Influence of preanalytical factors on feline proteinuria.

Background: To date, little information is available about the effect of preanalytical factors on the urinary protein-to-creatinine (UPC) ratio in cats.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effect of a commercially available cat litter, creatinine measurements at three different dilutions of urine, and different storage conditions on the UPC ratio in cats.

Methods: Feline urine specimens were prospectively collected.

Comparison of Protein Carbonyl (PCO), Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Septic Inflammation in Dogs.

Reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers of sepsis are lacking, but essential in veterinary medicine. We aimed to assess the accuracy of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), protein carbonyls (PCO) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) in differentiating dogs with sepsis from those with sterile inflammation and healthy ones, and predict the outcome in septic dogs. These analytes were retrospectively evaluated at admission in 92 dogs classified into healthy, septic and polytraumatized.

Identification of Protein Carbonyls (PCOs) in Canine Serum by Western Blot Technique and Preliminary Evaluation of PCO Concentration in Dogs With Systemic Inflammation.

In people, serum Protein Carbonyls (PCOs) increase during oxidative stress (OS) due to oxidative damage to proteins. OS is often associated with inflammation and especially with sepsis, a condition hard to diagnose in veterinary medicine because reliable markers are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess whether PCOs in canine serum may be detected by antibody-based methods such as Western Blotting (WB), and to preliminarily investigate the possible utility of this marker in dogs with inflammation.

Haematological and biochemical reference intervals in healthy racing and retired Italian Greyhounds.

In view of the enormous variability of dog breeds, breed-specific reference intervals (RIs) are recommended for use in veterinary clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to determine whether RIs of the general canine population may be applied to the Italian Greyhound (Piccoli Levrieri Italiani or PLI), and to generate breed-specific RIs, where appropriate. Sixty-three privately owned clinically healthy fasted dogs were examined.

Paraoxonase-1 activity evaluation as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in horses and foals.

Background: In several species, paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) decreases during inflammation, because of the presence of oxidative stress; its measurement recently has been validated in horses, but its role as a clinical biomarker is unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio of PON-1 activity to identify systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)-positive horses or horses with a poor prognosis.

Animals: One hundred seventy-two blood samples from 58 sick horses from 3 different veterinary hospitals.

Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals in Shetland Sheepdogs.

Background: Several breeds have physiological peculiarities that induce variations in reference intervals (RIs) compared with the general canine population. Shetland sheepdogs (SSs) are reported to be more predisposed to different diseases (eg, hyperlipidemia, gallbladder mucocele, and hypothyroidism). Consequently, a breed-specific approach is more often required.

Validation of a paraoxon-based method for measurement of paraoxonase (PON-1) activity and establishment of RIs in horses.

Background: Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is an antioxidant compound that is considered a negative acute phase protein. No information on the analytic performance of the paraoxon method for measuring PON-1 in horse serum is available.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate a paraoxon-based method to measure PON-1 in horses and to establish RIs in healthy horses and foals.