogs (67 females, 45 males; median ages, 3.5 and 3.75 years, respectively) were included in RI analyses. Reference intervals were 178.5-851 pmol/L (cobalamin), 5.8-29.0 μmol/L (homocysteine), 45.3-159.5 μg/L (sMMA), and ≤22.4 mg/g (uMMA:crea). Only age affected cobalamin concentrations (significant decrease). Compared by sex and neuter status, intact male dogs had significantly higher uMMA:crea ratios (median, 13.5; range, 1.9-83.6 mg/g) than the other groups (median, 2.5; range, 0.7-9.7 mg/g; P < .0001). Sex-specific RI were ≤58.9 mg/g (intact male) vs ≤5.2 mg/g (females and neutered males). Intact male dogs had significantly higher uMMA:crea ratios than the other groups. Thus, sex-specific RI are recommended for uMMA:crea. Because of the wide distribution of uMMA:crea ratios, careful interpretation in intact male dogs is advised.

Exploring Emerging Challenges: Survey on Phlebotomine Sand Flies and Leishmania infantum at the Northern Endemic Border in Europe

Although Switzerland is currently not endemic for canine leishmaniosis (CanL), imported cases of this emerging zoonosis are regularly detected. Also, phlebotomine sand flies, vectors of the causative agent Leishmania infantum, are present in the southern part of the country, in Canton Ticino, and endemic foci of CanL have been recently described in neighboring Italian municipalities. In 2022 and 2023, we evaluated the distribution of phlebotomine sand flies and the presence of antibodies against L. infantum in domestic dogs and cats in Ticino and Mesolcina (Canton of Grisons). An entomological survey was also carried out in the northwest of Switzerland (cantons Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft) close to an area in Germany where potential vectors are present. No sand flies were caught there. In Ticino, 15 out of 20 sites surveyed (75%) were positive for phlebotomine sand flies. Phlebotomus perniciosus, a potential vector of L. infantum, was the most abundant species, with site densities ranging from 0.1 to 5.3. The parasite was not detected in females. Leishmania infantum seroprevalences of 3.0% and 1.6% were observed in 101 and 126 dog and cat sera, respectively. Although, at this time, the risk of endemic CanL is extremely low, integrated surveillance and prevention measures should be considered.

Evaluation of bile acids and bilirubin in serum and abdominal fluid in dogs with abdominal effusion.

Determine the utility of abdominal fluid bile acids concentration to diagnose biliary tract rupture and the utility of abdominal fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio as diagnostic tools in dogs. This was a prospective pilot study. Canine serum and abdominal fluid samples were collected and submitted for the determination of bilirubin and bile acids concentrations between 2020 and 2022. Samples were measured at the time of admission from dogs with acute onset of clinical signs and peritoneal fluid. A Mann-Whitney U test and ROC curves were used to compare serum and abdominal fluid bilirubin and bile acids concentration and fluid-to-serum bilirubin and bile acids ratio between patients with biliary tract rupture and non-biliary tract rupture. Ninety-four cases were included, of which seven were diagnosed with biliary tract rupture. Median abdominal fluid bile acids concentration was significantly higher in dogs with biliary tract rupture than non-biliary tract rupture (P-value <0.001). Abdominal fluid bile acids concentration had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99% for the diagnosis of biliary tract rupture. Fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio was also analysed and no statistically significant difference was seen between groups (P-value 0.925). Although the number of dogs with biliary tract rupture in this study population was small, abdominal fluid bile acids concentration may have a better accuracy than fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio for the diagnosis of biliary tract rupture. The utility of fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio for the diagnosis of biliary tract rupture, appears limited. Further studies with a larger number of biliary tract rupture cases are required to support these conclusions.

