BackgroundSymmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is considered a biomarker for early detection of renal dysfunction in human patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). At present, no studies exist analyzing the relevance of SDMA in dogs with AKI.Hypothesis/objectives SDMA would correctly identify dogs with renal disease but would not be able to differentiate between AKI and CKD.AnimalsEighteen healthy control dogs, 48 dogs with AKI, and 29 dogs with CKD.MethodsProspective study. Dogs with kidney disease were categorized as having AKI or CKD according to the history, clinical signs, laboratory findings, and results of diagnostic imaging. Plasma SDMA concentration was measured by IDEXX Laboratories. SDMA/creatinine ratio was calculated in dogs with AKI or CKD.ResultsMedian SDMA concentrations were 8.5 μg/dL (6–12 μg/dL), 39.5 μg/dL (8–>100 μg/dL), and 35 μg/dL (12–>100 μg/dL), in healthy, AKI, and CKD, respectively. SDMA concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with AKI (P < .0001) or CKD (P < .0001) in comparison with healthy dogs. Median SDMA/creatinine ratio in dogs with AKI and CKD was 6.5 (1.7–20.9) and 10 (2.4–33.9) (P = .0004), respectively. Although there was overlap of the SDMA/creatinine ratio in dogs with AKI or CKD, it was significantly higher in dogs with CKD compared to dogs with AKI (P = .0004).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceIn this population, SDMA was suitable for identifying dogs affected by AKI or CKD, but could not differentiate between them.

A two-year-old female French bulldog was presented for chronic large bowel diarrhoea. The dog had been suspected to have granulomatous colitis, but no improvement was noted with enrofloxacin treatment. Diagnosis was confirmed by histology and fluorescent in situ hybridisation. Isolated Escherichia coli strains showed multiple resistances to antimicrobials, including enrofloxacin. Treatment with potentiated amoxicillin and cefovecin resulted in complete resolution of clinical signs within two weeks and treatment was continued for a total of eight weeks. The dog had no signs of large bowel diarrhoea and gained 2 kg of bodyweight within 10 months. This is the first case report of a French bulldog with granulomatous colitis with a favourable long-term outcome despite colonisation with multiresistant adherent-invasive E coli. This case highlights the importance of antimicrobial sensitivity testing from colonic mucosal biopsy samples in canine granulomatous colitis. It should raise awareness of this disease in continental Europe.

Zusammenfassung Gegenstand und Ziel Der Nachweis von Ketonkörpern erfolgt in der Regel über einen Urinschnelltest, der aufgrund der fehlenden Testung auf β-Hydroxybutyrat zu falsch negativen Ergebnissen führen kann. In der Humanmedizin wird eine direkte Bestimmung von β-Hydroxybutyrat aus dem Blut mithilfe von portablen Messgeräten bevorzugt, die mit einer höheren Sensitivität verbunden ist. In der Veterinärmedizin stehen nur wenige evaluierte Geräte zur Verfügung, die bei höheren β-Hydroxybutyrat-Konzentrationen deutliche Limitationen zeigten. Ziel der Studie war eine Vergleichsmessung mit dem portablen Ketonmessgerät GlucoMen®LX PLUS und der Referenzmethode zur quantitativen Bestimmung der β-Hydroxybutyrat-Konzentration in venösem Blut von Hunden und Katzen. Material und Methoden Aufnahme in die prospektive Studie fanden insgesamt 47 Hunde und 55 Katzen mit diabetischer Ketoazidose, Diabetes mellitus, einer katabolen Stoffwechsellage sowie gesunde Tiere. Es erfolgte eine vergleichende Untersuchung der Proben mit dem zu evaluierenden Ketonmessgerät GlucoMen®LX PLUS und einem automatischen Analysegerät als Referenzmethode. Die Messresultate der Proben von Hunden und Katzen wurden getrennt ausgewertet. Ergebnisse Es zeigte sich eine hohe Korrelation zwischen den Messungen des GlucoMen®LX PLUS und der Referenzmethode bei Hunden (R = 0,986, p < 0,001) und Katzen (R = 0,98, p < 0,001). Die gemessenen Werte variierten bei Hunden (Mittelwert 0,01 mmol/l, SD ± 0,20) und Katzen (Mittelwert 0,05 mmol/l, SD ± 0,29) nur geringfügig. Bei 44 % aller Hunde und Katzen ergaben sich mit dem GlucoMen®LX PLUS niedrigere Werte als bei der Referenzmethode, wobei eine stärkere Differenz der Messwerte insbesondere bei niedrigen und höheren β-Hydroxybutyrat-Konzentrationen bestand (Hunde: R = –0,762; Katzen: R = –0,86). Schlussfolgerung Das Gerät GlucoMen®LX PLUS weist eine sehr gute Korrelation zur Referenzmethode auf und ist zur Messung von β-Hydroxybutyrat in venösem Blut von Hunden und Katzen geeignet. Seine Limitationen liegen insbesondere in höheren Messbereichen, in denen das Gerät im Vergleich zur Referenzmethode geringfügig niedrige β-Hydroxybutyrat-Konzentrationen misst. Klinische Relevanz Das GlucoMen®LX PLUS stellt eine kostengünstige Alternative zur Ketonkörperbestimmung im Urin dar.

Case summaryThis report describes the clinical and parasitological findings in a domestic shorthair cat with isolated thoracic tetrathyridiosis. The cat was a stray from Malta that had lived in Germany for several years since as an indoor-only cat. Therefore, the process of infection remains very unusual. In this case it must be considered that the cat had been infected years previously while in Malta, and had lived at least 4 years without any clinical signs. It was possible to diagnose this uncommon disease and initiate an effective treatment with fenbendazole, praziquantel and supportive care. Clinical signs, as well as radiographic findings, were regressive with this treatment.Relevance and novel informationTetrathyridiosis is a rare finding in cats, especially in Germany, but it seems to be a potential differential diagnosis of pleural effusion. Mesocestoides corti, which was the causative parasite in this case, has not previously been isolated in Germany. Because tetrathyridiosis is only diagnosed post mortem in most cases, little is known about effective therapeutic options. Furthermore, clinical signs of this disease can be absent for several years and can potentially be triggered by neoplastic conditions or immunosuppression. Tetrathyridiosis seems to be a treatable disease that can be controlled by adequate antiparasitic therapy.

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