Case report: Lymphocytic-plasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis presented with marked eosinophilia and basophilia in a cat.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a common condition in cats, characterized by recurring gastrointestinal signs with histologic evidence of intestinal inflammation. A 9-month-old neutered male Sphynx cat was presented with a 5-week history of vomiting and hematochezia. Conservative patient management with a therapeutic gastrointestinal formula, antibiotics, and antiemetics resulted in a positive response to treatment, with relapse of signs when the medications were discontinued. A new finding of marked eosinophilia and basophilia was identified 3 months after the initial presentation. Colonoscopy revealed cecal erosions and a surgical biopsy with histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of lymphocytic-plasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis. For this diagnosis, the patient was treated with prednisolone, tylosin, and metronidazole. Antibiotics were gradually tapered as the cat showed clinical improvement. The patient showed resolution of the gastrointestinal signs, and the numbers of eosinophils and basophils returned within the reference range 8 weeks after the treatment began. Basophilia and eosinophilia has been reported in conjunction with feline T-cell lymphoma. However, marked basophilia accompanying eosinophilia is extremely rare in cats with inflammatory bowel disease. We herein provide clinical details, including ultrasonography, endoscopy, histopathology, and disease course of feline lymphocytic-plasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis with marked basophilia and eosinophilia. This case highlights the importance of considering enteritis as potential diagnoses when eosinophilia and basophilia are concurrently observed in cats.

Siewert-Kartagener's syndrome in a dog.

Siewert-Kartagener's syndrome, a type of primary ciliary dyskinesia, is a complex disease comprising situs inversus, rhinosinusitis, and bronchiectasis. Situs inversus totalis is a condition in which all organs in the thoracic and abdominal cavities are reversed. Furthermore, primary ciliary dyskinesia, an autosomal genetic disease, may coexist with situs inversus totalis. Reports on Siewert-Kartagener's syndrome in veterinary medicine are limited. We report a rare case of primary ciliary dyskinesia with Siewert-Kartagener's syndrome in a dog, concurrently infected with canine distemper virus and type-2 adenovirus. This case highlights that situs inversus totalis can cause primary ciliary dyskinesia, and concurrent infections are possible.

Gallbladder atrophy associated with pancreatitis: Clinical and advanced imaging diagnosis in a dog.

Gallbladder atrophy (GBA) is characterised by a reduction in the size and volume of the gallbladder. In human medicine, it is well-established that GBA frequently occurs together with pathologies affecting the gallbladder and pancreas. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is currently a dearth of reported cases of GBA in dogs within the veterinary field. In this study, we present a case report of GBA in a 7-year-old Yorkshire Terrier. The diagnosis of GBA was confirmed using abdominal ultrasonography and advanced imaging techniques, including computed tomography, which were performed over a 4-year period. The patient initially presented with predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms, which were subsequently diagnosed and treated as pancreatitis. Concurrently, a gallbladder nodule and an anomalous structure suspected to be cholelithiasis were identified. However, during the 4-year follow-up, the gallbladder structure regressed, leaving only the presence of the gallbladder nodule. Notably, cholecystectomy was not performed, and apart from pancreatitis-related symptoms, the patient did not show any gallbladder-related problems throughout the spontaneous atrophic process. Based on these findings, we propose that the observed GBA was likely induced by cholecystitis associated with pancreatitis. This case underscores the significance of considering GBA as a potential diagnosis in canine patients presenting with pancreatitis and gastrointestinal symptoms. Furthermore, it highlights the value of comprehensive diagnostic imaging in accurately determining the underlying cause of these symptoms.

Successful Management of and Recovery from Multiple Cranial Nerve Palsies following Surgical Ventral Stabilization in a Dog with Atlantoaxial Subluxation.

A 4-year-old spayed female miniature poodle dog presented with a 1-week history of acute tetraparesis. A neurological examination revealed severe neck pain and non-ambulatory tetraparesis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed hypoplastic dens with moderate compression of the spinal cord at C1-C2. The atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) was surgically stabilized using ventral pins and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement. On the second postoperative day, the patient showed significant dyspnea, and aspiration pneumonia was identified on radiography. The patient exhibited dysphagia with abnormal food prehension and an inability to protrude the tongue, with no gag reflex. We tentatively diagnosed the patient with multiple cranial nerve (CN) palsies involving the 9th, 10th, and 12th CNs following surgical ventral stabilization. The protruding cranial part of the implanted PMMA cement, which could mechanically contribute to the corresponding CNs dysfunction, was surgically removed. The symptoms gradually improved, and the patient showed normal tongue movement 1 month after revision surgery. In conclusion, we report herein a canine case of multiple CN palsies following ventral stabilization surgery for AAS. The experience gained from this case suggests an optimized management plan for postoperative neurological complications associated with ventral stabilization.

