Homocysteine (Hcy) is an amino acid containing sulfur group in methionine metabolism regulating by vitamin B12 and folic acid. In recent years, it has been used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of several diseases. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to investigate normal values of plasma Hcy, vitamin B12 and folic acid in Angora cats considering the age and gender. Thirty-two blood samples were collected from healthy Angora cats. They were classified as young (5.8±2.6 months, n=16) and adults (76.6±52.6 months, n=16) according to age, and as male (n=16) and female (n=16) according to gender as well. The findings of this study showed that plasma Hcy, vitamin B12 and folate concentrations of all cats were totally 29.94±3.20 nmol/mL, 1179.25±156.96 pg/mL, 28.10±1.50 ng/mL, respectively. These parameters were not differed statistically according to gender (P>0.05). On the other hand, it was observed that plasma concentrations of Hcy, and vitamin B12 were significantly (P<0.05) increased by ageing, except folate levels. In conclusion, this is the first study represents the normal values of plasma Hcy, vitamin B12 and folic acid in Angora cats considering age and gender It is supposed that findings of this study may offer scientific data for researchers, veterinarians, or further comprehensive studies.

     The present study aims to evaluate the effects of metformin in combination with vitamin B12 and folic acid on lipid profiles and serum homocysteine levels in male rabbits. The study included twenty-four male rabbits that weighed (1.5-2 kg), and were divided randomly into four groups (six rabbits/group). The control first group was administrated (5 ml) of distilled water; The second group was given metformin (125g/kg B.W) plus vitamin B12 (500 μg/kg B.W) daily, the third group was given metformin (125g/kg B.W) plus folic acid (5g/kg B.W) daily and the fourth group was given metformin (125g/kg B.W), folic acid (5g/kg B.W) and vitamin B12 (500 μg/kg B.W) daily, the rabbits were followed up for one month. The results revealed a decrease in the final body weight and body weight gain in all treated groups as compared to the control group.  The homocysteine parameter decreases significantly in the second group which was given metformin and B12 and the third group was given metformin in combination with folic acid as compared with the control group and group four. It showed a significant decrease in the fourth group (metformin + folic acid + vitamin B12) compared with the second and third groups also the glucose level increased significantly in group three compared to group second, fourth, and control group. The results showed that serum cholesterol and TG have decreased in G2 and G3 while an increase in G4 as compared with the control group, and the HDL was decreased in G2 and G4 compared with control and G3 groups. While the results of LDL and VLDL were increased in G3 and G4 compared with G2 and the control group

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypocobalaminemia or methylmalonic acidemia (or both) in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease. Sample: Serum samples from 56 dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease and 43 control dogs. Procedures: Serum cobalamin and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations were measured in all samples and compared between groups. A correlation between serum cobalamin and MMA concentrations and the canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index was evaluated via the Spearman rank correlation. Results: 20 of 56 (36%) dogs with gastrointestinal disease had hypocobalaminemia. Serum cobalamin concentrations were significantly lower in dogs with gastrointestinal disease than in control dogs. Five of 56 (9%) dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease and 5 of 20 (25%) hypocobalaminemic dogs had increased MMA concentrations. There was a significant negative correlation (Spearman r = −0.450) between serum cobalamin and MMA concentrations in dogs with gastrointestinal disease. No correlation was found between the canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index and serum cobalamin or MMA concentrations. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: These data indicated the prevalence of hypocobalaminemia in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease was 20 of 56 (36%). Five of 20 (25%) hypocobalaminemic dogs had increased serum MMA concentrations, which indicated that although hypocobalaminemia was common in these dogs, it did not always appear to be associated with a deficiency of cobalamin on a cellular level. Hypocobalaminemia is a risk factor for negative outcome in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease and should be considered in every patient with corresponding clinical signs.

Objective: To determine reference ranges for serum cobalamin (Cbl), urine methylmalonic acid (uMMA), and plasma total homocysteine (tHcys) concentrations and to compare values for healthy control dogs with values for Border Collies (BCs), a breed in which hereditary cobalamin deficiency has been identified. Animals: 113 BCs, 35 healthy control dogs fed a typical diet, and 12 healthy dogs fed a bone and raw food diet exclusively. Procedures: Urine and blood samples were obtained from each dog and Cbl, uMMA, and tHcys concentrations were determined. Results: Reference ranges for Cbl (261 to 1,001 ng/L), uMMA (0 to 4.2 mmol/mol of creatinine), and tHcys (4.3 to 18.4 μmol/L) concentrations were determined. Four BCs had a Cbl concentration lower than the assay detection limit (150 ng/L); median uMMA and tHcys concentrations in these dogs were 4,064 mmol/mol of creatinine and 51.5 μmol/L, respectively. Clinical abnormalities included stunted growth, lethargy, anemia, and proteinuria. Abnormalities improved after administration of cobalamin. Of the 109 healthy BCs with Cbl and tHcys concentrations within reference ranges, 41 (37.6%) had a high uMMA concentration (range, 5 to 360 mmol/mol). Results for dogs fed raw food were similar to those for control dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Hereditary cobalamin deficiency is a rare disease with various clinical signs. The finding of methylmalonic aciduria in healthy eucobalaminemic BCs and BCs with clinical signs of Cbl deficiency was surprising and indicated these dogs may have defects in intracellular processing of Cbl or intestinal Cbl malabsorption, respectively. Studies investigating Cbl absorption and metabolic pathways are warranted.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of withholding food on the results for measurements of serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI), and canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) in healthy dogs. ANIMALS 11 healthy employee- or student-owned dogs. PROCEDURES Food was withheld from the dogs for 12 hours, baseline blood samples were collected, then dogs were fed. Postprandial blood samples collected 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours later were assessed. A mixed-effects ANOVA model with fasting duration (time) as a fixed factor and dog as a random effect was fit for each analyte variable. Additionally, a mixed-effects ANOVA model controlling for the variable of time was fit to assess whether lipemia affected serum concentrations of the analytes. RESULTS The median serum cobalamin concentration was lower at 4 hours (428 ng/L) and 8 hours (429 ng/L) postprandially, compared with baseline (479 ng/L), but this difference was not clinically meaningful. Although there were no substantial differences in serum concentrations of folate, cPLI, or cTLI, postprandial changes in serum concentrations of cTLI or folate could potentially affect diagnoses in some dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Although results indicated that feedings rarely resulted in clinically important differences in the median serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, cPLI, or cTLI in healthy dogs, given the further processing required for lipemic samples, withholding food for at least 8 hours is an appropriate recommendation when measuring these analytes. Similar research is needed in dogs with gastrointestinal disease to determine whether the withholding of food is necessary when measuring these analytes in affected dogs.

