Improved Clinicopathologic Assessments of Acute Liver Damage due to Trauma in Indian Ring-necked Parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis)

Abstract

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.

Diagnostic value of plasma biochemistry, haematology, radiography and endoscopic visualisation for hepatic disease in psittacine birds

“…While SDH elevation was the most specific indication of induced hepatic damage in Indian ring‐necked parakeets, this study found poor agreement between SDH and histopathology 8 . This finding is similar to the conclusion of a retrospective study in 442 psittacine blood samples 11 .…”

“…The half‐life of CPK is shorter than that of AST; therefore, it is unlikely that the time elapsed between phlebotomy and endoscopy (~3.74 days) altered the results 4 . Induced acute hepatic injury in Indian ring‐necked parakeets showed similar concurrent increases of AST and CPK and postulated to be due to muscle damage from surgery or venepuncture 8 . All phlebotomy preceded endoscopy, so surgical trauma played no role; however, stress of handling likely elevated CPK.…”

“…Studies about sensitivity and specificity of liver enzymes rely on experimentally induced pathology, which may not reflect natural disease. In Indian ring‐necked parakeets, sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) was the most specific indicator of hepatic damage, and bile acids were unaffected by endoscopic crush injury of hepatic parenchyma 8 . AST was highly sensitive in ethylene glycol‐induced liver damage in pigeons 9 .…”

Molecular Biomarkers in Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Challenges and Future Perspectives

“…• Previous studies have shown that SDH concentration was elevated in acute and mild liver injuries, which suggested that it may be a sensitive biomarker in liver inflammation. Harrill et al, 2012;Metushi et al, 2012;Williams et al, 2012;Metushi et al, 2014b GST • GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 associated with ATDILI.…”

Multiomics analysis profile acute liver injury module clusters to compare the therapeutic efficacy of bifendate and muaddil sapra

“…For example, a series of studies have shown that in many species, biochemical enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] activity rise high are inseparable with liver damage and regeneration 4 . Corrick RM et al .’s study showed that the liver growth hormone (hGH) showed a resistance effect after acute injury, and the GH induced signal transduction and transcription activator 5 phosphorylation significantly decreased after the completion of the trauma process 5 .…”