Evaluation of heart fatty acid-binding protein as a biomarker for canine leishmaniosis.

Background: Myocarditis frequently occurs in canine leishmaniosis (CanL). Heart fatty acid-binding protein (HFABP) is a biomarker of myocardial damage.

Methods: This study aimed to compare HFABP concentration (HFABPc) in healthy dogs and dogs at different stages of CanL and evaluate the correlation of this biomarker with several clinicopathological and echocardiographic variables.

Total bilirubin is an independent predictor of death in dogs with degenerative valvular disease and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: There is little published regarding the association between canine cardiovascular disease and the hepatic system. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between hepatic parameters, survival, and disease stages of dogs with either dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or degenerative valvular disease (DVD).

Animals, Materials, And Methods: Retrospective study analyzing hepatic parameters in dogs with DVD or DCM in American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine stage B or C and healthy control dogs.

The perioperative management of small animals with previously implanted pacemakers undergoing anaesthesia.

Objective: There is little information in the veterinary literature about the perioperative management of small animal patients with previously implanted pacemakers undergoing elective or emergency non-cardiac procedures. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature with regard to human patients, with previously implanted pacemakers, undergoing general anaesthesia. Using this and the current information on pacemakers and anaesthesia in dogs and cats, we provide recommendations for small animal patients in this situation.

Association of myocardial parasitic load with cardiac biomarkers and other selected variables in 10 dogs with advanced Canine Leishmaniasis.

Background: The association between myocardial parasitic load (MPL) and cardiac biomarkers in Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL) has not been studied.

Methods: Dogs with advanced CanL were prospectively recruited and were included if they were euthanised. Prior to euthanasia these variables were assessed: hematocrit, globulin, creatinine, N-terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), blood pressure, urine protein/creatinine ratio and echocardiographic parameters.

Clinical features and long-term follow-up of 70 cases of canine idiopathic eosinophilic lung disease.

Background: Canine idiopathic eosinophilic lung disease (ELD) is sparsely documented in the literature.

Methods: Clinical presentation and outcome of dogs diagnosed with ELD (eosinophilic bronchitis or eosinophilic bronchopneumonia) were reviewed. Subgroups were made based on chronicity of clinical signs and findings of thoracic imaging: NCI (no changes in thoracic imaging), BRON (bronchial/peribronchial pattern), INT (bronchointerstitial/interstitial/alveolar).

Comparison of N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide levels at different stages of visceral leishmaniosis and in patients with chronic kidney disease.

N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be a useful marker in canine leishmaniosis (CanL). The aim was to compare NT-proBNP in dogs at different LeishVet stages of CanL and with idiopathic chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dogs diagnosed with CanL or CKD and a group of healthy dogs were included (group A, five normal dogs; group B, six dogs LeishVet 1-2; group C, 13 dogs LeishVet 3-4; group D, six dogs with CKD).

Heart-fatty acid binding protein in dogs with degenerative valvular disease and dilated cardiomyopathy.

The study objective was to investigate heart-fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) concentrations in dogs with degenerative valvular disease (MVD) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and its potential as a prognostic factor. Plasma HFABP, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels were measured in 21 control dogs, 23 dogs with MVD and 13 dogs with DCM, with repeated sampling at 1 and 3 months after initial presentation. All dogs were followed up after 6 and 12 months to verify survival.

Anatomical anomalies and variations of main thoracic vessels in dogs: a computed tomography study.

Introduction: There is scarce information about the prevalence of anomalies and anatomical variations of the main great thoracic vessels in dogs, particularly in dogs without congenital heart disease.

Animals: The study included 878 privately owned dogs.

Material And Methods: Computerized tomography (CT) thoracic studies carried out between 2011 and 2014 for a variety of reasons were reviewed.

Comparison of myocardial damage among dogs at different stages of clinical leishmaniasis and dogs with idiopathic chronic kidney disease.

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a systemic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum. Myocarditis in CanL has been described previously in CanL by histopathological analysis of post-mortem specimens and by evaluation of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels. However, the degree of myocardial damage at different stages of CanL and the role that concurrent azotaemia plays in this myocardial injury are unknown.

Usefulness of serum cardiac troponin I concentration as a marker of survival of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups during rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE To measure serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in orphaned harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups at various points during rehabilitation in a seal rescue center and determine whether cTnI concentration was associated with survival during rehabilitation and duration of rehabilitation. DESIGN Serial cross-sectional study. ANIMALS Fifty-five 2- to 9-day-old harbor seal pups.

Unilateral absence of the right pulmonary artery with associated aortopulmonary collaterals and bullous lung lesions in a dog.

