Veterinary clinical pathology最新文献

Background: The number of backyard chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) flocks in the US in urban and suburban areas has continued to increase over the past three decades. These flocks are often raised as both production animals and as pets. Electrophoretic evaluation of plasma proteins has been held as the reference standard for protein evaluation. Reference intervals (RIs) for plasma protein electrophoresis (PPE) in chickens in northern Colorado are not readily available but could aid diagnostic evaluations.

Objectives: We aimed to generate RIs for PPE in adult non-molting backyard chicken flocks in northern Colorado.

Methods: Plasma from 120 healthy adult chickens in 7 flocks located in northern Colorado was used. Electrophoretic evaluation was completed using a biuret total protein assay and agarose gel electrophoresis, with proteins fractionated into 6 parts. RIs for PPE fractions were generated, and partitioning by sex was performed according to ASVCP guidelines.

Results: RIs were generated for all birds and after partitioning by sex. For all birds, agarose gel electrophoretic RIs were: A:G 0.24-1.20, albumin 1.33-2.91 g/dL, alpha-1 globulin 0.13-0.47 g/dL, alpha-2 globulin 0.33-0.91 g/dL, beta-1 globulin 0.24-1.50 g/dL, beta-2 globulin 0.33-1.79 g/dL, and gamma globulin 0.26-0.82 g/dL. A statistical difference, p < 0.05, was noted between hens and roosters for all electrophoretic fractions except total alpha globulin, beta-2 globulin, and A:G, and partitioning was warranted based on the method recommended by Lahti; the data were partitioned by sex, and RIs were generated.

Conclusions: RIs are available for PPE in backyard chickens in northern Colorado.

The mononuclear phagocyte system encompasses macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), and monocytes. Tissue-resident macrophages and dendritic cells arise during embryogenesis and are replenished either through self-renewal or by monocytes during inflammation. Tissue macrophages and DCs are indistinguishable by light microscopy, thus "histiocyte" is often used in diagnostic pathology to denote both cell types. Macrophages and DCs play essential roles in immune surveillance, inflammation, antigen presentation, and tissue repair and homeostasis. Functions essential to these roles include internalization of foreign and host-derived materials via phagocytosis, endocytosis, and pinocytosis; coordination of immune and non-immune cells via release of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors; and activation of T cell response via antigen presentation. Their remarkable functional plasticity is governed by ontogeny, tissue of residence, and exquisite sensitivity to a wide variety of signals from pathogens, damaged and recovering tissues, extracellular matrix, and other immune cells.

Background: Diarrhea is classified as acute, prolonged, or chronic; acute diarrhea (AD) commonly prompts veterinary visits. Identifying causative agents and inflammation severity in the lab is crucial for treatment and prognosis.

Objectives: To assess changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and C-reactive protein/Albumin ratio (CAR) in dogs with AD from various etiologies and to assess whether they can be used to discriminate between different etiologies.

Methods: Of 92 dogs with AD, 55 were included based on anamnesis, physical, and laboratory analyses. Dogs were classified into Isospora (n = 12), Parvovirus (n = 15), and Toxocara (n = 14) groups based on microscopic fecal examination and rapid diagnostic tests. The Nutritional group (n = 14) included dogs negative for infectious and parasitic agents but with mild leukocytosis and recent dietary changes. The Control group comprised 10 clinically healthy dogs.

Results: Albumin levels were significantly lower in the Isospora, Parvovirus, and Toxocara groups than in the Control and Nutritional groups (p < 0.0001). CRP and CAR levels were highest in the Parvovirus group, with CAR differing significantly from the Control, Isospora, and Nutritional groups (p < 0.0001), but not from Toxocara.

Conclusions: The study shows infections, particularly Parvovirus, reduce albumin and elevate inflammatory markers (CRP, CAR), indicating severe disease, while the Nutritional group mirrors the healthy Control group with lower inflammation. These findings suggest that monitoring these parameters may offer valuable insights into inflammation severity and inform future studies aimed at evaluating their prognostic utility, thereby supporting clinical decision-making in practice.

