Resting and postpradial serum cholecystokinin concentrations and evaluation of the effect of seeing and/or smelling food on serum cholecystokinin and bile acid concentrations in healthy dogs.

Serum bile acids concentrations rise postprandially. However, some dogs show paradoxical serum bile acids results with higher pre-prandial than post-prandial concentrations. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations and determine whether they correspond to paradoxical serum bile acids concentrations. In addition, seeing and smelling food was investigated as a possible cause for paradoxical serum bile acids results. Eight healthy dogs owned by volunteers enrolled in this experimental study. Food was withheld from the dogs for 12 h with great care not to expose them to any sight or smell of food. Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 480 and 720 min after feeding. Food was then withheld again for 24 h, and blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 480 and 720 min after seeing and smelling food. After feeding, serum CCK concentrations increased, but paradoxical serum CCK concentrations were observed in some of dogs, but only one of those had also paradoxical serum bile acids concentrations. After seeing and smelling food, serum CCK and serum bile acids concentrations did not significantly increase. In conclusion, paradoxical serum CCK concentrations can occur in some healthy dogs after feeding. However, no correlation with paradoxical serum bile acids concentrations was found. Seeing or smelling food are unlikely causes for paradoxical serum bile acids concentrations. Additional studies are warranted to further evaluate the relationship of serum CCK and bile acids concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with gastrointestinal disease.

Intestinal Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats: a retrospective study of 104 cases.

The clinical presentation and response to treatment of cats infected with Tritrichomonas foetus have not been sufficiently described in a large number of pet cats. The aim of this study was to collect and analyze clinical data from pet cats diagnosed with intestinal T foetus infection. Clinical information was collected for 104 cats that tested polymerase chain reaction-positive for T foetus. The most common clinical sign was diarrhea (98%) with a median duration of 135 days (range 1-2880 days). Forty-nine of 83 (59%) cats had diarrhea since adoption. Other clinical signs included anorexia (22%), depression (24%), weight loss or failure to gain weight (20%), vomiting (19%), abdominal pain (9%) and increased appetite (3%). A total of 45 cats had completed treatment with ronidazole, 29 of which (64%) showed a good clinical response to treatment. Sixteen (36%) cats had either partial or no improvement, or a relapse shortly after discontinuation of treatment.

Detection of Tritrichomonas foetus in cats in Greece.

Intestinal infection of cats with Tritrichomonas foetus has been reported in the USA, Canada, several European countries, and Australia. However, T foetus has not been previously reported in cats in Greece. The aim of this study was to test fecal samples from cats living in Greece for the presence of T foetus DNA. Feces were collected from 31 cats living in Greece. DNA was extracted from the fecal samples and the presence of T foetus DNA was detected by a single-tube nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). T foetus specific DNA was detected in the feces of 6/30 (20.0%) cats. All six cats were reported to have normal fecal quality at the time of sample collection and five of them were adults. The present study confirms for the first time the presence of T foetus in cats in Greece and suggests that T foetus infection is often asymptomatic in older cats.

Optimization of sample handling and processing for the carbon 13-labeled aminopyrine demethylation blood test and determination of a reference range for test results in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal sample handling and processing conditions for the carbon 13 ((13)C)-labeled aminopyrine demethylation blood test (ADBT; phase 1) and determine the reference range for test results (phase 2) in apparently healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 44 apparently healthy dogs (phase 1, 19 dogs; phase 2, 44 dogs). PROCEDURES: In phase 1, a blood sample from each dog was collected before and 45 minutes after (day 0) IV administration of (13)C-labeled aminopyrine (2 mg/kg); aliquots were immediately transferred into tubes containing sodium heparin and hydrochloric acid (samples A and B), sodium heparin alone (samples C, D, and E), or sodium fluoride (sample F). Hydrochloric acid was added to samples C through F at days 7, 14, 21, and 21, respectively. The baseline and 45-minute samples' absolute (13)C:(12)C ratios were determined via fractional mass spectrometry on day 0 (control sample A) or 21 (samples B through F) and used to calculate the percentage dose of (13)C recovered in CO(2) extracted from samples (PCD). In phase 2, blood samples from each dog were collected into tubes containing sodium fluoride and processed within 3 weeks. RESULTS: Compared with the control sample value, PCDs for samples C through E differed significantly, whereas PCD in sample F did not. The (13)C-ADBT-derived PCD reference range (central 95th percentile) for apparently healthy dogs was 0.08% to 0.2%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Glycolytic CO(2) production in canine blood samples collected during (13)C-ADBTs was sufficiently inhibited by sodium fluoride to allow delayed sample analysis and avoid transportation of hydrochloric acid-treated samples.