The Significance of Monitoring Serum and Faecal Calprotectin in Healthy Dogs

Abstract The aim of this study was to monitor the concentrations of serum and faecal calprotectin in healthy dogs, determine confidence intervals, and observe its dependence on factors such as age. This study included 70 dogs representing 16 breeds, including samples collected from small and medium sized mixed breeds. All dogs were fed dry kibble. The concentrations of calprotectin in serum and faeces were measured using the Quantitative Sandwich ELISA kit from MyBioSource, specifically designed for canine samples. Faecal sample preparation followed the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific canine ELISA test, and the obtained concentrations of serum and faecal calprotectin were divided into groups in relation to age. The first group consisted of individuals up to one year of age and one-year-old dogs. The following groups consisted of dogs of age 2‒4 years, 5‒7 years, 8‒9 years, and 10‒12 years. Monitoring the faecal calprotectin in healthy dogs showed a range of values from 2.63 to 28.81 ng.ml-1, while serum calprotectin concentrations ranged from 3.23 to 13.51 ng.ml-1. The statistical analysis confirmed that calprotectin levels in faeces and serum did not differ significantly across different ages. However, when the monitoring calprotectin concentrations in serum and faeces of healthy dogs was based on weight, the dogs were divided into groups according to size. The group with large dog breeds consisted of individuals over 20 kg (n = 15), the group with medium-sized dogs included individuals weighing between 12 kg and 20 kg (n = 16), and the largest group consisted of small dog breeds under 12 kg (n = 39). Statistical analysis confirmed a significant difference when comparing faecal calprotectin levels based on the size of dogs, but the serum calprotectin concentrations did not differ significantly with respect to dog size. Based on these calculations, confidence intervals for faecal calprotectin and serum calprotectin in healthy dogs ranged from 10.96 to 15.14 ng.ml-1 and 7.96 to 8.49 ng.ml-1, respectively. Since this is the first study on calprotectin in serum and faeces of healthy dogs using the mentioned ELISA test, further studies on larger numbers of dogs will be needed in the future.

Agreement between lacrimal fluid and serum for detecting urea nitrogen and creatinine in dogs.

To determine whether urea nitrogen and creatinine levels differ in lacrimal fluid (LF) and serum (SER) in nonazotemic (control) and azotemic dogs and whether there is an agreement between LF and SER. A prospective observational study was performed at the Auburn University Small Animal Teaching Hospital between May 2023 and March 2024. Forty control and 38 azotemic dogs were enrolled. Twenty microliters of LF per eye was collected with microcapillary tubes, and 3 mL of blood was drawn. Bland-Altman plot and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to evaluate the agreement between LF and SER. There was good agreement between LF and SER levels of urea nitrogen in the control group (Bland-Altman plot mean bias of -0.8108 ± 2.407 mg/dL; ICC of 0.874 [95% CI, 0.773 to 0.934]) and the azotemic group (Bland-Altman plot mean bias of -9.681 ± 23.89 mg/dL; ICC of 0.82 [95% CI, 0.658 to 0.906]). There was poor agreement between LF and SER concentrations for creatinine in the control and azotemic groups, with only 26 dogs with creatinine detectable in LF. Lacrimal fluid and SER concentrations of urea nitrogen showed good agreement in both the control and azotemic groups, whereas poor agreement was found for creatinine in both groups. Measurement of urea nitrogen in LF may provide an alternative to blood for diagnosing uremia. However, additional research is necessary before substituting LF for SER.

Virus neutralization test for confirmation of ELISA-positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dogs.

Constant antigenic changes, new variants and easy transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus should acquire greater zoonotic attention and need to remain alert. In this retrospective study the aim was to analyze seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2 in dogs by commercial ELISA. The Virus neutralization test (VNT) was modified for the purpose of confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in ELISA-positive dog sera. The sera were collected from 204 dogs from different veterinary clinics across Vojvodina Province, Serbia, during COVID-19 pandemic. For the screening of antibodies a commercial double multi-species antigen ELISA was used, followed by the VNT modified with SARS-CoV-2 as a confirmatory test. VNT was modified as "one step" test using local isolate of SARS-CoV-2 and the results were checked by cytopathic effect in cell culture on the 96-well microtiter plate. Obtained data have shown that 9 out of 204 dogs were positive by ELISA (4.4%), while 2 (0.97%) sera were doubtful. VNT confirmed 9 positive dogs, but 2 doubtful samples were negative, exhibiting the seroconversion to SARS-CoV-2 in 4.4% dogs from Vojvodina region during pandemic of COVID-19. VNT with SARS-CoV-2 helped to elucidate ELISA ambiguous results. The occurrence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in dogs in this study during COVID-19 pandemic suggested the possibility of viral transmission to dogs, implicating the potential for zoonotic transmission. This was the first research on seroconversion to SARS-CoV-2 in dogs from the Province of Vojvodina, the northernmost part of Serbia.