Release of enzymes from cytoplasmic granules has been postulated to have a major role in neutrophil-mediated tissue injury. Secretion or release of primary granules, specific granules, and cytosolic enzymes by bovine neutrophils was examined by quantifying the release of beta-glucuronidase, B12-binding protein, and lactate dehydrogenase, respectively, in response to predetermined amounts of phorbol myristate acetate, calcium ionophore, and opsonized zymosan. These responses were compared with the enzyme release induced by exposure to live or dead, unopsonized or opsonized Pasteurella haemolytica. The greatest release of beta-glucuronidase, B12-binding protein, and lactate dehydrogenase was observed in neutrophils exposed to live organisms partially because of neutrophil lysis. Bovine neutrophils respond markedly to particulate agonists, live or dead, pathogenic or nonpathogenic, by a selective release of specific granules, an effect enhanced by opsonization. Particulate agonists induce minimal primary granule release other than that induced by cell death. Because bovine neutrophils contain quantitatively high numbers of specific granules, the high rate of secretion/ release in response to P haemolytica organisms could have a major role in the tissue responses that characterize the lesions of pneumonic pasteurellosis.

In order to estimate the hepato-protective activity of Vit.B12 in diazinon hepatotoxic effect, the current study was performed on twenty-four male adult Wistar rats. They’d divided into four equal groups for 30 days: group A (control group) served as control; group B (Dzn group) administered an oral daily dose of 1/10 LD50 (3.8mg/ kg.bw) from diazinon; group C (Dzn + Vit.B12 group) administered an oral daily dose of 1/10 LD50 (3.8 mg / kg bw) from diazinon, in addition to the systemic intramuscular doses of (4 mg/kg) from Vit.B12 in daily basis; group D (Vit.B12 group) administered daily systemic intramuscular doses of (4 mg/kg) Vit.B12 only. The results showed that group C had a significant improvement in the antioxidant indicators compared with group B in which the CAT, GSH, and SOD serum activities showed significant increasing (P≤0.05) in group C, in addition, it revealed a significant decreasing (P≤0.05) in the values of MDA and peroxynitrite comparing to the same levels of the group B. The histological results of the liver of group C showed a great improvement compared with group B which showed normal hepatic architecture consisting of normal hepatocytes, and normal sinusoids with normal other hepatic components except mild central vein dilation. The current study concludes that vitamin B12 helps to ameliorate the diazinon hepatotoxic effects as a model for a wide spread of organophosphorus compounds in agriculture and veterinary sectors by ameliorating its harmful oxidation on the liver since vitamin B12 is cheap and available as a commercial supplement therefore we recommend its uses

The possibility that the canine pancreas might have an important role in the physiologic absorption of cobalamin (vitamin B12) has been explored by determining the effect of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency on cobalamin absorption and by examining the subsequent influence of bovine pancreatic enzymes and canine pancreatic juice. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was induced by ligation of pancreatic ducts and confirmed by indirect assessment of exocrine pancreatic function. Cobalamin absorption was determined by oral administration of cyano[58Co]cobalamin and quantitation of radioactivity in blood, urine, and feces during 48 hours. Pancreatic duct ligation resulted in a significant (P less than 0.001) decrease in cobalamin absorption, which was not restored by oral administration of bovine pancreatic enzymes, despite considerable improvements in steatorrhea and in vivo proteolytic activities. In marked contrast, malabsorption of cobalamin was significantly (P less than 0.05) reversed by oral administration of canine pancreatic juice. These results indicate that pancreatic secretions have an important role in the normal absorption of cobalamin in the dog, a role that does not appear to be attributable to pancreatic enzymes, but is consistent with the existence of a pancreatic intrinsic factor in this species.

Objective: The present study was conducted for the purpose of setting forth the normal serum Hcy, vitamin B12 and folate levels in Van cats of varying ages and genders, and the age-dependent variations of these parameters. Materials and methods: The material of the study consisted of a total of 60 healthy Van cats including 30 female and 30 male cats. Cats from both genders were separated into 3 groups on the basis of their ages. While the cats of 6 - 12 months of age were included in the first group, cats of 12-24 months of age were included in the second and those of more than 24 months of age were included in the third group. Results: From the blood samples collected; serum normal homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels were determined as 7.1±2.2 nmol/mL, 850.7±231.8 pg/mL and 16.7±0.8 ng/mL, respectively. In the statistical comparison of the determined serum homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels; some variations among different groups of age and genders were determined. However, none of these differences were determined to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The normal levels of serum Hcy, vitamin B12 and folate of healthy Van cats were set forth for the first time by the present study. It is believed that the normal values of these parameters in Van cats can be used in the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases and particularly cardiovascular diseases, that they will be helpful for researchers and will serve as a guideline to the studies to be conducted in the future. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2017; 4(1.000): 58-64]