The use of anti-Müllerian hormone as diagnostic for gonadectomy status in dogs.
In the veterinary practice, there is a need for a diagnostic tool to check the gonadal status in female dogs because it may be difficult to determine whether a female animal has been spayed or whether there are ovarian remnants. Although less prevalent, a similar situation pertains to male dogs. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is an important regulator of gonadal function and is a specific gonadal product that can be determined in circulation. The objective of this study was to develop and test a canine blood AMH assay as a diagnostic tool to determine the presence of functional gonadal tissue in dogs. A prospective study with a training-validation set paradigm was used. A canine AMH assay was developed and serum and plasma AMH concentrations were determined in blood samples from 46 intact female dogs, 48 spayed females, 50 intact males, and 48 castrated males collected at two separate institutes. Using a training-validation set paradigm, it was found that using cutoff values of 1.1 ng/mL (female) and 5.5 ng/mL (male) AMH, the assay reported excellent specificity and sensitivity of 100% and 90% in female dogs, and good specificity and sensitivity of 100% and 76%, in male dogs, respectively. The sensitivity in male dogs could be further enhanced by including a serum testosterone determination. This newly developed canine AMH assay is a valuable diagnostic tool to determine gonadal status in veterinary medicine.
Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.themmen@erasmusmc.nl.
Axel P N
APN
Themmen
ANSH Labs, Webster, Texas, USA.
Bhanu
B
Kalra
Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jenny A
JA
Visser
ANSH Labs, Webster, Texas, USA.
Ajay
A
Kumar
ANSH Labs, Webster, Texas, USA.
Gopal
G
Savjani
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Jeffrey
J
de Gier
Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Endocrine Section), College Station, Texas, USA.
Scott
S
Jaques
D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology
D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
Anti-Müllerian hormone; Dog; Gonadal remnant; Gonadodectomy