Marta Parzeniecka-Jaworska

Background: Breed specific reference ranges for selected blood parameters are recommended for proper interpretation of blood tests, but there are only few reports dealing with ponies. The purpose of this study was to investigate if blood parameters differ among ponies’ classes and to check if general normal values for equine species are applicable to ponies.Results: All, except total protein concentration, biochemical parameter significantly (p < 0.05) differed among ponies’ classes. The most pronounced difference was noted in blood lactate concentrations, higher (p < 0.001) in the smallest ponies (class A). In all groups of ponies muscle enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase) and urea were high when compared to normal values for equine species, but triglycerides and creatinine were low. Blood lactate concentration was high in comparison with normal values for horses only in class A ponies’.Conclusions: In healthy ponies, blood lactate concentration significantly differs between height classes. Normal values for equine species should not be directly applied to interpret the lactate, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase values in ponies.

The aim of this study was to establish reference values for 2D and M-mode measurements in Dachshunds. Basic echocardiographic data, including M-mode, 2D and spectral Doppler measurements, was collected, analyzed and compared between 41 healthy Dachshunds and 50 other healthy dogs of similar weight. Echocardiographic reference intervals were prepared for Dachshunds. Dachshunds had a smaller left ventricular diameter in diastole and systole and a thicker septum than other dog breeds. Male Dachshunds had larger diastolic and systolic left ventricular diameter than females. Reference intervals for 2D and M-mode measurements in healthy Dachshunds differ from other dogs of similar weight and should be used for this breed to assess chamber enlargement.

Introduction: One aim of the study was to evaluate the impact when added to feed of the two potentially probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Lactobacillus plantarum K KKP 593/p and Lactobacillus rhamnosus KKP 825 on production performance, health, and the composition of gut microbiota. The complementary aim was to assess the safety of these strains in broiler rearing. Material and Methods: A total of 500 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were divided into four groups. The experimental factor was the admixture of bacterial preparation to the feed at different doses: the recommended maximum dose, a dose ten times higher, the recommended minimum dose, and a zero dose for the control group not receiving bacteria. Results: Addition of bacteria to the diets did not have a significant effect on the final body weight, final body weight gain, nor total feed intake or feed conversion. However, lactic acid bacteria had a positive effect on chicken health. Mortality among chickens fed with LAB was reduced. Moreover, LAB feeding inhibited the growth of Salmonella spp. and Clostridium perfringens in the intestines. There were no significant differences in chicken performance by dose of bacteria in the feed. The group dosed with LAB ten times higher than the recommended maximum did not demonstrate changes in biochemical or haematological parameters of blood compared to the remaining groups. Conclusion: Feeding chicken broilers with two potentially probiotic LAB strains is safe and impacts animal health positively.

Introduction: Older small breed dogs are considered at risk for heart failure secondary to chronic mitral valve disease. However, few data are available on the onset of this disease in such dogs. This study was performed to determine if auscultation alone can be used to eliminate clinically relevant mitral valve regurgitation seen in echocardiography in Dachshund dogs. Material and Methods: Clinical and echocardiographic data were obtained from 107 dogs without heart murmurs. Results: The study revealed that 63.6% of the dogs had mitral regurgitation. Numbers increased with age and a larger percentage of male Dachshunds were affected than female Dachshunds. Mitral valve prolapse and thickening were mild, and the regurgitant area inextensive in most dogs. Conclusions: The study shows that mitral valve regurgitation is prevalent (63.6%) in Dachshunds without heart murmurs. Typical lesions often become apparent during echocardiographic examinations in dogs under 5 years of age.

The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of congenital heart defects in a population of dogs in Poland and to determine which breeds were affected by particular defects. A retrospective study of the medical records of cardiologically examined dogs revealed 301 cases of echocardiographically confirmed congenital heart defects. Dogs with congenital heart defects made up 2.7% of the dogs that underwent a cardiologic examination. The age at diagnosis ranged from 2 weeks to 190 months. Mixed breeds (33 dogs, 11%), Bull Terriers (31, 10%), Boxers (28, 9%), German Shepherds (17, 6%), Yorkshire Terriers (17, 6%), and French Bulldogs (16, 5%) were the most frequently affected breeds. Subaortic stenosis (120 cases, 33.9%), pulmonic stenosis (64, 18.1%), patent ductus arteriosus (59, 16.7%), mitral valve dysplasia (56, 15.8%), ventricular septal defect (24, 6.8%) and tricuspid valve dysplasia (17, 4.8%) were the most frequent congenital heart defects recognized in this study. Isolated congenital heart disease occurred in 258 dogs (86%), while multiple heart defects were noted in 43 dogs (14%). Most (60%) congenital heart defects were recognized in dogs older than 1 year. Early recognition of congenital heart defects is important for better patient care. Collecting information on the frequency of congenital heart defects in particular breeds will be useful in educating breeders and thus in improving the overall health of the breed.

