Abstract. The automated laser-based hematology analyzer Sysmex XT-2000iV™ provides a 5-part differential count and specific cytograms that are of great interest for large veterinary laboratories. The aim of the study was to validate the Sysmex XT-2000iV compared to the laser-based hematology analyzer ADVIA® 2120 and manual differential in dogs, cats, and horses as well as the impact of anticoagulant (heparin, ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid [EDTA], and citrate) and storage at 22°C and 4°C. Consecutive fresh K 3 -EDTA blood samples from 216 cats, 314 dogs, and 174 horses were included. The impact of anticoagulant and sample storage was assessed in specimens obtained from an additional 9 cats, 10 dogs, and 10 horses. Agreement between both analyzers was excellent to good except for monocytes and canine reticulocytes. Spearman rank correlation coefficients (r s ) between Sysmex XT-2000iV and manual differential were good to fair and ranged from 0.91 (cat lymphocytes) to 0.44 (cat monocytes). Hematocrit value (Hct), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), MCH concentration (MCHC; all: P < 0.001), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV; P < 0.01) were higher in canine citrated blood compared to heparin and EDTA. In cats, lymphocytes and monocytes were lower in heparinized blood compared to EDTA (P < 0.05), whereas in horses no significant effect was seen. Regarding storage time and temperature, white and red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, and MCH were stable. Hct, MCV, and MCHC were influenced by erythrocyte swelling. Differential count remained stable for 24 hr (22°C) and nearly 72 hr (4°C) except for monocytes. The overall performance of the Sysmex XT2000iV was excellent and compared favorably with that of the ADVIA 2120. A special strength was the excellent detection of feline eosinophils.

Abstract. Tissue factor (TF)-and kaolin-activated thromboelastography (TEG) have been performed in a small number of healthy dogs, but reference intervals have not been assessed in a larger number of dogs. The goal of the current study was to establish reference intervals and assess intra-assay repeatability for kaolinactivated TEG in dogs. Additionally, the impact of sex and the influence of anticoagulant (native blood vs. recalcified citrate anticoagulated blood) were evaluated. Thromboelastography analyses were performed in 56 healthy dogs including German Shepherd Dogs (n 5 19), Beagles (n 5 15), and others (n 5 22). Median age was 2 years (range: 1-6 years) and sex was evenly distributed (31 males and 25 females). To establish reference intervals, citrated whole-blood samples were collected, and TEG was performed 1 hr after sampling. Five TEG variables (R 5 reaction time; K 5 clot formation time; a 5 angle a; MA 5 maximal amplitude; G-value reflecting clot stability) were evaluated, and reference intervals were defined as the mean 6 1.96-fold standard deviation. Intra-assay repeatability was assessed by calculating the pooled variance estimate in duplicate measurements of 6 healthy dogs. The effect of anticoagulant was assessed in 17 specimens. Reference intervals were as follows: R 5 1.8-8.6 min; angle a 5 36.9-74.6 degrees; K 5 1.3-5.7 min; MA 5 42.9-67.9 mm, and G 5 3.2-9.6 Kdyn/cm 2 . Coefficients of variation for R, K, angle a, MA, and G were 7.6%, 17.7%, 7.4%, 2.9%, and 6.6%, respectively. There was no significant impact of sex or anticoagulant on results. Interindividual variation was higher in native samples than in citrated whole blood. A limitation of the current study was that most of the samples were obtained from Beagles and German Shepherd Dogs. This study provides useful reference intervals for kaolin-activated TEG.

No abstract

Twenty-four client-owned dogs with tracheal collapse refractory to conventional treatment underwent management with an intraluminal self-expanding stainless-steel endoprosthesis (Wallstent). Initial improvement of clinical signs was observed in 95.8% of the dogs. Two dogs (8.3%) died within a median interval of 6 days after stent implantation due to incorrect placement and size of the stent and emphysema, respectively. A dry cough occurred temporarily in most of the patients. One dog each (4.1%) suffered mild transient tracheal hemorrhage and pneumomediastinum. The results showed that the initial survival rate of intraluminal stabilization was comparable with surgical implantation of extratracheal prostheses. Clinical reevaluation was performed in 18 dogs within a median interval of 68 days after treatment. Of the dogs treated, 30.4% were reported to be asymptomatic after stent implantation, 60.9% improved markedly, and 4.3% remained symptomatic. In all patients undergoing endoscopy, the Wallstents were almost completely covered with tracheal epithelium. A median shortening of 27.3% of the endoprosthesis within a median interval of 175 days after stent implantation in 15 of 18 dogs was noted. The shortening was associated with clinical signs in 2 patients. In 5 dogs, steroid-responsive granuloma formation resulted in a severe reduction of the tracheal lumen in 3 patients. The results suggest that implantation of Wallstents was minimally invasive and provided stabilization of collapsed thoracic tracheal portions in addition to the cervical part of the trachea. This minimally invasive method for the management of severe tracheal collapse therefore provides an attractive alternative to surgery.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of feline haemotropic mycoplasmas in Germany, to determine probable risk factors for these infections and to compare the diagnostic value of microscopic examination of blood smears to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For the prevalence study, convenience samples (Ethylene diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood) from 262 (64.5% male and 35.5% female) cats were included. A PCR for the detection of Mycoplasma haemofelis (MHF) and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (CMH) as well as a feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)/feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) enzyme-linked immunoassay was performed. Blood smears from 224 cats were examined and the sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic diagnosis were determined. The prevalence of CMH, MHF, and CMH/MHF co-infection was 22.5%, 4.5%, and 0.8%, respectively. CMH was significantly associated with male gender (P=0.047), older age (P=0.0015) and both FeLV (P=0.002) and FIV infections (P<0.0001). However, there was no association between the presence of anaemia and CMH/MHF infection. The respective sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic diagnosis were 10.3% and 87.1% for a CMH infection and 0.0% and 98.0% for MHF infection.

No abstract

Abstract-Ouabain, an inhibitor of the sodium pump, has been identified as a constituent of bovine adrenal glands. We were interested whether the release of this cardiotonic steroid is stimulated by physical exercise. Hence, athletes and healthy dogs were subjected to ergometry. Ouabain-like compound (OLC) was measured in venous blood by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as well as by 86 Rb ϩ uptake inhibition (as ouabain equivalents). OLC increased in venous blood of athletes after 15 minutes of ergometry from 2.5Ϯ0.5 to 86.0Ϯ27.2 nmol/L (nϭ51; PϽ0.001), as did the concentration of a circulating inhibitor of the sodium pump from 7.3Ϯ1.7 to 129.8Ϯ51 nmol/L (ouabain equivalents, PϽ0.05). Half-maximal increase in heart rate and systolic blood pressure occurred at 5.1Ϯ1.2 nmol/L and at 30Ϯ1 nmol/L OLC, respectively. On rest, OLC decreased in humans and dogs with a half-life of 3 to 5 minutes. In beagles exposed to moderate exercise on a treadmill for 13 minutes, levels of OLC increased 46-fold (from 3.7Ϯ0.8 to 166.9Ϯ91.8 nmol/L; nϭ6; PϽ0.005). This effect was suppressed when the dogs had been treated for 3 weeks with the ␤ 1 -adrenergic receptor blocker atenolol or the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril. We conclude that OLC changes rapidly during exercise and is under the control of norepinephrine and angiotensin II. Key Words: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor Ⅲ ␤-blocker Ⅲ circulation Ⅲ endogenous ouabain Ⅲ hypertension Ⅲ sodium pump hypertension O uabain or its isomer has been isolated from blood, adrenals, and hypothalamus 1-3 as one of the endogenous cardiac glycosides circulating in blood plasma. 4 Evidently, ouabain is synthesized in adrenal glands, 1,5,6 but it may also be accumulated there after resorption from the gut. 7 Bovine adrenocortical cells in tissue culture release ouabain on exposure to epinephrine, angiotensin II, or corticotropin. 1,6,8 Whether this in vitro finding translates into the in vivo situation is unclear. If so, physical exercise associated with the increase in epinephrine and norepinephrine should consequently increase endogenous ouabain. Previous studies showed ambiguous results. An increase 9 as well as a decrease of plasma concentrations of ouabain-like compounds (OLCs) 10,11 have been reported. Here, we investigated the effect of physical exercise on the endogenous ouabain plasma concentration in several experimental settings as well as the influence of ␤-blockade and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Materials and MethodsAll chemicals were of the highest purity available. Anti-ouabain antibodies from sheep (CN2710) were from B.R.A.H.M.S. Arzneimittel (Dr A. Bergmann), Henningsdorf, Germany. The antibodies showed cross-reactivities with k-strophanthin 42%, ouabagenin 27%, dihydro-ouabain 0.3%, digitoxin 0.07%, and proscillaridin (Ͻ0.1%), and no cross-reaction (Ͻ0.01%) with strophanthidin, digoxin, digitoxigenin, oleandrin, marinobufagin, bufalin, cinobufagin, cinobufotalin, and 19 other steroid hormones. Human Patients and ControlsWritten inf...

Overall, veterinary bench top analyzers fulfilled experts' requirements except for HGB due to method-related bias, and platelet counts due to known preanalytic/analytic issues.