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Cyclosporine is a commonly used immunosuppressive drug in dogs, but dosing is often empirical and based primarily on clinical response. Pharmacokinetic monitoring of blood drug concentrations can be performed, but target blood concentrations for various disease states in dogs are not well described. Pharmacodynamic assays measuring the effects of cyclosporine on target cells are being used to evaluate immunosuppressive effectiveness in humans, but have been minimally explored in veterinary medicine. This dissertation describes the development of pharmacodynamic assays for measuring the effects of cyclosporine on canine T cell cytokine production and surface antigen expression. Incubation with cyclosporine in vitro caused significant suppression of activated T cell production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), CD25, and CD95 measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using flow cytometry. IL-2 and IFN-gamma were then evaluated using flow cytometry and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in whole blood incubated with cyclosporine and dexamethasone in vitro. Cyclosporine caused concentration-dependent inhibition of both cytokines, and a greater degree of suppression was noted with qRT-PCR than flow cytometry. Dexamethasone caused concentration-dependent inhibition of IFN-gamma with both methods, but IL-2 reduction was only significant for qRT-PCR. Both methods were then used to evaluate IL-2 and IFN-gamma after administration of high dose oral cyclosporine to dogs. Both qRT-PCR and flow cytometry identified marked cytokine suppression after cyclosporine dosing, but qRT-PCR was uniformly suppressed across the 12-hour dosing interval, while flow cytometry results were significantly higher at trough blood drug concentrations than at peak blood concentrations and subsequent post-dosing time points. Both flow cytometry and qRT-PCR are valid methods for evaluation of T cell cytokine expression in dogs. Further study at lower drug doses is needed to correlate pharmacodynamic results with pharmacokinetic drug concentrations, and to confirm the best method for cytokine monitoring. Studies in clinic patients are also needed to determine the level of cytokine suppression associated with clinical effectiveness in different disease states. Pharmacodynamic evaluation of cyclosporine’s effects shows promise, and may allow for more individualized dosing of cyclosporine in dogs.

Primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is an important cause of serious morbidity and mortality in dogs. Despite numerous studies examining the demographics, treatment options, and prognostic indicators of disease, the mechanisms that underlie immune dysregulation remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to directly identify unique erythrocyte membrane antigens in dogs diagnosed with primary IMHA. Blood samples were obtained from dogs presented to the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with primary IMHA prior to treatment, and also from control dogs (healthy dogs and dogs with non-immunologic anemia). Antibodies bound to erythrocyte membranes were eluted using xylene. Immunoblots using patient eluates reacted against pooled canine erythrocyte lysates, and autologous patient plasma reacted against xylene eluates, were performed. These results were compared to results of similar experiments using samples from control dogs. Bands appearing in patient but not control samples were considered potential autoantigens, and were submitted for identification by liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry. Samples from 13 dogs with primary IMHA, 4 dogs with non-immunologic anemia, and 2 healthy dogs, were analyzed. Immunoblotting confirmed the presence of immunoglobulin in eluates from all dogs. Semi-quantitatively, eluates from IMHA patients contained more immunoglobulin than those of control dogs. Mass spectrometry identified complement C3 in patient but not in control dog samples. Additional peptides identified by mass spectrometry in patient but not control dog samples included peroxiredoxin 2 and calpain. The former comprises a cytosolic hydrogen peroxide scavenger, and has been associated with erythrocyte membranes under oxidative stress conditions inducing spherocytosis. Calpain is a calcium-dependent protease that may become activated with oxidative stress and induce erythrocyte apoptosis. These findings suggest that oxidative stress and apoptosis contribute to the pathogenesis of canine IMHA. / OVC Pet Trust Fund, American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) represent a group of ostensibly unrelated, chronic and highly disabling diseases that preferentially affect different organ systems. IMID are assumed to manifest as a result of the accumulation of genetic, environmental and immunological factors. A fundamental commonality between IMID is the idiopathic nature of disease, and moreover, substantial similarities are apparent in disease etiopathogenesis. The complex assemblage of microbes and their genes that exists within and on the human body, collectively known as the microbiome has emerged as a critical factor in human health and, altered microbial populations within the gastrointestinal tract lumen and mucosa have been linked to several IMID. Accordingly, we conducted several studies investigating the association of the gut microbiome with IMID. Our main study investigated differences in the microbial profile and functional potential of multiple IMID utilizing 