Pregnancy-associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in a dog.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic investigations, and outcome of a dog with pregnancy-associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. CASE SUMMARY: A 6-year-old, pregnant Bichon Frise was presented due to lethargy, inappetence, and progressive regenerative anemia with spherocytosis. The dog had been recently receiving ranitidine and amoxicillin/clavulanate. An in-house saline agglutination test identified marked agglutination and a urinalysis identified hemoglobinuria. Thoracic and abdominal imaging, as well as infectious diseases testing, was unremarkable. The bitch started whelping shortly following hospitalization, and the anemia progressively resolved without any other intervention. Ranitidine and amoxicillin/clavulanate were re-introduced within the following 2 months but the anemia did not reoccur. In light of these findings, a diagnosis of pregnancy-associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia was made. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: Pregnancy-associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia should be considered in female dogs that develop severe hemolytic anemia during pregnancy and may resolve spontaneously following parturition.

Time course of serum cobalamin, folate, and total iron binding capacity concentrations in pregnant bitches and association with hematological variables and survival.

BACKGROUND: Hypocobalaminemia, hypofolatemia and iron deficiency are associated with pregnancy-related anemia (PRA) and neonatal survival (NS) in women. Similar associations have not been investigated in pregnant bitches. OBJECTIVES: To investigate time course and associations of serum cobalamin, folate and iron status indicators with hematological variables and NS in pregnant bitches. ANIMALS: Forty-eight pregnant bitches. METHODS: A prospective cohort study. Pregnancy was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography twice during mid- and late pregnancy, concurrently with blood sampling. Associations among pregnancy stage, NS and laboratory variables were assessed by generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Compared with midpregnancy, serum cobalamin (adjusted mean [95% confidence interval, CI]) decreased at late pregnancy (430 pg/mL [394-466] versus 330 pg/mL [303-357], respectively; P < .001), whereas serum folate did not. Every increment of 1 in parity number or litter size corresponded to 28.6 pg/mL (95% CI, 5.6-51.6; P = .02) and 20.3 pg/mL (95% CI, 10.9-29.7; P < .001) decrease in serum cobalamin concentration. Compared with midpregnancy, serum iron (P < .001) and transferrin saturation (P = .01) increased at late pregnancy. The decrease in red blood cell count (P < .001) at late pregnancy was significantly, albeit weakly, correlated with decreasing serum folate concentration (r = 0.33; P = .02). None of the measures was associated with NS. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Pregnancy-related anemia was common at late pregnancy. Unlike in women, in pregnant bitches, serum iron and transferrin saturation were increased at late pregnancy. Future studies are warranted to investigate the clinical ramifications of hypocobalaminemia in pregnant bitches and the utility of prophylactic folate administration in mitigating PRA.

Early life iron deficiency impairs spatial cognition in neonatal piglets.

Iron deficiency is common throughout the world and has been linked to cognitive impairments. Using neonatal piglets to model human infants, we assessed the impact of iron deficiency on spatial learning and memory. Artificially reared piglets were fed 1 of 3 liquid diets with varying concentrations of iron: control (CON), mildly deficient (MID), or severely deficient (SID; 100, 25.0, or 10.0 mg iron/kg milk solids, respectively) for 4 wk. Relative to CON, SID and MID piglets had reduced hemoglobin (P < 0.05) as well as magenta skin color (P < 0.001), which correlated with hematocrit (R(2) = 0.76; P < 0.001). SID and MID hemoglobin differed at wk 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). In a hippocampal-dependent, spatial, T-maze task, SID piglets were unable to acquire the task (post hoc contrast: first vs. last day of acquisition), while MID piglets demonstrated deficits in reversal learning (P = 0.032). Iron concentrations in the liver (P < 0.001), serum (P = 0.003), and hippocampus (P = 0.004), but not prefrontal cortex, were lower in MID and SID compared with CON piglets. The level of the transferrin receptor mRNA (TFR) was greater in the prefrontal cortex of CON piglets than in MID and SID piglets (P = 0.001) but not the hippocampus. Gene expression of several neurotrophic factors and proinflammatory cytokines, as well as whole-brain and hippocampal volume, were not affected by dietary treatment. In conclusion, neonatal iron deficiency leads to cognitive impairment, which may be due in part to a reduced iron concentration in the hippocampus.

