Application of the ASVCP guidelines for the establishment of haematologic and biochemical reference intervals in Icelandic horses in Austria.

Background: Despite the increasing popularity of Icelandic horses, published reference intervals (RIs) in this breed are rare. Due to their isolation and their small gene pool, alterations in some variables are likely and some possible breed-specific peculiarities have been described. The purpose of the present study was the establishment of comprehensive RIs in Icelandic horses according to recently published guidelines.

Evaluation of the fibrinogen antigenic turbidimetric assay as a screening method for measurement of fibrinogen concentration in dogs.

Background: A novel method for the rapid detection of fibrinogen concentration in human plasma, the fibrinogen antigenic turbidimetric assay (FIATA), is based on the precipitation of fibrinogen by vancomycin and a resultant change in optical density.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the FIATA method for: (1) measuring fibrinogen concentration in canine plasma using specimens collected in citrate, EDTA, and heparin, (2) species-specific calibration requirements, and (3) applicability for automation.

Methods: Standard curves were generated with both human and canine fibrinogen standards in the FIATA, and a reference interval for fibrinogen concentration was established using citrated plasma from healthy dogs (n = 127).

An error management system in a veterinary clinical laboratory.

Error recording and management is an integral part of a clinical laboratory quality management system. Analysis and review of recorded errors lead to corrective and preventive actions through modification of existing processes and, ultimately, to quality improvement. Laboratory errors can be divided into preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical errors depending on where in the laboratory cycle the errors occur.

Extreme thrombocytosis in a young cat.

A 7-month-old unvaccinated domestic shorthair cat was presented with a history of inappetence and hypersalivation. Clinical examination revealed fever, gingivitis and oral ulceration. An initial blood sample revealed a severe leukopenia and neutropenia and a feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) titre of 1:640; a second titre 10 days later was 1:2,560.

Humoral immune response in dogs naturally infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and in dogs after immunization with a Borrelia vaccine.

Lyme arthritis in dogs can be induced under experimental and natural conditions. However, the veterinary relevance of canine borreliosis is still under extensive investigation. The prevalence of symptoms is clearly low, although the risk of tick exposure is high.

Microarray-based identification of bacteria in clinical samples by solid-phase PCR amplification of 23S ribosomal DNA sequences.

The rapid identification of the bacteria in clinical samples is important for patient management and antimicrobial therapy. We describe a DNA microarray-based PCR approach for the quick detection and identification of bacteria from cervical swab specimens from mares. This on-chip PCR method combines the amplification of a variable region of bacterial 23S ribosomal DNA and the simultaneous sequence-specific detection on a solid phase.