No abstract

No abstract

The aim of this study was to determine a heart rate deflection point (HRdp) in competitive agility dogs. Fourteen healthy border collies underwent progressive incremental treadmill exercise--modified Conconi test protocol. Heart rate was continuously recorded, and the HRdp was estimated using two methods: subjective and computer aided regression. Maximal heart rate (HRmax), achieved running speed at the anaerobic threshold and at the end of test were also determined. Statistical analysis showed a very high positive correlation between HRdp determined by two methods. The mean HRdp in this research corresponded to 80% of HRmax. The wide range of individual HRdp (162-229 BPM) indicates the need of an individual approach in assessing physiological parameters. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first application of Conconi modified test for estimating anaerobic threshold in agility dogs since the standard for dogs is yet undetermined. Future studies need to detect the most appropriate and reliable technique for its determination as well as its applicability in programming of the optimal training intensity.

Babesiosis is a common tick born disease of dogs in tropical and subtropical regions of the world caused by different species of Babesia. The aim of the present study was to confirm the presence of oxidative stress by examining serum malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, in 35 dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis (B. canis). MDA was examined in 14 healthy dogs as well. Blood smears were prepared from peripheral blood and they showed the presence of B. canis in infected dogs. B. canis was confirmed using the PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) method. On the basis of clinical and laboratory data the 35 infected dogs were clinically classified into two groups, complicated (seven dogs) and uncomplicated (28 dogs). The noted complications were renal dysfunction (5/7), hepatic dysfunction (3/7), muscular involvement (2/7) and ARDS (1/7). Levels of blood urea nitrogen concentration (BUN), creatinin, total bilirubin, alanin aminotranspherase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and gammaglutamil aminotranspherase (GGT) were significantly increased in dogs with complicated versus uncomplicated babesiosis. Furthermore the uncomplicated group of dogs was, depending on the severity of anaemia, classified as suffering from severe, moderate or mild disease. Levels of serum MDA were significantly higher in sick dogs (36.90 μmol/l ± 13.95) than healthy animals (8.13 μmol/l ± 1.78). There was no significant statistical difference in serum MDA levels between dogs with complicated (38.48 μmol/l ± 12.11) and uncomplicated babesiosis (36.50 μmol/l ± 14.55). Comparison of the groups based on the severity of anaemia showed that there was no significant statistical difference in serum MDA levels between them. The study demonstrated the involvement of oxidative damage in dogs naturally infected with B. canis.

Chronic valve disease (CVD) is the most common clinically significant heart disease of dogs, affecting 20 to 40% of dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum protein profile of healthy and CVD affected dogs, by means of an isobaric tandem mass tag (TMT) label-based high-resolution quantitative proteomic approach. Additionally, conventional cardiac biomarkers were measured in the serum, functional bioinformatics analysis was employed for elucidating molecular mechanisms and pathways associated with CVD, and validation of proteomic results was performed by immunoassays and Western blotting. Of 290 identified and quantified proteins, 15 proteins showed significantly different abundances (p<0.05), including antithrombin-III, alpha-2-antiplasmin, tetranectin, apolipoprotein M, adiponectin, inter-alphatrypsin inhibitor heavy chain H1, gelsolin and apolipoprotein B-100. The identified proteins with differently abundances are involved in a number of pathways, such as complement and coagulation cascades, haemostasis, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, lipid metabolism and transport. We found comparative similarities with human disease in terms of identified proteins and GO pathways, which confirmed similar pathophysiology of this disease, but also differences, mainly in lipid metabolism.

Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) are a group of globally extended and quickly spreading pathogens that are transmitted by various arthropod vectors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence against Babesia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria immitis, and Ehrlichia canis in dogs in Croatia. We investigated 435 randomly selected apparently healthy dogs in 13 different locations of Croatia for antibodies to B. canis by indirect immunofluorescence using a commercial IFA IgG Antibody Kit. All samples were also tested for qualitative detection of D. immitis antigen and for antibodies to A. phagocytophilum, B. burgdorferi sensu lato, L. infantum, and E. canis with two point-of-care assays. Overall, 112 dogs (25.74%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 21.70-30.12) were serologically positive for one or more of the pathogens. B. canis was the most prevalent pathogen (20.00%, 95% CI 16.34-24.07), followed by A. phagocytophilum (6.21%, 95% CI 4.12-8.90), L. infantum, (1.38%, 95% CI 0.51-2.97), and B. burgdorferi sensu lato (0.69%, 95% CI 0.01-2.00). The lowest seroprevalence was for D. immitis and E. canis (0.46%, 95% CI 0.01-1.65). Coinfection was determined in 12 dogs (2.76%, 95% CI 1.43-4.77), of which 10 were positive to two pathogens (7 with B. canis and A. phagocytophilum and 1 B. canis with B. burgdorferi sensu lato or L. infantum or E. canis). One dog was positive to three pathogens and another dog to four pathogens. Seroprevalence for babesia was age, breed, and lifestyle/use dependent. Purebred dogs had almost half the chance of developing disease than crossbred (OR = 0.58, p < 0.026, 95% CI 0.37-0.94). Seropositivity to B. canis was 3.41 times higher for dogs that lived outdoors/shelter (p < 0.006) or 4.57 times higher in mixed/hunting (p < 0.001) compared to indoor/companion dogs. This is the first comprehensive survey of VBP seropositivity conducted in Croatia. Some of these VBPs are zoonotic and represent a potential risk to public health.

nema

The aim of the present study was to detect and characterise the species and subspecies of Babesia spp. that cause canine babesiosis in Croatia. Twenty-eight dogs with typical signs of babesiosis (lethargy, anorexia, fever, dark urine and thrombocytopenia) were included in this study. Their blood smears showed the presence of Babesia canis . The results showed the detection of one subspecies, namely Babesia canis canis using PCR, and subsequent sequence analysis demonstrated portions of the nss rRNA gene in 27 out of 28 samples. Sequence analysis of the isolates showed 100% identity in 11 samples, 99.7% identity (one nucleotide difference) in 11 samples and 99.4% identity (two nucleotides difference) in 5 samples with B. canis canis . The results of this study confirm the presence of B. canis canis in infected dogs in Croatia and demonstrate a slightly new genetic variant of Babesia subspecies.