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  • Author or Editor: Sean G. Sanders x
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Abstract

Objective—To characterize clinical signs, clinicopathologic features, treatments, and survival in dogs with naturally acquired foodborne aflatoxicosis.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—72 dogs that consumed aflatoxin-contaminated commercial dog food.

Procedures—Medical records of affected dogs were reviewed. Between December 2005 and March 2006, dogs were identified as having foodborne aflatoxin hepatotoxicosis on the basis of the history of consumption of contaminated food or characteristic histopathologic lesions (subject dog or a recently deceased dog in the same household or kennel). Recorded information included signalment, clinical features, clinicopathologic test results, treatments, and survival. Data were analyzed by survival status.

Results—Most dogs were of large breeds from breeding kennels. No significant differences were found in age or weight between 26 (36%) survivor dogs and 46 (64%) nonsurvivor dogs. Severity of clinical signs varied widely; 7 dogs died abruptly. In order of onset, clinical features included anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea (melena, hematochezia), abdominal effusion, peripheral edema, and terminal encephalopathy and hemorrhagic diathesis. Common clinicopathologic features included coagulopathic and electrolyte disturbances, hypoproteinemia, increased serum liver enzyme activities, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypocholesterolemia. Cytologic hepatocellular lipid vacuolation was confirmed in 11 dogs examined. In comparisons of clinicopathologic test results between survivor and nonsurvivor dogs, only granular cylindruria (7/21 dogs) consistently predicted death. Best early markers of aflatoxicosis were low plasma activities of anticoagulant proteins (protein C, antithrombin) and hypocholesterolemia. Despite aggressive treatment, many but not all severely affected dogs died.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Serum liver enzyme activities and bilirubin concentration were unreliable early markers of aflatoxin hepatotoxicosis in dogs. Hypocholesterolemia and decreased plasma protein C and antithrombin activities may function as exposure biomarkers.

Full access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Objective

To examine the ability of several commonly used tests for evaluation of passive transfer of immunoglobulin to predict mortality in dairy replacement heifers.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Animals

246 dairy replacement heifers between 1 and 8 days of age.

Procedure

Using serum samples obtained from each calf, total serum protein concentration and results of zinc sulfate turbidity, sodium sulfite turbidity, radial immunodiffusion, and glutaraldehyde coagulation were determined. Calves were monitored for 100 days, and relative risks for death were calculated. Logistic regression models predicting death also were developed.

Results

None of the logistic regression models detected a significant association between test results and mortality. The greatest relative risks of mortality were observed in calves with serum protein concentrations < 4.5 g/dl, serum IgG, concentrations < 500 mg/dl, and sodium sulfite test scores < 1+.

Clinical Implications

Calves with lower passive transfer values had increased risk of death; however, failure of passive transfer is not an infallible predictor of mortality. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996;208:2047-2049)

Free access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association