Background
Clinical assessment of intravascular volume status is challenging. In humans, ultrasonographic assessment of the inferior vena cava diameter, directly or as a ratio to the aortic diameter ...is used to estimate intravascular volume status.
Objectives
To ultrasonographically obtain reference values (RV) for caudal vena cava diameter (CVCD), area (CVCa) and aortic ratios using 3 views in awake healthy dogs.
Animals
One hundred and twenty‐six healthy adult dogs from clients, students, faculty, or staff.
Methods
Prospective, multicenter, observational study. Two observer pairs evaluated CVCD by a longitudinal subxiphoid view (SV), a transverse 11th‐13th right hepatic intercostal view (HV), and a longitudinal right paralumbar view (PV). Inter‐rater agreements were estimated using concordance correlation coefficients (CCC). For body weight (BW)‐dependent variables, RVs were calculated using allometric scaling for variables with a CCC ≥ 0.7.
Results
The CCC was ≤0.43 for the CVC/aorta ratio at the PV and ≤0.43 in both inspiration and expiration for CVC at the SV. The RVs using allometric scaling for CVCa at the HV for inspiration, expiration, and for CVCD at the PV were 6.16 × BW0.762, 7.24 × BW0.787, 2.79 × BW0.390, respectively.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
The CVCD, measured at the HV and PV in healthy awake dogs of various breeds has good inter‐rater agreement suggesting these sites are reliable in measuring CVCD. Established RVs for CVCD for these sites need further comparison to results obtained in hypovolemic and hypervolemic dogs to determine their usefulness to evaluate volume status in dogs.
Background
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) affects West Highland white terriers (WHWTs). Osteopontin (SPP1) and fibronectin (FN1) are associated with human IPF and are overexpressed by ...bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) macrophages in dogs with IPF.
Objective
To investigate the value of these proteins as biomarkers of IPF.
Animals
West Highland white terriers (WHWTs) with IPF, control WHWTs, and terriers.
Methods
Cross‐sectional observational study. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize SPP1 and FN1 in lung tissue. Serum and BALF SPP1 and FN1 concentrations were measured using canine ELISA kits and compared between groups.
Results
Osteopontin stained ciliated epithelial cells, smooth muscular cells, and macrophages of all included dogs, and type‐II pneumocytes and extracellular matrix of all 12 diseased WHWTs, 4/6 control WHWTs, and none of the 3 terriers. Osteopontin serum concentration was higher in diseased WHWTs (n = 22; 2.15 ng/mL 0.74‐5.30) compared with control WHWTs (n = 13; 0.63 ng/mL 0.41‐1.63; P = .005) and terriers (n = 15; 0.31 ng/mL 0.19‐0.51; P < .0001), and in control WHWTs compared with terriers (P = .005). Osteopontin BALF concentrations were higher in diseased (0.27 ng/mL 0.14‐0.43) and control WHWTs (0.25 ng/mL 0.14‐0.40), compared with terriers (0.02 ng/mL 0.01‐0.08; P < .0001 and P = .003, respectively). Fibronectin (FN1) serum concentrations were lower in diseased dogs (1.03 ng/mL 0.35‐1.48) and control WHWTs (0.61 ng/mL 0.24‐0.65) compared with terriers (2.72 ng/mL 0.15‐5.21; P < .0001 and P = .0001, respectively). There was no difference in FN1 immunostaining and FN1 BALF concentrations between groups.
Conclusions
Results suggest that SPP1 is involved in pathogenesis of IPF and could predispose that breed to the disease. Osteopontin serum concentration could serve as a diagnostic biomarker of IPF.
Objective To compare left atrial measurements carried out by an emergency and critical care (ECC) clinician on cats in lateral and sternal recumbency. Animals and procedures A prospective ...observational study was conducted between December 2019 and January
2021 at the university teaching hospital at University of Liège. One hundred and two hospitalized cats were enrolled. Focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) was performed in right lateral and sternal recumbency by a single FOCUS-trained ECC resident. Standard right parasternal long- and
short-axis views were recorded. After randomization of the cineloops, the same blinded resident measured maximal left atrial dimension (LAD) and the ratio of left atrial to aortic diameter (LA:Ao). Reproducibility was assessed using the Bland-Altman method. Results The
LA:Ao and LAD measurements in lateral (LA:Ao median: 1.37, range: 1.02 to 3.22; LAD median: 13.25, range: 7.90 to 32.90) and sternal (LA:Ao median: 1.38, range: 1.06 to 3.22; LAD median: 13.00, range: 8.00 to 32.90) recumbency were not significantly different (bias: −0.003, CI −0.014,
0.007; and bias: −0.101, CI −0.231, 0.029, respectively). Conclusions and clinical relevance The FOCUS technique was successfully applied in sternal recumbency in almost all cats. The LAD and LA:Ao measured in sternal and lateral recumbency were not significantly
different. Cardiac left atrial measurements obtained using FOCUS can be reliably assessed in sternal recumbency in hospitalized, stable cats.
