Seizures in companion animals

This article introduces different types of seizures in both canine and feline patients. The aetiology of seizures and the diagnostic work up involved in creating a differential diagnostic list for the neurologist will be discussed. Emergency treatment veterinary nurses can provide for those patients presenting in status epilepticus will be highlighted. Short-term and long-term antiepileptic drug treatment will be reviewed including the side effects of the medication. The quality of life for seizure patients will also be analysed drawing from research and the role the owner plays in ensuring their pet retains a good quality of life.     

Monoclonal antibodies in blood group serology

The state of the art of monoclonal antibody specifications and blending characteristics needed to produce high quality reagents are described for ABO, RhD and polyspecific anti-human globulin (AHG) reagents.Some interesting advances have been made. Thus some murine monoclonal anti-As (e.g. MH04) see Ax. Also, they may show feeble reactions with the traces of A on some group B cells (the B(A) phenomenon) and the quality control of these reagents is discussed. The use of anti-A,B reagents is now debatable as monoclonal anti-A/anti-B reagents are now more reliable than conventional reagents for detecting weak sub-groups of A and B.RhD typing by saline routine and rapid tests can now be performed with IgM monoclonal anti-D reagents (e.g. MAD-2), but the old problem of Du and D variants is discussed as IgM anti-D is not reliable for their detection.Monoclonal anti-C3c/C3d or just selected anti-C3d (BRIC-8) blended with rabbit anti-IgG make excellent potent clean AHG reagents. The essential false positive test of fresh serum incubated with CPD-A1 red cells from donor pack segment lines is essential for the adjustment and evaluation of AHG reagents.Selected monoclonal anti-M, anti-N, anti-Le^a and Le^b are established as excellent typing reagents and monoclonal antibodies have now been developed to e, E, K, k and other red cell antigens.     

Importance of extended blood group genotyping in multiply transfused patients

Blood group antigen systems are not limited to the ABO blood groups. There is increasing interest in the detection of extended blood group systems on the red cell surface. The conventional method used to determine extended blood group antigens or red cell phenotype is by serological testing, which is based on the detection of visible haemagglutination or the presence of haemolysis. However, this technique has many limitations due to recent exposure to donor red cell, certain drugs or medications or other diseases that may alter the red cell membrane. We aimed to determine the red cell blood group genotype by SNP real time PCR and to compare the results with the conventional serological methods in multiply transfused patients. Sixty-three patients participated in this study whose peripheral blood was collected and blood group phenotype was determined by serological tube method while the genotype was performed using TaqMan^® Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) RT-PCR assays for RHEe, RHCc, Kidd and Duffy blood group systems. Discrepancies were found between the phenotype and genotype results for all blood groups tested. Accurate red blood cell antigen profiling is important for patients requiring multiple transfusions. The SNP RT-PCR platform is a reliable alternative to the conventional method.     

Complement fixation by Rh blood group antibodies

Rh blood group antibodies normally do not fix complement. Rh positive intact red blood cells treated with papain do not lyse when incubated with corresponding antibody and complement. This study was done to determine if complement fixation occurs when antibodies were combined with Rh positive red blood cell ghosts untreated or treated with papain. Complement fixation was observed with IgG anti-D, anti-DC and anti-c when papain treated ghosts were used. No complement fixation or a smaller degree of it was observed in the case of untreated Rh positive red blood cell ghosts when incubated with similar anti-Rh antibodies. It is concluded that the papain treatment of Rh positive red blood cell ghosts, possibly by inducing aggregation of antigen sites, allowed complement binding by Rh antibodies.     

Anti-HCV and anti-HDV antibodies in blood donors and selected risk groups

To evaluate the rate of HCV and HDV infections in Yugoslavia, a statistically appropriate number of random blood donors and members of selected population groups with varying risks of exposure to HCV and HDV, respectively, were tested for the presence of anti-HCV and anti-HDV antibodies, using ELISA test kits produced by Abbott Laboratories.The results demonstrate that: (a) the prevalence of anti-HCV in random blood donors was 0.71%; (b) 43.48% of hemodialysis patients were anti-HCV positive; and (c) anti-HDV was detected in 1.35% of HBsAg-positive blood donors and in 13.88% of the intravenous drug abusers tested. Taken together, these results confirm the presence of HCV and HDV infections in the Yugoslavian population.     