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and analysis of stool. We also investigated the mucosal-associated microbiome in IBD to characterize the microbial populations and their functions residing in distinct gastrointestinal compartments from inflamed and noninflamed mucosa. We also explored a potential environmental factor; specifically assessing whether microbes present in drinking water in low or high incidence areas of IBD might contribute to disease etiology. The findings of these studies are manifold. First, we show important differences of the stool microbial profile in IMID. In doing so, we were able to identify distinct states of gut dysbiosis and have revealed numerous microbes that are consistently or uniquely disproportionate between IMID. Second, we have shown the microbial profile associated with inflamed and noninflamed mucosa and have reported that a localized dysbiosis is not observed in the presence of inflammation. Third, we have revealed that distinct gastrointestinal compartments are comprised of similar microbial communities. Lastly, we have reported the drinking water microbiome to differ between low and high incidence areas of IBD, thus suggesting a potential role in IBD etiology. Understanding the role of the gut microbiome in human disease will enable the development and application of more appropriate therapeutic strategies that specifically target microbes within the gut. / May 2017

A piometra é uma condição mórbida caracterizada pela inflamação do útero com acúmulo de exsudatos, resultante de ações hormonais e geralmente associada à presença de bactérias no lúmen uterino. A anemia é a alteração hematológica mais frequentemente observada em cadelas com piometra e está associada à cronicidade da doença, diminuição da eritropoiese, devido ao efeito toxêmico na medula óssea, diminuição da disponibilidade de ferro ou perda de sangue para o útero. Adicionalmente, o efeito das toxinas bacterianas e os radicais livres gerados pelo metabolismo oxidativo dos neutrófilos podem resultar na modificação da estrutura antigênica da membrana do eritrócito, permitindo a ligação de imunoglobulinas em sua superfície e acelerando a destruição eritrocitária. Essa hipótese pode ser comprovada pela detecção de imunocomplexos na superfície eritrocitária de cadelas com piometra. O diagnóstico de piometra foi estabelecido em 33 cadelas atendidas no Serviço de Obstetrícia/Ginecologia do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade de São Paulo com base na anamnese, exame físico e exames subsidiários (ultrassonografia, hemograma e concentrações séricas de ureia e creatinina). As amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas em dois momentos. A primeira anterior a ovariosalpingohisterectomia (OSH) e a segunda, sete a dez dias após a OSH. A quantificação de hemácias com deposição de imunocomplexos IgG e IgM foi realizada utilizando-se anticorpos anti-IgG e anti-IgM (Bethyl®Laboratories) conjugadas a fluoresceína de isotiocianato (FITC), e a leitura realizada com citômetro de fluxo (FACS Calibur; Becton, Dickinson and Company© 2007 BD), sendo os resultados expressos em percentual de hemácias marcadas. Foram utilizados o Teste de Shapiro-Wilk para a avaliação da distribuição de dados e a comparação entre os grupos controle, pré e pós-OSH foi realizada valendo-se do Teste t ou Teste t pareado e Correlação de Pearson, e do Teste U de Mann-Whitney e Correlação de Spearman, para as variáveis com distribuição normal e não-normal, respectivamente. O valor de alfa estipulado foi de 0,05. Analisando os valores hematológicos de cada um dos cães incluídos no estudo, observa-se que 19 (57,6%) apresentavam anemia normocítica normocrômica não regenerativa no momento pré-OSH e cinco (15,2%) no momento pós-OSH. Em cães do grupo controle foram observadas 0,14 - 0,77% (0,43±0,18%) de hemácias marcadas com anticorpos anti-IgG FITC e 0,29 - 9,58% (0,68±0,29%) para anticorpos anti-IgM FITC. Já nos cães com piometra, foram encontradas 0,14 - 4,19% (0,96±0,86%) de hemácias marcadas com anticorpos anti-IgG FITC e 0,29 - 9,58% (1,37±1,71%) com anticorpos anti-IgM FITC, antecedendo a OSH. No momento pós-OSH observou-se 0,18 - 16,2% (2,77±3,67%) de hemácias marcadas para anticorpos anti-IgG FITC e 0,15 - 19,8% (4,01±4,46%) para anticorpos anti-IgM FITC. O percentual de hemácias marcadas com anticorpos anti-IgG FITC diferiu entre os grupos controle e piometra, pré-OSH (p<0,001) e pós-OSH (p<0,001). Em relação a anticorpos anti-IgM FITC, não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos controle e pré-OSH (p=0,09), porém, após a OSH houve aumento na marcação de hemácias, quando comparado ao grupo controle (p<0,001). Apenas alguns animais apresentaram mais de 5% de hemácias marcadas, e isto ocorreu, principalmente, no momento pós-OSH. Entretanto, não resultou no agravamento da anemia, indicando que a piometra em cadelas está associada à deposição de imunoglobulinas G ou M na superfície das hemácias, sem, no entanto, promover hemólise ou agravamento da anemia / The pyometra is a morbid condition characterized by inflammation of the uterus with exudates accumulation resulting from hormonal action and usually associated with the presence of bacteria in the uterine lumen. Anemia is the hematologic changes most frequently observed in bitches with pyometra and is associated with chronic disease, diminished erythropoiesis due to toxemic effect on the bone marrow, decreased iron availability or loss of blood to the uterus. Additionally, the effect of bacterial toxins and free radicals generated by