Two Clinical Cases of Feline Hemoplasmosis in Korea.

Feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis (hemoplasmosis) is an infection of the red blood cells caused by the Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm), and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt). The existence of Mhf, CMhm, and CMt has been demonstrated in feral cats in Korea using molecular methods, but no clinical cases have yet been reported. This study reports 2 clinical cases of hemotropic mycoplasmosis caused by CMhm and CMt in 2 anemic cats. The first case was a client-owned intact female domestic shorthair cat that presented with fever, pale mucous membranes, and normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia. Prior to referral, an immunosuppressive prednisolone dose was administered at the local veterinary clinic for 1 month. The cat was diagnosed with high-grade alimentary lymphoma. Organisms were found on the surface of the red blood cells on blood smear examination. The second case was of a rescued cat that presented with dehydration and fever. The cat had normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia. Necropsy revealed concurrent feline infectious peritonitis. Polymerase chain reaction assay targeting 16S rRNA revealed CMhm infection in case 1 and dual infection of CMhm and CMt in case 2. Normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia was observed in both cats before and during the management of the systemic inflammation. This is the first clinical case report in Korea to demonstrate CMhm and CMt infections in symptomatic cats.

Sterile Neutrophilic Dermatosis (Sweet's Syndrome) Associated With Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in a Maltese Dog: A Case Report.

We report a rare case of sterile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) accompanied by systemic inflammatory response syndrome. A 5-year-old, neutered male Maltese dog presented with extensive crusts on the whole-body surface and multifocal erosions and plaques on the four limbs. The lesions had been present for two months and did not respond to antibiotics before the presentation. In addition, the dog was lethargic, anorexic, and febrile, with joint swelling. A clinicopathologic analysis revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis with left shift and increased C-reactive protein level. Furthermore, a histopathological examination showed moderate to severe inflammatory infiltrates consisting predominantly of neutrophils from the superficial to the deep dermis. There was no evidence of bacterial or fungal infections, and autoimmune diseases, such as pemphigus, systemic lupus erythematosus, and erythema multiforme, were excluded. Sweet's syndrome, a rare skin disorder, associated with systemic inflammation was diagnosed, and the cutaneous lesions and systemic inflammation disappeared after prolonged steroid administration.

A case of leukaemia cutis in a dog with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Leukaemia cutis (LC) is the infiltration of neoplastic leukocytes into the skin, characterised by haemorrhagic papules, nodules, and plaques. LC has been reported in human leukaemia patients, but it is extremely rare in dogs. A 13-year-old spayed female Golden Retriever that was previously diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was managed with chlorambucil (20 mg/m2 orally, every 2 weeks) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg orally, every other day) for 8 months; however, immunosuppression was temporarily discontinued because of a bacterial urinary tract infection. Cutaneous signs, including multifocal ecchymosis and white plaques, appeared 1 month after cessation of chemotherapy. Histopathological examination revealed small- to intermediate-sized lymphocytes with mild atypia in a perivascular to interstitial pattern within the superficial dermis. The bands of atypical cells within the superficial dermis were strongly and extensively positive for CD3 on immunohistochemistry. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the biopsied skin revealed clonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor gamma locus gene. Given the evidence of clinical signs, peripheral immunophenotyping, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and clonal gene arrangement, LC was diagnosed. The lesions disappeared when chemotherapy was restarted but were occasionally observed when chemotherapy was stopped. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first case report of LC in a dog.

