Paolo Silvestrini

Serum cardiac troponin I concentrations in dogs with leishmaniasis: correlation with age and clinicopathologic abnormalities

BACKGROUND There is anecdotal evidence of myocardial injury in dogs with leishmaniasis due to generalized vasculitis and myocarditis. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to evaluate serum concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) as an indicator of myocardial injury in dogs with leishmaniasis and to assess the relationship between cTnI concentration and age, serum antibody titer, and a variety of blood analytes. METHODS In this retrospective study, serum cTnI concentration was measured in dogs with leishmaniasis and in age-matched healthy dogs. Diagnosis was based on clinical signs and moderate-to-high seropositivity for Leishmania as measured by ELISA. Correlations between cTnI concentration and ELISA seropositivity, PCV, concentrations of serum creatinine, total protein, albumin, and globulin, albumin:globulin ratio (A/G), and urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) were investigated. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare analytes between dogs with normal and increased (> 0.06 μg/L) cTnI concentration and to compare cTnI concentrations between dogs with and without anemia, azotemia, and proteinuria. RESULTS In dogs with leishmaniasis (n = 40), median cTnI concentration was higher than in control dogs (n = 11) (P = .011). Sixteen dogs (40%) with leishmaniasis had increased cTnI concentration; cTnI was moderately to weakly correlated with decreased albumin concentration, decreased A/G, increased UPC, decreased PCV, positive Leishmania titer, and increased age. Dogs with leishmaniasis had significantly higher total protein and globulin concentrations and lower PCV, albumin concentration, and A/G than control dogs. Hematologic and biochemical analytes did not differ significantly between dogs with cTnI concentration within the reference interval and those with increased concentrations. Concentration of cTnI was higher in proteinuric dogs compared with nonproteinuric dogs (P = .017). CONCLUSION A proportion of dogs with leishmaniasis have increased serum cTnI concentration, indicative of some degree of cardiac injury. Additional studies are needed to investigate the relationship between leishmaniasis and possible myocardial injury.

Analysis of 2735 canine uroliths in Spain and Portugal. A retrospective study: 2004–2006

The objective of the study was to evaluate epidemiological data derived from 2735 canine uroliths received by Hills Pet Nutrition from Spain and Portugal between January 2004 and December 2006. The results of quantitative analysis from Minnesota Urolith Center (MUC) were compared with that from other countries and interrelations of mineral composition, age, breed, and gender were determined. The most frequent calculus was calcium oxalate (38.1%) followed by struvite (32.9%). Eighty-three breeds plus crossbreeds (25%) were identified. In all of them, but Dalmatians, calcium oxalate and struvite accounted for 71-78%. The mean age of urolith appearance was 7.6 years. There was a significant difference in the frequency of different uroliths composition among the six most common breeds presenting urolithiasis in Spain and Portugal (Yorkshire terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Dalmatian). This is the first report on xanthine urolithiasis found in Spain. Prevalence of cystine calculi was significantly lower (3.2%) than that reported previously in parts of Spain (26%).

Severe life-threatening hypokalemia in a cat with suspected distal renal tubular acidosis

OBJECTIVE Description of the clinical presentation and management of a critically ill cat with profound hypokalemia associated with a suspicion of distal renal tubular acidosis (DRTA) and secondary hyperaldosteronism. CASE SUMMARY A cat was presented with severe generalized weakness and acute ventilatory failure associated with severe hypokalemia. The acid-base analysis and complete analytical profile of the urine confirmed the presence of a normal anion-gap metabolic acidosis with a urine pH of 7, a disorder consistent with DRTA. The high plasma renin activity, high aldosterone concentration, and low normal plasma aldosterone concentration/plasma renin activity ratio suggested secondary hyperaldosteronism. The management of the patient in the ICU was successful. No identifiable cause could be determined as a cause for the DRTA, so the disorder was assumed to be the primary problem. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED DRTA is a rare disorder occasionally reported in the veterinary literature; it is especially rare in cats. Complete diagnostic evaluation was necessary to identify the reported disorders as the cause of the clinical presentation. To the authors knowledge, this is the first case reporting DRTA, and a simultaneously documented mineralocorticoid response, as a cause of a life-threatening hypokalemia.

Canine packed red blood cell transfusions in Spain

Transfusion medicine is a relatively new and rapidly growing area of research in veterinary medicine. Packed red blood cell transfusion (PRBC) is indicated for treatment of symptomatic anemia resulting from hemorrhage, hemolysis, or ineffective erythropoiesis. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify clinical manifestations and underlying diseases of dogs that received PRBC and determine possible transfusion complications and outcome. Donors were blood typed and previously tested for infectious diseases potentially transmitted by transfusion (Ehrlichia canis, Borrelia burdogferi, Dirofilaria immitis, Anaplasma phagocytophila, Anaplasma platys, Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., and Rickettsia spp, and Leishmania infantum). Recipients were also blood typed and cross-matching was routinely performed before any transfusion. Packed cell volume (PCV) was performed before and after transfusion. Every PRBC transfusion was delivered by a bedside leukoreduction filter. Sixty-five PRBC transfusions were administered to 56 dogs. Twenty-two dogs resulted DEA 1.1 positive and 34 DEA 1.1 negative. Reasons for transfusion included anemia secondary to hemorrhage (n = 48; 74%), hemolysis (n = 8; 12%), and ineffective erythropoiesis (n = 9; 14%). Median PCV before transfusion was 14.7% (range: 7–36%) and the mean post-transfusion was 21% (range: 9–39%). Mean increase in PCV was 6.5%. Thirty-one (70%) dogs were discharged and 17 (30%) dogs died or were euthanized. Transient hyperthermia was the only adverse reaction found. PRBC transfusion for symptomatic treatment of anemia is a safe and useful procedure, if the transfusion is closely supervised throughout its duration.