Dilutional Effect of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid on Packed Cell Volume in Healthy Dogs

ABSTRACT Packed cell volume (PCV) is commonly used to assess and monitor red blood cell count in animals, but the results can be altered if inappropriate ratios of anticoagulant/blood are used. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ideally filled, overfilled, and underfilled K3 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes with various volumes of healthy dog blood on centrifuged PCV. Six milliliters of blood was obtained from 94 blood donors each. Initial distribution was injected into two nonheparinized microhematocrit tubes. The remainder was instilled into 1.3 mL K3 EDTA spray-dried tubes as 1.5 mL, 1.3 mL, 0.75 mL, 0.5 mL, and 0.25 mL aliquots. Normality was determined using the D’agostino–Pearson method and by visual examination of histograms. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance with post hoc testing using Tukey's test. There is a statistically significant decrease in the PCV between all groups with progressive underfilling of tubes (P < .0001). The closest difference is between 1.5 and 1.3 mL (P = .0138). Our study suggested that underfilling K3 EDTA tubes significantly and negatively influences the PCV in healthy dogs. Using underfilled K3 EDTA tubes result in a lower PCV compared with directly filled microhematocrit tubes without anticoagulant.

Host-Feeding Preference and Diel Activity of Mosquito Vectors of the Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Rural Cambodia

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is the most important cause of human encephalitis in Southeast Asia, and this zoonosis is mainly transmitted from pigs to human by mosquitoes. A better understanding of the host-feeding preference of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) major vectors is crucial for identifying risk areas, defining bridge vector species and targeting adapted vector control strategies. To assess host-feeding preference of JE vectors in a rural Cambodian area where JE is known to circulate, in 2017, we implemented four sessions of mosquito trapping (March, June, September, December), during five consecutive nights, collecting four times a night (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.), and using five baited traps simultaneously, i.e., cow, chicken, pig, human, and a blank one for control. In addition, blood meals of 157 engorged females trapped at the same location were opportunistically analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using cow, pig, human, and dog blood primers. More than 95% of the 36,709 trapped mosquitoes were potential JE vectors. These vectors were trapped in large numbers throughout the year, including during the dry season, and from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Despite the apparent host-feeding preference of Culex vishnui, Cx. gelidus, and Cx. tritaenhyorhincus for cows, statistical analysis suggested that the primary target of these three mosquito species were pigs. Dog blood was detected in eight mosquitoes of the 157 tested, showing that mosquitoes also bite dogs, and suggesting that dogs may be used as proxy of the risk for human to get infected by JE virus.

Canine Blood Group Prevalence and Geographical Distribution around the World: An Updated Systematic Review

In recent years, blood transfusions have been more commonly given to pets. The importance of determining blood groups in dogs and cats is, therefore, well-known for reducing the risk of adverse reactions in the recipient blood caused by a “non-compatible” donor. This systematic review summarizes data from previously published reports and follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for systematic reviews. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified 41 eligible studies using different states and blood-typing methods to determine blood groups in dogs. The dog blood groups that were identified between 1999 and 2020 in 17 different countries were combined to yield the DEA (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen), Kai, and Dal groups. These studies were conducted in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia but not in all the countries of these continents. The methods used to determine blood types have also changed over the years. This systematic review highlights gaps in the literature and should advance future studies synthesizing data with methodological rigor.

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Babesia canis vogeli and Theileria annulata in Free-Ranging Dogs and Ticks from Shahriar County, Tehran Province, Iran

Background: We aimed to detect and characterize vector-borne parasites of Babesia and Theileria in dog and ticks by PCR assay. Canine babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease caused by different Babesia species. As the infection has not been reported in Shahriar region Tehran, Iran, molecular techniques allowed us to identify tick-borne parasites in asymptomatic dogs. Methods: The number of 40 dog peripheral blood samples and 27 skin attached ticks were analyzed by molecular PCR assay. The specific primers were used for detecting Babesia canis, B. gibsoni and T. annulata. Results: B. c. vogeli was detected in 10 dog blood samples (25%). Additionally, T. annulata infection was identified in 13 dog blood samples (32.5%) and 18 isolated tick DNAs (66.7%). The results of PCR were confirmed by 18S rRNA and Tams1 gene sequence analyzing and have been registered in GenBank under following accession numbers for B. c. vogeli (MH793502) and T. annulata (MK105284). Conclusion: The verification of T. annulata infection in free-ranging dogs and ticks shows dogs might be considered as important natural carriers/reservoirs for T. annulata in enzootic region for bovine theileriosis. The obtained data may be useful for veterinary practitioners and dog owners to aware of Babesia and Theileria infection in dog and tick to establish the effective preventive measures.