The survey included 514 cats brought to the Department of Small Animals within 5 years. The cats were examined cardiologically (clinical examination, echocardiography and electrocardiographic examination) and then divided into cats with cardiac changes and cats with problems other than heart disease. The study was designed to show the most common cardiac disease in cats and the breeds represented. The study found that the most prevalent cardiac diseases in cats were cardiomyopathies, which were found in 16% of all cats examined, while congenital malformations were found in 8% of the cats. Cats of 19 different breeds were represented, most of which were European Shorthair cats and Maine Coons. The European Shorthair breed had the largest number of healthy cats (40.9% of all healthy cats) as well as the largest number of cats with congenital heart disease (35.9% of all cats with congenital heart disease) and the largest number of cats with cardiomyopathies (50.6% of all cats with cardiomyopathies).

Details var a2a_config = a2a_config || {}; a2a_config.onclick = 1; a2a_config.locale = "pl"; a2a_config.color_main = "D7E5ED"; a2a_config.color_border = "9D9D9D"; a2a_config.color_link_text = "ffffff"; a2a_config.color_link_text_hover = "ffffff"; a2a_config.color_bg = "d9d9d9"; a2a_config.icon_color = "#4e4e4e"; a2a_config.exclude_services = ["dihitt", "delicious", "whatsapp", "dzone", "sms", "stumpedia", "viber", "yahoo_messenger", "google_plus"]; Details PDF BIBTEX RIS Title ProANP as a screening biomarker for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Maine coon cats Journal title Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences Yearbook 2016 Numer No 4 Authors Parzeniecka-Jaworska, M. ; Garncarz, M. ; Kluciński, W. Divisions of PAS Nauki Biologiczne i Rolnicze Publisher Polish Academy of Sciences Committee of Veterinary Sciences ; University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Date 2016 Identifier ISSN 1505-1773 References MacLean (2006), N - terminal atrial natriuretic peptide immunoreactivity in plasma of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, J Vet Intern Med, 20, 284, doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2006.tb02858.x ; Zimmering (2009), Measurement of N - terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide in plasma of cats with and without cardiomyopathy, Am J Vet Res, 70, 216, doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.70.2.216 ; Connolly (2009), Assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations to distinguish between cats with cardiac and non - cardiac causes of respiratory distress Vet, Cardiol, 11, 41. ; Kittleson (1998), Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy In eds St pp, Small Animal Cardiovascular Medicine, 347. ; Borgeat (2015), Cardiac biomarkers in cats Vet, Cardiol, 17, 74. ; Jarai (2005), Risk assessment in patients with unstable angina / non - ST - elevation myocardial infarction and normal N - terminal pro - brain natriuretic peptide levels by N - terminal pro - atrial natriuretic peptide, Eur Heart J, 26, 250, doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehi038 ; Kołodziejska (2010), Structure , mechanism of action and the significance of natriuretic peptides in the diagnosis of heart disease in dogs, Życie Weterynryjne, 85, 825. ; Lalor (2009), Plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides in normal cats and normotensive and hypertensive cats with chronic kidney disesase Vet, Cardiol, 11, 71. ; Kittleson (1999), Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in maine coon cats : an animal model of human disease, Circulation, 99, 3172, doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.99.24.3172 ; Hall (2003), N - terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide in primary care : relation to echocardiographic indices of cardiac function in mild to moderate cardiac disease, Int J Cardiol, 89, 197, doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5273(02)00479-5 ; Zimmering (2010), Evaluation of the association between plasma concentration of N - terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide and outcome in cats with cardiomyopathy, J Am Vet Med Assoc, 237, 665, doi.org/10.2460/javma.237.6.665 ; Connolly (2010), Natriuretic peptides : the feline experience, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 40, 559, doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.03.003 ; Trehion (2012), Comparative echocardiographic and clinical features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in breeds of cats : a retrospective analysis of cases, J Vet Intern Med, 5, 2001. ; Menaut (2012), Circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations in hyperthyroid cats, J Small Anim Pract, 53, 673, doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2012.01301.x ; Meurs (2009), Analysis of sarcomeric candidate genes for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, J Vet Intern Med, 23, 840, doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0341.x ; Boswood (2009), Biomarkers in cardiovascular disease beyond natriuretic peptides Vet, Cardiol, 11, 23. ; Otterstad (2002), St Prognostic value of two - dimensional echocardiography and N - terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide following an acute myocardial infarction, Eur Heart J, 23, 1011, doi.org/10.1053/euhj.2001.2969 ; Berger (2005), Neurohormonal risk stratification for sudden death and heath owing to progressive heart failure in chronic heart failure, Eur J Clin Invest, 35, 24, doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2005.01442.x ; Jandrey (2012), Thromboembolism : current treatment and future directions, Veterinary Focus, 22, 26, doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1381866 ; Sampedrano (2009), Prospective echocardiographic and tissue Doppler imaging screening of a population of Maine Coon cats tested for the mutation in the myosin - binding protein C gene : a specific analysis of the heterozygous status, J Vet Intern Med, 31, 91, doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0218.x ; Connolly (2008), Circulating natriuretic peptides in cats with heart disease, J Vet Intern Med, 22, 96, doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.0024.x DOI 10.1515/pjvs-2016-0101

