ECGs recorded from dogs show characteristic morphology and changes in morphology with various disease states. These changes are determined by comparing individual recordings to reference ranges established from recordings obtained from normal dogs in right lateral (RL) recumbency. Using these reference ranges for ECGs recorded from dogs in other positions may not be valid. We compared ECG complexes from 39 normal dogs obtained in RL, left lateral (LL), and standing (ST) body positions. ECGs from dogs in ST position showed increased Q-wave and R-wave amplitudes in leads I and II, increased R-wave and S-wave amplitudes in leads aVR and aVL, and decreased R-wave and S-wave amplitudes in lead III when compared with recordings obtained in RL position. ECGs from dogs in LL position showed increased R-wave amplitude in leads II, III, and aVF and S-wave amplitude in lead aVL but decreased R-wave amplitude in lead aVR when compared with recordings obtained in RL position. The mean electrical axis (MEA) shifted to the left in ST position but remained within the normal range in LL position. We determined that both a change in the relative position of the recording electrodes with respect to the heart as well as a change in intrathoracic cardiac position contributed to these changes. P-wave amplitude, P-R and S-T intervals, and QRS complex durations remained unaltered by changes in body position. Our findings indicate that ECGs of dogs recorded in RL, LL, and ST positions yield dramatically different results, and investigators should use position-specific reference ranges to minimize potential misinterpretation of ECG results.

Subclinical mastitis (SM) is one of the most important diseases affecting dairy ewes worldwide, with negative impact on the animal health, farm income and public health. Animals with SM often remain untreated because the disease may not be revealed. Increase in somatic cell count (SCC) and positive bacteriology for mastitis pathogens in milk samples are indicative of SM but the evidence of only one of these alterations must suggest an uncertain SM (UM). UM is defined when positive bacteriological examination (Latent-SM) or SCC>500 000 cells/ml (non-specific-SM) are detected in milk. Nevertheless, SCC and bacteriological examination are expensive, time consuming and are not yet in use at the farm level in dairy ewes. Recently, a sensitive acute phase protein, amyloid A, displaying multiple isoforms in plasma and different body fluids including mammary secretion (milk amyloid A-MAA), has been investigated as a marker of mastitis in cows and, in a few studies, in sheep. The aim of this trial was to compare the concentration of MAA of single udder-halves in ewes with healthy udder-halves (HU-control group) and naturally occurring subclinical mastitis, both confirmed (SM group) and uncertain (UM groups: Latent-SM and non-specific-SM), for monitoring udder health. The reliability of a specific ELISA kit for the measurement of MAA was also tested. During a 3-month trial period, 153 udder halves were assigned to the experimental groups based on their health status: 25 with SM, 40 with UM (11 with latent-SM and 29 with non-specific-SM) and 88 HU. SCC and bacteriological analysis were performed to establish the control and subclinical mastitis groups. MAA concentrations in milk samples were measured using a specific commercially milk ELISA kit. The data were submitted to statistical analysis. Significant (P<0·05) differences among the groups SM, non-specific-SM and HU were detected with the SM having the highest level and HU the lowest. MAA concentration is affected by the udder health status and is a useful indicator of subclinical mastitis and increased SCC in sheep.

2005. Use of serum cistatin C determination as a marker of renal function in the dog. Veterinary Research Communications, 29(Suppl. 2), 265-267

The cancer antigen 15/3 is a mucin that is associated with the cell membrane, encoded by the MUC1 gene, and recognized by the monoclonal-clone DF3 antibody. The latter antigen was discovered to be specific for both the identification of human mammary neoplasia and during patient follow-up evaluations. The aim of this study is to report and compare the results of the application of direct chemiluminescence in canine blood sera and the kit utilized in human medicine for the determination of Ca 15/3 to verify the diagnostic efficiency of the kit in cases presenting mammary tumors. Specifically, CA 15/3 has proven to be measurable in all samples assayed to distinguish clinically healthy subjects from those with mammary neoplasia.

2007. Serum cystatin-C evaluation in dogs affected by different diseases associated or not with renal insufficiency. Veterinary Research Communications, 31(Suppl. 1), 269-271