Serological Investigation of West Nile Virus (WNV) Infection in Cats and Dogs

West Nile Virus, whose natural life cycle continues between birds and mosquitoes, causes neuropathic diseases in horses, cats, dogs, humans and other mammal animals. Particularly in recent years, as a result of the fact that the number of dam reservoirs have increased and areas where irrigated farming is applied have become widespread, depending on the increase in the population of stinger flies, the increase in various human and animal infections transmitted by these has reached remarkable levels. In this study, the presence/prevalence of WNV in cats and dogs around Burdur province was serologically searched using C-ELISA method. For this purpose, blood samples from 82 cats and 246 dogs of different race, gender and age that were not vaccinated against the so-called disease were taken into coagulant tubes. Besides, if there were any animals showing symptoms of disease among the sampled ones, the kind of the clinical symptoms and the housing/life conditions of the animals was broadly questioned. In the study, WNV specific antibody presence was detected in 0.41% of the tested dog blood serum (1/246) and in 1.22% of the cat blood serum (1/82). From the research log, the cat detected as positive turned out to be a two-year old, female, non-vaccinated Tekir stray cat and the dog was an owned, four-year old, female, regularly vaccinated hound dog. Both positive animals showed no clinical findings. Consequently, in this study, WNV presence was revealed in cats and dogs the Burdur region even though it was at low rates.

A novel PCR-based point-of-care method enables rapid, sensitive and reliable diagnosis of Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs

Background Babesia gibsoni (B. gibsoni) is an intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite of dogs that causes fever and hemolytic illness. A timely diagnosis is essential for the disease management. Results Here, we report a QubeMDx PCR system which enables a rapid, sensitive and reliable diagnosis of B. gibsoni near the dog patient. Within 30 min, this diagnostic assay was able to detect as low as 0.002% parasitemia of the dog blood. Using clinical samples, this new assay was validated to demonstrate 100% agreement with real-time PCR. Conclusions This novel diagnostic method provides a reliable point-of-care test to assist in the identification of B. gibsoni.

Determination of Some Serum Biochemical Parameters of Aksaray Malakli Breed of Turkish Shepherd Dog

Aksaray Malakli Shepherd Dog is a native Anatolian race which is raised in Aksaray and it is marked recently. This study is prepared to reveal significative biochemical properties of Aksaray Malakli Dog. Blood samples were collected from 20 Malakli dogs which are raised in various animal shelters in Aksaray region. Biochemical parameters; serum total protein, albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, calcium, phosphor, iron, ferritin, and ALP, AST, ALT, creatine enzyme activities were measured calorimetrically. Obtained results were 6.25 g/dL, 3.62 g/dL, 2.63 g/dL, 16.53 mg/dL, 0.88 mg/dL, 91.10 g/dL, 186.85 mg/dL, 47.65 mg/dL, 9.53 mg/dL, 4.36 mg/dL, 112.45 µg/dL, 0.51 ng/dL respectively. and enzyme levels were 42.50 IU/L, 31.90 IU/L, 43.30 IU/L, 166.4 IU/L, respectively. Serum Paraoxonase 1 and hepcidine levels were measured with ELISA kits manually. Obtained results were 33.0 ng/ml and 23.55 ng/ml respectively. With this study, we determined some serum biochemical parameters of Malakli dog and we tried to find out the differences between the other Anadolu Çoban dogs. Obtained results may be useful for the next studies about morbidity-health status of these dogs.

Development and validation of LC–MS/MS method for determination of DNDI-VL-2098 in mouse, rat, dog and hamster blood

Aim: To develop a bioanalytical method to support pharmacokinetic evaluation of DNDI-VL-2098 in mouse, rat, dog and hamster following oral administration. Results & methodology: A robust LC–MS/MS bioanalytical method was developed to quantify DNDI-VL-2098. DNDI-VL-2098 showed time-dependent recovery loss in acetonitrile precipitated plasma in all species. Acid-lysed whole blood was identified as a matrix in which recovery was stable over time. A two-step extraction procedure was used, with protein precipitation followed by liquid–liquid extraction with methyl tert-butyl ether. The assay was validated in the dynamic range of 5–5000 ng/ml for mouse, rat and dog blood, and a fit-for-purpose method was developed for hamster. Conclusion: A specific LC–MS/MS assay for DNDI-VL-2098 was developed and validated in hemolyzed blood.