Serum Acute Phase Proteins as Clinical Phase Indicators and Outcome Predictors in Naturally Occurring Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis

Abstract

Background: Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), caused by Ehrlichia canis, is an important tick‐borne disease of global importance. Currently, limited information is available on the diagnostic and prognostic value of acute phase proteins (APPs) in dogs naturally infected with E. canis. Hypothesis: APPs may be useful indicators of the clinical phase of CME and predictive of the clinical outcome (death or survival). Animals: Fifty‐six dogs naturally infected with E. canis and 7 clinically healthy control dogs. Methods: C‐reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and albumin concentrations determined on admission were retrospectively compared among 27 dogs with nonmyelosuppressive CME, 29 dogs with myelosuppressive CME and 7 healthy dogs. Diagnosis of CME was based on clinical and clinicopathological findings, seropositivity to E. canis, polymerase chain reaction amplification of E. canis‐specific 16S rDNA, microscopic observation of Ehrlichia sp. morulae in blood monocytes or some combination of these. Results: Mean concentrations of CRP, SAA, and Hp were significantly higher in the myelosuppressed dogs compared with the other groups, but no significant differences were found in the concentration of albumin. Survival analysis of the affected animals indicated that APP concentrations were not associated with clinical outcome; the latter was strongly associated with pancytopenia (odds ratio for death 22.7) and neutropenia (odds ratio for death 7.7). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: CRP, SAA, and Hp serum concentrations on admission are useful indicators of the clinical phase of CME, but are not useful predictors of clinical outcome.

Sepsisli Köpeklerde Akut Faz Proteinler, Bazı Sitokinler ve Hemostatik Parametrelerin Değerlendirilmesi

“…The reason for higher concentrations of SAA in septic dogs may be related to inflammatory reactions and tissue damage. Similary, several studies have reported that CRP and SAA could be useful markers for diagnosis and prognosis in various disease [10,16,17,34,35] . However, CRP and SAA do not seem to be very spesific markers for the detection of bacterial infections because it might increase in a variety of diseases, not particularly in bacterial infections [10,16,17,35] .…”

Acute Phase Proteins as Markers of Infectious Diseases in small Animals / Proteini Akutne Faze Kao Markeri Infektivnih Bolesti Malih Životinja

“…In naturally occurring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis while raised concentrations were found for CRP, SAA and Hp on admission, there was no predictive value for the clinical outcome from the levels found [35]. Nevertheless, CRP and Hp were higher in dogs with the myelosuppressive form (chronic), thus being useful indicators of the clinical phase of the disease.…”

Η κλινική χρησιμότητα των ορολογικών δοκιμών στη μονοκυτταρική ερλιχίωση (Ehrlichia canis) του σκύλου

“…πετέχειες και εκχυμώσεις στο δέρμα και στους βλεννογόνους, ύφαιμα, επίσταξη, ουλορραγία, αιματουρία), είναι συχνές κλινικές εκδηλώσεις στη ΜΕΣ, αν και με διαφορετική συχνότητα και βαρύτητα μεταξύ των φάσεων της νόσου (Komnenou et al 2007, Mylonakis et al 2011. Η θρομβοκυτταροπενία και η αναιμία είναι οι συχνότερες αιματολογικές διαταραχές, με την απλαστική παγκυτταροπενία να χαρακτηρίζει τη μυελοκατασταλτική μορφή της ΜΕΣ (Mylonakis et al 2011). Στις συχνότερες βιοχημικές διαταραχές περιλαμβάνονται η υπερσφαιριναιμία, η υπολευκωμα-τιναιμία και η αυξημένη δραστηριότητα των ηπατικών ενζύμων (Μylonakis et al 2011).…”