Sheep pulmonary adenomatosis (ovine pulmonary adenomatosis, OPA, Jaagsiekte) is a chronic contagious bronchoalveolar carcinoma caused by the Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus. Since effective treatment and a vaccination procedure are not currently possible, control and eradication of the disease is difficult. It leads to serious economic losses around the world, therefore studies are currently underway in order to design control and eradication programmes. In this study, levels and changes in selected tumour markers (carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and alphafetoprotein (AFP)-3) and their diagnostic significance were investigated. A total of 30 sheep were used. Clinical examinations were performed and blood samples were obtained before slaughter from all animals with presumed OPA. Blood samples with positive OPA results by macroscopic and histopathological examination were included in the study as the experimental group and numbered 20. Sheep totalling 10 had negative OPA results and provided control samples. CEA levels were similar in both groups, and the differences were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and AFP-3 levels were higher in the OPA group than the control group and with statistical significance (P < 0.05). In all OPA animals, CA 125 levels were higher than 1 U/mL. serum CAs and AFP levels increase significantly in adenomatous sheep. These tumour markers are thought to facilitate the diagnosis of OPA.

This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidative status of serum by measuring its total antioxidant capacity, as well as the antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase), in dogs with various stages of degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) compared to healthy controls. In total, 71 client-owned dogs in different stages of DMVD, which included healthy controls, took part in the study. Following an anamnesis, clinical examination, standard transthoracic echocardiograpic examination, chest X-ray, complete blood (cell) count, and serum biochemistry, dogs were divided into 2 study groups. Blood was drawn from each dog once at the time of presentation and selected antioxidant parameters were measured using commercially available assay kits. The activity of superoxide dismutase gradually decreased in the more advanced stages of DMVD, while the activity of catalase was significantly higher in the group of dogs with asymptomatic DMVD compared to healthy controls and dogs with symptomatic DMVD. No significant changes were noted in total antioxidant capacity and the activity of glutathione reductase. Results suggested that DMVD has a significant impact on the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the serum of the tested dogs. Knowledge of changes in the activity of antioxidative enzymes may warrant further studies, possibly to evaluate the potential role of compounds with antioxidative properties in the clinical outcome of dogs with DMVD.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether blood taurine concentrations in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) were lower than the reference interval (200 to 350 nmol/mL) or the cutoff used to indicate taurine deficiency (< 150 nmol/mL). ANIMALS 18 dogs with clinical or presumptive subclinical EPI with residual blood samples available for taurine concentration analysis. PROCEDURES Dogs were classified as having clinical EPI if they had a serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity concentration of < 2.0 μg/L and presumptive subclinical EPI if they had a concentration of 2.0 to 5.0 μg/L. Archived, frozen blood samples stored in EDTA were submitted for measurement of taurine concentration with an automated high-performance liquid chromatography amino acid analyzer. Medical record data were examined for associations with blood taurine concentration. RESULTS None of the 18 dogs had a blood taurine concentration < 150 nmol/mL. Two dogs had a concentration < 200 nmol/mL. No clinical signs, physical examination findings, or serum biochemical abnormalities were associated with blood taurine concentration. Eleven of the 17 dogs for which diet histories were available were not receiving a diet that met recommendations of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Nutrition Committee. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A low blood taurine concentration was noted in a small subset of dogs with EPI. Additional research is needed to determine whether EPI was the primary cause of this low concentration. Findings suggested the importance of obtaining complete diet histories and ensuring dietary requirements are sufficiently met in dogs with EPI.

In this case report, clinicopathological findings and certain biochemical parameters were presented in quails with the pendulous crop. The animal material of the study consists of a total of 3 Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The quails were examined clinically first, followed by the post-mortem examinations. The investigations of Na, K, Mg, total TP and Alb were conducted using autoanalyzer. The plasma levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, total protein and albumin in the blood samples collected from the animals were found to be higher than the averages for quails. Postmortem examination of quails has revealed that the veins of their crops were prominently pronounced and that the crops were filled with a yellowish, foulodor liquid containing whole grain particles. Furthermore, the crop mucosa of an animal contained ulcerative lesions. As a result, it was found that certain mineral levels and protein profiles of animals were affected by the pendulous crop phenomenon, and that laboratory findings should be considered alongside physical findings when dealing with it.