Serum procalcitonin as a diagnostic biomarker in dogs with bacterial respiratory diseases.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful biomarker in humans in the identification of bacterial respiratory infections.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of serum PCT measurements as a diagnostic biomarker in canine bacterial lower respiratory tract diseases.

Methods: PCT concentrations were measured in serum samples with an ELISA method previously validated for dogs.

Effects of alpha-2-adrenoceptor agonism and antagonism on equine blood insulin and glucose concentrations after oral carbohydrate load.

Alpha-2-adrenoceptor agonist detomidine is a commonly used sedative agent in horses. In addition to the sedative effect, detomidine has been reported to elicit changes in energy metabolism such as hypoinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of detomidine with and without peripherally acting alpha-2-adrenoceptor antagonist vatinoxan on insulin and blood glucose (BG) concentrations in horses after a standard dose of oral carbohydrates.

Fatty acid fingerprints in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and its extracellular vesicles reflect equine asthma severity.

Equine asthma (EA) is an inflammatory disease of the lower airways driven by mediators released from cells. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vehicles for lipid mediators, which possess either pro-inflammatory or dual anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving functions. In this study, we investigated how the respiratory fatty acid (FA) profile reflects airway inflammatory status.

Extraesophageal reflux and reflux aspiration in dogs with respiratory diseases and in healthy dogs.

Background: Salivary bile acids are used to diagnose extraesophageal reflux (EER) and to evaluate the risk of reflux aspiration that is associated with respiratory diseases in dogs.

Objectives: To study total bile acid (TBA) concentrations in saliva and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) to investigate EER and reflux aspiration in dogs with respiratory diseases and in healthy dogs.

Animals:  Thirty-one West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 12 dogs with inflammatory airway disease (IAD), 6 dogs with recurrent pneumonia (RP), 26 brachycephalic dogs (BD), 27 healthy WHWTs (HW), 52 healthy dogs (HD).

Evaluation of VEGF-A and CCL2 in dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome or canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and in normocephalic dogs.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) of West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) often cause intermittent or chronic hypoxemia. Our objective was to evaluate serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) concentrations of hypoxemia-related proinflammatory mediators vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and chemokine (CC motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in brachycephalic dogs (BDs) and WHWTs with and without CIPF. Additionally, effects of BOAS severity and ageing on these mediators were assessed.

Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles From the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Healthy and Asthmatic Horses.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound particles that engage in inflammatory reactions by mediating cell-cell interactions. Previously, EVs have been isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of humans and rodents. The aim of this study was to investigate the number and size distribution of EVs in the BALF of asthmatic horses (EA, = 35) and healthy horses ( = 19).

Reflux aspiration in lungs of dogs with respiratory disease and in healthy West Highland White Terriers.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux and microaspiration (MA) of gastric juice are associated with various human respiratory diseases but not in dogs.

Objective: To detect the presence of bile acids in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of dogs with various respiratory diseases.

Animals: Twenty-seven West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) with canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF), 11 dogs with bacterial pneumonia (BP), 13 with chronic bronchitis (CB), 9 with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP), 19 with laryngeal dysfunction (LD), 8 Irish Wolfhounds (IWHs) with previous BPs, 13 healthy WHWTs, all privately owned dogs, and 6 healthy research colony Beagles METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional observational study with convenience sampling of dogs.

Expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in horses with chronic airway inflammation.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) can be detected in equine lungs and whether it correlates with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of horses with chronic inflammation of the lungs (ie, lower airway inflammation [LAI]). ANIMALS 29 horses with signs of chronic respiratory tract disease, which were classified as the LAI (n = 17) and LAI with respiratory distress (RDLAI [12]) groups, and 15 control horses. PROCEDURES BALF, tracheal aspirate, and blood samples were obtained, and EMMPRIN expression was determined from BALF cells and RBCs by use of western blotting.

Expression of monocarboxylate transporters I and IV and the ancillary protein CD147 in the intestinal tract of healthy horses and ponies.

Objective: To characterize the expression of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) 1 and 4 and the ancillary protein CD147 in the intestinal tract of healthy equids and determine the cellular location of CD147 in the intestinal epithelium.

Animals: 12 healthy horses and ponies slaughtered for meat production or euthanized for reasons unrelated to gastrointestinal tract disease.

Procedures: The entire gastrointestinal tract was removed from each equid within 45 minutes after slaughter or euthanasia.

Effects of feed on plasma leptin and ghrelin concentrations in crib-biting horses.

The reason why some horses begin an oral stereotypy such as crib-biting is not known. The aim of this study was to measure ghrelin and leptin concentrations in plasma concentrations to determine whether there is a link to crib-biting in horses. Plasma samples (n=3) were collected for plasma leptin and ghrelin assay before and during the morning first feeding in the usual environments of 15 horses with stereotypic crib-biting and 15 matched controls.

