Jelena Gotić

Plasma biomarkers of SIRS and MODS associated with canine babesiosis

Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the haemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. Early detection of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is of major importance in clinical practice for providing information about severity and outcomes of the disease and therapy. Plasma samples were taken at admission from five dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis caused by B. canis canis, five dogs with babesiosis and SIRS, five dogs with babesiosis and MODS, and five healthy dogs. After two-dimensional electrophoresis and capillary reversed - phase liquid chromatography coupled online with tandem mass spectrometry, 68 differentially expressed spots with level of significance P<0.05 were detected between groups. SIRS in babesiosis was characterised by increases in paraoxonase 1 and apoA-I, whereas MODS with decrease of complement inhibitors leading to prolonged complement activation and decrease of vitamin D binding protein due to haemolysis and activation of the coagulation cascade.

Blood markers of fibrinolysis and endothelial activation in canine babesiosis

BackgroundCanine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The disease can be clinically classified into uncomplicated and complicated forms. The aim of this study was to assess the level of endothelial activation and alterations in the fibrinolytic pathway during canine babesiosis.ResultsBlood samples were collected on the day of admission and on the 6th day after treatment with imidocarb propionate, from 30 dogs of various breeds and of both sexes with naturally occurring babesiosis caused by B. canis. In this prospective study, plasminogen activity was assessed using a chromogenic assay, and concentrations of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1), intercellular adhesive molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesive molecule-1 (VCAM-1), soluble urokinase receptor of plasminogen activator (suPAR), thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), soluble thrombomodulin (TM) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were determined using a canine specific ELISA. Concentrations of TM, HMGB-1, VCAM-1 and suPAR were increased in dogs with babesiosis at admission compared to healthy dogs. After treatment, concentrations of TM were lower in infected dogs compared to healthy dogs. Dogs with babesiosis also had increased concentrations of TM, ICAM-1 and HMGB-1 and decreased plasminogen and PAI-1 at presentation compared to day 6 after treatment. Dogs with complicated babesiosis had higher concentrations of TM, HMGB1 and TAFI at admission compared to the 6th day.ConclusionsBiomarkers of endothelial activation and fibrinolysis were altered in dogs with babesiosis. Further studies into their usefulness as biomarkers of disease severity or prognosis is warranted.

Alteration of haemostatic parameters in uncomplicated canine babesiosis

Babesiosis is a tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by haemoprotozoan parasites. The aim of this study were to assess markers of coagulation pathways in 25 dogs with naturally occurring babesiosis caused by B. canis, compared to 10 healthy controls. Protein C (PC) and antithrombin III (AT III) activity were assessed using a chromogenic substrate test, while levels of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes, activated protein C (APC) and endothelial protein C receptor were assessed using canine-specific ELISA. AT III activity was decreased as a result of a negative acute phase response, degradation by elastase, reduced availability of glycosaminoglycans, and, most importantly, consumption as a consequence of thrombin formation. Procoagulant state and haemostatic shift towards thrombin formation are also demonstrated by elevated TAT levels. Regarding PC pathway only significant difference was found for APC. Taken together, haemostatic alterations in uncomplicated babesiosis represent a procoagulant state that is mostly reversed during treatment.

Glomerular and tubular kidney damage markers in canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis

Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the haemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The aim of this study was to assess renal dysfunction in dogs with babesiosis caused by B. canis, using serum and urinary markers for both glomerular and tubular dysfunction. Assays previously not validated for use in canine samples were validated and the potential interference of haemoglobin, lipids and bilirubin with these analyses was additionally considered. In this study 42 dogs naturally infected with B. canis and 14 healthy dogs were included. Dogs with babesiosis were divided into 3 groups: group A consisted of 9 non-azotemic dogs with normal urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC < 0.5), group B of 27 non-azotemic dogs with UPC > 0.5 and group C of 6 azotemic dogs with UPC > 2. The concentrations of urinary immunoglobin G (IgG), retinol binding protein (RBP), uromodulin, kidney injury molecule - 1 (KIM-1), and serum symmetric dimethylarginine were measured by ELISA assays, while urinary albumin and N-acetyl-b-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were evaluated by an immunoturbidimetric and enzymatic colorimetric assay, respectively. Urinary markers were normalized to urine creatinine concentration. All tested markers, with exception of uromodulin, showed significant differences between dogs with babesiosis and healthy dogs, and also showed strong or very strong positive correlation with UPC. Increases of urinary albumin and IgG suggested glomerular damage, and increases of KIM-1, RBP and NAG proximal tubular damage in dogs with babesiosis. They demonstrated clear advantages compared to conventional parameters by showing earlier changes in detecting renal damage.

Relation of antioxidant status at admission and disease severity and outcome in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis canis

BackgroundCanine babesiosis is caused by species of the Babesia genus and has become an emerging disease worldwide. To the authors’ knowledge there are no reports in which antioxidants have been analyzed in different presentations of canine babesiosis or in which the prognostic value of antioxidants has been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether oxidative stress could be related to the severity and outcome of canine babesiosis. For this purpose a profile consisting of four antioxidant biomarkers (superoxide dismutase - SOD, glutathione peroxidase - GPx, catalase, total antioxidant status - TAS) and malondialdehyde - MDA as an oxidant biomarker (previously evaluated, here studied for comparative purposes) were evaluated in dogs with canine babesiosis of different clinical severity and outcomes.ResultsThe study was conducted with a sample of 40 dogs suffering from babesiosis (further divided into uncomplicated, one complication and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome - MODS group) and 30 healthy dogs (control group). Additionally, the babesiosis group was divided according to the anaemia into non-anaemic, mildly anaemic, moderately anaemic and severely anaemic dogs. The results of our study showed significantly decreased SOD, catalase and TAS values in diseased dogs compared to controls, while there were no significant differences in GPx between these groups. Dogs that developed MODS showed lower activities of SOD and GPx and higher MDA values compared to dogs with uncomplicated babesiosis as well as with dogs that developed one complication. Superoxide dismutase, catalase and GPx were negatively correlated whereas MDA was positively correlated with the lethal outcome of the disease. Furthermore, this study detected more pronounced decrease in antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, GPx and catalase) in dogs with moderate anaemia compared to those with mild anaemia.ConclusionsThe results of this study showed changes in biomarkers related to the antioxidant status of dogs naturally infected with B. canis canis. These biomarkers could be used as indicators of disease severity and outcome in dogs suffering from babesiosis.

Elbow Joint Luxation in a Ten Months Old Arabian Colt : a case report

Abstract Elbow joint luxation without concomitant fracture is uncommon in horses. This paper reports on a case of elbow joint luxation in a ten months old Arabian colt. The horse was presented with a history of an acute onset of non-weight bearing right front limb lameness with edema of the affected region lasting for six days. Radiographic imaging indicated luxation of the elbow joint; however, useful information about the severity of soft tissue involvement was obtained using ultrasonography since bilateral collateral ligaments were completely disrupted. The owner opted for euthanasia and necropsy confirmed the diagnosis. Although very rare, elbow joint luxation should be considered in cases of acute forelimb lameness in young horses.