Evaluation of three pancreas specific protein assays, TLI(trypsin-like immunoreactivity), PASP (pancreas specific protein) and CA 19-9 (glycoprotein) for use in the diagnosis of canine pancreatitis

A comparative analysis of canine pancreatic lipase tests for diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs

IMPORTANCE

Early diagnosis of canine pancreatitis is challenging due to non-specific clinical signs. Currently, abdominal ultrasonography and measurement of canine pancreatic lipase (cPL) have been employed for the diagnosis of pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE

Many qualitative and quantitative commercial cPL tests have been developed and used in veterinary clinics. This study aimed to compare three different methodologies SNAP cPL, Spec cPL, and Vcheck cPL tests to assess the concordance of these assays.

METHODS

Fifty serum samples were collected from 36 dogs with or without pancreatitis and subjected to SNAP cPL, Spec cPL, and Vcheck cPL tests. Agreement and correlation coefficients were calculated between the test results, and correlations were determined during the management of the patients.

RESULTS

The results of the three cPL assays were strongly correlated in 47/50 serum samples (94%). Cohen's kappa analysis between the Spec cPL and Vcheck cPL showed near perfect agreement (κ = 0.960, p < 0.001), SNAP cPL and Vcheck cPL (κ = 0.920, p < 0.001), and Spec cPL and SNAP cPL (κ = 0.880, p < 0.001). The correlation coefficients (r) between data from Spec cPL and Vcheck cPL tests was calculated by Spearman's correlation test (r = 0.958, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the patterns of change in serum cPL concentrations determined using Spec cPL and Vcheck cPL were significantly consistent during the monitoring period in 11 patients.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Our data illustrated that Spec cPL and Vcheck cPL tests are compatible for clinical use in the diagnosis and monitoring of canine pancreatitis.

Prevalence of increased canine pancreas-specific lipase concentrations in young dogs with parvovirus enteritis

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic abnormalities during canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis have not been studied prospectively.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic significance of canine serum pancreas-specific lipase (Spec cPL) concentration in dogs with CPV enteritis for the presence of acute pancreatitis (AP). Puppies with naturally occurring CPV enteritis were recruited and prospectively allocated into 2 groups according to normal or increased serum Spec cPL concentration. Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and pancreas-associated variables were compared between groups, and the impact of possible AP on disease course, duration of hospitalization, and outcome was assessed.

RESULTS

Serum Spec cPL concentration in 35 puppies was above the upper limit of the RI in 17/35 (48.6%) dogs (Group A) and within the RI in 18 dogs (Group B). An increased serum lipase activity was present in 29/35 (82.9%) dogs, and Group A dogs had a higher serum lipase activity than Group B (P = .006). Serum Spec cPL in Group A dogs was positively correlated with serum lipase activity at the day of presentation (r = .667; P = .003) and day of discharge (r = .628; P = .007). No statistically significant difference was found between groups (P = .233) for the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (6/17 or 35.3% dogs Group A, and 8/18 or 44.4% dogs Group B), the disease course, duration of hospitalization, or outcome between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased serum Spec cPL is relatively common in dogs with CPV enteritis. However, such increases do not seem to correlate with the outcome of disease.

Association of postprandial serum triglyceride concentration and serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in overweight and obese dogs

BACKGROUND

Hypertriglyceridemia has been proposed to contribute to the risk of developing pancreatitis in dogs.

OBJECTIVES

To determine associations between postprandial serum triglyceride concentrations and canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) concentrations or pancreatic disease.

ANIMALS

Thirty-five client-owned overweight (n = 25) or obese (n = 10) dogs weighing >10 kg.

METHODS

Healthy dogs were prospectively recruited for a cross-sectional study. Serum triglyceride concentrations were measured before and hourly for 12 hours after a meal. Fasting cPLI and canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) concentrations were assayed. Cut-off values for hypertriglyceridemia were set a priori for fasting (≥ 88, ≥ 177, ≥ 354, ≥ 885 mg/dL) and peak postprandial (≥ 133, ≥ 442, ≥ 885 mg/dL) triglyceride concentrations. The association between hypertriglyceridemia and high cPLI concentrations was assessed by exact logistic regression. Follow-up was performed 4 years later to determine the incidence of pancreatic disease.

RESULTS

Eight dogs had peak postprandial triglycerides >442 mg/dL and 3 dogs had fasting serum cPLI concentrations ≥ 400 μg/L. Odds of high cPLI concentrations were 16.7 times higher in dogs with peak postprandial triglyceride concentrations ≥ 442 mg/dL relative to other dogs (P < .001). Fasting triglyceride concentration was not significantly associated with cPLI concentrations. None of the dogs with high triglyceride concentrations and one of the dogs with low fasting and peak postprandial triglyceride concentrations developed clinically important pancreatic disease.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Overweight and obese dogs with peak serum postprandial triglyceride concentrations ≥ 442 mg/dL after a standard meal are more likely to have serum cPLI concentrations ≥ 400 μg/L, but did not develop clinically important pancreatic disease.

Pancreatic acinar atrophy in German shepherd dogs and rough-coated collies. Etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. A review

In pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA) a selective destruction of digestive enzyme-producing acinar cells leads to maldigestion signs typical of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Although the clinical disease is well-known, the etiopathogenesis of PAA has been long remained obscure. German shepherd dogs and rough-coated Collies with PAA show similar genetic, clinical and pathological findings indicating a similar etiopathogenesis of the disease in these two breeds. In this review article the etiopathogenesis of PAA is discussed, including the current suggestion of autoimmune nature of the disease. The diagnostic methods for detection both early and end-stage exocrine pancreatic dysfunction are described, as well as the treatment options and prognosis.

Development of a canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity assay system using monoclonal antibodies

The radioimmunoassay (RIA) for trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) is one of the most sensitive and specific tests for detecting exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). An abnormally low serum TLI concentration (<2.5 ng/ml) indicates end-stage EPI. Although RIA methods can be used to detect canine serum TLI, these procedures are beyond the capabilities of most veterinary clinics and general laboratories. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for canine TLI and incorporated it into an immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the diagnosis of EPI. The ELISA was linear over TLI concentrations of 1-100 ng/ml. Levels of intra-assay coefficients of variance (CVs) were 1.8-6.1%, inter-assay CVs were 5.1-9.8%, and the recovery of TLI added to two samples of canine serum ranged from 89 to 111 and 93 to 108%, respectively. Good correlation (correlation coefficient, 0.974) occurred between the TLI values obtained by the ELISA method and those by RIA from 56 clinical samples. Serum TLI values in clinically healthy dogs ranged from 7.8 to 29.2 ng/ml by ELISA, and those from dogs with EPI were 0.0-0.6 ng/ml. The values were 0.0-287.4 ng/ml for dogs with pancreatitis, and those from dogs with gastrointestinal disease were 5.5-58.9 ng/ml. The only statistically significant difference (P<0.01) occurred between the TLI level of healthy dogs and those with EPI. The ICT kit showed high reproducibility, and the TLI values yielding negative results differed significantly (P<0.01) from those returning positive results. The ICT kit yielded negative results (indicating EPI) from clinical serum samples with TLI concentrations of 0.0-4.1 ng/ml by ELISA. Both the ELISA and ICT kit are useful tools in the diagnosis of canine EPI.