Influência da retenção dos anexos fetais no hemograma de fêmeas bovinas da raça Holandesa / The influence of retained fetal membranes on the hemogram of Holstein cows

Analisou-se o hemograma de 177 amostras de sangue de fêmeas bovinas da raça Holandesa nos primeiros 90 dias pós-parto. As amostras foram colhidas de vacas não reagentes ao antígeno (GP 51) do vírus da leucose dos bovinos, distribuídas em dois grupos (I: puerpério fisiológico; II: puerpério com retenção dos anexos fetais) e subdivididas em quatro grupos de acordo com o momento de colheita. Nos primeiros 10 dias após o parto, o eritrograma não sofreu influência da retenção dos anexos fetais. Com a evolução do puerpério, observou-se, nas vacas com retenção dos anexos fetais, anemia de grau leve entre o 10º e 30º dia pós-parto. O leucograma dos animais com retenção dos anexos fetais foi predominantemente linfocitário, caracterizado por leucopenia, neutropenia com desvio à esquerda degenerativo e eosinopenia. A partir do 10º dia após o parto, o leucograma não foi influenciado pela retenção dos anexos fetais.

Hematological profiles of 177 blood samples from Holstein cows were determined during the first 90 days after parturition. Blood samples were collected from cows that were non-reactive to the bovine leukosis virus (GP 51) antigen. The animals were divided into two groups (group I: physiological puerperium and group II: puerperim with retained fetal membranes), and subdivided into four groups, based on the time that the samples were collected. During the first 10 days after parturition, retained fetal membranes did not influence the erythrogram. However, with the evolution of the puerperium period, a mild anemia was observed from the 10th to the 30th day postpartum in cows with retained fetal membranes. The leukocyte profile was predominantly lymphocytic, characterized by leucopenia induced by neutropenia with a left degenerative shift and eosinopenia. From the 10th day postpartum, the retained fetal membranes did not influence the leukogram.

Corticosteroid-responsive thrombocytopenia in two beef cows.

Corticosteroid-responsive thrombocytopenia was identified in 2 beef cows. Clinical findings in 1 cow included hematoma formation, petechiation of mucous membranes, anemia, and persistent thrombocytopenia. Cow 2 was in its fourth month of gestation and had epistaxis, nasal mucosal petechiation, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Treatment included parenteral administration of corticosteroids at immunosuppressive dosages. Cow 1 had a history of chronic hematoma formation and responded to long-term treatment with dexamethasone, but it relapsed 2 months after treatment was discontinued. Cow 2 had acute onset of clinical signs, responded to short-term treatment with prednisone, delivered a full-term, healthy calf, and remained clinically normal for at least 1 year after treatment was completed. Reported causes of thrombocytopenia in ruminants were ruled out or seemed unlikely; a definitive cause for thrombocytopenia in the 2 cows could not be established.

The effect of peroral administration of amino acid-chelated iron to pregnant sows in preventing sow and piglet anaemia.

Two trials were performed in 2 different pig herds. In Trial 1, 9 pregnant Norwegian landrace sows were given a supplement in the feed of about 300 mg iron daily as amino acid-chelated iron (Bio-plex) during the last 3 weeks of gestation. Ten sows were included as controls. In Trial 2, 10 sows were fed a supplement of about 650 mg iron daily as glutamic acid-chelated iron (Super Fe-MAX) during the same period of pregnancy as in Trial 1. Twenty-two sows were included as controls. Blood samples were taken from the sows at the start of the experiment and on the day after parturition. The sows in Trial 1 were also bled at weaning 5 weeks after parturition. The piglets were weighted and blood samples collected 24 +/- 12 h after birth. Livers were taken from 65 piglets, which were either still-born or which died or were euthanised as one-day olds, and examined for iron content. The erythrocyte count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (HGB), mean cell volume (MCV), erythrocyte distribution width (RDW), and haemoglobin distribution width (HDW) in blood were measured. Haematocrit (HCT), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were also estimated. Blood serum was analysed for total proteins, albumin, serum Fe, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). A slight increase in HGB and RBC in the piglets from the iron-treated sows compared with the controls was found in Trial 1, but this was considered to be of no practical importance. None of the other measured parameters were influenced by treating the pregnant sows with amino acid-chelated iron.

