title: NT-ProBNP and cardiac troponin I in virulent canine babesiosis.
abstract: Although cardiac pathology and consequently elevated serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) have been reported, clinically it remains difficult to diagnose cardiac involvement in canine babesiosis. Thus the use of cardiac biomarkers would be useful in determining if a dog with babesiosis also has concurrent cardiac dysfunction. The objectives of this study were to determine plasma N terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in canine babesiosis and if it is correlated with cTnI. Three groups of dogs with babesiosis were used: mild uncomplicated (Group 1), severe uncomplicated (Group 2), and complicated (Group 3), and a control group (Group 4) with 15 dogs per group. Each animal had the following determined: serum urea and creatinine, urea: creatinine ratio, cystatin-C, cTnI, blood lactate, plasma NT-proBNP, fractional shortening (FS), and blood pressure. The median NT-proBNP value in Groups 1-4 was 246, 650, 638, and 106 pmol/l. All 3 babesiosis groups had a statistically elevated NT-proBNP level compared to the control group and Groups 2 and 3 showed significantly higher values compared to Group 1. Median cTnI in Group 1-3 was 0.39, 0.4, and 1.45 ng/ml, respectively with the control group having concentrations below the detection limit (0.2 ng/ml). There was a significant difference in cTnI concentration between the control group and group 3 but no statistical difference between the other babesiosis groups. The study concluded that dogs with babesiosis showed elevated levels NT-proBNP and the more severe the disease process the greater the elevation. This elevation is earlier or independent of the increased cTnI.
authors.affiliation: Bryanston Veterinary Hospital, Box 67092, Bryanston, South Africa. rlobetti@mweb.co.za
authors.forename: Remo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lobetti
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirberger
authors.forename: Ninette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kettner
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dvir
mesh_terms: D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015415:Biomarkers; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D019210:Troponin I; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain