Results suggested that there was an excellent correlation between results of the centrifugal analyzer and results of the reference method only for Hct in feline, canine, and equine samples; WBC count in canine and equine samples; granulocyte count in canine and equine samples; and reticulocyte count in canine samples. However, an inability to identify abnormal cells, the high percentage of error messages, particularly for samples with abnormal WBC counts, and the wide confidence intervals precluded reliance on differential cell counts obtained with the centrifugal analyzer.
Increased activities of certain biochemical enzymes (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) have been associated with blunt liver injury in many species. To evaluate changes in plasma hepatic biochemical parameters in acute avian liver disease caused by trauma and to compare biochemical changes with histologic lesions in hepatic parenchyma, 30 healthy fasted Indian ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis) were divided into 2 groups, and traumatic liver injury was caused by endoscopic liver biopsy (group 1) or by liver biopsy and crushing injury to the hepatic parenchyma with endoscopic forceps (group 2) in anesthetized birds. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, and 120 hours in alternate groups to compare analyte values after injury with those at baseline. Results showed consistently decreased plasma ALP activity (excluding 1 time point) throughout the study, which was thought to be associated with isoflurane administration. Plasma glutamate dehydrogenase activity initially increased but rapidly declined thereafter and was attributed to acute focal hepatocellular injury. In both groups, increases in plasma AST, ALT, and LDH activities was most likely caused by muscle injury because creatine kinase activity was concurrently increased. Compared with baseline values, bile acid concentration and y-glutamyl transferase activity were not affected by liver biopsy or crush injury. Plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase activity was the most specific indicator of liver injury in both groups. Histologic changes correlated poorly with biochemical results, possibly because the small area of hepatic parenchyma that was damaged did not affect enzyme values substantially.
Abstract. Ethylene glycol (EG) toxicity is commonly encountered in dogs and cats. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the Catachem test kit (Catachem Inc., Oxford, Connecticut) could precisely and accurately detect the presence of EG added to serum and plasma from 6 dogs and 4 cats. Serum and plasma samples were spiked at various concentrations of EG (0, 20, 60, and 100 mg/dl) and analyzed using the Catachem kit. Twenty randomly selected samples were also submitted for gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of EG concentration, which was considered the gold standard. Inter-and intra-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were calculated. Bland-Altman analysis was performed to compare the Catachem results to the GC-MS analyses. Analysis of serum samples showed a bias of 8.48 mg/dl (95% limits of agreement: 17.8 to -0.9 mg/dl) while spiked plasma samples had a bias of 7.32 mg/dl (18.1 to -3.5 mg/dl). Intra-assay CV was 0.7%. Interassay CV ranged from 1.2% to 2.0%. For all samples, the Catachem kit read higher than GC-MS values and slightly overestimated in vitro concentrations. The Catachem test kit is an accurate quantitative test for EG in dogs and cats that may aid in timely recognition of EG exposure. Because of the positive bias in all samples, some pets may receive treatment unnecessarily. However, animals with blood EG concentrations at or above the published lethal serum or plasma concentration will be readily identified so that treatment may be initiated.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.