Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals in Shetland Sheepdogs

Abstract

Background: Several breeds have physiological peculiarities that induce variations in reference intervals (RIs) compared with the general canine population. Shetland sheepdogs (SSs) are reported to be more predisposed to different diseases (eg, hyperlipidemia, gallbladder mucocele, and hypothyroidism). Consequently, a breedspecific approach is more often required. Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine whether the RIs of the general canine population could be applied to that of SSs, and to generate breed-specific RIs, where appropriate.Methods: Sixty clinically healthy and fasted SSs (36% of the population registered at the Italian Breed association) were examined. Routine hematology and biochemistry analyses were performed. The transference method was used to compare the results of SSs with the RIs of the general canine population. When these RIs were not validated, new RIs were generated according to the guidelines of the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Differences associated with sex, age, coat color, and whether used as a pet, a herding dog, or an agility dog were also investigated. Results:The transference method validated for 30/38 SS RIs. For 6 of the remaining 8 variables, the difference with the claimed RIs could depend on preanalytical or analytical artifacts, whereas for glucose and total cholesterol, these differences could depend on breed peculiarities. However, in all SSs, the concentration of cholesterol was <12.95 mmol/L. Relevant differences associated with sex, age, coat color, and use were not found. Conclusions:This study suggests that breed-specific RIs should be used for glucose and cholesterol in SSs.

Haematological and biochemical reference intervals in healthy racing and retired Italian Greyhounds

“…In people, reference intervals (RIs) are sought for specific subpopulations identified by sex, age, ethnicity and geographic origin (Horn and Pesce, 2002). In veterinary medicine, this approach is often ignored, but the availability of valid RIs is essential for the correct assessment of a patient's clinical status, and only a few studies have defined breed-specific RIs (Nielsen et al, 2010;Paltrinieri et al, 2014;Ruggerone et al, 2018).…”

Hematological and Biochemical Reference Intervals for 5 Adult Hunting Dog Breeds Using a Blood Donor Database

“…In our study, hematological intervals for some parameters differed from recently published RIs for the Sysmex [ 12 , 14 , 15 , 31 ] ( Table 3 ), and this is probably due to geographical and breed-specific differences as opposed to different adjustments or calibrations specific to each instrument, since these differences are evident in the majority of breeds evaluated [ 15 ]. This highlights the importance of RIs transference validation for pre-existing RIs by individual laboratories even when using identical instruments [ 18 , 31 ] and the need for setting breed-specific RIs.…”

“…Since all breeds had similar RIs for these analytes, it is more likely to reflect issues with the claimed and published RIs for the general canine population [ 15 ] and for mixed population blood donors [ 31 ] than pathology. As previously seen in Greyhounds and Lurchers [ 31 ], as well as in the agility dogs [ 18 ], adaptation to athleticism in breeds that excel at sports and hunting have experienced substantial genetic selective performance pressure on the blood circulation system to maximize the delivery of oxygen and metabolic substrates to exercising muscle [ 11 , 13 , 23 , 42 , 43 ].…”

“…In the light of this data, there is a recent increasing interest in breed-specific canine RIs. Numerous studies have shown the importance of breed-related differences between hematological and biochemical results, even if all measurements fall within the existing RIs [ 1 , 2 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Approved guidelines for the establishment, validation, and transference of RIs to a specific breed exist in veterinary medicine [ 21 , 22 ] and have been successfully used to characterize the breed-specific variation of hematological and biochemical analytes [ 14 , 17 ].…”

“…Hematobiochemical differences and RIs have been described in Bernese Mountain dogs [ 17 ], Dogue de Bordeaux [ 12 , 29 ], Greyhound [ 13 ], Lurchers [ 14 ], and other Sighthound breeds [ 16 , 19 ], Shetland Sheepdogs [ 18 ], and Beagles [ 15 ]. In all these breeds, new Rls have been defined for one or more parameter according to the standard.…”