Successful treatment of canine infective endocarditis caused by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a gram-positive bacterial species that is utilised as a probiotic in humans and animals. There are no reports of infective endocarditis (IE) in dogs. An 8-year-old, spayed, female Maltese presented with a 1-month history of fever, depression, weight loss, and hindlimb lameness. Laboratory test results indicated non-regenerative anaemia, neutrophilia, hyperglobulinemia, and proteinuria. Echocardiography revealed vegetation on the septal leaflet of the mitral valve and thromboemboli in the left atrium. Consecutive blood culture results revealed that the blood samples were consistently positive for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which is generally considered a probiotic bacterial species for animals. Broad-spectrum antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefotaxime) and anticoagulants (clopidogrel and rivaroxaban) were administered for 4 months. The clinical signs were responsive to antibiotic treatment. After 4 months, the dog was no longer febrile and the size of the thromboemboli in the left atrium had decreased. Bacteria were no longer isolated in blood cultures after antibiotic therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of canine IE caused by bactaeremic infection with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Cell-Free DNA as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Dogs With Tumors.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is derived from apoptosis/necrosis, active cellular secretion, and lysis of circulating cancer cells or micrometastases. In humans, cfDNA is widely used in cancer diagnosis, but veterinary research has yet to be actively conducted to establish it as a cancer biomarker. This retrospective study analyzed cfDNA levels in samples collected from dogs with neoplastic disease (n = 38), clinically ill dogs without neoplasia (n = 47), and healthy dogs (n = 35). cfDNA levels and clinical data were compared among groups, and prognostic analyses were performed within the neoplastic group. Furthermore, continual cfDNA measurements were performed during the chemotherapy of six dogs with lymphoma. Dogs with neoplasia showed significantly higher cfDNA concentrations than dogs without neoplasm, and the cfDNA oncentration in the lymphoid neoplasia group was significantly elevated among all neoplastic groups. Dogs with neoplasia and a plasma cfDNA concentration above 1,247.5 µg/L had shorter survival rates than those with levels below this threshold (26.5 vs. 86.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). In cases with complete remission in response to chemotherapy, the cfDNA concentration was significantly decreased compared with the first visit, whereas the cfDNA concentration was increased in cases with disease progression or death. Interestingly, a significant correlation was found between lymph node diameter and cfDNA concentration in dogs with multicentric lymphoma (R 2 = 0.26, P < 0.01). These data suggest that changes in cfDNA concentration could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for canine neoplasia. Furthermore, increased plasma DNA levels might be associated with shorter survival time, and cfDNA concentrations may reflect the response to chemotherapy.

Comparison of clinical and inflammatory parameters in dogs with pyometra before and after ovariohysterectomy.

This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers of canine pyometra and their correlations with clinical parameters. First, 90 dogs with pyometra and 26 healthy female dogs were compared. Then, paired samples (before and after ovariohysterectomy) from 22 dogs with pyometra and 9 healthy controls from the initial cohort were compared. Concentrations of acute inflammatory proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA), and cell-free DNA (cfDNA), were significantly higher in dogs with pyometra than in clinically healthy dogs. Cell-free DNA was the most sensitive biomarker for systemic inflammation, based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (area under the curve = 0.959). In addition, cfDNA and CRP were significantly associated with inflammation and organ injury-related clinical parameters. Following the surgical removal of the inflamed uterus, interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and procalcitonin (PCT) significantly decreased, whereas changes in CRP, SAA, and cfDNA were not significant. These findings indicate that cfDNA, CRP, and SAA are potential clinical biomarkers of systemic inflammation in dogs with pyometra and PCT, IL-6, and HMGB1 are potential biomarkers of clinical recovery.

Cette étude visait à identifier les biomarqueurs potentiels du pyomètre canin et leurs corrélations avec les paramètres cliniques. Tout d'abord, 90 chiens avec pyomètre et 26 chiennes en bonne santé ont été comparés. Ensuite, des échantillons appariés (avant et après ovariohystérectomie) de 22 chiens avec pyomètre et neuf témoins sains de la cohorte initiale, ont été comparés.Les concentrations des protéines inflammatoires aiguës, protéine C réactive (CRP) et amyloïde sérique A (SAA), et d'ADN acellulaire (cfDNA), étaient significativement plus élevées chez les chiens atteints de pyomètre que chez les chiens cliniquement sains. L'ADN acellulaire était le biomarqueur le plus sensible pour l'inflammation systémique, sur la base de l'analyse de la courbe caractéristique de fonctionnement du récepteur (aire sous la courbe = 0,959). De plus, le cfDNA et la CRP étaient significativement associés à l'inflammation et aux paramètres cliniques liés aux lésions aux organes.Après l'ablation chirurgicale de l'utérus enflammé, l'interleukine-6 (IL-6), la protéine HMGB1 (« high-mobility groupe box 1 ¼) et la procalcitonine (PCT) ont significativement diminué, alors que les changements de CRP, SAA et cfDNA n'étaient pas significatifs. Ces résultats indiquent que cfDNA, CRP et SAA sont des biomarqueurs cliniques potentiels de l'inflammation systémique chez les chiens avec pyomètre et PCT, IL-6 et HMGB1 sont des biomarqueurs potentiels de récupération clinique.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

Case Report: Long-Term Chemotherapy With Hydroxyurea and Prednisolone in a Cat With a Meningioma: Correlation of FDG Uptake and Tumor Grade Assessed by Histopathology and Expression of Ki-67 and p53.

