New sleep disorder device for dogs ???

Hello, Summarrians!

Hard to believe it’s almost June. Maybe doggie CPAPs next ??? I hope you enjoy this issue…

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Markers for Intestinal Disease in Dogs

Chronic enteropathy (CE) is a complex and challenging condition to diagnose in dogs, encompassing several conditions such as food-responsive enteropathy (FRE), antibiotic-responsive enteropathy, and immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A panel of three serologic markers (serum IgA antibodies against bacterial OmpC (ACA), canine calprotectin (ACNA), and gliadin-derived peptides (AGA)) has been developed to aid in the diagnosis of CE and IBD in dogs. However, recent studies have raised concerns about the accuracy and clinical utility of these markers. In this study, it was found that ACA, ACNA, and AGA have poor accuracy for diagnosing CE in dogs, as dogs with other intestinal diseases such as histoplasmosis, parasitism, granulomatous colitis, and lymphoma can have similarly high or even higher concentrations of the three markers. In addition, nearly 15% of dogs with CE did not have results interpreted to be consistent with CE, raising concerns about the panel's effectiveness as a screening test. High AGA concentrations were also frequently identified in dogs with diseases other than FRE. In conclusion, veterinarians should be cautious when considering the use of these three serologic markers in practice, as there is substantial variability in ACA, ACNA, and AGA concentrations in dogs with and without CE. Further research and critical evaluation of these markers are needed before they can be recommended for routine clinical use. 

Langlois, DK, Pritchard, JC, Tolbert, MK, et al. Clinical utility of an immunoglobulin A-based serological panel for the diagnosis of chronic enteropathy in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2023; 37( 2): 446- 454. doi:10.1111/jvim.16636

Bottom line — May not be as sensitive or as specific enough to be helpful

Device to measure sleep disorder breathing in dogs

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a condition where abnormal breathing patterns occur during sleep. This ranges from hypopnea (shallow breathing due to partial obstruction) to apnea (complete cessation of airflow). SDB is well-studied in humans but there's less knowledge about it in dogs. The condition has been found in dogs resembling human Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), especially in breeds like English Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, showing signs of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). This study explored the usability of a new portable at-home device for detecting SDB in dogs within their home environment. The device is a wearable neckband system previously validated for OSA screening in humans. The results confirmed that the neckband system was a well-tolerated and feasible method for diagnosing SDB and snoring in dogs. Brachycephalic dogs had higher values for obstructive respiratory events, confirming that brachycephaly predisposes dogs to SDB. However, the study did not include overweight or obese dogs, so the effect of obesity on SDB couldn't be assessed. Also, the device can't be used in small or toy breeds with a neck girth of less than 25cm. In summary, this study demonstrated that a portable neckband system can be effectively used to detect SDB in dogs at home, with brachycephalic breeds showing higher predisposition to SDB. The neckband system was well accepted by dogs and easy for owners to use for dogs with suitable neck girth. 

Niinikoski I, Himanen SL, Tenhunen M, Lilja-Maula L, Rajamäki MM. Description of a novel method for detection of sleep-disordered breathing in brachycephalic dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2023 May 26. doi: 10.1111/jvim.16783.

Bottom line - This may help folks understand the potentially severe consequences of this issue

Biomarker to Diagnose Asthma in BAL from Horses

The study aimed to investigate the potential of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as a biomarker for equine asthma (EA). NGAL is a protein found in neutrophil granules and has been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. The study examined NGAL concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum samples from control horses, horses with mild-moderate EA (MEA), and horses with severe EA (SEA), using BAL cytology as the gold standard for diagnosis.The results showed that NGAL was detectable in BAL fluid, and its concentration increased with the severity of the disease. Median NGAL values were significantly different between control horses and horses with EA, as well as between horses with MEA and horses with SEA. There was a strong positive correlation between BAL NGAL and neutrophil cell counts in the BAL fluid. However, there was no significant difference in serum NGAL concentrations between the EA groups or in relation to BAL NGAL or neutrophils.The study indicated that NGAL in BAL fluid could be a promising biomarker for EA in horses. However, the sample size was limited, and further studies are needed to confirm these findings. The study also highlighted the challenges associated with processing BAL fluid, including the time sensitivity, laboratory techniques, and trained personnel required for accurate cytology analysis.Although the NGAL enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been validated for use with equine serum, the study did not find a significant association between serum NGAL and EA diagnosis. Future research with a larger sample size is recommended to explore the potential of serum NGAL as a marker for EA in horses.

 Hansen, S, Otten, ND, Spang-Hanssen, L, Bendorff, C, Jacobsen, S. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a potential biomarker for equine asthma. Equine Vet J. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13939 

Bottom line — Potentially useful for diagnosing asthma in horses

Just putting things in perspective …