Selected hematological, biochemical, and echocardiographic variables as predictors of survival in canine patients with myxomatous mitral valve disease and congestive heart failure.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association of breed, age, weight, duration of therapy, and selected blood and echocardiographic variables with the survival of dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) due to myxomatous mitral valve disease. We also sought to identify differences in selected echocardiographic and routine blood variables between dogs with stable and unstable CHF and between hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included dogs with a complete cardiovascular workup. Blood analysis and the initial and final echocardiographic results were included. Covariates were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-five dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease were evaluated in this study: 96 stable patients and 69 unstable CHF patients. In total, 107 dogs (64.8%) died, and 58 (35.2%) were censored. The median survival time of the dogs that died was 11.5 months (range 11 days to 4.3 years). Unstable CHF patients had significantly higher neutrophils and lower potassium concentrations than stable CHF patients, and hospitalized patients had higher white blood cell, neutrophil, and monocyte counts and urea and creatinine concentrations than non-hospitalized patients. Variables negatively associated with survival were older age, unstable CHF, duration of therapy, white blood cell count, urea concentration, and left atrium to aorta ratio. Chihuahuas had a lower risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: Selected blood and echocardiographic variables distinguish dogs with stable and unstable CHF and predict survival.

Echocardiographic parameters in French Bulldogs, Pugs and Boston Terriers with brachycephalic obstructive airways syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In this prospective study, we hypothesized that dogs with signs of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) would show differences in left and right heart echocardiographic parameters compared with brachycephalic dogs without signs of BOAS and non-brachycephalic dogs. RESULTS: We included 57 brachycephalic (30 French Bulldogs 15 Pugs, and 12 Boston Terriers) and 10 non-brachycephalic control dogs. Brachycephalic dogs had significantly higher ratios of the left atrium to aorta and mitral early wave velocity to early diastolic septal annular velocity; smaller left ventricular (LV) diastolic internal diameter index; and lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion index, late diastolic annular velocity of the LV free wall, peak systolic septal annular velocity, late diastolic septal annular velocitiy, and right ventricular global strain than non-brachycephalic dogs. French Bulldogs with signs of BOAS had a smaller diameter of the left atrium index and right ventricular systolic area index; higher caudal vena cava at inspiration index; and lower caudal vena cava collapsibility index, late diastolic annular velocity of the LV free wall, and peak systolic annular velocity of the interventricular septum than non-brachycephalic dogs. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in echocardiographic parameters between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs, brachycephalic dogs with signs of BOAS and non-brachycephalic dogs, and brachycephalic dogs with and without signs of BOAS indicate higher right heart diastolic pressures affecting right heart function in brachycephalic dogs and those with signs of BOAS. Most changes in cardiac morphology and function can be attributed to anatomic changes in brachycephalic dogs alone and not to the symptomatic stage.

Effects of supplementation with α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, selenium, or their combination in linseed oil-enriched diets on the oxidative status in broilers.

A trial was conducted to investigate whether, and if so to what extent, the combined supplementation of vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium was superior to their sole supplementation concerning the oxidative stress induced by a high n-3 dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake in broilers. Four hundred 21-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were allocated to 5 experimental groups fed the following linseed oil (5%)-enriched finisher diets: Cont (no supplement), +E (200 IU vitamin E/kg feed), +C (250 mg vitamin C/kg feed), +Se (0.2 mg selenium/kg feed), or +ECSe (concentrations as in the sole supplementation, combined). Analyses of malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin C, and α- and γ-tocopherols in plasma, antioxidant capacity of water- (ACW) and lipid- (ACL) soluble compounds in serum, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in whole blood were performed. In breast muscle, analyses of MDA, α- and γ-tocopherols, ACW, selenium, and fatty acid (FA) composition were carried out. Birds fed the combination of antioxidants showed reduced average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) and, as +E, lower MDA and γ-tocopherol, together with raised α- tocopherol levels in plasma and lower MDA and raised α- tocopherol levels in breast muscle compared to the control. The combination of antioxidants in the +ECSe group raised GPx activity in whole blood compared to the control. In conclusion, results indicated that vitamin E is the most effective antioxidant to alleviate oxidative stress caused by high dietary PUFA and that the supplementation with additional vitamin C and selenium did not have clear synergistic effect.

Improvement of liquid stored boar semen quality by removing low molecular weight proteins and supplementation with α-tocopherol.

Seminal plasma contains low-molecular weight components that can exert a harmful effect on sperm function. We have evaluated the effects of removing low-molecular weight components from seminal plasma and adding α-tocopherol on boar semen quality after 72h of liquid storage. Semen was evaluated on the basis of motility, morphology, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane modifications, mitochondrial activity, DNA fragmentation and lipid peroxidation. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), 8-isoprostane, and antioxidant status (total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD)) were measured in seminal plasma. Removal of low-molecular weight components from seminal plasma, together with the addition of α-tocopherol, kept the lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial activity and DNA fragmentation at the same level as in native semen samples. Dialysing semen and adding 200µM of α-tocopherol led to higher progressive motility, a higher proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa and a significantly lower level of acrosomal reacted spermatozoa compared to non-dialyzed semen samples after 72h of storage. In conclusion, liquid stored boar semen was better preserved, and oxidative stress in the semen was reduced when semen was dialyzed and α-tocopherol was added prior to storage.

