OBJECTIVE To evaluate the usefulness of intestinal biomarkers in determining the presence of intestinal epithelial damage in neonatal calves with diarrhea caused by 4 etiologic agents. ANIMALS 40 neonatal calves that were healthy (n = 10) or had diarrhea (30). PROCEDURES The study was a cross-sectional study. Results of hematologic analyses and serum concentrations of intestinal fatty acid–binding protein (I-FABP), liver fatty acid–binding protein (L-FABP), trefoil factor 3 (TFF-3), Claudin-3 (CLDN-3), γ-enteric smooth muscle actin (ACTG2), intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), interleukin-8 (IL-8), platelet-activating factor (PAF), and leptin (LP) were compared among calves grouped according to whether they were healthy (control group; G-1) or had diarrhea caused by K99 Escherichia coli (G-2; n = 10), bovine rota- or coronavirus (G-3; 5 each), or Cryptosporidium spp (G-4; 10). RESULTS Across the 3 time points at which blood samples were obtained and evaluated, the groups of calves with diarrhea generally had markedly higher mean serum concentrations of L-FABP, TFF-3, IAP, IL-8, and LP, compared with the control group. In addition, G-2 also consistently had markedly higher mean serum concentrations of I-FAB and ACTG2 and lower mean serum concentrations of CLDN-3, compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that degree of intestinal epithelial damage differed among calves grouped by the etiologic agent of diarrhea and that such damage might have been more severe in calves with diarrhea caused by K99 E coli. Additionally, our results indicated that serum concentrations of I-FABP, L-FABP, TFF-3, IAP, IL-8, ACTG2, LP, and CLDN-3 were useful biomarkers of intestinal epithelial damage in calves of the present study.

Background Approaches to the evaluation of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in premature calves by using lung‐specific epithelial and endothelial biomarkers are needed. Objective To investigate the evaluation of PAH in premature calves with and without respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) by using lung‐specific epithelial and endothelial biomarkers and determine the prognostic value of these markers in premature calves. Animals Fifty premature calves with RDS, 20 non‐RDS premature calves, and 10 healthy term calves. Methods Hypoxia, hypercapnia, and tachypnea were considered criteria for RDS. Arterial blood gases (PaO2, PaCO2, oxygen saturation [SO2], base excess [BE], and serum lactate concentration) were measured to assess hypoxia. Serum concentrations of lung‐specific growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), endothelin‐1 (ET‐1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and surfactant protein D (SP‐D) were measured to assess PAH. Results Arterial blood pH, PaO2, SO2, and BE of premature calves with RDS were significantly lower and PaCO2 and lactate concentrations higher compared to non‐RDS premature and healthy calves. The ADMA and SP‐D concentrations of premature calves with RDS were lower and serum ET‐1 concentrations higher than those of non‐RDS premature and healthy calves. No statistical differences for GDF‐15 and VEGF were found among groups. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Significant increases in serum ET‐1 concentrations and decreases in ADMA and SP‐D concentrations highlight the utility of these markers in the diagnosis of PAH in premature calves with RDS. Also, we found that ET‐1 was a reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for PAH and predicting mortality in premature calves.

The aim of the presented study was to evaluate some blood gas, hemogram, and biochemical parameters in cats with hemoplasmosis. Ten healthy and fifteen cats with hemoplasmosis were enrolled in the study. 7 mL of blood sample was taken once from all cats included in the study into tubes with and without anticoagulant. Blood gas, complete blood count, and biochemical analyzes were performed from blood samples. While pH and HCO3 levels of cats with hemoplasmosis were significantly lower than healthy cats, lactate and BE levels were higher (p< 0.05). WBC, MON, GRA and RDW levels were found to be significantly higher than in healthy cats, while RBC, HCT, Hb, and PLT levels were found to be lower (p< 0.05). AST, TBIL, DBIL, P, TRI, LDH, TP, and CPK levels were significantly higher than healthy subjects, while ALB and Ca levels and A:G ratio were found to be low (p< 0.05). As a result, significant changes occur in blood gas, complete blood count, and biochemical parameters of cats with hemoplasmosis. In addition, it was concluded that the A:G ratio should be considered in the diagnosis of cats with hemoplasmosis and that it should be evaluated together with other diagnostic test results.

Canine parvoviral enteritis (PVE) is one of the most common diseases in young dogs. A range of diseases and inflammatory conditions can cause endothelial glycocalyx (eGCX) disruption, therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence of eGCX damage in dogs with PVE using serum biomarkers of eGCX, and to evaluate their prognostic importance among survivor and non-survivor dogs. Twenty dogs diagnosed with PVE and 10 healthy dogs of both sexes, mixed-breed, and under 6 months of age were included in the study. Clinical examination, blood gas analysis, and complete blood cell counts of the dogs were performed. To detect the eGCX injury, serum endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1), syndecan-1 (SDC-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), and heparan sulfate (HS) levels were measured. Results showed that at the time of admission serum levels of ESM-1 were higher in dogs with PVE compared to that of the healthy dogs. Dogs with PVE were further assigned into two groups: survivors (n:10) and non-survivors (n:10). The ESM-1 had high sensitivity and specificity to differentiate between survivor and non-survivor dogs with values of 100% and 67%, respectively, with at an optimum cutoff point of ≥460 pg/mL. We concluded that higher levels of ESM-1 in dogs with PVE may indicate eGCX injury when compared to healthy dogs. Also, the high levels of serum ESM-1 in non-survivor dogs suggest that serum ESM-1 may carry some prognostic usefulness for predicting mortality in dogs with PVE.

This study aimed to assess the usefulness of injury biomarkers specific to the intestines in identifying the presence and degree of intestinal epithelial damage in coccidiosis-infected calves. Forty calves of various breeds and sexes, aged 21 days to 60 days, were used in the study. Of these, 30 were in the experimental group, and 10 were healthy control. The McMaster Oocyte counting technique was used to diagnose Eimeria and confirm clinical coccidiosis. Cases with clinical signs and more than 5,000 oocysts in gram feces were included in the study. All calves had blood samples drawn at the 0 th hours and 72 nd hours. Blood gas measurements were performed with a blood gas analyzer. Hemogram was performed with an automated hematologic analyzer. Bovine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis (ELISA) test kits were used to measure the intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), trefoil factor-3 (TFF-3), intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), claudin-3 (CLD-3), intestinal smooth muscle actin (ACTG2), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) biomarkers from serum samples. Calves with coccidiosis received a single dose of toltrazuril (15 mg/kg) and supportive care. Before treatment (0 th hours) in coccidiosis-infected calves, serum I-FABP and CLD-3 levels were greater than in healthy calves (p<0.05), and after treatment (72 nd hours), serum TFF-3 and ACTG2 levels were higher than in healthy calves. There was a significant decrease in serum IL-8 levels in coccidiosis-infected calves after treatment (72 nd hours) compared to pre-treatment (0 th hours) (p<0.05). I-FABP, TFF-3, CLD-3, ACTG2, and IL-8 are helpful and reliable biomarkers that can be utilized to assess the presence of intestinal epithelium injury in coccidiosis-infected calves.