Genotyping of samples lacking expected antibodies in ABO blood group

We report nine donations with ABO inconsistency in reverse typing caused by partly or entirely missing antibodies. A and B antigens and antibodies were examined by serological blood typing, and ABO deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analyses were performed by sequence-specific priming and sequencing. A B101 allele was demonstrable in a case with O phenotype. The molecular mechanisms in deficiency of natural ABO antibody could be partly clarified. The ABO genotyping technique is an accurate method for determining the blood samples involved in ABO grouping discrepancies and is a valuable complement to serology for correct determination of donor blood status. The mechanisms involved in the absence of potent natural antibodies directed against A and B antigen lacking on an individual's own red cell membranes remain to be further investigated.     

Understanding and improving airway management in companion animals - part 1

Airway Management, briefly taught within the veterinary nursing curriculum, is performed many times a day and a vital part of the anaesthesia process. Students are shown how to place an endotracheal tube, taught little about dead-space and airway resistance but, although there are many publications on the pitfalls of intubation, it is often sub-optimally managed in a busy clinic. To provide excellent, safe airway management for our patients, we must understand the history, mechanics and pitfalls about the process: It is only then can we truly apply better techniques in order to improve both care and safety to our patients.     

The relationship between companion animals and loneliness among rural adolescents

The relationship between loneliness and companion animal bonding was explored among 293 rural adolescents. Participants from two ethnically diverse southwestern high schools completed self-report measures of loneliness, pet ownership, companion animal attachment, and social support. Pet owners reported significantly lower loneliness scores than non-pet owners. Furthermore, companion animal bonding scores were inversely related to loneliness scores. Companion animal attachment was positively related to the number of humans in the social support network. The results of this study indicate that interventions promoting a pet relationship may be valuable in reducing loneliness among adolescents.     

The characteristics of ABO antibodies in group O Thai blood donors

This study aimed to characterize anti-A and anti-B hemolysins, IgM, and IgG titers in Thai blood donors. Altogether, 300 serum samples from group O donors at the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, were screened for anti-A and anti-B hemolysins and treated with 0.01 M dithiothreitol to characterize IgM and IgG titers by standard tube technique. Antibody titers were compared with hemolysis grade. Male and female ratio = 1:1.3 and ages ranged from 17 to 60 years. The overall prevalence of anti-A and anti-B hemolysins was 69%. Anti-A and anti-B hemolysins comprised 18.3% and 16.7%, respectively and 34% had both antibodies. High titers of anti-A hemolysins were associated with females (P< 0.05), and only anti-B IgM titers were associated with age (P< 0.05). Interestingly, the association of anti-A IgM titers, anti-A IgG titers, and hemolysin grade was demonstrated (P< 0.05). A significant association between hemolysin grade and anti-B IgM titers was found (P< 0.05). The prevalence of anti-A and anti-B hemolysins and high titers of IgM and IgG in Thais are high. Hemolysin grade showed significant associations with IgM titers; therefore, when providing ABO-incompatible platelet transfusion, especially for female plateletpheresis donors, IgM high titers of anti-A and anti-B screening is suggested.     

IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY: The characterization and classification of concurrent blood group antibodies

