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ObjectivesCurrent blood tests to diagnose feline liver diseases are sub-optimal. Serum concentrations of microRNA-122 (miR-122) have been shown in humans, dogs and rodents to be a sensitive and specific biomarker for liver injury. To explore the potential diagnostic utility of measuring serum concentrations of miR-122 in felines, miR-122 was measured in a cohort of ill hospitalised cats with known serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. MethodsIn this retrospective study, cats were grouped into those with an ALT activity within reference interval (0 - 83 U/L; n = 38) and those with an abnormal ALT activity (>84 U/L; n = 25). Serum concentrations of miR-122 were measured by RT-qPCR and the relationship between miR-122 and ALT was examined. Results MiR-122 was significantly higher in the group with high ALT activity than the ALT group within normal reference limits (P < 0.0004). There was also a moderately positive correlation between serum ALT activity and miR-122 concentrations (P < 0.001; r = 0.52).Conclusion and relevance Concentrations of miR-122 were reliably quantified in feline serum and were higher in a cohort of cats with increased ALT activity compared to cats with normal ALT activity. This work highlights the potential diagnostic utility of miR-122 as a biomarker of liver damage in cats and encourages further investigation to determine the sensitivity and specificity of miR-122 as a biomarker of hepatocellular injury in this species.

Objective: To evaluate the association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and in-hospital mortality, length of hospitalization and leukocyte count in critically ill dogs. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Animals: One hundred and twenty-seven dogs admitted to the ICU from December 2016 to April 2017. Patients were included if they had a CBC performed within the first 24 hours of admission. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 29% (37/127) and median length of hospital stay was 3 days (IQR 1-6). The median RDW value was 13.8% (IQR 13.1-14.7%; reference range 11.9-14.5 %). The canine acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation (APPLE) fast score was calculated in 81/127 (64%) patients, the median score was 24/50 (IQR 20-29). There was no significant correlation between RDW and APPLE fast score (P = 0.163). Sub-group analysis was performed according to the following diagnostic categories: abdominal (36%; 46/127), hematological (13%; 16/127), respiratory (13%; 16/127), neurological (12%; 15/127), cardiovascular (11%; 14/127), integument (3%; 4/127), trauma (3%; 4/127), musculoskeletal (2%; 3/127) and other (7%; 9/127). Elevated RDW was not associated with in-hospital mortality overall (P = 0.381) nor in any individual sub-group analysis. No association was found between length of hospitalization and RDW values in either survivors (P = 0.548) or non-survivors (P = 0.083). The correlation between RDW and leukocyte count was non significant (P = 0.12). Conclusions: In this study admission RDW was not associated with in-hospital mortality or length of hospitalization in critically ill dogs. The correlation between RDW and leukocyte count was non significant.

Background: Melatonin is a hormone produced and secreted primarily by the pineal gland and mainly metabolised in the liver. Increased melatonin concentrations have been reported in human cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a syndrome of neurologic dysfunction. The pathogenesis of canine HE is incompletely understood. Melatonin has been hypothesised as a contributor to the development of HE. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum melatonin concentrations are increased in canine congenital portosystemic shunting (cPSS), with and without HE. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, for which archived (-80ºC) serum samples were available. A canine competitive ELISA was used to measure melatonin in two cohorts: dogs with a final diagnosis of cPSS (n=23) and healthy dogs (n=15). Results: Melatonin concentrations were not significantly different (P=0.81) between healthy controls (median 27.2pg/mL, range 19.8-161.5pg/mL) and dogs with cPSS (median 25.7pg/mL, range 18.5-244.9pg/mL). Serum melatonin did not differ between cPSS patients with and without clinical signs of HE (P>0.99). No correlation was found between serum melatonin and blood ammonia (rs=-0.41, P=0.08). Conclusion: Serum melatonin is not increased in canine cPSS with and without HE. We found no evidence that altered melatonin metabolism plays a role in the pathogenesis of cPSS-associated HE.

Urine pH measurement is performed during routine urine analysis evaluation. Although using a pH meter has been shown to give more accurate results, urine dipsticks are most commonly used in veterinary medicine. Accurate pH measurement is important, as it may indicate urinary infection, risk of urolith formation and reflect the acid-base systemic status of a patient. This study evaluated the inter-operator reproducibility of canine urine pH readings when performing urine dipstick chemical analysis by direct standard visualisation and automated analysis in a small animal teaching hospital. Urine from in-patients was collected between 28 and 40 h prior to the study and was kept refrigerated. The pooled sample was divided in three and each sample was titrated with NaOH and HCl to achieve a consistent visual urine dipstick pH reading of 6 (Sample 1), 7 (Sample 2) and 7.5 (Sample 3). Respective readings of 5.44, 6.55 and 7.66, were obtained with a calibrated reference bench top pH meter. Samples were kept chilled during the study period. Study participants were given one aliquot each sample and six urine dipsticks. Each operator was asked to measure and record the urine pH from each aliquot using first standard visual and then automated analyser reading methods. Nineteen final year students, 7 veterinarian surgeons and 4 veterinary nurses participated in the study. Standard visual reading pH values, with number of participants recording the results in brackets, were: Sample 1: 6 (14), 6.5 (14), 7 (2); Sample 2: 6 (2), 6.5 (2), 7 (1), 7.5 (22), 8 (3); and Sample 3: 6 (1), 7 (1), 7.5 (3), 8 (25). Using the automated analyser, the results obtained were: Sample 1: 5.5 (1), 6 (29); Sample 2: 7 (26), 7.5 (4); Sample 3 7 (1), 7.5 (25), 8 (3), 8.5 (1). Concordance of results between study participants and the authors occurred in 39/90 (43%) of visually read, and 79/90 (88%) of automated analyser results. Sample 2 was visually reported as alkaline (pH of 8) by 4 participants and acid (pH of 6) by 2 participants. In conclusion, standard visual reading of urinary dipstick demonstrated poorer inter-operator reproducibility when measuring canine urinary pH in comparison with an automated method. This has potential clinical implications in that the same sample was classified as acidic and alkaline in some instances, potentially affecting clinical decision making.

OBJECTIVES: To identify whether inter- and intra-operator variability occurs in the measurement of canine packed cell volume and, if so, at which stage these errors occur.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Undergraduate veterinary students and veterinary surgeons were recruited to measure the packed cell volumes of three samples in duplicate. Measurements from each sample were confirmed by one author, and it was then ascertained whether the error was made in the capillary preparation or reading.RESULTS: Data were obtained from 44 students and 11 vets. A total of 25% of students made errors associated with inadequate mixing; 23% students and 9% of vets made errors consistent with incorrect reading. There was also less intra-operator variation in values within the vet group (0·027 from the mean) in comparison to the student group (-0·21 from the mean). A total of 68·2% of students and 91% of vets filled the capillary tubes outwith World Health Organisation standards of two-thirds to three-quarters full.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Packed cell volume measurement is extremely useful when measuring erythroid mass, but it is crucial that the results upon which decisions are made are accurate and precise in order to manage these cases appropriately. Operator variation is a significant factor and must be addressed by proper training and following standard operating procedures.