Occurrence of Leishmania spp. in phlebotomine sand flies and dogs in Guelma region, North-eastern Algeria

Leishmania spp. are sand fly-borne parasitic protozoa of worldwide distribution that may severely affect the health and welfare of dogs as well as of other mammalian species, including humans. Algeria is among the most affected countries, counting several cases of Leishmania infantum infection in humans and dogs. Here, we assessed the occurrence of Leishmania species in both phlebotomine sand fly and dogs in the Guelma region, Northeast of Algeria. Sand flies were collected from July to September 2022, followed by a survey of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) from September 2023 to February 2024. Additionally, to understand the risk of human infection a retrospective data on cases of leishmaniasis recorded in the region from 2012 to 2023 were reported. Sand fly specimens and canine blood samples were tested by quantitative PCR (qPCR) for Leishmania spp., while dog serum samples were processed for anti-L. infantum antibodies detection by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Of the 1478 sand flies (n = 318 females; n = 1160 males), seven species were identified (i.e., Phlebotomus papatasi, Ph. perfiliewi, Ph. sergenti, Ph. perniciosus, Ph. longicuspis, Ph. ariasi, and Sergentomyia minuta). Leishmania spp. was detected in Ph. perniciosus, Ph. perfiliewi, Ph. papatasi, and Ph. sergenti (i.e., 3.7 %; n = 10). The overall seroprevalence rate was 58.2 %, with 1.6 % of dog blood samples positive for L. infantum at molecular screening. Multivariate analysis of the different risk factors revealed that CanL seropositivity was strongly related to dog age (> 1 year) (OR = 8.35, 95 % CI: 3.43–23.93), the autumn season (OR = 2.95, 95 % CI: 1.33–8.62), and lack of insecticide application (OR = 6.69, 95 % CI: 2.61–22.02). A total of 71 human cases of cutaneous (CL) and visceral (VL) leishmaniasis were recorded. Data presented reveal the occurrence of CanL in Guelma region, advocating for control program measures to be implemented in this part of Algeria.

Changes in immuno-inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of dogs with distemper

Canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a multisystemic disease with central nervous system involvement in dogs. Little is known about the role of immuno-inflammatory and redox-state biomarkers in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of naturally occurring CDV infection. Thus, the objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate the potential differences in a profile of cytokines/chemokines, and inflammatory and redox-status biomarkers in serum between dogs with CDV-infection and healthy dogs, and 2) possible correlations between serum/blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of these biomarkers in dogs with CDV-infection.Two groups of dogs were designed: 10 with CDV-infection, and 10 healthy. A total of 13 cytokines/chemokines, 3 inflammatory (C-reactive protein [CRP], haptoglobin [Hp], and butyrylcholinesterase [BChE]) and 3 antioxidants of redox status (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity [CUPRAC], Thiol, and ferric reducing ability of plasma [FRAP]) were analyzed in serum and CSF samples. Serum IL-7, IL-8, MCP-1, CRP, Hp, FRAP and Thiol levels were higher (P < 0.05) in dogs with CDV compared to controls. There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations only in IL-6 and MCP-1 between CSF and serum.In conclusion, deregulated immune response, raised inflammation, and imbalances of redox homeostasis and antioxidant defense status may play role in the pathophysiological mechanism of neurological form of CDV-infection. The combination of clinical features and cytokine biomarkers (IL-7, IL-8 and MCP-1) might facilitate clinical diagnosis for neural involvement in dogs with CDV. Some cytokine/chemokine (IL-6 and MCP-1) in CSF are highly correlated with those of serum, indicating that serum samples could reflect the possible changes of these analytes in CSF.

Evaluation of a rapid test for point-of-care detection of cardiac troponin I in serum of healthy and diseased dogs and cats.

(1) To compare the results of a rapid test for qualitative detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) values >1ng/mL with those obtained using a reference quantitative method and (2) to perform a semiquantitative assessment of rapid test results using this point-of-care (POC) assay. Prospective cross-sectional study from April 2015 to November 2020. Secondary referral hospital. Eighty dogs and 20 cats, with and without cardiovascular disease. None. Serum samples were obtained, and cTnI rapid test was conducted in parallel with chemiluminescence assay (reference standard). Positive results from the rapid test were further classified as mild and strong positives, based on subjective assessment of the color intensity of the test line. Rapid test was deemed valid in all patients. There was agreement for positive samples between the qualitative and quantitative techniques in 31 dogs and 5 cats, and for negative samples in 43 dogs and 13 cats, resulting in a strong and moderate agreement, respectively. There was a significant difference between color scale groups. The rapid test assessed provides a feasible POC option to determine concentrations of cTnI >1ng/mL in dogs and cats and shows a moderate to strong agreement with a validated conventional quantitative assay. Furthermore, semiquantitative assessment allows estimation of the magnitude of the elevation.

