Effects of the clinical severity of disease and concomitant pyoderma on serum acute-phase proteins concentrations in dogs with sarcoptic mange.

BACKGROUND: Information on acute-phase protein (APP) concentrations in dogs with sarcoptic mange (SM) is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of the clinical severity of disease and concomitant pyoderma on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid-A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) concentrations in dogs with SM. ANIMALS: Forty client-owned dogs with SM (INF group) and 10 healthy control dogs (CON group). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The INF group was divided into three subgroups; Group 1 (mild/moderate), Group 2 (severe) and Group 3 (severe+pyoderma) according to the extent of skin lesions and the presence of concomitant pyoderma. Serum CRP, SAA, Hp and Cp concentrations of all study groups were measured. RESULTS: Serum CRP (P < 0.001), SAA (P < 0.001) and Hp (P = 0.016) concentrations of the INF group were higher than the CON group, with no difference in terms of Cp. A statistical difference was measured between groups 2 and 1 in SAA only. C-reactive protein was found to be significantly higher in dogs with severe SM accompanied by pyoderma (Group 3) when compared with dogs with severe SM (Group 2). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves differentiating pyoderma among dogs with severe SM was 0.850 for CRP (P = 0.0001, cut-off value >61.3 mg/L with sensitivity 69.29% and specificity 90.91%). CONCLUSIONS: The unique findings in this were that the SAA serum concentrations are related to the severity of SM and that serum CRP concentrations are effective in detecting the presence of pyoderma in dogs with severe SM.

Conclusions - The unique findings in this were that the SAA serum concentrations are related to the severity of SM and that serum CRP concentrations are correlated with the presence of pyoderma in dogs with severe SM. Contexte - Les informations sur les concentrations de protéines de phase aiguë (APP) chez les chiens atteints de gale sarcoptique (SM) sont rares. Objectif - Déterminer les effets de la gravité clinique de la maladie et de la pyodermite concomitante sur les concentrations sériques de protéine C-réactive (CRP), d'amyloïde-A (SAA), d'haptoglobine (Hp) et de céruloplasmine (Cp) chez les chiens atteints de SM. Animaux - Quarante chiens de propriétaires atteints de SM (groupe INF) et 10 chiens témoins sains (groupe CON). Matériels et méthodes - Le groupe INF a été divisé en trois sous-groupes ; Groupe 1 (léger/modéré), Groupe 2 (sévère) et Groupe 3 (sévère + pyodermite) selon l'étendue des lésions cutanées et la présence de pyodermite concomitante. Les concentrations sériques de CRP, SAA, Hp et Cp de tous les groupes d'étude ont été mesurées. Résultats - Les concentrations sériques de CRP (P < 0,001), SAA (P < 0,001) et Hp (P = 0,016) du groupe INF étaient supérieures à celles du groupe CON, sans différence en termes de Cp. Une différence statistique a été mesurée entre les groupes 2 et 1 en SAA uniquement. La protéine C-réactive s'est avérée significativement plus élevée chez les chiens atteints de SM sévère accompagnée de pyodermite (groupe 3) par rapport aux chiens atteints de SM sévère (groupe 2). L'aire sous les courbes caractéristiques de fonctionnement du récepteur différenciant la pyodermite chez les chiens atteints de SM sévère était de 0,850 pour la CRP (P = 0,0001, valeur seuil > 61,3 mg/L avec une sensibilité de 69,29 % et une spécificité de 90,91 %). Conclusions - Les résultats uniques dans ce cas étaient que les concentrations sériques de SAA sont liées à la gravité de la SM et que les concentrations sériques de CRP sont corrélées à la présence de pyodermite chez les chiens atteints de SM sévère.

Introducción- la información sobre las concentraciones de proteína de fase aguda (APP) en perros con sarna sarcóptica (SM) es escasa. Objetivo- determinar los efectos de la gravedad clínica de enfermedad y pioderma concomitante en las concentraciones de proteína C reactiva (CRP) sérica, amiloide-A sérica (SAA), haptoglobina (Hp) y ceruloplasmina (Cp) en perros con SM. Animales - Cuarenta perros de propietarios particulares con SM (grupo INF) y 10 perros de control sanos (grupo CON). Materiales y métodos - El grupo INF se dividió en tres subgrupos; Grupo 1 (leve/moderada), Grupo 2 (grave) y Grupo 3 (grave+pioderma) según la extensión de las lesiones cutáneas y la presencia de pioderma concomitante. Se midieron las concentraciones séricas de CRP, SAA, Hp y Cp de todos los grupos de estudio. Resultados- las concentraciones séricas de CRP (P < 0,001), SAA (P < 0,001) y Hp (P = 0,016) del grupo INF fueron más altas que las del grupo CON, sin diferencias en términos de Cp. Se observó una diferencia estadística entre los grupos 2 y 1 en SAA solamente. Se encontró que la proteína C reactiva era significativamente más alta en perros con SM severa acompañada de pioderma (Grupo 3) en comparación con perros con SM severa (Grupo 2). El área bajo las curvas de características operativas del receptor que diferencian la pioderma entre perros con SM grave fue de 0,850 para CRP (P = 0,0001, valor de corte >61,3 mg/l con sensibilidad del 69,29 % y especificidad del 90,91 %). Conclusiones- los hallazgos únicos en esto estudio fueron que las concentraciones séricas de SAA están relacionadas con la gravedad de la SM y que las concentraciones séricas de CRP están correlacionadas con la presencia de pioderma en perros con SM grave.

