Negative interference of icteric serum on a bichromatic biuret total protein assay.

Background: Bilirubin is stated to be a negative interferent in some biuret assays and thus could contribute to pseudohypoproteinemia in icteric samples.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the magnitude of and reason for a falsely low total protein concentration in icteric serum when the protein concentration is measured with a bichromatic spectrophotometric biuret assay.

Methods: Commercially available bilirubin was dissolved in 0.

Refractometric total protein concentrations in icteric serum from dogs.

Objective: To determine whether high serum bilirubin concentrations interfere with the measurement of serum total protein concentration by refractometry and to assess potential biases among refractometer measurements.

Design: Evaluation study.

Sample: Sera from 2 healthy Greyhounds.

Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in a German Shepherd dog.

An 11-year-old spayed-female German Shepherd dog was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University with a history of weight loss, anorexia, depression, and lethargy for 2-3 weeks. Radiographic examination revealed a mass in the spleen and several round radiodense foci in the liver. CBC results included normocytic normochromic anemia, marked thrombocytopenia, and low numbers of neoplastic cells that frequently had cytoplasmic projections or blebs.

Canine elliptocytosis due to a mutant beta-spectrin.

A 5-year-old, spayed female, mixed-breed dog with persistent elliptocytosis was evaluated at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University. The elliptocytosis was asymptomatic and was detected during the evaluation of lameness. When subjected to shear stress in an ektacytometer, the dog's erythrocytes had reduced cellular deformability and erythrocyte membranes had decreased mechanical stability.

What is your diagnosis? Muculent pleural effusion from a dog.

Pleural effusion was examined from a 5-year-old, female Brittany Spaniel with a 7-day history of dyspnea, anorexia, and diarrhea. The fluid was yellow, cloudy, and slightly gelatinous, and had a total protein concentration of 2.8 g/dL, a total nucleated cell concentration of 1.

Blood smear from a cat: features to "dys"cover.

A 4-year-old, spayed female, domestic shorthair cat was presented for lethargy, nonregenerative anemia, and inappetence. Results of a CBC included macrocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia and a glucocorticoid-associated leukogram. On blood smear examination, neutrophils had abnormal features including hyposegmentation and a diffuse chromatin pattern with nuclear filament formation and nuclear blebbing.

Clinical assessment of leukocytosis: distinguishing leukocytoses caused by inflammatory, glucocorticoid, physiologic, and leukemic disorders or conditions.

The four major types of leukocytoses are inflammatory, glucocorticoid-associated, catecholamine-associated, and neoplastic. These leukocytoses are distinguished by leukocyte concentrations, microscopic features of leukocytes, and associations with other laboratory data. All laboratory findings need to be interpreted within the context of the case information, including signalment, history, and physical examination findings.

Predominance of Ehrlichia ewingii in Missouri dogs.

To investigate the species distribution of Ehrlichia present in Missouri dogs, we tested 78 dogs suspected of having acute ehrlichiosis and 10 healthy dogs. Blood from each dog was screened with a broad-range 16S rRNA gene PCR assay that detects known pathogenic species of Ehrlichia and ANAPLASMA: The species was determined by using species-specific PCR assays and nucleotide sequencing. Ehrlichia antibody testing was performed by using an indirect immunofluorescence assay with Ehrlichia chaffeensis as the antigenic substrate.

Blood values in wild and captive Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis).

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest living lizard and occupies a range smaller than that of any other large carnivore in the world. Samples from 33 free-ranging animals at five localities in Komodo National Park, Indonesia were evaluated to assess underlying health problems. To build a comparative database, samples from 44 Komodo dragons in both Indonesian and U.

Analysis of serum protein concentrations after severe thermal injury in a dog.

Serial serum electrophoreses and routine serum protein assays were used to assess changes in serum protein concentrations after severe thermal injury in a dog. Electrophoretic patterns during the month of evaluation were consistent with protein-losing dermatopathy (thermal burn) and inflammatory dysproteinemias.