Pazzi P., Goddard A., Kristensen A.T., Dvir E.
Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, SA, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Pazzi, P., Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, SA, South Africa; Goddard, A., Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, SA, South Africa; Kristensen, A.T., Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Dvir, E., Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, SA, South Africa
Background: Canine spirocercosis is caused by the nematode Spirocerca lupi and is characterized by esophageal fibro-inflammatory nodules that may undergo neoplastic transformation. No sensitive and specific laboratory assays other than histopathology have been reported to differentiate non-neoplastic from neoplastic disease. Hypothesis/Objectives: Dogs with spirocercosis will have evidence of hypercoagulability based on thromboelastography (TEG)-derived maximal amplitude (MA); increased MA will be correlated with increased acute phase protein (APP) concentrations (C-reactive protein [CRP] and fibrinogen); increased MA and APPs will be exacerbated with neoplastic spirocercosis. Animals: Thirty-nine client-owned dogs with naturally occurring spirocercosis and 15 sex-matched healthy controls. Methods: A prospective comparative study evaluating TEG, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, antithrombin (AT) activity, platelet count and D-dimer concentration, and APPs of dogs with non-neoplastic (n = 24) and neoplastic (n = 15) spirocercosis compared to control dogs. Results: Median MA was significantly increased in the non-neoplastic group (P < .01) and neoplastic group (P < .01) compared to the controls. Both APPs were significantly increased in the neoplastic group compared to the non-neoplastic and control groups. MA was strongly correlated with fibrinogen (r = 0.85, P < .001) and CRP (r = 0.73, P < .001). An MA >76 mm provided 96% specificity and 73% sensitivity for differentiation of disease state. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Canine spirocercosis is associated with increased TEG variables, MA and α, and decreased AT activity, which may indicate a hypercoagulable state seemingly more severe with neoplastic transformation. MA was correlated with APP in dogs with spirocercosis and can be used as an adjunctive test to support the suspicion of neoplastic transformation. © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Animalia; Canis familiaris; Spirocerca; Spirocerca lupi; C reactive protein; fibrin degradation product; fibrin fragment d; fibrinogen; animal; animal disease; article; dog; dog disease; esophagus tumor; female; hemostasis; Hypercoagulable; immunology; inflammation; male; nonparametric test; parasitology; partial thromboplastin time; prospective study; prothrombin time; sensitivity and specificity; Spirocerca; spirurid infection; Thelazioidea; thrombocyte count; thromboelastography; Hemostasis; Hypercoagulable; Inflammation; Spirocerca; Animals; C-Reactive Protein; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Fibrinogen; Male; Partial Thromboplastin Time; Platelet Count; Prospective Studies; Prothrombin Time; Sensitivity and Specificity; Spirurida Infections; Statistics, Nonparametric; Thelazioidea; Thrombelastography