A Novel Immunochromatographic Test Strip Using Lanthanide-Labeled Fluorescent Nanoparticles for the Serological Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Dogs and Cats.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an important zoonotic pathogen which induces both acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. Timely diagnosis of T. gondii is crucial for effective disease management. Here, we present a pioneering approach using europium (III)-chelated nanoparticles (EuNPs) in a rapid lateral flow immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS) for detecting T. gondii antibodies in serum samples. By conjugating EuNPs with Staphylococcus aureus protein A, we efficiently captured T. gondii-specific antibodies, which bound to T. gondii antigens on the test line (T-line), generating a distinct fluorescent signal. Employing this novel method, we conducted an extensive epidemiological investigation of T. gondii infections among dogs and cats in Shanghai, China. This innovative ICTS allows for rapid results within 25 min, which include a qualitative result through naked-eye observation under an ultraviolet lamp and a quantitative one derived using a strip reader. With a detection limit of 1:6400 for dog positive serum and no cross-reactivity with other canine and feline pathogens, the EuNPs-ICTS demonstrated excellent consistency with standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results for dogs (κ = 0.91) and cats (κ = 0.92). In addition, 20.38% of 996 dog serum samples and 14.18% of 416 cat serum samples revealed T. gondii antibodies, highlighting the efficacy of this approach. Our study presents a rapid, sensitive, specific, and reproducible EuNPs-ICTS, serving as a promising tool for on-the-spot diagnosis of T. gondii infections in dogs and cats.

Validation of a Multiplex Molecular Macroarray for the Determination of Allergen-Specific IgE Sensitizations in Dogs.

Detecting IgE sensitizations in the serum of allergic dogs is commonly performed using allergen extracts, but these are difficult to standardize. This article details the development and validation of the Pet Allergy Xplorer (PAX; Nextmune, Stockholm, Sweden), the first multiplex macroarray for the detection of IgE sensitization in dogs using allergen extracts and molecular components; the PAX is derived from the Allergy Xplorer (ALEX2; MacroArray Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria). The selection of allergens, cartridge processing, strategy for identifying and blocking IgE directed against cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs), and the method used for determining the positivity threshold are described. The validation of the PAX included evaluations of the specificity of its anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, specificity of IgE binding to target allergens, assay precision, and internal consistency. Additionally, the influence of possible confounding factors, such as sample type, the influence of hemolysis, lipemia, bilirubinemia, and elevated CCD-IgE, was tested. Finally, the sensitization rates of 23,858 European dogs to 145 environmental and Hymenoptera venom allergens were summarized. The PAX is accurate and reproducible and has a unique CCD-detection and blocking strategy; its molecular allergens offer a unique window on allergen cross-reactivity.

Dog complement system is less effective against Leishmania infantum than human complement

Dogs are important reservoir hosts for Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis. The complement system, as part of the innate immune defense, is responsible for initiating the fight against pathogens that may invade an organism. A failure of the complement to combat L. infantum may explain, at least in part, why a mammal species is more or less susceptible to visceral leishmaniasis. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of human and dog complement systems against L. infantum parasites. The results showed that dog serum was less effective than human serum at killing promastigote and amastigote-like forms. We also compared the efficiency of human and canine sera in classic and alternative hemolytic assays, as well as the serum efficiency of non-infected and Leishmania-infected dogs. Serum from dogs was less hemolytic than human serum in both pathways tested, but the efficiency of serum from infected dogs was higher than that of non-infected dogs. When testing C3b deposition assays on parasite surfaces, serum from infected dogs was more effective against amastigote-like forms than serum from non-infected dogs. However, both types of serum proved equally effective on promastigotes, while serum from infected dogs was more effective on amastigote-like forms. Considering the efficiency of the complement system, our results indicate that dogs are more susceptible to visceral leishmaniasis than humans are.

Investigation of the specific toxicity of an analgesic agent for wild ungulates based on meloxicam