A 15.5-year-old, neutered, male, domestic shorthair cat was presented with neurologic dysfunctions. At presentation, an obtunded mental status and vestibular ataxia were identified. On neurologic examination, postural reactions were decreased-to-absent in all four limbs, and pupillary light reflexes showed bilaterally delayed results. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed, and a demarcated lesion was identified in the third ventricle. The cat was tentatively diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was suspected to be a meningioma. The cat was treated with hydroxyurea and prednisolone. Mental status was considered more alert, and ataxia improved following treatment. On the 106th day after the commencement of treatment, a 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan was performed. On the PET images, a hypermetabolic region was found in the lesion. The average standardized uptake value of FDG was 2.47, and the tumor-to-normal-tissue ratio was 1.25. The cat died 408 days following the commencement of treatment, and a grade 1 meningioma was confirmed by postmortem histopathology. Immunohistochemistry for Ki-67 and p53 was performed. The labeling indices of Ki-67 and p53 were 2.56 and 0%, respectively. This case shows that chemotherapy with hydroxyurea and prednisolone may be considered in the treatment of feline meningiomas. Furthermore, this is the first case describing the application of FDG-PET to visualize a naturally occurring meningioma in a cat.

Thiamine deficiency in a dog associated with exclusive consumption of boiled sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas): Serial changes in clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging findings and blood lactate and thiamine concentrations.

Thiamine (vitamin B1 ) is an essential nutrient that significantly influences ATP production in the body. It needs to be supplemented consistently through an exogenous source to prevent deficiency; however, it is easily affected by a variety of mitigating factors. Additionally, thiamine requirements can be influenced by an individual's dietary composition. The nervous system is particularly vulnerable to thiamine deficiency due to its high metabolic demand. Thiamine deficiency is typically diagnosed based on clinical signs, dietary history and response to thiamine administration. A 5-year-old neutered male Maltese Terrier dog presented with an acute onset of seizures and generalized ataxia. The dog was exclusively fed boiled sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) as a primary diet source for 4 weeks. MR findings and hyperlactatemic conditions were consistent with thiamine deficiency, and the diagnosis was confirmed by measuring thiamine concentrations in blood using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Appropriate thiamine supplementation and diet changes resulted in a rapid improvement in neurological signs. Repeated MR imaging 2 weeks after starting the treatment completely resolved the previously identified abnormalities, and repeated measurements of blood lactate and thiamine levels revealed complete recovery of the thiamine-deficient status.

Idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis in a cat with feline infectious peritonitis.

A 1-year-old, castrated, male, domestic short-haired cat with pruritic, multifocal, crusted ulceration of the skin over the dorsal aspect of the neck and scapulae was presented. The cat also had a history of depression and anorexia. A causative agent for the lesion was not identified on a general dermatological examination. Histopathology revealed diffuse epidermal ulceration and loss with replacement by neutrophilic inflammation and necrotic debris. Idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis (IUD) was diagnosed based on history, physical examination and histopathology. To prevent self-trauma and secondary bacterial infection, light bandages and glucocorticoid ointment were applied. After a month of management, the lesions markedly improved. Approximately 3 months after the initial presentation, the cat died; necropsy confirmed an IUD and non-effusive (dry form) feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This report describes a rare case of IUD in a cat with concurrent FIP. However, no association between IUD and FIP was found.

