Validation of new automated turbidimetric immunoassays for the measurement of haptoglobin and inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 specific for the bovine species.

Background: Good strategical programs are required for the early detection of disease even in the absence of evident clinical signs, which is crucial in satisfying animal welfare. Haptoglobin (Hp) and inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 (ITIH4) are acute phase proteins and good biomarkers of early inflammation in cattle, with plasma levels that significantly increase after injury or infection.

Objectives: We aimed to develop and validate two new immunoturbidimetric methods for Hp and ITIH4.

Measurement of ITIH4 and Hp levels in bitches with pyometra using newly developed ELISA methods.

Measurement of acute phase proteins (APPs) as biomarkers in canine medicine is in increasing demand. In the present study, the development and validation of two ELISA methods for the quantification of canine inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) and haptoglobin (Hp) are shown. The adequate imprecision and accuracy and wide analytical range make the developed methods appropriate to quantify ITIH4 and Hp in serum samples.

Development and validation of an ELISA for the quantification of bovine ITIH4 in serum and milk.

Inter alpha trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) is a serum protein belonging to the Inter alpha trypsin inhibitor (ITI) family, which was previously characterized by our group as a new APP in cattle. This protein was firstly described in pigs where is known to be a major acute phase protein, also denominated Pig-MAP. Increases of ITIH4 of up to 12 times the pre-infection values were previously reported in the serum of heifers with experimentally induced summer mastitis.

Acute-phase inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) levels in serum and milk of cows with subclinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus species and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species.

The aim of the study was to investigate the concentrations of acute-phase inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) in serum and milk of cows with subclinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus spp. (STR) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (CNS) and healthy cows.

Preparation of canine C-reactive protein serum reference material: A feasibility study.

Background: The availability of a species-specific reference material is essential for the harmonization of results obtained in different laboratories by different methods.

Objectives: We describe the preparation of a canine C-reactive protein (cCRP) serum reference material containing purified cCRP stabilized in a serum matrix. The material can be used by manufacturers to assign values to their calibrator and control materials.

A new automated turbidimetric immunoassay for the measurement of canine C-reactive protein.

Background: In dogs, as in humans, C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute phase protein that is rapidly and prominently increased after exposure to inflammatory stimuli. CRP measurements are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Objectives: The study aim was to develop and validate a turbidimetric immunoassay for the quantification of canine CRP (cCRP), using canine-specific reagents and standards.

Coherence of animal health, welfare and carcass quality in pork production chains.

Aim of the study was to measure the potential impact of animal health and welfare on the carcass quality. 99 pigs under equal housing and feeding conditions were involved in the study. Effects of the immune system on carcass composition, meat quality and performance data of slaughter pigs became measureable by quantification of acute phase proteins (APP), haptoglobin (Hp) and pig major acute phase protein (Pig-MAP).

The use of acute phase proteins for monitoring animal health and welfare in the pig production chain: the validation of an immunochromatographic method for the detection of elevated levels of pig-MAP.

The serum concentration of acute phase proteins (APPs) increases in the presence of disease or stress, which makes APPs notable parameters for the global assessment of animal health and welfare. A rapid, immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the detection of elevated levels of pig Major Acute-phase Protein (pig-MAP), one of the main APPs in pigs, was evaluated in more than 1400 pig serum samples obtained from commercial farms. The ICT showed a good performance with a relative sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) of 94 and 97%, respectively, for a threshold of 1.

Optimal combinations of acute phase proteins for detecting infectious disease in pigs.

The acute phase protein (APP) response is an early systemic sign of disease, detected as substantial changes in APP serum concentrations and most disease states involving inflammatory reactions give rise to APP responses. To obtain a detailed picture of the general utility of porcine APPs to detect any disease with an inflammatory component seven porcine APPs were analysed in serum sampled at regular intervals in six different experimental challenge groups of pigs, including three bacterial (Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Streptococcus suis, Mycoplasma hyosynoviae), one parasitic (Toxoplasma gondii) and one viral (porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus) infection and one aseptic inflammation. Immunochemical analyses of seven APPs, four positive (C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), pig major acute phase protein (pigMAP) and serum amyloid A (SAA)) and three negative (albumin, transthyretin, and apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1)) were performed in the more than 400 serum samples constituting the serum panel.

Development and validation of an ELISA for the quantification of pig major acute phase protein (Pig-MAP).

Measurement of acute phase proteins (APPs) levels in blood is increasingly being used for monitoring health and welfare in farm animals. In this work a sandwich-type ELISA for the quantification of pig Major Acute phase Protein (Pig-MAP), one of the main APP in pigs, has been developed and validated. Two Pig-MAP specific monoclonal antibodies were developed in mouse.

Pig-MAP and haptoglobin concentration reference values in swine from commercial farms.

Pig-MAP (Major Acute-phase Protein) and haptoglobin concentrations were determined in pigs from commercial farms, and reference intervals obtained for different productive stages. Pig-MAP serum concentrations were lower in sows than in adult boars (mean values 0.81 vs.

Pig major acute-phase protein and apolipoprotein A-I responses correlate with the clinical course of experimentally induced African Swine Fever and Aujeszky's disease.

In the present work, we studied the acute phase protein response after experimental virus infection in pigs. The animals were experimentally infected with African Swine Fever (ASF) or Aujeszky's disease (AD) viruses. The clinical course of ASF infection correlated with increasingly high levels of pig Major Acute-phase Protein (pig-MAP) (mean value of 6 mg/mL on day 6 post infection (p.

Characterisation of the pig acute phase protein response to road transport.

The acute phase protein (APP) response was evaluated after prolonged transportation of pigs under commercial conditions. Elevated serum APP concentrations were observed in two groups of boars immediately after their arrival at a destination farm compared with within-animal control samples obtained one month later. The effect was more pronounced in the first group of pigs conveyed under average transport conditions (Transport 1, 24 h), although the second group was transported for a longer time period (Transport 2, 48 h) but in superior transport conditions.

Haptoglobin and pig-major acute protein are increased in pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS).

The objective of this study was to determine the serum concentration levels of selected acute phase proteins (APP), haptoglobin (HPT) and pig-major acute phase protein (pig-MAP), in postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) affected pigs and PCV2-subclinically infected pigs. In a first study, a group of 15 eight-week-old conventional pigs from a PMWS affected farm were bled and a complete necropsy, histopathology and in situ hybridisation to detect PCV2 were performed. Based on the results, pigs were classified as suffering from PMWS (n = 10) or healthy animals (n = 5).