This case report describes a combination of congenital cardiopulmonary abnormalities found in a 1-year-old Labrador Retriever. To the authors' knowledge this combination of cardiopulmonary abnormalities has not been previously reported in veterinary medicine. Unilateral absence of the right pulmonary artery associated with unilateral right-sided aortopulmonary collaterals was observed.

Left ventricular radial colour and longitudinal pulsed-wave tissue Doppler echocardiography in 39 healthy domestic pet rabbits.

This paper reports radial colour and longitudinal mitral annulus pulsed-wave tissue Doppler findings in a large cohort of healthy, adult pet rabbits. Thirty-nine rabbits (22 Dwarf Lops, 14 French Lops and three Alaskans) underwent conscious echocardiography. The median age of the rabbits was 22 months and the median weight was 2.

Association of the myosin binding protein C3 mutation (MYBPC3 R820W) with cardiac death in a survey of 236 Ragdoll cats.

Objectives: A mutation identified in the myosin binding protein C3 gene (MYBPC3 R820W) has been associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Ragdoll cats. Ragdolls with HCM are reported to have a poor prognosis and homozygous cats seem particularly likely to develop severe HCM, although the outcome in Ragdolls tested for the MYBPC3 mutation has not been reported. We aimed to determine the influence of genotype on survival in Ragdoll cats using a questionnaire, and hypothesized that homozygous Ragdolls had shorter lifespans and were more likely to suffer cardiac death than heterozygous or wild-type (WT) cats.

M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic findings in 40 healthy domestic pet rabbits.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to report normal two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiographic findings from a large cohort of healthy, manually restrained, adult pet rabbits.

Animals And Methods: Forty healthy pet rabbits [22 Dwarf Lops (DL), 14 French Lops (FL) and 4 Alaskan (AL)] underwent a full physical examination and conscious two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiography.

Results: The median age of the rabbits was 21.

Prevalence and demographics of the MYBPC3-mutations in ragdolls and Maine coons in the British Isles.

Objectives: To determine prevalence and demographics of two myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3) mutations that affect ragdolls (R820W) and Maine coons (A31P) in the British Isles.

Methods: From the database of a genetic testing laboratory samples from 2018 ragdolls and 742 Maine coons were analysed with respect to mutation status, age, sex and county of origin. The actual prevalence was compared to the expected Hardy-Weinberg prevalence by chi-squared test.

Imaging diagnosis-transcranial color-coded duplex sonography in a dog with hepatic encephalopathy.

We report the use of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in a dog with hepatic encephalopathy secondary to a congenital portosystemic shunt. A severe increase in the pulsatility index was measured in the right middle cerebral artery, left middle cerebral artery, and basilar artery. These values returned to normal following medical stabilization of the patient and resolution of the neurologic signs.

Effect of transient carotid artery compression during transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in dogs.

Changes in blood flow in the arteries of the canine skull base following compression of the ipsilateral carotid artery were evaluated. Forty healthy conscious dogs were evaluated during examination in lateral recumbency. Using the temporal window, the rostral, middle and caudal cerebral arteries were evaluated.

Serum protein electrophoresis in 155 cats.

All serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) results obtained between 2002 and 2009 from clinical cases presented to the University of Bristol Feline Centre were examined retrospectively. One hundred and fifty-five results met the inclusion criteria. Signalment and final diagnoses were obtained from the case records.

Comparison of histopathologic findings in biopsies from the duodenum and ileum of dogs with enteropathy.

Background: In the investigations of dogs with chronic small intestinal diarrhea collection of ileal biopsies lengthens procedural time and has been of uncertain value.

Objectives: To evaluate whether there was agreement between histologic changes present in samples of duodenal and ileal mucosa, and hence to provide initial information in the process of determining whether collection of ileal biopsies is clinically justified.

Animals: 40 dogs with chronic small and large intestinal diarrhea from which endoscopic (in 30 cases) or surgical (in 10 cases) duodenal and ileal biopsies had been collected.

Septic pericardial effusion associated with pulmonary and pericardial botryomycosis in a dog.

The authors report a case of septic pericardial effusion resulting in cardiac tamponade associated with intrathoracic botryomycosis in a dog. Septic pericarditis and a pulmonary mass were diagnosed, and subtotal pericardiectomy and lobectomy of the affected pulmonary areas were carried out. Histopathology of the excised tissue showed changes supportive of botryomycosis--namely a pyogranulomatous inflammation with neutrophils centred around amorphous homogeneous eosinophilic material and club-like bodies containing Gram-positive bacterial cocci present in the centre.