BACKGROUND: Concurrent alloantibodies are defined as two or more blood group (BG) antibodies coexisting in a given patient. These antibodies are significant because they can present major problems in compatibility testing. The goals of this study were to determine the properties of concurrent BG antibodies. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The transfusion records of 18,750 patients at a Veterans Affairs medical center were reviewed to identify alloimmunized individuals. The following data were collected on patients making concurrent antibodies: antibody specificities, time of first detection, whether the antibodies disappeared over time, and, if so, their time of disappearance. RESULTS: Multiple alloimmunization occurred in 21.7% (96/443) of alloimmunized patients, constituting 39.9% (230/577) of all antibodies. The rate at which an antibody was concurrent with another antibody varied by antigenic specificity (p < 0.05). Anti‐C (21/28; 71.4%) and anti‐c (19/27; 70.4%) were most likely to coexist with another antibody, while anti‐P₁ (3/22; 13.6%) and anti‐M (3/18; 16.7%) were least likely. The most common alloantibody pairs were anti‐K/‐E, anti‐D/‐C, and anti‐E/‐c. Paired antibodies were initially detected in the same antibody screen in most cases. The majority of antibody pairs were either both persistent or both evanescent. When they were evanescent, both antibodies usually became undetectable at the same time. The persistence over time of concurrent alloantibodies (70.4%) was not higher than that of antibodies occurring singly (67.5%; p = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: Antibody concurrence varied by BG antigenic specificity. Paired BG antibodies tended to appear and disappear in a coordinated fashion. Concurrent alloimmunization had no effect on antibody persistence.     

Neutralization of P blood group antibodies by synthetic solid-phase antigens

P blood group system antibodies are encountered frequently in clinical transfusion practice. The authors describe an improved method for removing P antibodies from patient specimens without dilution. Solid-phase synthetic P antigens were used to neutralize serums containing P blood group system antibodies; 26 alloantibodies with specificity other than P were not inhibited. The synthetic P antigens are also used to characterize the heterogeneous immunochemical fine specificity of antibodies to P1 and P + P1 + Pk.     

Assay validation and diagnostic applications of major acute-phase protein testing in companion animals

The use of major acute-phase proteins (APPs) for assessment of health and disease in companion animals has increased within the last decade because of increased knowledge in the field and increased access to appropriate assay systems for detection of relevant APPs, which are highly species specific. Despite evidence being restricted almost solely to proven excellent overlap performance of these markers in detecting inflammatory activity, clinically relevant studies at higher evidence levels do exist. The available body of literature shows a clear, but seemingly untapped, potential for more extended routine clinical use of major APP testing in companion animal medicine.     

去除血型抗体制备O型红细胞的研究

目的建立去除血浆中血型抗体的O型红细胞的制备工艺,为临床提供安全的O型红细胞制剂。方法使用处理后的冰冻干燥A型、B型红细胞膜,分别加入O型红细胞血浆中吸附血浆血型抗体物质,并检测吸附后红细胞的结构和功能。结果使用海藻糖冻干保存红细胞膜可保存其抗原性,吸附后,可去除血浆中抗A、抗B抗体80%—99%,同时红细胞变形指数、ATP、渗透脆性、上清游离Hb含量与吸附前(正常红细胞)比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),均在正常参考范围;流式结果显示,吸附后采用离心方法,红细胞膜去除率可达到77%。结论用冰冻干燥红细胞膜去除ABO血型抗体为O型红细胞的他型输注奠定了基础。     

Pathogenic bacteria carried by companion animals and their susceptibility to antibacterial agents

Results of the investigation showed that there was a difference in the bacteria isolated from dogs, cats and their living environment. The number and species isolated from the hair and front paw samples from dogs kept outdoors and from cats were greater and more varied than those from the samples from dogs kept indoors. Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and Bacillus were frequently detected from skin surfaces. On the other hand, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Proteus and others were detected on each sampling area on dogs kept outdoors and on cats. About 60% of the bacteria commonly causes infectious diseases and carries a risk of food poisoning. Moreover, Pasteurella multocida, which causes pasteurellasis, a kind of zoonosis, was isolated from dogs and cats. These pathogenic bacteria were transmitted from animals to humans by direct contact. This result suggests that direct contact with dogs and cats and contact with aerosols can possibly transmit infectious diseases. Most of the isolates (75.9%, 60/79) were resistant to antibacterial agents. We then investigated the effect of household detergents and pet care deodorant sprays containing antibacterial agents on isolates from dogs and cats. They were effective in preventing the transmission of pathogens from dogs and cats to humans.