Oral bleeding associated with pancreatic enzyme supplementation in three dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of pancreatin from porcine pancreas (Pan-zoot) for dogs (Almapharm GmbH + Co KG)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a pancreatic extract (Pan-zoot) as a zootechnical additive for dogs. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) could not conclude on the safety of Pan-Zoot as a feed additive for dogs under the proposed conditions of use. The FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the skin/eye irritancy potential of the additive or on the dermal sensitisation potential. Owing to its proteinaceous nature, the additive is considered a respiratory sensitiser. The additive may induce allergic reactions to the exposed users. The Panel concluded that there is no need for an environmental risk assessment. The FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the product as a feed additive at the recommended conditions of use.

EXOCRINE PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY-LIKE SYNDROME IN FOUR CAPTIVE TIGERS (PANTHERA TIGRIS)

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a condition characterized by a decreased synthesis and secretion of pancreatic enzymes, which results in weight loss, poor hair coat, and diarrhea. The diagnostic test of choice for EPI in domestic cats is feline serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI). This paper details four tigers (Panthera tigris) with clinical signs compatible with EPI. On the basis of domestic cat reference ranges, fTLI assays for all four clinically affected tigers were diagnostic for EPI (median 1.0 µg/L; range 0.5-1.2 µg/L). All four tigers had a rapid clinical response to pancreatic enzyme supplementation. Serum from 10 clinically healthy tigers was submitted for the fTLI assay, for comparative purposes. The healthy tigers' fTLI assays were also within range for a diagnosis of EPI in domestic cats (median 3.1 µg/L; range 1.9-4.5 µg/L); however, clinically affected tigers had significantly lower serum fTLI concentrations than healthy tigers (P = 0.0058). Serum cobalamin was below the detection limit in both the affected and healthy tigers (<150 ng/L). Measuring fTLI appears to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of EPI-like syndrome in tigers. As in other species, EPI-like syndrome in tigers may also be associated with cobalamin deficiency.

Randomized placebo controlled clinical trial of an enteric coated micro-pelleted formulation of a pancreatic enzyme supplement in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Background

Pancreatic enzyme supplements for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs can be uncoated or enteric coated. Enteric coated supplements might be advantageous.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Enteric coated enzyme supplements are superior to uncoated supplements in dogs with clinical EPI.

Animals

Eleven dogs with naturally occurring EPI that were apparently free from other diseases.

Methods

Randomized, blinded, controlled cross‐over clinical trial comparing a novel micro‐encapsulated enteric coated enzyme supplement to a commercially available uncoated product in dogs with clinical EPI. Search of serum canine serum trypsin‐like immunoreactivity concentration ≤ 2.5 µg/L in the Gastrointestinal Laboratory database was used to identify dogs with EPI.

Results

There was no difference −4.46% (95% CI: −7.97%‐–0.96%; P = .15) in the % acid hydrolysis fecal fat (primary outcome) between the enteric coated formulation (median: 11.8%; range 6.4%‐17.0%) and the uncoated pancreatic enzyme replacement product (median: 17.5%; range: 5.2%‐24.9%) in the 11 dogs that completed the study. Other variables did not differ between treatments.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

This study, which had low statistical power, did not detect a difference between formulations.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in pigeons

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a well-studied syndrome in domestic animals. EPI occurs when severe progressive loss of tubulo-acinar tissue from atrophy or inflammatory destruction results in insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes and clinical signs of malabsorption. However, the literature on EPI in birds is limited. The syndrome has been previously described in several cases where the diagnosis was based on clinical signs due to malabsorption-like light-coloured voluminous faeces, voracious appetite, coprophagia and weight loss, and on the response to treatment with pancreatic enzyme formulas. To enable a more scientific approach to the diagnosis of pancreatic functional disorders in pigeons, reference values of plasma amylase (382 to 556 IU/l), lipase (0 to 5 IU/l), and faecal activities of amylase (13 to 16 IU/l) and trypsin (11 to 14 IU/l) were determined in 24 adult pigeons. A case of EPI in a racing pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is reported, based on the clinical signs and the measurement of faecal amylase and trypsin activity.