Integrations of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV)DNAP rimary liver cancer is one of the most common human malignancies worldwide. 1,2 Epidemiologic studies have shown that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 3,4 Development of HCC in HBVinfected individuals characteristically requires several decades, suggesting that malignant transformation of hepatocytes is a complex process possibly involving multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations. 5 The multistage process of hepatocarcinogenesis is suggested by histologic changes in the liver that are presumed to be related to molecular events that lead to aberrant gene expression including activation of protooncogenes, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and loss of heterozygosity. [5][6][7] Woodchucks (Marmota monax) chronically infected with the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) now serve as a useful animal model for investigation of viral hepatocarcinogenesis. 8,9 WHV is a member of the family Hepadnaviridae, for which HBV is the prototype virus. 10 Experimental infection of newborn woodchucks with WHV results in a high rate of chronic infection that almost always leads to development of HCC. 8,9 Moreover, the precancerous hepatic lesions observed in WHV-infected woodchucks are similar to those of other animal models of hepatocarcinogenesis.
Medical records of 80 dogs diagnosed with acute pancreatitis during a 4-year period were evaluated regarding history, breed predilection, clinical signs and additional examination findings. Cases were selected if compatible clinical symptoms, increased serum activity of amylase or lipase and morphologic evidence of pancreatitis by ultrasonography, laparotomy or necropsy were all present. Like in other studies, neutered dogs had an increased risk of developing acute pancreatitis. Although breed predilection was consistent with earlier reports, some notable differences were also observed. Apart from Dachshunds, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Fox Terriers, the sled dogs (Laikas, Alaskan Malamutes) also demonstrated a higher risk for pancreatitis according to our results. Concurrent diseases occurred in 56 dogs (70%), diabetes mellitus (n = 29, 36%) being the most common. Clinical signs of acute pancreatitis were similar to those observed in other studies. The study group represented a dog population with severe acute pancreatitis, having a relatively high mortality rate (40%) compared to data of the literature. Breed, age, gender, neutering and body condition had no significant association with the outcome. Hypothermia (p = 0.0413) and metabolic acidosis (p = 0.0063) correlated significantly with poor prognosis and may serve as valuable markers for severity assessment in canine acute pancreatitis.
The measurement of ammonia in biological fluids is the only way to diagnose and evaluate hepatic encephalopathy, but samples for ammonia measurement cannot be stored or sent by post. Two analysers for use in veterinary practice have recently become available, the VetTest and the Blood Ammonia Checker II; the reliability of ammonia measurements in canine blood with these two analysers has been evaluated by comparing the results with a standard automated enzymatic assay. Blood samples from 39 dogs, with a range of ammonia concentrations from 5 to 589 microM, were used simultaneously in the three assays. The blood samples were placed immediately on ice, and the measurements were made in duplicate. The intra-assay coefficients of variation were 13.7 per cent for the VetTest, 4.7 per cent for the Blood Ammonia Checker, and 2.8 per cent for the enzymatic assay. The correlation coefficients over the entire range of concentrations were 0.79 between the VetTest and the enzymatic assay, and 0.98 between the Ammonia Checker and the enzymatic assay. The ammonia concentrations recorded in the enzymatic assay were divided into 12 samples within the normal range (0 to 50 microM), 18 samples with moderately increased concentrations (51 to 150 microM), and nine samples with concentrations above 150 microM. No correlation or a poor correlation was found between the results from the VetTest and those from the enzymatic assay from 0 to 50 microM (R = 0.27) and from 50 to 150 microM (R = 0.51; P = 0.05). The results from the VetTest were only reliable in samples with the highest concentrations (R = 0.93; P < 0.05). In contrast, the results from the Ammonia Checker correlated well with the results from the enzymatic assay over all the ranges: R = 0.79 (P < 0.05) from 0 to 50 microM, R = 0.86 (P < 0.05) from 50 to 150 microM, and R = 1.00 (P < 0.05) in samples exceeding 150 microM.
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