Clinico-hemato-biochemical profile of dogs with liver cirrhosis

Clinicopathological and molecular profiles of Babesia vogeli infection and Ehrlichia canis coinfection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Canine babesiosis, a tick-borne parasitic disease, is caused by the hemoprotozoa, Babesia vogeli, and Babesia gibsoni. Infection with these parasites, which is endemic globally, leads to life-threatening immunosuppression in dogs. The merozoites invade the red blood cells (RBCs) of infected dogs. Ehrlichia canis, an intracellular bacterium that infects monocytes, is transmitted by the same tick species (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) during blood consumption and coinfection with B. vogeli and E. canis has been reported. Although the hematology and biochemistry of canine babesiosis have been studied, more studies are needed to develop a better understanding of the hematobiochemical and molecular profiles associated with cases of single infection and coinfection of canine babesiosis in Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the hematological, biochemical, and molecular profiles of B. vogeli infection and E. canis coinfection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 33 B. vogeli-positive blood samples and 11 E. canis-coinfected blood samples. To exclude coinfection with Hepatozoon canis and Anaplasma platys, only dogs with B. vogeli infection and B. vogeli-E. canis coinfection were included in the study. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was conducted to detect B. vogeli, E. canis, and H. canis, and a conventional PCR assay was conducted for the detection of A. platys. Besides, the PCR assay and sequencing, comprehensive data analysis was conducted, including a microscopic blood parasite examination and hematological and biochemical data analysis.

RESULTS

The comparison of the hematobiochemical data between the B. vogeli-positive and E. canis coinfection groups identified that there were statistically significant differences in the RBC parameters, including RBC count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and RBC distribution width (p=0.001). Neither B. vogeli infection nor coinfection with E. canis was associated with the sex, breed, recorded clinical signs, geographic origin of the dog and also B. vogeli 18S rRNA gene sequencing results.

CONCLUSION

Coinfection with E. canis increased the severity of babesiosis. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying this infection, such as destruction of RBCs, require further investigation. This study may enhance diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of canine babesiosis.

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs

This consensus statement on chronic hepatitis (CH) in dogs is based on the expert opinion of 7 specialists with extensive experience in diagnosing, treating, and conducting clinical research in hepatology in dogs. It was generated from expert opinion and information gathered from searching of PubMed for manuscripts on CH, the Veterinary Information Network for abstracts and conference proceeding from annual meetings of the American College of Veterinary Medicine and the European College of Veterinary Medicine, and selected manuscripts from the human literature on CH. The panel recognizes that the diagnosis and treatment of CH in the dog is a complex process that requires integration of clinical presentation with clinical pathology, diagnostic imaging, and hepatic biopsy. Essential to this process is an index of suspicion for CH, knowledge of how to best collect tissue samples, access to a pathologist with experience in assessing hepatic histopathology, knowledge of reasonable medical interventions, and a strategy for monitoring treatment response and complications.

Evaluation of hepatocyte-derived microRNA-122 for diagnosis of acute and chronic hepatitis of dogs

Aim:

This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of hepatocyte-derived microRNA (miRNA)-122 in acute and chronic hepatitis of dogs.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 26 dogs presented at Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 16 dogs out of 26 showing clinical signs of hepatic insufficiency were subjected to clinical, ultrasonographic, hematobiochemical and ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy for cytological and histopathological investigations. On the basis of these results, 7 dogs out of 16 dogs were found to be suffering from acute hepatitis and 9 dogs suffering from chronic hepatitis. 10 clinically healthy dogs were kept as control. Serum hepatocyte-derived miRNA-122 was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in all dogs.

Results:

The dogs suffering from acute hepatitis manifested jaundice, vomiting, and depression while dogs with chronic hepatitis manifested anorexia, abdominal distension, weight loss, and melena. Hematological parameters showed normocytic normochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia in both acute and chronic hepatitis groups. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin were significantly higher than control values in acute hepatitis. In chronic hepatitis, total protein and albumin were significantly lower than control values with normal ALT, AST, ALP, and gamma-glutamyltransferase values. Ultrasonography revealed a diffuse decrease in hepatic echogenicity in acute hepatitis while the increase in hepatic echogenicity and anechoic ascetic fluid in chronic hepatitis. Cytology revealed hepatic vacuolar degeneration and histopathology revealed necrosis and apoptosis of hepatocyte in acute hepatitis while revealed massive fibrous tissue proliferation in hepatic parenchyma in chronic hepatitis. Serum miRNA-122 analysis, normalized for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression revealed a significant increase in acute hepatitis accompanied with elevation in ALT and AST, while in chronic hepatitis, elevation of serum miRNA-122 was accompanied with ALT and AST of the normal range.

Conclusion:

Serum hepatocyte-derived miRNA-122 is of diagnostic value and highly stable blood indicator for the detection of hepatocellular injury in dogs than aminotransferases, especially in cases where aminotransferases do not exceed normal serum level.