Studies identifying specific pathologically expressed genes have been performed on diseased myocardial tissue samples, however less invasive studies on gene expression of peripheral blood mononucleated cells give promising results. This study assessed transcriptomic data that may be used to evaluate Dachshunds with chronic mitral valve disease. Dachshunds with different stages of heart disease were compared to a control, healthy group. Microarray data analysis revealed clusters of patients with similar expression profiles. The clusters were compared to the clinical classification scheme. Unsupervised classification of the studied groups showed three clusters. Clinical and laboratory parameters of patients from the cluster 1 were in accordance with those found in patients without heart disease. Data obtained from patients from the cluster 3 were typical of advanced heart failure patients. Comparison of the cluster 1 and 3 groups revealed 1133 differentially expressed probes, 7 significantly regulated process pathways and 2 significantly regulated Ariadne Metabolic Pathways. This study may serve as a guideline for directing future research on gene expression in chronic mitral valve disease.

Introduction: Recently in Europe an increase in the population of red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and fallow deer (Dama dama) has been observed. Research on the prevalence of Leptospira infections in Polish cervids has been performed for the first time. Material and Methods: During 2014/2015 hunting season, 147 blood samples from red deer, roe deer, and fallow deer were collected. The animals originated from different geographical regions across Poland. Serum samples were tested by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for the presence of specific antibodies to the following Leptospira serovars: Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Sejroe, Tarassovi, Pomona, Canicola, Bratislava, Hardjo, Ballum, Zanoni, Hebdomadis, and Poi. Results: Serum antibody titres specific to Grippotyphosa, Pomona, and Zanoni serovars were found; none of the sera were positive for any of the other serovars. Out of 147 serum samples only 7 were positive, which gave an overall prevalence of 4.8% in the tested animal population. Conclusion: The low Leptospira antibody titres along with the low number of positive serum samples in deer indicate that these animals may not act as significant reservoirs of Leptospira for either humans or animals in Poland.

Cancer immunosuppression that facilitates tumor progression and metastasis evolves by development of an immunosuppressive network. The aim of this study was to assess this network in dogs with benign or malignant tumors with or without confirmed metastasis. The authors showed that the number of various T cell subpopulations was constant during tumor development; however the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) was significantly higher in tumor-bearing dogs than in healthy individuals. The number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and their p-STAT3 expression (which is a negative regulator of hematopoiesis and regulates VEGF expression) were higher in cancer patients than in control dogs, however their number increased significantly in late-stage cancer patients. Canine mammary carcinomas with confirmed metastases to either lymph nodes or internal organs had greater MDSCs and Treg infiltration than benign mammary tumors or malignant mammary tumors for which metastases had not been detected. Similarly, expression of p-STAT3 and VEGF-C was the highest in tumors with confirmed metastases. This research shows changes occurring in the blood (n = 30 patients) and tumor tissue of patients (n = 100) during canine mammary tumor development. The findings should be considered preliminary because of the small number of samples. Nonetheless, the findings suggest that a high level of Tregs and MDSCs as well as high expression of p-STAT3 and VEGF-C may significantly contribute to mammary tumor progression and metastasis in dogs.