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the subacute toxicity of the veterinary drug Loksidev on white rats and dogs. The meloxicam-based Loxidev drug is used for diseases of the European doe animal treatment system for non-infectious diseases of the musculoskeletal system (acute aseptic myositis to reduce the symptoms of lameness and inflammation), as well as for diseases of the respiratory organs (in case of appropriate antibiotic therapy). Red deer: treatment of animals for non-infectious diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis of the metatarsal joint to reduce symptoms of lameness and inflammation). When administered subcutaneously to rats, the drug Loxidev (for injections), under the conditions of a subacute toxicological experiment, in doses of 0.03; 0.15 and 0.3 ml/kg of body weight, does not cause hemo-, hepato- and nephrotoxic effects on the body of laboratory animals. The exception was the tendency to decrease the concentration of total hemoglobin and the hematocrit indicator, as well as a probable decrease (P &lt; 0.05) in the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes by 6.5 and 7.2 %, respectively, relative to the control in the blood and an increase (P &lt; 0.05) enzymatic activity of ALT and AST and concentration of urea in blood serum of rats, after three days of administration of the drug, at a dose of 0.30 mg/kg of body weight by 11.8; 11.0 and 10.3 %, respectively. However, after 7 days, after stopping the administration of the drug, these indicators probably did not differ from the control. Subcutaneous administration of the drug Loxidev (for injections) to dogs in doses of 0.03; 0.15 and 0.3 ml/kg of body weight for 3 days generally does not affect the clinical and biochemical parameters of the blood and does not cause hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects on the animal body, under the conditions of a subacute toxicological experiment. The exception was the tendency to decrease the concentration of total hemoglobin, the hematocrit index and the number of erythrocytes, as well as a probable decrease (P &lt; 0.05) in the number of leukocytes by 6.6 %, respectively, relative to the control in the blood and an increase (P &lt; 0.05) in enzymatic activity ALT and AST and the concentration of urea in the blood serum of dogs, after three days of administration of the drug at a dose of 0.30 mg/kg of body weight by 19.4; 19.3 and 14.5 %, respectively, but 7 days after stopping the administration of the drug, these indicators probably did not differ from the control. Further studies will be the next stage of pre-registration tests aimed at studying the irritant effect, allergenic properties of “Loksidev”, which is mandatory material of the “Safety and residue studies” section of the dossier for this veterinary drug.

Ultrafast and high-throughput immunoassay assay to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in dogs and cats.

The fact that SARS-CoV-2 has reportedly infected companion, livestock and wildlife animals may constitute a significant risk for virus reservoirs, ground for emerging variants and potential for novel reverse zoonosis. Hence, SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in animal species is crucial to prevent emerging variants which may spread to humans. The present study aimed to develop a simple, high-throughput and ultrafast magnetic bead immunoassay to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and spike reactive IgG antibodies in dog and cat serum samples. The assays were validated using serum from eleven dogs and cats which had SARS-CoV-2 infections confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. The negative cohort consisted of pre-pandemic dog and cat samples. The assays performed at 73-82% sensitivity and 97.5-98% specificity for dogs and 71% sensitivity and 92-94% specificity for cats. The lower assay specificity for cats is explained by the fact that cat pre-pandemic sera showed high levels of cross-reactive with SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid and Spike, supporting that these animals have been exposed to other coronavirus sharing structural similarities with SARS-CoV-2. These assays described in this work are now being used for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and research purposes.

Impact of Long-Term Storage on Mid-Infrared Spectral Patterns of Serum and Synovial Fluid of Dogs with Osteoarthritis

Impact of Long-Term Storage on Mid-Infrared Spectral Patterns of Serum and Synovial Fluid of Dogs with Osteoarthritis

Combined screening and retroactive data mining for emerging perfluoroethers in wildlife and pets in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina

The recent application of non-targeted analysis (NTA) techniques in environmental monitoring has revealed numerous novel fluorinated species in surface water, wildlife, and humans in the Cape Fear River (CFR) region of North Carolina. In this study, we have re-examined archived alligator, striped bass, horse, and dog serum as well as archived seabird tissue data from previously reported exposure studies in order to extend the panel of detected novel PFAS. In this study, the compounds CF3-(OCF2)x-COOH, x = 6, 7, 8 (Abbreviated PFO6TeDA, PFO7HxDA, PFO8OcDA, respectively), and 6H-Perfluoro-3-oxa,4-methylhexanesulfonic acid (Nafion byproduct 6) were detected for the first time in environmental tissues even though these analytes were not previously detected in the CFR. Analytical standards were available for PFO6TeDA and Nafion Byproduct 6, and therefore, were quantitated in investigated tissues. PFO7HxDA and PFO8OcDA had no available standards and were semi-quantitated using NTA techniques. Of note, PFO6TeDA, PFO7HxDA, and PFO8OcDA were observed in alligator, bass, and seabird but not horse and dog. PFO6TeDA was detected at the highest frequency in all investigated tissues with PFO7HxDA and PFO8OcDA detected at lower frequencies. No Nafion Byproduct 6 values are reported in serum due to poor analytical reproducibility of the measurements. Seabird tissue to blood ratios suggests PFO6TeDA is highest in the heart, kidney, and liver and lowest in the brain. Overall, additional studies are needed to fully understand the potential impact of these additional novel PFAS on both wildlife and humans in the CFR region.

