Myocardial injury in dogs with snake envenomation and its relation to systemic inflammation. (4th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Langhorn, Rebecca; Persson, Frida; Åblad, Björn; Goddard, Amelia; Schoeman, Johan P.; Willesen, Jakob L.; Tarnow, Inge; Kjelgaard‐Hansen, Mads
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care. Volume 24:Number 2(2014:Mar./Apr.)
• Page Start: 174
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2013-12-04
• Subjects: Veterinary emergencies -- Periodicals; Veterinary critical care -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/vec.12127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-3261

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="vec12127-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To investigate the presence of myocardial injury in dogs hospitalized for snake envenomation and to examine its relationship with systemic inflammation.</p> </sec> <sec id="vec12127-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Prospective case‐control study.</p> </sec> <sec id="vec12127-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>University teaching hospital and small animal referral hospital.</p> </sec> <sec id="vec12127-sec-0040" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Dogs naturally envenomed by the European viper (<italic>Vipera berus</italic>; <italic>n</italic> = 24), African puff adder (<italic>Bitis arietans</italic>; <italic>n</italic> = 5), or snouted cobra (<italic>Naja annulifera</italic>; <italic>n</italic> = 9).</p> </sec> <sec id="vec12127-sec-0050" sec-type="section"> <title>Interventions</title> <p>Blood was collected from dogs envenomed by <italic>V. berus</italic> at admission, 12–24 hours postadmission, and 5–10 days postadmission. Blood was collected from dogs envenomed by <italic>B. arietans</italic> or <italic>N. annulifera</italic> at admission, and 12, 24, and 36 hours postadmission.</p> </sec> <sec id="vec12127-sec-0060" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements and Main Results</title> <p>Concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a marker of myocardial injury, and C‐reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, were measured in each blood sample. Evidence of myocardial injury was found in 58% of dogs envenomed by <italic>V. berus</italic> at one or more time points. A significant correlation between cTnI and CRP concentrations was found at all time points. Evidence of myocardial injury was found in 80% of dogs envenomed by <italic>B. arietans</italic> at one or more time points; however, no correlation was found between cTnI and CRP concentrations. Evidence of myocardial injury was found in 67% of dogs envenomed by <italic>N. annulifera</italic> at one or more time points. A significant correlation between cTnI and CRP concentrations was found at admission, but not at other time points.</p> </sec> <sec id="vec12127-sec-0070" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Myocardial injury frequently occurred in dogs with snake envenomation. While the degree of systemic inflammation was significantly correlated with degree of myocardial injury in <italic>V. berus</italic> envenomation at all time points, this was not the case in dogs envenomed by <italic>N. annulifera</italic> or <italic>B. arietans</italic>. This could be due to differences in the toxic substances of the snake venoms or to differences in the cytokines induced by the venom toxins.</p> </sec> </abstract>