EVALUATION OF PLASMA CARDIAC TROPONIN I IN ASIAN ELEPHANTS (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS) USING TWO CLINICAL ANALYZERS

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is specific to myocardial tissue, highly conserved across taxa, and a reliable indicator of myocardial disease in human and veterinary medicine. Biomarkers, like cTnI, may be useful for cardiac evaluation of elephants because the application of other modalities is complicated by the size of the animal. The goal of this study was to establish observed ranges for plasma cTnI in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) measured by two point-of-care analyzers. Blood was collected from captive juvenile (≤15 yr; n = 9), adult (16-50 yr; n = 42), and geriatric (>50 yr; n = 16) elephants. Following centrifugation, heparinized plasma was stored at 5°C prior to and in between analyses on iSTAT (Abbott Point of Care Inc, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA) and HUBI-QUANpro (Humiasis Co, Ltd, Anyang-si 14042, South Korea) analyzers. With the exception of two results, plasma concentrations of cTnI were below the limit of quantification (LOQ < 0.05 ng/ml) for the HUBI-QUANpro (n = 64), which prohibited comparison between the two analyzers. Observed ranges were determined for plasma cTnI concentrations reported by the iSTAT for the entire population sampled (n = 58; mean 0.011 ng/ml; SD ± 0.013 ng/ml; range 0.00-0.07 ng/ml; 95% CI 0.008-0.015 ng/ml; median 0.01 ng/ml) and with outliers excluded (n = 50; mean 0.007 ng/ml; SD ± 0.007 ng/ml; range 0.00-0.02 ng/ml; 95% CI 0.005-0.009 ng/ml; median 0.01 ng/ml). No significant differences were observed between age classes (P = 0.70) or sexes (P = 0.34). Higher cTnI concentrations were significantly correlated with increasing age (Pearson's r = 0.426; P = 0.002). Future studies are warranted to investigate the diagnostic potential of plasma cTnI in Asian elephants.

Evaluation of Current and Future Diagnostic and Prognostic Techniques for Traumatic Pericarditis in Cattle

Pericarditis in cattle can be classified as traumatic pericarditis (TP), idiopathic haemorrhagic, secondary to neoplasia or septic pericarditis due to haematogenous spread of organisms, such as Colibacilli or Pasturella. In cattle, pericardial disease most commonly develops from traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP). Bovine cardiac disease often has a poor prognosis, and this is worsened when clinical manifestations of heart failure are present. Euthanasia is the treatment of choice in many cases, but for pregnant or high value animals, treatment of disease is often the preferred option and an early diagnosis can provide a better prognosis in these cases. This chapter looks at the anatomy, physiology and presentation of TP. In addition, a more in depth look at cardiac troponin is presented alongside present and future diagnostic and prognostic methods, in addition to treatment options surrounding this clinically important problem.

Prognostic Value of Cardiac Troponin I and L-Lactate in Blood of Dairy Cows Affected by Downer Cow Syndrome

Background

The downer cow syndrome (DCS) is a challenging health issue in the dairy industry. No cow‐side test is available to provide an accurate prognosis for DCS cases in farm settings.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Local or systemic hypoperfusion and myocardial lesions lead to an increase in blood concentration of biomarkers cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and L‐lactate. The objective was to determine the prognostic values of these biomarkers assessed cow‐sides in addition to clinical examinations in prognostication of a negative outcome (NO: death or euthanasia within 7 days).

Animals

218 client‐owned dairy cows affected by DCS.

Methods

In a prospective study, animals were monitored for 60 days after inclusion of each cow. Blood cTnI and L‐lactate concentrations were measured on the day of inclusion. The prognostic accuracy of both biomarkers and physical examination variables was estimated to predict NO. A mixed multivariable logistic regression model was used for data analysis.

Results

Prevalence of NO in this study was 63% on day 7. Troponin concentrations greater than 0.7 ng/mL had sensitivity and specificity of 54.1% (95% CI: 45.3–62.7%) and 78.4% (95% CI: 67.3–87.1%), respectively, for predicting NO. Blood L‐lactate was not associated with the outcome. The multivariable model revealed that heart rate >100 bpm (OR; 95% CI: 3.7; 1.3–10.2) and cTnI > 0.7 ng/mL (OR; 95% CI: 5.5; 2.1–14.6) were associated with the risk of NO.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Hypertroponinemia and tachycardia were associated with reduced survival in DCS cases. The use of cow‐side blood cTnI concentrations and heart rate could help to rapidly identify cows in farm setting that have poor chances of recovery and would benefit from a more aggressive treatment or euthanasia.

