The feline blood film

The use of platelet rich plasma in the treatment of degenerative joint disease in cats: an exploratory case series

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of intra-articular autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in managing Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) in cats.

Design

Prospective pilot clinical trial.

Methods

Six domestic cats with clinically and radiographically diagnosed DJD received intra-articular injections of autologous PRP. Clinical assessments pre and post intra-articular injections were conducted using the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI, owner assessed) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS, clinician assessed) at baseline, Day 14, Day 28, and Day 42-45.

Results

Significant improvements were noted in both FMPI and VAS scores at the end of the study period, indicating enhanced joint function and reduced pain.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

The study suggests the potential of PRP therapy as a safe and effective treatment for feline DJD, warranting further research with larger cohorts and longer follow-up to establish comprehensive treatment guidelines.

Reagentless Vis-NIR Spectroscopy Point-of-Care for Feline Total White Blood Cell Counts

Spectral point-of-care technology is reagentless with minimal sampling (<10 μL) and can be performed in real-time. White blood cells are non-dominant in blood and in spectral information, suffering significant interferences from dominant constituents such as red blood cells, hemoglobin and billirubin. White blood cells of a bigger size can account for 0.5% to 22.5% of blood spectra information. Knowledge expansion was performed using data augmentation through the hybridization of 94 real-world blood samples into 300 synthetic data samples. Synthetic data samples are representative of real-world data, expanding the detailed spectral information through sample hybridization, allowing us to unscramble the spectral white blood cell information from spectra, with correlations of 0.7975 to 0.8397 and a mean absolute error of 32.25% to 34.13%; furthermore, we achieved a diagnostic efficiency between 83% and 100% inside the reference interval (5.5 to 19.5 × 109 cell/L), and 85.11% for cases with extreme high white blood cell counts. At the covariance mode level, white blood cells are quantified using orthogonal information on red blood cells, maximizing sensitivity and specificity towards white blood cells, and avoiding the use of non-specific natural correlations present in the dataset; thus, the specifity of white blood cells spectral information is increased. The presented research is a step towards high-specificity, reagentless, miniaturized spectral point-of-care hematology technology for Veterinary Medicine.

The importance of morphological changes in neutrophils in the diagnosis of bacterial infections in dogs with confirmed urinary tract infections in a Veterinary Care Service, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Neutrophils (PMNs) are cellular markers used for diagnosing inflammation and/or infections. In this study, the objective was to highlight the importance of recording the toxic morphological alterations of the PMNs as markers of infection in 10 cases, positive bacterial isolation by culture due to dysuria, hematuria and/or fetid urine, as manifestations of urinary tract disease. Smear observations were performed by immersion for counting and morphological evaluations of 3,000 leukocytes in smears and in leukocyte concentrate. One (10.0%) of the dogs had leukocytosis, and two (20.0%) dogs had leukopenia. All animals showed toxic PMNs with positive bacterial culture. None of the cases in the study showed any quantitative alterations in PMNs such as: neutropenia or neutrophilia, where 100% had nuclear displacement of the regenerative type of PMNs to the left. 100% cases had toxic morphological changes: 90.0% had PMNs with toxic granulations, 80.0% had giant rod neutrophils, 70.0% had target PMNs, in 50.0% of those with vacuolation in the cytoplasm, in 40.0% of the animals, the presence of giant PMNs, 10.0% with Döhle bodies, and another animal 10.0% with karyorrhexis. All case studies had at least one association of two types of toxic changes. Toxic morphological alterations observed in PMNs through cystoscopy proved to be more reliable and sensitive in evidencing the diagnosis of infections than the quantitative alterations of absolute values of total leukocytes; therefore, they were essential in the laboratory diagnosis by blood count in the course of infections in dogs.

An Insight into Recent Advances on Platelet Function in Health and Disease

Platelets play a variety of roles in vascular biology and are best recognized as primary hemostasis and thrombosis mediators. Platelets have a large number of receptors and secretory molecules that are required for platelet functionality. Upon activation, platelets release multiple substances that have the ability to influence both physiological and pathophysiological processes including inflammation, tissue regeneration and repair, cancer progression, and spreading. The involvement of platelets in the progression and seriousness of a variety of disorders other than thrombosis is still being discovered, especially in the areas of inflammation and the immunological response. This review represents an integrated summary of recent advances on the function of platelets in pathophysiology that connects hemostasis, inflammation, and immunological response in health and disease and suggests that antiplatelet treatment might be used for more than only thrombosis.

Left shift and toxic change in heterophils and neutrophils of non-mammalian vertebrates: A comparative review, image atlas, and practical considerations

Heterophils and neutrophils are important first cellular responders to inflammatory conditions. In addition to quantitative shifts in the numbers of these cells in blood, inflammatory disease states often have accompanying increases in immature precursor stages (left shift) and/or evidence of toxic change on blood film evaluation. Recognition of left shift and toxic change morphologies is a salient diagnostic finding with clinical relevance across species. The objectives of this report are to (a) review heterophil and neutrophil function and structure across the vertebrate animal kingdom, (b) compare morphologic features of left shift and toxic change in heterophils and neutrophils of non-mammalian vertebrates (NMV) to mammals, (c) provide an image guide demonstrating the breadth of morphologic diversity of heterophil and neutrophil lineages in health and disease across taxa, and (d) discuss practical considerations for clinical pathologists and other professionals involved in the recognition and interpretation of observations in the inflammatory leukogram of NMV.

The GRKs Reactome: Role in Cell Biology and Pathology

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are protein kinases that function in concert with arrestins in the regulation of a diverse class of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) signaling. Although GRKs and arrestins are key participants in the regulation of GPCR cascades, the complex regulatory mechanisms of GRK expression, its alternation, and their function are not thoroughly understood. Several studies together with the work from our lab in recent years have revealed the critical role of these kinases in various physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cardiovascular biology, inflammation and immunity, neurodegeneration, thrombosis, and hemostasis. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying functional interactions with multiple receptor proteins and how these interactions take part in the development of various pathobiological processes may give rise to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the current research linking the role of GRKs to various aspects of cell biology, pathology, and therapeutics, with a particular focus on thrombosis and hemostasis.

Feline non-regenerative anemia: Diagnostic and treatment recommendations

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE

Non-regenerative anemia, or anemia with reticulocytopenia, is a daily diagnosis in feline practice.

CLINICAL CHALLENGES

The disease processes underlying non-regenerative anemia are many and diverse. A major diagnostic evaluation may be required to correctly diagnose and treat the underlying cause.

AUDIENCE

All veterinarians caring for cats will face the diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of non-regenerative anemia. Readers will benefit from the review of diagnostic testing and therapeutic options for non-regenerative anemia.

EVIDENCE BASE

This review summarizes the currently available literature informing diagnostic and treatment recommendations related to non-regenerative anemia. The evidence available to support the recommendations in this review is graded as low and includes predominantly expert opinion, case reports and cases series, on which the authors' interpretation/consensus is based.