Plasma von Willebrand factor changes during various reproductive cycle stages in mixed-breed dogs with normal von Willebrand factor and in Doberman pinschers with type-I von Willebrand's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) concentration changes during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in Doberman Pinschers with type-I von Willebrand's disease (vWd) and in mixed-breed dogs with normal vWf, and if so, whether alterations in vWf concentration are associated with changes in serum concentrations of reproductive hormones. ANIMALS: 5 sexually intact female Doberman Pinschers with type-I vWf and 8 sexually intact female mixed-breed dogs with normal vWf. PROCEDURE: Concentrations of plasma vWf and serum progesterone and estradiol-17 beta were measured during the estrous cycle of nonpregnant dogs and during pregnancy, parturition, and lactation. Serum concentrations of total triiodothyronine, total thyroxin, and free thyroxin were measured during pregnancy, parturition, and lactation. RESULTS: Von Willebrand factor concentration did not change during the estrous cycle, but during pregnancy, vWf concentration gradually increased. Peak concentrations were obtained at parturition and were 103 and 92% higher in mixed-breed dogs and dogs with type-I vWd, respectively, than were mean prepregnancy (anestrus) values. At parturition, total triiodothyronine concentration decreased from the prepregnancy value. The increase in vWf concentration during pregnancy was positively associated with changes in concentration of estradiol-17 beta and was negatively associated with changes in concentration of progesterone. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in vWf concentration in pregnant bitches may be associated with changes in concentrations of reproductive hormones. However, the increase in vWf concentration during pregnancy may involve other factors because vWf concentration did not change during the estrous cycle of nonpregnant dogs despite increases in concentrations of estradiol-17 beta and progesterone.

A comparison of equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) vascular lesions in the early versus late pregnant equine uterus.

Four Welsh Mountain pony mares at 3 months of gestation and one mare at 5 months were inoculated intranasally with equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1: Ab4 isolate) at doses of 10(5) to 10(6.6) TCID50. All five mares became infected, but no cases of paresis or abortion occurred. On days 8, 9, 11, 12 (3-month-pregnant mares) and 13 (5-month-pregnant mare) after infection, a detailed examination of the pregnant uterus was made. Small numbers of vascular lesions with EHV-1 antigen expression in endothelial cells were present in the uteri of the early gestational mares; thrombi were rare and foci of thromboischaemic damage were not seen. Six pony mares previously inoculated with EHV-1 Ab4 at 9 months of gestation had a significantly greater degree of vascular abnormality than that found in the four mares infected at 3 months of gestation, but the degree of EHV-1 antigen expression and thrombosis in the uterus was similar to that found in the single mare infected when 5 months pregnant.

Influence of supplementary iron in late pregnancy on the performance of sows and litters.

On eight farms alternate sows and gilts within three weeks of their expected farrowing date were injected intramuscularly in the neck with 8 ml of an iron (gleptoferron) preparation containing 200 mg iron/ml, or kept as uninjected controls. Data from 513 iron-injected and 488 control animals were used in the analysis of results. Small, but not statistically significant, improvements were observed in the numbers of piglets born alive and dead/litter, the birth weights and weaning weights at three weeks, the numbers of piglets fostered on and off/litter, piglet mortality, the number weaned/litter and the weaning to service interval. The condition scores of the iron-injected sows were marginally below those of the controls at weaning, but their condition scores at farrowing had also been slightly below those of the controls. A summation of these trends would suggest an overall benefit of approximately 0.45 pigs/sow/year in favour of the iron-injected sows.

[A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a cow with endometritis and fetal death]. / Ein Fall von disseminierter intravaskulärer Koagulopathie (DIC) bei einer Kuh mit Endometritis und Fruchttod.

Acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed in a 3 1/2 year old cow of the Simmental breed. The cow was little less than 6 months pregnant and was admitted to the clinic because of severely disturbed general health. The most important clinical findings were increased heart and breathing rate, rectal temperature of 39.9 degrees C, nosebleed and petechiae on the nasal mucosa. Additionally, the cow showed petechiae on the vaginal mucosa, haemorrhage from the rectum lasting several hours after rectal examination and severe haemoglobinuria. Haematological and biochemical examinations showed increased liver enzymes and severe changes in all coagulation parameters (platelet count, PT, PTT, thrombin time, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products). Based on the mentioned findings the diagnosis DIC was made. Possible causes were severe necrotic endometritis and placentitis combined with fetal death. High counts of Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens were determined in liver, lung and abomasal contents of the aborted fetus as well as in the placenta. Uterine secretion contained Actinomyces pyogenes besides.

Clinical survey of antibodies against red blood cells in horses after homologous blood transfusion.

Serum samples of 20 horses were evaluated for antibodies against RBC after homologous blood transfusion. Transfusion-associated antibodies against RBC were detected in 10 horses. Antibodies recognizing horse blood group antigens Aa, Ae, Db, and Dc were identified. Antibodies against Aa were found in all samples from Aa-negative horses that were transfused with Aa-positive RBC. Antibodies against Aa persisted for at least 1 year after transfusion. Antibodies against Ae were detected in 7 of 8 horses transfused with Ae-positive RBC. Initial appearance and persistence of antibodies against Ae differed among the horses; antibodies were initially detected 1 week to 154 weeks after transfusion and disappeared as early as 4 weeks after transfusion. Antibodies against Db or Dc were detected in less than or equal to 33% of the horses that lacked Db or Dc antigens and were transfused with Db- or Dc-positive RBC. Antibodies against Db and Dc were initially detected in sera later than were the A-system antibodies. Three mares with transfusion-associated antibodies subsequently produced healthy offspring. Two foals had RBC antigens corresponding to their dam's alloantibodies; maternal colostrum with antibodies against Aa was withheld from the Aa-positive foal. The Db-positive foal remained healthy after nursing the mare with serum antibodies against Db.

[Maternal and fetal response to hemorrhagic anemia during organogenesis in rats].

The effects of artificial oligemic anemia on dams and their fetuses were investigated in pregnant rats. Animals divided into ten groups of four to six each were bled from the jugular vein at various stages of gestation. Hematological examination was performed on day 20 of gestation, then dams were sacrificed. Depression of maternal weight gain, decrease of food intake and increase of water intake were recognized in all the bled groups. These changes were more conspicuous in the groups venipunctured at early stages of organogenesis. At autopsy, there was no evidence of anemia in any of the groups bled before day 10 of pregnancy whereas the does bled after day 12 were found anemic. In term fetuses from these anemic mothers, however, no adverse findings suggestive of feto-toxicity and teratogenicity were noted.

Hyperlipaemia in ponies.

The case histories and clinical findings of 15 ponies with hyperlipaemia are presented. The disease was characterised by hyperlipidaemia with inappetance, progressing somnolence, muscle fasciculation, diarrhoea, and ventral oedema as the predominant clinical findings. Post mortem examinations of 12 ponies showed extensive lipidosis and vascular thrombosis with widespread secondary changes. Most cases occurred in late pregnant and early lactating mares in the summer months and it is postulated that the disease was initiated in this group by a falling nutritional plane in the face of high nutrient requirements.

Intrauterine fetal demise associated with consumption coagulopathy in a Douc langur monkey (Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus).

Intrauterine fetal demise was suspected in a Douc langur monkey based on measurements of declining urinary estrogen levels. Additional clinical evaluation by fetal cardiac auscultation, ultrasonic instrumentation, radiologic examination, and amniocentesis supported the diagnosis. Blood clotting studies demonstrated deficiency of factors consistent with a diagnosis of consumptive coagulopathy, a syndrome identical to that observed in man following prolonged intrauterine fetal demise.