title: Laboratory tests for the diagnosis and management of chronic canine and feline enteropathies.
abstract: Chronic enteropathies are commonly encountered in both cats and dogs. Although definitive diagnosis often requires collection of gastrointestinal biopsies for histopathologic evaluation, less invasive laboratory tests can be highly informative and should be performed prior to biopsy collection. Tests for determination of infectious causes comprise those for helminthic, protozoal, bacterial, or fungal organisms. Intestinal function and disease may be assessed by measuring serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, and C-reactive protein, and fecal concentrations of α(1)-proteinase inhibitor. Ongoing research has led to development of tests for serum perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies, and fecal inflammatory markers, including S100-proteins and N-methylhistamine.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA. nberghoff@cvm.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berghoff
authors.forename: Jörg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*