Correlation of serum cardiac troponin I and acute phase protein concentrations with clinical staging in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) correlates with severity of myocardial injury. Nonspecific inflammation in congestive heart failure (CHF) could be assessed by C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), and ceruloplasmin (Cp) measurements. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine whether serum cTnI, CRP, Hp, and Cp concentrations differ among various stages of mitral valve disease (MVD) in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dogs with MVD were allocated to 3 groups (I - asymptomatic; II - mild to moderate CHF; III advanced CHF) according to the scheme of the International Small Animal Cardiac Healthy Council (ISACHC). Concentrations of cTnI, CRP, Cp, and Hp were measured in all dogs upon admission, and cTnI and CRP were measured bimonthly during a 4-month follow-up period. RESULTS: In total 46 dogs with MVD were enrolled for the cross-sectional part (21 Group I, 11 Group II, 14 Group III), and 35 dogs were included in the longitudinal study. Initial mean Cp concentrations were similar among all groups. There was a statistically significant difference in Hp and CRP concentrations between group I (n = 21, P = .019) and III (n = 14, P < .001). There was a statistically significant decrease in CRP (P = .033) and cTnI (P = .009) concentrations over the longitudinal study (all groups). CRP concentrations were significantly higher in group I than III (P = .004). During the 6-month monitoring period of 35 dogs, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between cTnI and CRP (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Differences in CRP concentrations between clinical stages of MVD suggest a clinically and therapeutically relevant inflammatory component.

Serial analysis of serum cardiac troponin I changes and correlation with clinical findings in 46 dogs with mitral valve disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a biomarker correlated with the severity of myocardial injury. It is hypothesized that serial assessment of cTnI could provide information about the disease progression in chronic heart failure. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to correlate serial serum cTnI concentrations with clinical scoring and select diagnostic imaging findings in dogs managed for mitral valve degeneration (MVD) for a period of 6 months. METHODS: Client-owned dogs with MVD were prospectively recruited for the study. The dogs were allocated into 3 groups (I, II, III) according to the severity of their clinical signs based on the classification suggested by the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council. During the 6-month study period, serum specimens for biochemical testing were obtained biweekly, clinical progression and response to treatment were also evaluated biweekly, and radiographic reevaluation was performed every 2 months. RESULTS: A total of 46 dogs were evaluated. There was a marked decrease in cTnI values during the first 2 weeks after initial diagnosis, more pronounced in group III, and corresponding to the initiation of therapy and clinical stabilization of animals. Serum cTnI was significantly different (P < .05) among the 3 dog groups throughout the study period. The interaction between Group and Period was significant in group III, indicating an upward cTnI trend evident in severely affected animals. A positive correlation was demonstrated in all groups between serum cTnI and clinical scoring. CONCLUSION: Long-term management of MVD in dogs could benefit from the serial measurement of cTnI.

Polymerase chain reaction survey of feline haemoplasma infections in Greece.

The aim of this study was to use real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to determine the prevalence of three haemoplasma species in cats from Greece and to evaluate possible associations between haemoplasma infection and age, gender, feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukaemia virus (FIV/FeLV) status and packed cell volume (PCV). Ninety-seven cats (24 ill anaemic, 55 ill non-anaemic, 18 healthy non-anaemic) were included in the study. Twenty cats (20.6%) were haemoplasma positive; seven cats were infected only with Mycoplasma haemofelis, 10 were infected only with 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and three were co-infected with M haemofelis and 'Candidatus M haemominutum'. 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' was not detected. Haemoplasma infection was associated with older age (P=0.019). M haemofelis infection tended to be more common in anaemic cats (P=0.058). No association between gender and haemoplasma infection, or haemoplasma relative copy number and PCV, was detected. Retroviral infection rates were very low with only one FeLV proviral positive cat found.