The domestic dog represents an ideal model for identifying susceptibility genes, many of which are shared with humans. In this study, we investigated the genetic contribution to individual ...differences in 40 clinically important measurements by a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a multinational cohort of 472 healthy dogs from eight breeds. Meta-analysis using the binary effects model after breed-specific GWAS, identified 13 genome-wide significant associations, three of them showed experimental-wide significant associations. We detected a signal at chromosome 13 for the serum concentration of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in which we detected four breed-specific signals. A large proportion of the variance of ALT (18.1-47.7%) was explained by this locus. Similarly, a single SNP was also responsible for a large proportion of the variance (6.8-78.4%) for other measurements such as fructosamine, stress during physical exam, glucose, and morphometric measurements. The genetic contribution of single variant was much larger than in humans. These findings illustrate the importance of performing meta-analysis after breed-specific GWAS to reveal the genetic contribution to individual differences in clinically important measurements, which would lead to improvement of veterinary medicine.
Literature about the lung microbiota (LM) in dogs is sparse. Influence of breed and living conditions on the LM in healthy dogs is currently unknown, as well as the influence of chronic respiratory ...diseases such as canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) in West highland white terriers (WHWTs). Aims of this study were (1) to assess the characteristics of the healthy LM according to breed and living conditions, and (2) to study LM changes associated with CIPF in WHWTs. Forty-five healthy dogs divided into 5 groups: domestic terriers (n = 10), domestic shepherds (n = 11), domestic brachycephalic dogs (n = 9), domestic WHWTs (n = 6) (H-WHWTs) and experimental beagles (n = 9) and 11 diseased WHWTs affected with CIPF (D-WHWTs) were included in the study to achieve those objectives.
In healthy domestic dogs, except in H-WHWTs, the presence of few discriminant genera in each type of breed was the only LM modification. LM of experimental dogs displayed a change in b-diversity and an increased richness compared with domestic dogs. Moreover, Prevotella_7 and Dubosiella genera were more abundant and 19 genera were discriminant in experimental dogs. LM of both H-WHWTs and D-WHWTs revealed increased abundance of 6 genera (Brochothrix, Curvibacter, Pseudarcicella, Flavobacteriaceae genus, Rhodoluna and Limnohabitans) compared with other healthy domestic dogs. Brochothrix and Pseudarcicella were also discriminant in D-WHWTs compared with H-WHWTs and other healthy domestic dogs.
In domestic conditions, except for H-WHWT, the breed appears to have minor influence on the LM. LM modifications were found in experimental compared with domestic living conditions. LM modifications in H-WHWTs and D-WHWTs compared with other healthy domestic dogs were similar and seemed to be linked to the breed. Whether this breed difference might be related with the high susceptibility of WHWTs for CIPF requires further studies.
Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) affects old dogs from the West Highland white terrier (WHWT) breed and mimics idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in human. The disease results from ...deposition of fibrotic tissue in the lung parenchyma causing respiratory failure. Recent studies in IPF using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed the presence of profibrotic macrophage populations in the lung, which could be targeted for therapeutic purpose. In dogs, scRNA-seq was recently validated for the detection of cell populations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from healthy dogs. Here we used the scRNA-seq to characterize disease-related heterogeneity within cell populations of macrophages/monocytes (Ma/Mo) in the BALF from five WHWTs affected with CIPF in comparison with three healthy WHWTs. Gene set enrichment analysis was also used to assess pro-fibrotic capacities of Ma/Mo populations. Five clusters of Ma/Mo were identified. Gene set enrichment analyses revealed the presence of pro-fibrotic monocytes in higher proportion in CIPF WHWTs than in healthy WHWTs. In addition, monocyte-derived macrophages enriched in pro-fibrotic genes in CIPF compared with healthy WHWTs were also identified. These results suggest the implication of Ma/Mo clusters in CIPF processes, although, further research is needed to understand their role in disease pathogenesis. Overexpressed molecules associated with pulmonary fibrosis processes were also identified that could be used as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets in the future.