Vitamin E supplementation in canine atopic dermatitis: improvement of clinical signs and effects on oxidative stress markers.

Low levels of plasma vitamin E concentrations were found in canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). The present study was aimed at determining the effect of an eight-week vitamin E supplementation on clinical response (Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-03) scores and pruritus intensity) in dogs with atopic dermatitis. Levels of oxidative stress markers (plasma malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), blood glutathione peroxidase and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, plasma and skin vitamin E concentrations) were also determined. Twenty-nine dogs with CAD were included in the study. Fourteen received vitamin E (8.1 IU/kg once daily, orally) and 15 received mineral oil as placebo (orally). All dogs were treated with antihistamine fexofenadine. Levels of oxidative stress markers (with the exception of skin vitamin E), CADESI-03 and pruritus intensity were determined at the beginning, then every two weeks. Skin vitamin E was determined at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. Significantly higher plasma levels of vitamin E and TAC were observed in the vitamin E group than in the placebo group. CADESI-03 scores determined throughout the treatment in the vitamin E group were significantly lower than in the placebo group. The findings of this study support the supplementation of vitamin E in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Plasma and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity, serum selenium concentration, and plasma total antioxidant capacity in cats with IRIS stages I-IV chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Serum selenium concentrations and the activity of plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) decrease with the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in human patients. Selenium is considered a limiting factor for plasma GPx synthesis. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is decreased in CKD cats in comparison to healthy cats. HYPOTHESIS: Serum selenium concentrations and plasma and erythrocyte GPx activity in cats with CKD are lower than in healthy cats. Serum selenium concentrations, the activity of enzymes, and plasma TAC progressively decrease with the progression of kidney disease according to IRIS (International Renal Interest Society) classification. ANIMALS: Twenty-six client-owned cats in IRIS stages I-IV of CKD were compared with 19 client-owned healthy cats. METHODS: A CBC, serum biochemical profile, urinalysis, plasma and erythrocyte GPx activity, serum selenium concentration, and plasma TAC were measured in each cat. RESULTS: Cats in IRIS stage IV CKD had a significantly higher (P = .025) activity of plasma GPx (23.44 ± 6.28 U/mL) than cats in the control group (17.51 ± 3.75 U/mL). There were no significant differences in erythrocyte GPx, serum selenium concentration, and plasma TAC, either among IRIS stages I-IV CKD cats or between CKD cats and healthy cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Erythrocyte GPx activity, serum selenium concentration, and plasma TAC do not change in CKD cats compared with healthy cats. Selenium is not a limiting factor in feline CKD. Increased plasma GPx activity in cats with stage IV CKD suggests induction of antioxidant defense mechanisms. Antioxidant defense systems might not be exhausted in CKD in cats.

Serum cortisol and haematological, biochemical and antioxidant enzyme variables in horse blood sampled in a slaughterhouse lairage, immediately before stunning and during exsanguination.

The aim of the study was to determine changes of serum cortisol and biochemical, haematological and antioxidant enzyme variables in the blood of horses sampled during the pre-slaughter period (in the lairage and in the stunning box) and during exsanguination. A total of 24 Slovenian warm-blooded horses were observed. Blood samples for determination of serum cortisol and biochemical, haematological (red blood cell count, haematocrit, haemaglobin concentration) and antioxidant enzyme (whole blood superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) variables were collected by venipuncture of the left jugular vein in the lairage pen, 60 min before stunning (lairage) and immediately before stunning (stunning box). At exsanguination, blood samples were collected from the wound at the time of jugular vein sticking. During blood collection in the lairage pen and in the stunning box, horses were gently restrained with a halter. They were stunned using a penetrating captive bolt pistol impelled by air and were bled by jugular vein sticking. Horses were physically active in the lairage pen and in the race before entering the stunning box. After stunning, the horses showed paddling movements with their legs. In horses, the plasma lactate and glucose concentrations, the serum potassium concentration, the activities of the serum muscle enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase, and values of most of the other biochemical (Table 1) and haematological variables (Table 2), were significantly (P < 0.05) higher at exsanguination, than in blood sampled while they were in the lairage and in the stunning box. The serum concentrations of cortisol and chloride and the activities of alanine aminotransferase and antioxidant enzymes were not significantly different between the pre-slaughter period and exsanguination. All selected blood variables were not significantly different between the lairge and the stunning box sampling time, indicating no physiological stress responses of the investigated horses to stressors, such as novelty of the pre-slaughter environment and handling, present in the slaughterhouse between the lairage and the stunning box. However, the significantly higher values, at exsanguination, for the plasma lactate and glucose concentrations, serum muscle enzyme activities and haematological variables, than during the pre-slaughter period, might partially be attributed to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, caused by stunning and bleeding.