Serum and Urinary Uromodulin in Dogs with Early Chronic Kidney Disease vs. Healthy Canine Population.

Serum and urinary uromodulin are evaluated as potential biomarkers of kidney disease. The aim of our research was to select a more appropriate form of uromodulin for the diagnosis of early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We also focused on the influence of age and gender in one breed on uromodulin and on the possible interbreed differences. Serum uromodulin had the lowest values in dogs younger than 2 years but no effect of gender, breed, or CKD was observed. Urinary uromodulin indexed to urinary creatinine was significantly reduced in dogs in stage 2 of CKD (p = 0.003) in contrast to uromodulin converted to urine specific gravity. Urinary uromodulin with both corrections was significantly lower in Belgian shepherds compared to German shepherds (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0054) but was not influenced by gender or age. In stage 1 of CKD, urinary uromodulin correlated with kidney disease markers SDMA (p = 0.0424, p = 0.0214) and UPC (p = 0.0050, p = 0.0024). Urinary uromodulin appears to be more associated with CKD than serum uromodulin. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed for the suitability of urinary uromodulin as a marker of early-stage disease.

Clinical and morphological manifestation of the visceral form of candidiasis in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

The relevance of this research lies in the current lack of information regarding the pathological manifestations of fungal infections in the parenchymal organs of animals, the manifestations and the host’s response to the fungus. Diagnosis of visceral mycoses is quite complex and insufficiently substantiated. A significant factor is the absence of clear criteria for pathological changes in visceral mycoses and differential diagnosis from similar diseases. This study aimed to reveal and establish the features of the clinical and morphological manifestation of the visceral form of candidiasis in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). The study employed the following main methods: morphologic and biochemical blood analysis, post-mortem examination, and cytological and histological studies. When conducting biochemical analyses of blood serum in dogs, it was found that the glucose concentration was 2.17 mmol/L, which is almost three times lower than the lower limit of the norm, while the creatinine content exceeded the norm by four times and corresponded to a value of 560.4 mmol/L. As a result of serum analysis, an increase in the content of total and direct bilirubin was also recorded. In particular, the content of total bilirubin exceeded the physiological limit by 20 times and amounted to 222.68 μmol/L, while the level of direct bilirubin increased almost 10-fold and corresponded to a value of 59.4 μmol/L. The activity of aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, amylase, and alkaline phosphatase in the blood serum of sick animals increased significantly. Key pathological features of visceral mycoses in domestic dogs include haemolytic jaundice with extensive haemorrhages in organs and tissues. Hepatitis and nephritis, diagnosed in sick dogs, are the result of a generalised infectious process, the etiological factor of which is visceral candidiasis. The obtained data are of practical value for practising veterinarians in the issue of differential diagnosis of candidiasis, revealing the features of clinical and morphologic changes in the visceral form of mycoses in dogs

Study of the bioequivalence of drugs for veterinary use «Avecardit» and «Vetmedin S» in the body of dogs

This article reflects the results of a pharmacokinetic comparison of the reproducible drug based on pimobendan «Avecardit» with the reference drug «Vetmedin S» when used in dogs. The experiment used a sequential study design. A group of experimental dogs was formed, consisting of 7 animals (6 main and 1 reserve animal). Blood sampling was carried out before administration and after 10, 20, 40 min; 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 24 hours after drug administration. Key parameters assessed during the study: maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to reach it, area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of the active substance of the drug in the blood serum of dogs. The article describes the main stages of the experiment, reagents and standard samples, the process of sample preparation of blood serum samples and HPLC-MS/MS analysis, and presents the results of a study of the bioequivalence of the drugs «Avecardit» and «Vetmedin S».The time to reach the maximum concentration of pimobendan (Tmax) in the blood serum averaged 0.67–1 hour for the drug «Avecardit», 1–1.5 hours for the drug «Vetmedin S».Maximum blood serum concentrations (Cmax) of pimobendan were in the range of 53,995–62,873 ng/ml for the study drug and 49,956–61,108 ng/ml for the reference drug. The 90% confidence intervals for the CmaxT/CmaxR and AUC0-tT/AUC0-tR ratios of pimobendan were within the range of 80–125%. The obtained results of the research work, from a scientific point of view, are a sufficient basis for recognizing the pharmacokinetic equivalence of the reproduced drug to the reference one.