Contexto - São escassas as informações sobre as concentrações de proteínas de fase aguda (PFA) em cães com sarna sarcóptica (SS) são escassas. Objetivo - Determinar os efeitos da gravidade da doença e a piodermite concomitante nas concentrações de proteína C-reativa (PCR), amiloide sérico A (ASA), haptoglobina (Hp) e ceruloplasmina (Cp) em cães com SS. Animais - Quarenta cães de clientes com SS (grupo INF) e 10 cães controle saudáveis (grupo CON). Materiais e métodos - O grupo INF foi dividido em três subgrupos; Grupo 1 (leve/moderado), Grupo 2 (grave), Grupo 3 (grave + piodermite) de acordo com a extensão das lesões cutâneas e a presença de piodermite concomitante. As concentrações séricas de PCR, ASA, Hp e Cp, foram mensuradas. Resultados - As concentrações séricas de PCR (P < 0,001), ASA (P < 0,001) e Hp (P = 0,016) no grupo INF foram maiores que no grupo COM, sem diferenças em termos de Cp. Mensurou-se a diferença estatística entre os grupos 2 e 1 no ASA apenas. A proteína C-reativa foi significativamente maior em cães com SS grave com piodermite (Grupo 3) quando comparado com cães com SS grave (Grupo 2). A área sob as curvas características de operação do receptor que diferenciam piodermite entre cães com SS grave foi 0,850 para a PCR (P = 0,0001, valor de corte > 61,3 mg/L com sensibilidade de 69,29% e especificidade de 90,91%). Conclusões - Os achados mais singulares deste estudo foram de que as concentrações séricas de ASA são relacionadas à severidade da SS e que as concentrações séricas de PCR são correlacionadas com a presença de piodermite em cães com SS grave.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic biomarker in puppies with acute diarrhea.

OBJECTIVES: To document the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values in systemic inflammatory response syndrome positive (SIRS+) and negative (SIRS-) puppies presenting with acute diarrhea (AD). To determine whether the calculated canine acute diarrhea severity index (CADSI) score was associated with NLR. Also, to investigate the prognostic value of NLR in puppies with acute diarrhea. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University veterinary teaching hospital. ANIMALS: A total of 85 puppies (2-6 months old), 70 with AD and 15 healthy controls (CON). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pertinent history, physical examination findings and results of complete blood count analysis of dogs with AD at the time of admission to the hospital were obtained from medical records. Forty-seven of the dogs with AD were SIRS+ and 23 were SIRS-. Of the puppies with AD, 11 died within 7 days after initiation of treatment, 59 survived. NLR values in dogs with AD were statistically higher (P < 0.001) than the CON group, but there was no difference (P = 0.791) between the two groups in terms of white blood cell (WBC) count. The median NLR of SIRS+ (3.66) dogs was significantly higher than the median NLRs of dogs in the SIRS- (1.88) and CON (1.35) groups. While a strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.740; P < 0.001) was found between the CADSI score and NLR in dogs with AD, the relationship between WBC and disease severity was not significant (ρ = -0.117; P = 0.336). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves for nonsurvival in dogs with AD was 0.710 (P = 0.039) for the NLR and 0.773 (P = 0.008) for the WBC. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of NLR at hospital admission may be a useful marker of disease severity and may have prognostic value in puppies with AD. Further investigations are required to understand the implications of these findings.

Prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of clinoptilolite against Cryptosporidium parvum in experimentally challenged neonatal lambs.

This study was designed to test the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of clinoptilolite against Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum infection in lambs. Within the first day of life, three groups of 10 lambs were each inoculated with 1 × 106 oocysts of C. parvum. The prophylactic (PROP) group received orally clinoptilolite supplemented at a rate of 3% to the colostrum within the first day of life before inoculation and then to milk replacer for two weeks. The therapeutic (TREA) group was supplemented with the same rate, route and duration of clinoptilolite, starting from the day of the first appearance of oocysts in the faeces. The positive control group (pCON) was left untreated and fed only the basal diet. Disease development and clinoptilolite efficacy were assessed daily by evaluating oocyst per gram of faeces (OPG) counts, faecal consistent score (FCS), and clinical health score (CHS) from day -1 to 20 days post inoculation. A significantly (p < 0.001) lower OPG value was found in the PROP and TREA groups in comparison to the pCON group. The FCS and CHS were decreased in the PROP (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) and TREA (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001) groups compared to the pCON group, respectively. The percentage efficacy of clinoptilolite was calculated to be 97.4 % in the PROP group and 91.6 % in the TREA group. In conclusion, this study proved for the first time that clinoptilolite has promising prophylactic and therapeutic activities against C. parvum in experimentally infected lambs.