A Beauceron was evaluated for a 3‐week history of unresponsive immune‐mediated polyarthritis and meningitis. Physical examination revealed a previously unreported grade III/VI left apical systolic ...heart murmur. Based on the echocardiographic examination and blood culture, a diagnosis of mitral valve infective endocarditis secondary to Listeria monocytogenes was made. Despite extensive workup, no definitive primary focus of infection was identified in this case. The endocarditis was suspected to have triggered secondary immune‐mediated polyarthritis and meningitis. The dog was treated with empirical antimicrobial combination therapy and immunosuppressives, and fully recovered from infection. No relapse was documented 5 months after discontinuation of treatment. Cardiomegaly secondary to persistent mitral regurgitation had developed. This is the first description of endocarditis secondary to L. monocytogenes in a dog.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a known co-morbidity in West Highland white terriers (WHWTs) affected with canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF). The pulmonary vein-to-right pulmonary artery ...ratio (PV/PA) has recently been described for the detection of pre-capillary PH in dogs. The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of PH at diagnostic, in WHWTs affected with CIPF, by using PV/PA, in comparison with a group of healthy breed-matched controls (CTRLs). Additional study objective was to explore whether the presence of PH at initial diagnosis of CIPF impacted survival time in dogs treated with sildenafil.
Twenty-five client-owned WHWTs presented with CIPF and 19 CTRLs were included in the study. PV/PA in either two-dimensional mode (2D) or time-motion mode or both were measured from cineloops in each dog. Dogs were classified according to PV/PA value into non/mild PH (PV/PA measured in 2D ≥ 0.7) or moderate/severe PH (PV/PA < 0.7). Survival data of WHWTs affected with CIPF were extracted from medical record to assess association between presence of PH at diagnosis and outcome. 60 % overall prevalence for moderate/severe PH was estimated in this cohort of WHWTs presented with CIPF vs. 5 % in CTRLS (P = 0.0002). The presence of moderate/severe PH at initial presentation was not associated with survival.
Results of the present study confirm a high prevalence of PH at diagnosis in WHWTs affected with CIPF and highlight the utility of PV/PA as a non-invasive surrogate for assessment of PH in this population.
Objective
To evaluate cardiovascular focused assessment with sonography for trauma and triage (CV‐FAST) interobserver agreement for echocardiographic parameters and caudal vena cava (CVC) diameter ...measurement, between a cardiologist and 2 non‐cardiologists after a 6‐hour training course.
Setting
University veterinary teaching hospital.
Animals
Fifteen healthy Beagle dogs.
Interventions
None.
Measurements and Main Results
Echocardiography parameters were assessed via standardized views. Caudal vena cava was assessed via a subxiphoid window (CVC‐SubX) using 3 measurements (minimal and maximal CVC diameter, and collapsibility index) and via a dorsolateral window (CVC‐DL) using 1 measurement (CVC diameter). Bland–Altman analysis assessed agreement of each non‐cardiologist with the cardiologist; coefficients of variation (CoV) quantified variability between observers. The 95% limits of agreement (LOA) and CoVs were considered acceptable for left atrial diameter, left atrium to aortic ratio, normalized left ventricle diameter in diastole and systole but non‐acceptable for fractional shortening and pulmonary vein to pulmonary artery ratio. For CVC‐SubX, the 95% LOA for maximum CVC diameter were acceptable, while minimum CVC diameter and CVC collapsibility index were non‐acceptable. The CoVs were good for maximum and minimum CVC (7%) and poor for collapsibility index (37%). For CVC‐DL, the 95% LOA were non‐acceptable, although the CoV was considered good (11%).
Conclusions
A 6‐hour training course in echocardiography allows non‐cardiologists to assess left atrial diameter, left atrium to aortic ratio, normalized left ventricle diameter in diastole and systole, and CVCmax of the CV‐FAST exam in healthy Beagles. Standardization of the CVC‐SubX technique and assessment of the impact of the respiratory phase on CVC diameter in dogs is needed. Further studies are required to determine whether interobserver agreement remains acceptable when including different breeds. Assessment of basic echocardiographic parameters and the CVC to estimate volume status in small animal medicine merits further clinical evaluation.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an inherited disorder characterized by recurrent infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, reduced fertility in males and situs inversus in about 50% of ...affected individuals (Kartagener syndrome). It is caused by motility defects in the respiratory cilia that are responsible for airway clearance, the flagella that propel sperm cells and the nodal monocilia that determine left-right asymmetry. Recessive mutations that cause PCD have been identified in genes encoding components of the outer dynein arms, radial spokes and cytoplasmic pre-assembly factors of axonemal dyneins, but these mutations account for only about 50% of cases of PCD. We exploited the unique properties of dog populations to positionally clone a new PCD gene, CCDC39. We found that loss-of-function mutations in the human ortholog underlie a substantial fraction of PCD cases with axonemal disorganization and abnormal ciliary beating. Functional analyses indicated that CCDC39 localizes to ciliary axonemes and is essential for assembly of inner dynein arms and the dynein regulatory complex.
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