Sequence variations and two levels of MCT1 and CD147 expression in red blood cells and gluteus muscle of horses.

MCT1-CD147 complex is the prime lactate transporter in mammalian plasma membranes. In equine red blood cells (RBCs), activity of the complex and expression of MCT1 and CD147 is bimodal; high in 70% and low in 30%. We studied whether sequence variations contribute to the bimodal expression of MCT1 and CD147.

MCT1, MCT4 and CD147 gene polymorphisms in healthy horses and horses with myopathy.

Polymorphisms in human lactate transporter proteins (monocarboxylate transporters; MCTs), especially the MCT1 isoform, can affect lactate transport activity and cause signs of exercise-induced myopathy. Muscles express MCT1, MCT4 and CD147, an ancillary protein, indispensable for the activity of MCT1 and MCT4. We sequenced the coding sequence (cDNA) of horse MCT4 for the first time and examined polymorphisms in the cDNA of MCT1, MCT4 and CD147 of 16 healthy horses.

Effects of age and concentrate feeding on the expression of MCT 1 and CD147 in the gastrointestinal tract of goats and Hereford finishing beef bulls.

Monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT 1) necessary for the absorption of short chain fatty acids in the gastrointestinal tract, was measured in ventral wall of rumen, abomasum and duodenum of kids at age of 1 day and 1, 2 and 8 weeks. Samples from rumen, abomasum and duodenum were also taken from finishing beef bulls fed concentrate either ad libitum (A) or restrictively (R). Increased expression of MCT 1 was observed during the first week and parallel increases were found in its ancillary protein, CD147 in the rumen of kids.

Plasma levels of heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) and beta-endorphin as indicators of stress, pain and prognosis in horses with colic.

A prospective observational study was performed to evaluate whether the plasma concentration of heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) or beta-endorphin is related to clinical signs, blood chemistry, or severity of pain of colic. Seventy-seven horses with colic and 15 clinically healthy controls were studied. The horses were divided into four groups which reflected increasing severity of colic, from normal control horses to horses with mild, moderate and severe colic.

Lactate transport in canine red blood cells.

Objective: To detect monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) in canine RBC membranes and to determine the distribution of lactate between plasma and RBCs.

Sample Population: Blood samples obtained from 6 purpose-bred Beagles.

Procedures: Monocarboxylate transporter isoforms 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 and CD147 were evaluated in canine RBCs by use of western blot analysis.

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) as lactate carriers in equine muscle and red blood cells.

Reasons For Performing Study: Monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) facilitate the transport of lactate across membranes. In red blood cells (RBC) the transport activity varies interindividually due to differences in the amount of an ancillary protein CD147. Similar variations in muscles could have a great influence on lactate accumulation during exercise.

MCT1 and CD147 gene polymorphisms in standardbred horses.

Reasons For Performing Study: Transport of lactate across membranes is facilitated by proton-monocarboxylate transporters (MCT). The most widely distributed isoform is MCT1, which needs an ancillary protein CD147. Studies on erythrocytes have shown that high activity of MCT1 is inherited as the dominant allele and that activity is regulated through CD147.

Expression of MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 in the rumen, small intestine and liver of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.).

The expression of monocarboxylate transporters MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 in the rumen, small intestine and liver was examined in free-ranging and captive reindeer. In addition, expression of chaperone protein CD147, which is needed for the activity of MCT1 and MCT4, was studied in the rumen of suckling calves. Immunoblotting of cell membrane proteins showed the expression of MCT1 and MCT4, but not that of MCT2 in the rumen of reindeer.

Distribution of monocarboxylate transporter isoforms MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 in porcine muscles.

Aim: Monocarboxylate transporters (MCT), which cotransport lactate anions and protons across cell membranes, are important for regulation of muscle pH. We measured amounts of MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 by immunoblotting in five different porcine muscles, to study MCT-isoform distribution both in oxidative and highly glycolytic muscles.

Methods: Samples from the longissimus dorsi, gluteus superficialis, semimembranosus, infraspinatus and masseter were taken from 18 slaughtered pigs.

Lactate transport in red blood cells by monocarboxylate transporters.

The lactate transport activity of red blood cells (RBC) varies widely among different species; in equine RBC, the activity of the main lactate carrier, H+-monocarboxylate co-transporter (MCT), is distributed bimodally. The influence of lactate transport activity is measurable in vivo; after maximal exercise, the RBC lactate concentration in horses with high (HT) lactate transport activity is higher than in those with low (LT) activity. To study the expression of MCT in HT and LT horses, blood samples were taken from 10 horses at rest and after submaximal exercise.