Usefulness of serum cardiac troponin I concentration as a marker of survival of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups during rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE To measure serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in orphaned harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups at various points during rehabilitation in a seal rescue center and determine whether cTnI concentration was associated with survival during rehabilitation and duration of rehabilitation. DESIGN Serial cross-sectional study. ANIMALS Fifty-five 2- to 9-day-old harbor seal pups. PROCEDURES Blood samples for serum cTnI concentration measurement, CBC, and serum biochemical analysis were obtained from seal pups at admission into a seal rescue center, after 2 weeks of rehabilitation at the center, and prior to release. Serum cTnI concentrations were compared between seals that did or did not survive rehabilitation. RESULTS Median serum cTnI concentration was highest at admission (0.03 ng/mL). After 2 weeks, the median value was 0.01 ng/mL; prior to release, it was 0.01 ng/mL. Seal pups that were found to have died during or after rehabilitation (n = 7) had a significantly higher median serum cTnI concentration at admission (0.06 ng/mL) than did seal pups that survived rehabilitation (and for which the postrelease fate was unknown; 48; 0.03 ng/mL). No correlation was identified between serum cTnI concentration and duration of rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The results of this study suggested some degree of myocardial injury was present in most of the orphaned seal pups admitted for rehabilitation. Measurement of serum cTnI concentration in seal pups at admission might provide prognostic information about their likelihood of survival during or after rehabilitation.

Acute-phase proteins, oxidative stress biomarkers, proinflammatory cytokines, and cardiac troponin in Arabian mares affected with pyometra

New biomarkers are essential for diagnosis of pyometra in mares. In this context, 12 subfertile Arabian mares suffered from pyometra were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The basis for diagnosis of pyometra was positive findings of clinical examination and rectal palpation. Blood samples were collected from diseased animals and from five Arabian healthy mares, which were considered as control group. Acute-phase proteins (APP), oxidative stress biomarkers, proinflammatory cytokines, and cardiac troponin I were estimated in the harvested sera of both groups. Clinical examination revealed purulent yellowish fluid discharged from vagina of affected animals and rectal palpation of the reproductive tract revealed uterine distention. The biochemical analysis of the serum revealed significant increase in cardiac troponin I, creatin kinase, alkaline phosphatase, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukins 6, prostaglandin F2α, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A and significant decrease in reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity, and nitric oxide (NO) of mares affected with pyometra compare to control. Cardiac troponin I was positively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, creatin kinase, malondialdehyde, alkaline phosphatase, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukins 6, prostaglandin F2α, haptoglobin and serum amyloid A and negatively correlated with glutathione, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide in serum of mares affected with pyometra. Moreover, there was high positive correlation between proinflammatory cytokines and APP in serum of mares affected with pyometra. The present study suggests cardiac troponin I together with APP, proinflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress parameters as biomarkers for pyometra in Arabian mares.

Measurement of cardiac troponin I in healthy lactating dairy cows using a point of care analyzer (i-STAT-1)

BACKGROUND

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) has been shown to be an accurate predictor of myocardial injury in cattle. The point-of-care i-STAT 1 immunoassay can be used to quantify blood cTnI in cattle. However, the cTnI reference interval in whole blood of healthy early lactating dairy cows remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determine a blood cTnI reference interval in healthy early lactating Holstein dairy cows using the analyzer i-STAT 1.

METHODS

Forty healthy lactating dairy Holstein cows (0-60 days in milk) were conveniently selected from four commercial dairy farms. Each selected cow was examined by a veterinarian and transthoracic echocardiography was performed. A cow-side blood cTnI dosage was measured at the same time. A bootstrap statistical analysis method using unrestricted resampling was used to determine a reference interval for blood cTnI values.

RESULTS

Forty healthy cows were recruited in the study. Median blood cTnI was 0.02 ng/mL (minimum: 0.00, maximum: 0.05). Based on the bootstrap analysis method with 40 cases, the 95th percentile of cTnI values in healthy cows was 0.036 ng/mL (90% CI: 0.02-0.05 ng/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

A reference interval for blood cTnI values in healthy lactating cows was determined. Further research is needed to determine whether cTnI blood values could be used to diagnose and provide a prognosis for cardiac and noncardiac diseases in lactating dairy cows.