Evaluation of Serum Amino Acid and Carnitine Profile in Dogs with Transmissible Venereal Tumor

Abstract

The presented study aimed to reveal the changes in serum amino acid and carnitine profiles in dogs with transmissible venereal tumor (TVT). The study material comprised 40 female dogs ranging in age from 3 to 5 years. The dogs were divided into two groups based on genital organ examinations. Group 1 (n=20) consisted of healthy dogs, while Group 2 (n=20) consisted of TVT-positive dogs. The definite diagnosis of transmissible venereal tumor was made based on the detection of intracytoplasmic vacuoles and numerous mitotic figures in the collected vaginal smear samples. Blood samples were taken from dogs in both study groups and serum was obtained. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for the determination of carnitine and amino acid profiles. The obtained data were compared using independent samples t-test. The serum amino acid profiles of Lysine, Aspartic Acid, Tyrosine, Asparagine, Alanine, Arginine, Citrulline, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Methylglutaryl, Phenylalanine, and Ornithine were found to be lower in the TVT group (P