Serum protein profiles, circulating immune complexes and proteinuria in dogs naturally infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

Alterations in serum protein profile, presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) and proteinuria were investigated in a large group of dogs naturally infected with the Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacterium. Our aim was to evaluate the presence of hypergammaglobulinaemia, CIC and proteinuria as a possible result of an immune-mediated disease following infection by or exposure to A. phagocytophilum. Dogs were divided into three groups - IFA positive (188 dogs with confirmed exposure to A. phagocytophilum), PCR positive (31 dogs with confirmed infection), and control (IFA and PCR negative) (19 dogs). Serum and urine protein patterns were determined by electrophoresis and CIC concentrations by absorbance nephelometry. No significant differences in hypergammaglobulinaemia were observed between the different groups, as shown by the presence of acute phase proteins α2 and ß1-2 globulins. CIC concentrations in the IFA and PCR positive groups were, on average, higher than in controls by 151.3µg/ml, though the differences were not significant. The proportion of dogs with proteinuria did not differ significantly between groups. Our results confirm the assumption that anaplasmosis in dogs is most probably a disease with an acute course, with a good prognosis under the right treatment.

Effects of synthetic analogues of poly-APS on contractile response of porcine coronary arteries.

APS12-2 and APS3 are synthetic analogues of polymeric alkylpyridinium salts (poly-APS) isolated from the marine sponge Reniera sarai. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible direct contractile effects of these two synthetic molecules on coronary arteries, in order partly to explain hemodynamic and cardiotoxic effects of APS12-2 previously observed in in vivo studies and to reveal possible adverse effects on the organism in the case of their clinical use. In contrast to APS3, APS12-2 caused a concentration-dependent vascular smooth muscle contraction of isolated porcine coronary ring preparations in a concentration-range from 1.36 to 13.60µM. Lanthanum chloride (5mM) and verapamil (10µM) completely abolished the APS12-2 evoked contraction of the coronary rings. Pre-incubation with indomethacin (10µM) had no effect on the contractile responses of coronary ring preparations. These results indicate that APS12-2 contracts vascular smooth muscle in a concentration-dependent manner, due to an increase of Ca(2+) influx through the voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels. Our data show for the first time that APS12-2 induces concentration-dependent contraction of coronary ring preparations, which may contribute to the cardiotoxic effects of APS12-2, in addition to hyperkalemia.