A 3-year-old, intact female Havanese dog was presented for treatment of a relapse of suspected immune-mediated anemia and thrombocytopenia. Over the course of treatment, the patient's anemia appeared to acutely transition from macrocytic and hypochromic to microcytic and hypochromic between days five and six of hospitalization. Assessment of red blood cell volume/hemoglobin content (RBC V/HC) cytograms produced on the ADVIA 2120i (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Munich, Germany) revealed a new population of microcytic and hypochromic erythrocytes on day six of hospitalization. This finding prompted the consideration that the microcytic and hypochromic erythrocyte population was introduced to the patient via a packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion, which was confirmed after running a sample of pRBCs from the same donor through the ADVIA 2120i. Other causes of microcytosis, such as iron deficiency anemia, portosystemic shunt, and hyponatremia, were additionally investigated and considered less likely. The cause of the microcytosis in the donor was ultimately undetermined. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case where inadvertent transfusion with microcytic pRBCs was discovered with the aid of RBC V/HC cytograms. This case highlights the importance of considering pRBCs as a source of changes in erythrocyte indices as well as the utility of RBC V/HC cytograms in patients with multiple populations of erythrocytes, such as those receiving transfusions. Additionally, this case prompts reconsideration of the need for standardization of guidelines for blood donation frequency and monitoring of iron status in frequent blood donors.

Background: Measurement of liver enzymes and metabolites for both clinically healthy and sick cattle is a routine part of dairy herd management. Reference intervals (RIs) are influenced by many variables, including pregnancy, breeding, and geographical variables, and can shift over time. Few previous studies have addressed the specific RIs of dairy cows, and none have specifically addressed the RIs of German Holstein Friesian cows.

Objective: The aim was to determine the RIs of German Holstein Friesian cows considering variables such as age, parity, milk yield, body condition score, days in milk, and pregnancy. Additionally, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of anticoagulant use on the RIs.

Methods: Serum, lithium heparin, and EDTA plasma samples from 131 lactating, apparently healthy Holstein Friesian cows from 10 dairy farms were collected. The levels of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and total bilirubin were measured, and new RIs were determined.

Results: The following RIs were determined: beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB): 0.25-1.00 mmol/L; ALP: 71.1-258.9 U/L; GLDH: 9.1-121.0 U/L; CK: 65.4-257.2 U/L; GGT_pregnant: 8.7-65.3 U/L; GGT_{not pregnant}: 12.3-48.6 U/L; NEFAs_{> 42 Day in Milk}: 65.4-308.7 μmol/L; ALT: 14.0-34.5 U/L; cholesterol: 2.7-7.5 mmol/L; AST_pregnant: 76.6-279.7 U/L; AST_{not pregnant}: 67.1-187.1 U/L; total bilirubin: 0.9-5.2 μmol/L.

Conclusion: New and more precise RIs for cattle could help veterinarians detect hepatocyte damage with minor enzyme leakage and liver stress at an early stage.

Background: Pleural effusion (PE) in cats can result from transudative or exudative processes. Transudates are caused by decreased colloid osmotic pressure (↓COP) or elevated hydrostatic pressure (↑HP) gradient, while exudates arise from increased pleural capillary permeability. Diagnostic classification approaches traditionally rely on pleural effusion total protein (TP_PE) and total nucleated cell counts (TNCC_PE). In contrast, Light's criteria employing pleural effusion lactate dehydrogenase (LDH_PE), LDH_PE divided by serum LDH (LDH_ratio), and pleural effusion to serum protein ratio (TP_ratio) are more accurate than classification based on TP_PE/TNCC_PE in humans and show promise in cats.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of TNCC_PE, LDH_PE, LDH_ratio, TP_PE, and TP_ratio in classifying feline PEs in ↑HP-transudates, ↓COP-transudates, or exudates and to compare simplified Light's criteria (which relies solely on LDH_PE) with Light's criteria and existing veterinary classification schemes based on TP_PE and TNCC_PE (named Vet-A and Vet-B).

Methods: Cross-sectional study including 83 client-owned cats with PE.

Results: There were 55 exudates, 28 ↑HP-transudates, and 0 ↓COP-transudates. All the variables analyzed were significantly different between exudates and transudates. Simplified Light's criteria correctly classified 50/55 exudates and 26/28 ↑HP-transudates (sensitivity = 91%, specificity = 93%, accuracy = 92%). Light's criteria correctly identified 55/55 exudates but misclassified 15/28 ↑HP-transudates as exudates (accuracy = 82%). Traditional veterinary schemes showed lower accuracies: Vet-A (57%) and Vet-B (74%). Simplified Light's criteria outperformed Vet-A (p < 0.001) and Vet-B (p = 0.007) and trended higher than Light's criteria (p = 0.096).

Conclusions: Simplified Light's criteria demonstrate excellent diagnostic accuracy, outperforming traditional veterinary classification schemes.