title: Fecal calprotectin concentrations in adult dogs with chronic diarrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate fecal calprotectin concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic diarrhea, to identify cutoff values for fecal calprotectin concentrations for use in differentiating dogs with chronic diarrhea and a canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI) < 12 from dogs with chronic diarrhea and a CCECAI ≥ 12, and to evaluate the association between histologic evidence of intestinal mucosal changes and fecal calprotectin concentrations in dogs with chronic diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fecal samples from 96 adult dogs (27 dogs with chronic diarrhea and 69 healthy control dogs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Severity of clinical signs was evaluated on the basis of the CCECAI scoring system. Endoscopy was performed in all dogs with chronic diarrhea, and mucosal biopsy specimens were evaluated histologically. Fecal calprotectin concentration was quantified via radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fecal calprotectin concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with chronic diarrhea than in healthy control dogs. Fecal calprotectin concentrations were also significantly higher in dogs with a CCECAI ≥ 12, compared with concentrations for dogs with a CCECAI between 4 and 11. Fecal calprotectin concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with chronic diarrhea associated with histologic lesions, compared with concentrations in control dogs, and were significantly correlated with the severity of histologic intestinal lesions. Among dogs with chronic diarrhea, the best cutoff fecal calprotectin concentration for predicting a CCECAI ≥ 12 was 48.9 μg/g (sensitivity, 53.3%; specificity, 91.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fecal calprotectin may be a useful biomarker in dogs with chronic diarrhea, especially dogs with histologic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Royal Canin, 650 avenue de la Petite Camargue, 30470 Aimargues, France. aurelien.grellet@royalcanin.com
authors.forename: Aurélien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grellet
authors.forename: Romy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Heilmann
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lecoindre
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feugier
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Freiche
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grandjean
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suchodolski
authors.forename: Jorg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex