ABSTRACT. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is one of the major acute phase proteins in cats that has potential to be used as an inflammatory marker. A previous study showed that the human SAA turbidimetric immunoassay (hSAA-TIA) could be used to measure the SAA concentration in cats. The objectives of the present study were to assess use of hSAA-TIA for determining the feline SAA concentration and to evaluate its clinical application. Recombinant feline SAA protein (rfSAA) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified for SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis with anti-human SAA antibodies. The concentration of rfSAA was determined by ELISA and hSAA-TIA. Plasma SAA concentrations were measured in healthy and diseased cats by hSAA-TIA. The time-courses changes in the SAA and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) concentrations in the cats after ovariohysterectomy were investigated. In SDS-PAGE, rfSAA was detected as a clear band that reacted with anti-human SAA antibodies. There was significant correlation between the SAA concentration measured by ELISA and hSAA-TIA. The SAA concentration of the diseased cats (n=263) was significantly increased (P<0.01; 0.0-88.9 mg/l, mean: 7.52 mg/l) compared with that in the healthy cats (n=26; 0.0-0.9 mg/l, mean: 0.14 mg/l). No correlation was observed between SAA and WBC in the diseased cats. The SAA concentration changed more rapidly and remarkably than the AGP concentration after ovariohysterectomy. The present study revealed that hSAA-TIA is useful for determination of the feline SAA concentration. Measurement of the SAA concentration, in addition to the WBC count, would be clinically valuable as a routine test to detect inflammation. KEY WORDS: acute phase protein, α1-acid glycoprotein, feline, serum amyloid A, turbidimetric immunoassay.

ABSTRACT. Medical records of dogs with colorectal polyps were retrospectively reviewed, and clinical presentation of inflammatory colorectal polyps in miniature dachshunds was evaluated. Of 33 dogs found to have colorectal polyps, miniature dachshunds were markedly over-represented with 16 dogs (48%), of which 12 (75%) were found to have inflammatory polyps. Multiple polyps localized between the rectum and the descending colon was the most common finding in miniature dachshunds with inflammatory polyps. Twenty dogs (80%) out of 25 miniature dachshunds with inflammatory colorectal polyps responded to immunosuppressive therapy using prednisolone and cyclosporine. The results of this study indicate that miniature dachshunds are predisposed to develop inflammatory colorectal multiple polyps, for which immunosuppressive therapy may be a treatment option. Polyps are an abnormal growth of tissue arising from the mucosa, including neoplasms and inflammatory polyps. In dogs, colorectal polyps are relatively common in the gastrointestinal tract. These polyps can be single or multiple and are most often located in the distal rectum, causing the common clinical signs of hematochezia or tenesmus. In previous reports, many colorectal polyps in dogs were found to be derived from neoplasms, with adenomatous polyps and adenocarcinoma being most frequently represented [11,25,32,33]. Adenomatous polyps and adenocarcinoma are observed as solitary masses in the rectum, and most polyps appear as friable, lobulated, sessile, or pedunculated lesions on the mucosa. Surgical resection has been recommended in dogs as treatment for colorectal polyps [2,5,21]. Endoscopic treatment for adenomatous polyps [7,10] and piroxicam for tubulopapillary polyps [15] have been reported as alternative therapies for colorectal neoplasms. On the contrary, inflammatory colorectal polyps are rare, and few reports have described the clinical features of inflammatory colorectal polyps [33]. In humans, inflammatory colorectal polyps or polypoid lesions occur in association with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other inflammatory diseases of the colon such as ischemic or infective colitis [3,17,24]. These masses form mainly due to extensive mucosal damage and healing processes, rather than infiltration of inflammatory cells. The polyps formed from infiltration of inflammatory cells, which could be termed "true" inflammatory polyps, seem to be relatively rare in humans.This study was conducted on the basis of two objectives. First, we retrospectively investigated dogs with colorectal polyps to characterize the prevalence and clinical features of the disease in Japan. Second, we reviewed the clinical presentation and treatment response of cases with inflammatory colorectal multiple polyps in miniature dachshunds, which were markedly over-represented in our study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective study of colorectal polyps in dogs:We reviewed the medical records of 33 dogs found to have colorectal polyps at the Veterinary Medical Center of the University of...

ABSTRACT. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), an inflammatory cytokine, plays a role in tissue fibrosis, such as glomerular sclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis of the kidneys. In the present study, the urinary TGF-β1 level of cats diagnosed with chronic renal failure (CRF) was measured to investigate its relationship to the pathogenesis of feline CRF. Urinary TGF-β1 levels (TGF-β1/creatinine ratio) were significantly increased compared with healthy controls, whereas serum levels of TGF-β1 were not. These results indicate that TGF-β1 is expressed in the kidneys of CRF cats, and that it was reflected in the urinary TGF-β1 level. Therefore, TGF-β1 may play a role in feline CRF, and urinary TGF-β1 could be used as a clinical marker for renal fibrosis. KEY WORDS: CRF, fibrosis, TGF-β1.

Time-course changes in the concentration of serum amyloid A (SAA), a major acute phase protein, were measured in a cat with pancreatitis over an 831-day period and compared with changes in WBC count and feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI). SAA concentration was increased at the onset of the disease and gradually decreased over 5 days of treatment with an improvement in the clinical condition. In contrast, fTLI concentration and WBC count were not increased at the onset of the disease but increased gradually during the 5 days of treatment. Long-term monitoring from days 68 to 831 revealed a good correlation between SAA concentration and the reoccurrence of clinical signs in the cat; however, WBC count did not increase even with the exacerbation of disease. These findings suggest that the SAA concentration may be a useful marker for evaluating response to treatment and disease exacerbation in feline pancreatitis.

ABSTRACT. Inflammatory colorectal polyp (ICRP), common in miniature dachshunds, presents with hematochezia, tenesmus and mucoid feces. Although an 80% response rate has been reported when treated with prednisolone and cyclosporine, effective treatment is needed for the remaining 20% of ICRP dogs. Leflunomide is an immunosuppressive drug reported as effective in several immune-mediated diseases. In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and adverse effects of leflunomide in 15 ICRP dogs that were refractory to treatment with prednisolone and cyclosporine. Treatment efficacy was assessed by endoscopy, clinical symptoms and rectal palpation. Adverse effects were determined by clinical symptoms and blood testing during follow-up. The leflunomide treatment response rate was 93.3%. The median dosage of leflunomide and the median response time were 3 mg/kg (range: 1.7-4.0 mg/kg) and 35 days (range: 20-119 days), respectively. Adverse effects observed included lethargy (3 dogs), anorexia (1 dog), respiratory symptoms (1 dog), leukocytopenia (2 dogs), thrombocytopenia (1 dog), anemia (1 dog) and liver enzyme elevation (8 dogs). Most of the adverse effects improved with symptomatic treatment and leflunomide discontinuation or dosage reduction. In conclusion, leflunomide treatment is effective in ICRP dogs refractory to treatment with prednisolone and cyclosporine. Because several adverse effects were observed, close monitoring is needed during leflunomide treatment follow-up.