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Background: Bacterial urine culture is recommended in dogs suspected of having urinary tract infection (UTI), but there is expense and delay in obtaining such results. Hypothesis/Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance of a rapid immunoassay (RIA) dipstick for detection of bacteriuria using voided urine from dogs with clinical signs of lower UTI. Animals: Twenty-four client-owned dogs. Methods: Voided urine was collected and the RIA performed within 30 minutes. Urine collected by cystocentesis was submitted for aerobic urine culture. McNemar's test and kappa coefficient were calculated to determine agreement between the 2 tests. Results: Nine of 21 dogs (43%) had UTI verified by aerobic urine culture. There was 1 false-negative and no false-positive RIA results. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the RIA were 89%, 100%, 100%, and 92%, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: This RIA is promising for correctly identifying whether or not voided urine samples from dogs with lower urinary tract clinical signs have true bacteriuria in a rapid, inexpensive manner. Additional patients should be enrolled in a similar study to determine if diagnostic performance is robust in a large population. Published version

Sarcocystis neurone, is best known as the causative agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis of horses in the Americas. Domestic cats (Felis domesticus) were the first animals described as an intermediate host for S. neurone,. However, S. neurona-associated encephalitis has also been reported in naturally infected cats in the United States. Thus, cats can be implicated in the life cycle of S. neurona as natural intermediate hosts. The present study examined the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to merozoites of S. neurona in populations of domestic cats from Virginia and Pennsylvania. Overall, sera or plasma from 441 cats (Virginia = 232, Pennsylvania = 209) were tested by an indirect immunofluorescent assay at a 1:50 dilution. Antibodies to S. neurona were found in 32 (7%) of 441 cats. Of these, 22 (9%) of the 232 cats from Virginia and 10 (5%) of the 209 cats from Pennsylvania were seropositive for S. neurona.

Recent work in humans with protein losing nephropathies has revealed increased urine concentrations of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Differences exist between normal patients, those with glomerulonephritis (GN), and those with amyloidosis thus potentially allowing differentiation without a renal biopsy. Aims of this study were to validate a simple spectrophotometric assay used to measure canine urinary GAGs, establish a normal reference range, and determine optimal storage conditions. Urine GAG concentrations were measured in a limited number of dogs with glomerulonephritis or amyloidosis. Fourteen healthy dogs were placed in metabolic cages and all urine was collected for 24 hours. Serum and urine creatinine concentrations were measured at the beginning and end of the collection period. Urine collected at the beginning of the 24-hr period was centrifuged and the supernatant used to measure a spot GAG concentration and a spot glycosaminoglycan to creatinine ratio (GCR). A well mixed aliquot of the 24-hr sample was centrifuged, the supernatant used to measure the 24-hr total GAG, and stored at 4°C and -20°C for 1, 7, and 30 days. All dogs were used to determine effects of time and temperature (n=14), however, only dogs with an endogenous creatinine clearance > 2 ml/min/kg (n=10) were used to determine normal values. A standard absorption curve using a 1,9-dimethlymethylene blue dye and dilutions of chondroiton-4-sulfate was developed to estimate total GAG concentration. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to test for effects of storage temperature and time on stability of urinary GAG. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Relationships between spot urinary GAG concentration, spot urinary GAG to creatinine ratio (GCR) and 24-hr total GAG excretion were estimated using simple linear regression. Single urine samples were collected by cystocentesis from dogs with GN or renal amyloidosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by clinical evaluation or by histologic analysis. Urine protein, creatinine and GAG concentrations were measured. There were no time or temperature effects on urine GAG concentrations for up to 1 day at 4°C and 30 days at -20°C. Mean 24-hr total GAG excretion ± standard deviation was 1.586 ± 0.461 mg/kg of body weight. Mean spot GAG concentration and spot GCR were 5.007 ± 1.588 mg/dl and 0.023 ± 0.01 respectively. Neither spot GAG concentration (R2=0.4216) nor GCR (R2= 0.0839) were adequate predictors of 24-hr total GAG. The GCR's from dogs with renal disease were not different from normal dogs. This study established normal total urinary GAG values in dogs. Contrary to findings in humans, there was no correlation between 24-hr total sulfated GAG and spot GCR in dogs, limiting clinical utility of this test. Further work is needed to determine if either total sulfated GAG or the spot GCR can be used to differentiate causes of protein-losing nephropathies in dogs. Master of Science

Objective: The aims of this prospective clinical cohort study were to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease and to determine which clinical parameters and clinicopathologic data are associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Another aim was to determine the incidence of surgical site infections in dogs with and without asymptomatic bacteriuria. Results: In 156 dogs with cruciate ligament disease, the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 7.1%. Furthermore, the prevalence was 12.4% in female dogs and 0% in male dogs. The most common bacterial isolate was Escherichia coli. Patient sex, urine white blood cells/ high-powered field, and microscopic bacteriuria were significantly different between dogs with and without asymptomatic bacteriuria. Only 60% of dogs with microscopic bacteriuria had growth on urine aerobic culture. No significant difference was found in age, body weight, body condition score, duration of lameness, limb affected, or other urinalysis values between dogs with and without asymptomatic bacteriuria. Of the dogs that had 8-week repeat cultures, 2/3 dogs with asymptomatic bacteriuria had negative urine cultures and 3/43 without asymptomatic bacteriuria had positive urine cultures. Of 57 dogs that received surgery and had sufficient follow-up, 15 developed surgical site infection. All surgical site infections occurred in dogs without AB. The incidence of surgical site infection in this population was 26.3% (15/57). Conclusions: Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in dogs presenting with cranial cruciate ligament disease was similar to previously reported values in male and female dogs. This suggests that dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease are not more prone to asymptomatic bacteriuria than dogs in previously studied populations. Preliminary data suggests that AB does not predispose dogs to SSI however further research and continued data collection is warranted. Master of Science Asymptomatic bacteriuria is defined as having bacteria in the urine without signs of lower urinary tract disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence asymptomatic bacteriuria in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease. Additionally, another aim was to determine the incidence of surgical site infections after cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs with and without asymptomatic bacteriuria. Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in dogs presenting with cranial cruciate ligament disease was found to be similar to previously reported values in male and female dogs. This suggests that dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease are not more prone to asymptomatic bacteriuria than dogs in previously studied populations. Preliminary data suggests that dogs with bacteria in the urine does not predispose dogs to SSI however further research and continued data collection is warranted.