Effect of dilution of canine blood samples on the specificity of saline agglutination tests for immune-mediated hemolysis.

Background: Saline agglutination tests (SATs) are widely recommended for diagnosis of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs, but there are frequent false-positive results.

Objectives: Specificity of SATs will improve at higher saline-to-blood ratios.

Animals: One hundred fifty dogs treated at a veterinary referral hospital with hematocrits ≤30%.

Decreased antithrombin activity and inflammation in cats.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine if inflammatory markers are associated with antithrombin activity in cats.

Methods: For a retrospective population of 231 cats admitted to a referral hospital, antithrombin activity was classified as decreased (n = 77), intermediate (n = 97) or in the upper quartile (n = 57). Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for an association between decreased or upper quartile activity and hypoalbuminemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, band neutrophilia and toxic change.

Simulated folivory increases vertical transmission of fungal endophytes that deter herbivores and alter tolerance to herbivory in Poa autumnalis.

Background And Aims: The processes that maintain variation in the prevalence of symbioses within host populations are not well understood. While the fitness benefits of symbiosis have clearly been shown to drive changes in symbiont prevalence, the rate of transmission has been less well studied. Many grasses host symbiotic fungi (Epichloë spp.