Evaluation of serum high-mobility group box 1 concentration in dogs with epilepsy: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a key mediator of neuroinflammation and there are increased HMGB1 levels in laboratory animal models of epilepsy and human patients with epilepsy. OBJECTIVES: To determine serum HMGB1 levels in dogs with epilepsy. ANIMALS: Twenty-eight epileptic dogs, 12 dogs with nonepileptic brain diseases, and 26 healthy dogs. METHODS: In this case-control study, serum HMGB1 concentrations were estimated using the canine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Diagnosis of dogs with epilepsy was based on medical history, physical and neurological examination findings, laboratory test results, magnetic resonance image, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. RESULTS: Serum HMGB1 levels were significantly higher in epileptic dogs (median = 0.41 ng/mL; range, 0.03-5.28) than in healthy dogs (median = 0.12 ng/mL; range, 0.02-1.45; P = .002). In contrast, serum HMGB1 levels of dogs with non-epileptic brain diseases (median = 0.19 ng/mL; range, 0.03-1.04) were not significantly increased compared to those of healthy dogs (P = .12). Regarding idiopathic epilepsy, dogs with an epilepsy course of >3 months showed a higher serum HMGB1 concentration (median = 0.87 ng/mL; range, 0.42-2.88) than those with that of ≤3 months (median = 0.26 ng/mL; range, 0.03-0.88; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Serum HMGB1 could be a biomarker of epilepsy.

Clinical Case of a Transfusion-Associated Canine Mycoplasma haemocanis Infection in the Republic of Korea: A Case Report.

This report describes the first clinical case of a transfusion-associated Mycoplasma haemocanis infection in a dog in Korea. A 6-year-old male Maltese underwent a red blood cell transfusion for idiopathic immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Eighteen days after the blood transfusion, the recipient's packed cell volume decreased and basophilic organisms were found on erythrocytes. A polymerase chain reaction and sequential analysis showed that both the donor dog and recipient dog had M. haemocanis. Six weeks after doxycycline administration, no organisms were detected and the recipient's anemia had improved.

Primary Retrobulbar Leiomyosarcoma in a Dog: A Case Report.

A 2-year-old female Mongrel dog weighing 3.12 kg presented with a 2-month history of progressive exophthalmos of the left eye and periorbital swelling. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the affected tissue revealed atypical cells of suspected malignant mesenchymal tumor origin. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ill-demarcated soft tissue mass in the left retrobulbar space extending into the nasal cavity and into the frontal lobes of the brain with destruction of the adjacent cribriform plate and the basisphenoid bone. Histopathological features of the tumor were consistent with the diagnosis of undifferentiated sarcoma. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and desmin and negative for S100. These findings were mostly consistent with leiomyosarcoma arising from the smooth muscle on the retrobulbar tissues. Primary retrobulbar leiomyosarcoma is an extremely rare tumor in dogs. To expand our knowledge of retrobulbar leiomyosarcoma in dogs, we have described its clinical, diagnostic imaging, histopathological, and immunohistochemical characteristics in a dog.

Expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α/ß, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, c-Abl, and c-Kit in canine granulomatous meningoencephalitis and necrotizing encephalitis.

BACKGROUND: Given the active research on targeted therapy using tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors (TKIs) in the field of oncology, further studies have recently been conducted to evaluate their use in autoimmune disorders. Based on immunological investigations, previous studies have suggested that granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) and necrotizing encephalomyelitis (NE) are similar to multiple sclerosis (MS), which is a human autoimmune demyelinating central nervous system disease. OBJECTIVES: Considering this perspective, we hypothesized that canine GME and NE have significant expression of one or more TKs, which are associated with human MS pathogenesis. METHODS: To determine the possible use of conventional multi-targeted TKIs as a treatment for canine GME and NE, we characterized the immunohistochemical expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-α, PDGFR-ß, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, c-Abl and c-Kit in GME and NE samples. RESULTS: Histological samples from four dogs with GME and three with NE were retrieved. All samples stained positive for PDGFR-ß (7/7 [100%]). PDGFR-α and c-Kit were expressed in 3/7 (42.8%) samples each. c-Abl was identified in 2/7 (28.5%) samples; no sample showed VEGFR-2 (0%) expression. Co-expression of TKs was identified in 6/7 (85.7%) dogs. CONCLUSIONS: All samples were positive for at least one or more of PDGFR-α, PDGFR-ß, c-Kit and c-Abl, which are known as the target TKs of conventional multi-targeted TKIs. Their presence does suggest that these TKs may play a role in the pathogenesis of GME and NE. Therefore, multi-targeted TKIs may provide benefits in the treatment of canine GME and NE by suppressing the activity of these TKs.

Evaluation of treatment with a combination of mycophenolate mofetil and prednisolone in dogs with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology: a retrospective study of 86 cases (2009-2017).

