Novel Biomarkers of Human GM1 Gangliosidosis Reflect the Clinical Efficacy of Gene Therapy in a Feline Model.

GM1 gangliosidosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects individuals of all ages. Favorable outcomes using adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy in GM1 mice and cats have prompted consideration of human clinical trials, yet there remains a paucity of objective biomarkers to track disease status. We developed a panel of biomarkers using blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), electrodiagnostics, 7 T MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in GM1 cats-either untreated or AAV treated for more than 5 years-and compared them to markers in human GM1 patients where possible. Significant alterations were noted in CSF and blood of GM1 humans and cats, with partial or full normalization after gene therapy in cats. Gene therapy improved the rhythmic slowing of electroencephalograms (EEGs) in GM1 cats, a phenomenon present also in GM1 patients, but nonetheless the epileptiform activity persisted. After gene therapy, MR-based analyses revealed remarkable preservation of brain architecture and correction of brain metabolites associated with microgliosis, neuroaxonal loss, and demyelination. Therapeutic benefit of AAV gene therapy in GM1 cats, many of which maintain near-normal function >5 years post-treatment, supports the strong consideration of human clinical trials, for which the biomarkers described herein will be essential for outcome assessment.

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia in dogs and cats.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common acquired primary hemostatic disorder in dogs. Immune thrombocytopenia less commonly affects cats but is an important cause of mortality and treatment-associated morbidity in both species. Immune thrombocytopenia remains a diagnosis of exclusion for which diagnostic guidelines are lacking. Primary, or non-associative, ITP refers to autoimmune platelet destruction. Secondary, or associative, ITP arises in response to an underlying disease trigger. However, evidence for which comorbidities serve as ITP triggers has not been systematically evaluated. To identify key diagnostic steps for ITP and important comorbidities associated with secondary ITP, we developed 12 Population Evaluation/Exposure Comparison Outcome (PECO) format questions. These questions were addressed by evidence evaluators utilizing a literature pool of 287 articles identified by the panelists using a structured search strategy. Evidence evaluators, using panel-designed templates and data extraction tools, summarized evidence and created guideline recommendations that then were integrated by diagnosis and comorbidity domain chairs. The revised PECO responses underwent a Delphi survey process to reach consensus on final guidelines. A combination of panel expertise and PECO responses were employed to develop algorithms for diagnosis of ITP in dogs and cats, which also underwent 4 iterations of Delphi review. Comorbidity evidence evaluators employed an integrated measure of evidence (IME) tool to determine evidence quality for each comorbidity; IME values combined with evidence summaries for each comorbidity were integrated to develop ITP screening recommendations, which also were subjected to Delphi review. Commentary was solicited from multiple relevant professional organizations before finalizing the consensus. The final consensus statement provides clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of, and underlying disease screening for, ITP in dogs and cats. The systematic consensus process identified numerous knowledge gaps that should guide future studies. This statement is a companion manuscript to the ACVIM Consensus Statement on the Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Effect of lactic acid addition to equine whole blood on platelet aggregation measured by impedance aggregometry.

BACKGROUND: Acidemia in sick or injured horses is often due to lactic acid accumulation. Alterations in platelet function and hemostasis are among numerous deleterious effects caused by decreased physiologic pH. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the effect of hyperlactatemia and resultant acidemia on platelet aggregation in equine whole blood using impedance aggregometry. METHODS: Platelet aggregation was measured using the Multiplate analyzer in whole blood from 34 healthy horses at baseline and after in vitro addition of lactic acid to adjust the pH. Platelet aggregation of each sample was quantified by the area under the curve measurement reported by the Multiplate system. The association between platelet aggregation and pH was analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model. The association of baseline platelet aggregation with hematocrits (Hcts), white blood cell (WBC) counts, and platelet counts was evaluated using Pearson's correlations. RESULTS: There was a significant association between acidemia and decreased platelet aggregation. No significant correlations were detected between platelet aggregation and Hct, WBC count, or platelet count. Platelet aggregation measured in healthy horses using the Multiplate analyzer showed substantial variation between animals. CONCLUSIONS: Acidemia caused by the addition of lactic acid to equine whole blood was associated with a mild though statistically significant decrease in platelet aggregation. In conjunction with other factors, this change may contribute to morbidity-related disorders of hemostasis, although its precise clinical relevance is uncertain.

Botryoid nuclei in the peripheral blood of a dog with heatstroke.

An EDTA-anticoagulated blood sample collected from a 1.5-year-old, intact male, English Bulldog was submitted for a CBC. The CBC data and blood smear evaluation revealed borderline high hematocrit (54%, reference interval 37-55%), inappropriate rubricytosis, moderate leukopenia due to both mature neutropenia and lymphopenia, and mild thrombocytopenia. Numerous leukocytes showed evidence of karyolysis, pyknosis, and karyorhexis, and apoptotic bodies were frequent in the background. Many neutrophils had botryoid nuclei characterized by increased numbers of nuclear segments radially arranged with spoke-like, delicate chromatin filaments connecting the segments centrally. The finding of botryoid nuclei and inappropriate rubricytosis was indicative of severe hyperthermia, such as heatstroke. The dog had been exercised a long time during conditions of high temperature and humidity until he collapsed. The dog was diagnosed with severe heatstroke, hypovolemic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. Despite aggressive treatment, the patient died of cardiopulmonary arrest. Botryoid nuclei are frequent in people with heatstroke. In the authors' experience, botryoid nuclei are seen commonly in dogs with heatstroke, but they have never been reported in veterinary medicine. The presence of petechiation with only mild thrombocytopenia and inappropriate rubricytosis also is suggestive of heatstroke and manifests ongoing life-threatening vascular derangement.

Multifocal cutaneous histiocytic sarcoma in a young dog and review of histiocytic cell immunophenotyping.

A 9-month-old male Great Dane had progressive generalized nodular dermatopathy for several months. There were > 100 raised, alopecic, firm, painful nodules throughout the skin. Aspirates from several lesions yielded moderate numbers of irregularly round or polygonal to spindle-shaped cells with mild to moderate anisocytosis and few inflammatory cells, and the cytologic interpretation was proliferation of mesenchymal or histiocytic cells. On histopathologic examination, nodules were composed of densely packed sheets of round to spindle-shaped cells with mild anisokaryosis and low mitotic activity. Multifocal histiocytic sarcoma with a spindle-cell pattern was diagnosed based on morphologic features and intense expression of CD18. Additional immunophenotypic analysis on frozen sections of tissue confirmed the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma; expression of CD18, CD45, CD1a, CD11b, and CD11c, limited expression of Thy-1 (CD90) and CD80, and lack of expression of CD4, CD11d, and CD86 indicated that the cells were likely interstitial dendritic cells; a review of reactive and neoplastic dendritic cells is provided. Based on staging, internal organs were not affected. Sequential treatment with lomustine and doxorubicin failed to prevent progression of the cutaneous lesions, and the dog died 3 months after initial diagnosis. At necropsy, a focus of neoplastic cells was present in one lymph node, but except for skin other organs were not involved. The clinical presentation of histiocytic sarcoma may be unusual, and neoplastic cells may lack overt features of malignancy on cytologic and histopathologic examination. In some instances, immunophenotyping is required to differentiate histiocytic sarcoma from other histiocytic disorders.