The clinical utility of serum concentrations of feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI), plasma and urine concentrations of trypsinogen-activation peptide (TAP), and the ratio of urine TAP and creatinine concentrations (TAP:Cr) was assessed for diagnosing feline acute pancreatitis. The study used 13 healthy cats and 10 cats diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Mean serum fTLI and plasma TAP were significantly higher in cats with pancreatitis than in healthy cats, whereas the mean urine TAP concentrations and median TAP:Cr ratios were not significantly different. There was no benefit of plasma TAP over serum fTLI in evaluating suspect and cases of feline acute pancreatitis.
Reference: Allen et al, Can J Vet Res 70:313-316, 2006.

Secretory IgA, the predominant immunoglobulin subtype present in secretions, protects body mucosal surfaces from infectious agents. An ELISA method for measuring immunoglobulin A in canine feces was developed in order to investigate possible associations between low fecal IgA concentrations and signs of gastrointestinal disease in dogs—especially for breeds like the German Shepherd Dog with its prevalent gastrointestinal disease. Because of the intraindividual variability of results, analysis of four fecal samples per dog was required, with each sample collected on two consecutive days and having 28 days between sample collection periods. The reference range for canine fecal IgA was 0.22-3.24 mg/g of feces.
Reference: Tress et al, AJVR 67:1756

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnosis of hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon americanum/canis is available from Antech as a send-out test to Auburn University. Sample requirement is a fresh LTT sent at room temperature. Turn-around time is 5–7 days. See January 2003 Antech News for discussion of this emerging protozoal tick-borne disease of dogs.