BACKGROUND: Combination therapy with glucocorticoids and adjunctive immunomodulating drugs has been generally accepted as a standard treatment regimen for meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE). We hypothesized that treatment with MMF as an adjunctive agent along with glucocorticoids would be effective and well-tolerated protocol in dogs with MUE. Eighty-six dogs with MUE between May 2009 and June 2017 were included (59 females and 27 males; mean age of 5.93 years; mean body weight of 3.83 kg). The medical records of dogs with MUE treated with prednisolone and MMF were retrospectively evaluated to determine the therapeutic response, survival time, and treatment-related adverse effects. RESULTS: A partial or complete response (CR) was recorded for 75 dogs. The overall median survival time from the initiation of treatment was 558 days. Dogs that showed CR with no relapse over the treatment period (from diagnosis to death) had significantly longer median survival times. A significantly higher mortality hazard ratio of 4.546 was recorded in dogs that failed to achieve CR. The interval between the onset of clinical signs and the clinical presentation was not significantly associated with CR, relapse rate, and survival time. Adverse effects included gastrointestinal upsets in 26 dogs (30.23%), sporadic infections in 17 dogs (19.77%), and pancreatitis in seven dogs (8.14%). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that adjunctive MMF treatment for MUE is safe and comparable to other immunosuppressive protocols. The treatment should focus on the achievement of CR and preventing relapse for successful management.

Therapeutic monitoring of rivaroxaban in dogs using thromboelastography and prothrombin time.

BACKGROUND: The chromogenic anti-Xa assay, the gold standard for monitoring the anti-Xa effect of rivaroxaban, is not available as a cage-side diagnostic test for use in a clinical setting. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical modalities for measuring the anticoagulant effects of rivaroxaban using a point-of-care prothrombin time (PT) and thromboelastography (TEG). ANIMALS: Six healthy Beagle dogs. METHODS: Prospective, experimental study. Four different doses of rivaroxaban (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) were administered PO to dogs. Single PO and 3 consecutive dosing regimens also were assessed. Plasma rivaroxaban concentration was determined using a chromogenic anti-Xa assay, point-of-care PT, and TEG analysis with 4 activators (RapidTEG, 1 : 100 tissue factor [TF100], 1 : 3700 tissue factor [TF3700], and kaolin), and results were compared. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between ratios (peak to baseline PT; peak reaction time [R] of TEG to baseline [R] of TEG) and anti-Xa concentration. RESULTS: Anti-Xa concentration had a significant correlation with point-of-care PT (R = 0.82, P < .001) and RapidTEG-TEG, TF100-TEG, and TF3700-TEG (R = 0.76, P < .001; R = 0.82, P < .001; and R = 0.83, P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Overall, a 1.5-1.9 × delay in PT and R values of TEG 3 hours after rivaroxaban administration is required to achieve therapeutic anti-Xa concentrations of rivaroxaban in canine plasma. The R values of TEG, specifically using tissue factors (RapidTEG, TF100, TF3700) and point-of-care PT for rivaroxaban can be used practically for therapeutic monitoring of rivaroxaban in dogs.

Effects of irradiation and leukoreduction on down-regulation of CXCL-8 and storage lesion in stored canine whole blood.

White blood cells (WBCs) and storage period are the main factors of transfusion reactions. In the present study, cytokine/chemokine concentrations after leukoreduction (LR) and irradiation (IR) in stored canine whole blood were measured. Red blood cell storage lesion caused by IR and LR were also compared. Blood samples from 10 healthy Beagles were divided into four groups (no treatment, LR-, IR-, and LR + IR-treated). Leukocytes were removed by filtration in the LR group and gamma radiation (25 Gy) was applied in the IR group. Immunologic factors (WBCs, interleukin-6 [IL-6], C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 [CXCL-8], and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and storage lesion factors (blood pH, potassium, and hemolysis) were evaluated on storage days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Compared to the treated groups, IL-6 and CXCL-8 concentrations during storage were significantly higher in the control (no treatment) group. LR did not show changes in cytokine/chemokine concentrations, and storage lesion presence was relatively mild. IR significantly increased CXCL-8 after 14 days of storage, but IR of leukoreduced blood did not increase CXCL-8 during 28 days of storage. Storage lesions such as hemolysis, increased potassium, and low pH were observed 7 days after IR and storage of blood, regardless of LR. IR of leukoreduced blood is beneficial to avoid immune reactions; however, storage lesions should be considered upon storage.