neutrophil oxidative metabolism may result in the modification of antigenic structure of the erythrocyte membrane, allowing the binding of immunoglobulins on their surface and accelerating erythrocyte destruction. This hypothesis can be confirmed by detection of immune complexes in the erythrocyte surface dogs with pyometra. The diagnosis of pyometra was established in 33 dogs attended by the Obstetrics Service/Gynecology of Veterinary Hospital of the University of São Paulo based on history, physical examination and additional tests (ultrasound, blood count and serum concentrations of urea and creatinine). Blood samples were collected in two stages. The first prior to ovariohysterectomy (OSH) and the second, seven to ten days after OSH. Quantification of erythrocyte with deposition of IgG and IgM immune complexes was performed using antibodies anti-IgG and anti-IgM (Bethyl® Laboratories) conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and the reading performed with flow cytometry (FACS Calibur; Becton, Dickinson and Company© 2007 BD), and the results expressed as a percentage of red blood cells marked. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the distribution of data and the comparison between the control group, pre- and post-OSH was carried out making use of the t test or paired t test and Pearson correlation, and test U Mann-Whitney and Spearman correlation for the variables with normal and non-normal distribution, respectively. The stipulated alpha value was 0.05. The analysis of the hematological values of each of the dogs enrolled in the study, it was observed that 19 (57.6%) with anemia normocytic normochromic non-regenerative in the pre-OSH moment and 5 (15.2%) in the post-OSH moment. In control group of dogs were observed from 0.14 to 0.77% (0.43± 0.18%) of red blood cells marked with antibodies anti-IgG FITC and 0.29 to 9.58% (0.68± 0.29%) for antibodies anti-IgM FITC. Already in dogs with pyometra were found 0.14 to 4.19% (0.96 ± 0.86%) of red blood cells marked with antibodies anti-IgG FITC and 0.29 to 9.58% (1.37 ± 1.71%) with antibodies anti-IgM FITC, prior to OSH. In the post-OSH time it was observed 0.18 to 16.2% (2.77 ± 3.67%) of red blood cells marked for antibodies anti-IgG FITC and 0.15 to 19.8% (4.01 ± 4.46%) for antibodies anti-IgM FITC. The percentage of red blood cells marked with antibodies anti-IgG FITC differ between groups control and pyometra, pre-OSH (p<0.001) and post-OSH (p<0.001). Regarding the antibodies anti-IgM FITC, no differences were observed between the control and pre-OSH (p=0.09), however, after the OSH was no increase in labeling of red blood cells compared to the control group (p<0.001). Only a few animals have more than 5% of marked red blood cells, and this was mainly in the post-OSH time. However, not result in the worsening of anemia, indicating that pyometra in dogs is related to the deposition of immunoglobulin G or M on the surface of erythrocytes, without, however, promote hemolysis or worsening of anemia

A piometra é uma condição mórbida caracterizada pela inflamação do útero com acúmulo de exsudatos, resultante de ações hormonais e geralmente associada à presença de bactérias no lúmen uterino. A anemia é a alteração hematológica mais frequentemente observada em cadelas com piometra e está associada à cronicidade da doença, diminuição da eritropoiese, devido ao efeito toxêmico na medula óssea, diminuição da disponibilidade de ferro ou perda de sangue para o útero. Adicionalmente, o efeito das toxinas bacterianas e os radicais livres gerados pelo metabolismo oxidativo dos neutrófilos podem resultar na modificação da estrutura antigênica da membrana do eritrócito, permitindo a ligação de imunoglobulinas em sua superfície e acelerando a destruição eritrocitária. Essa hipótese pode ser comprovada pela detecção de imunocomplexos na superfície eritrocitária de cadelas com piometra. O diagnóstico de piometra foi estabelecido em 33 cadelas atendidas no Serviço de Obstetrícia/Ginecologia do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade de São Paulo com base na anamnese, exame físico e exames subsidiários (ultrassonografia, hemograma e concentrações séricas de ureia e creatinina). As amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas em dois momentos. A primeira anterior a ovariosalpingohisterectomia (OSH) e a segunda, sete a dez dias após a OSH. A quantificação de hemácias com deposição de imunocomplexos IgG e IgM foi realizada utilizando-se anticorpos anti-IgG e anti-IgM (Bethyl®Laboratories) conjugadas a fluoresceína de isotiocianato (FITC), e a leitura realizada com citômetro de fluxo (FACS Calibur; Becton, Dickinson and Company© 2007 BD), sendo os resultados expressos em percentual de hemácias marcadas. Foram utilizados o Teste de Shapiro-Wilk para a avaliação da distribuição de dados e a comparação entre os grupos controle, pré e pós-OSH foi realizada valendo-se do Teste t ou Teste t pareado e Correlação de Pearson, e do Teste U de Mann-Whitney e Correlação de Spearman, para as variáveis com distribuição normal e não-normal, respectivamente. O valor de alfa estipulado foi de 0,05. Analisando os valores hematológicos de cada um dos cães incluídos no estudo, observa-se que 19 (57,6%) apresentavam anemia normocítica normocrômica não regenerativa no momento pré-OSH e cinco (15,2%) no momento pós-OSH. Em cães do grupo controle foram observadas 0,14 - 0,77% (0,43±0,18%) de hemácias marcadas com anticorpos anti-IgG FITC e 0,29 - 9,58% (0,68±0,29%) para anticorpos anti-IgM FITC. Já nos cães com piometra, foram encontradas 0,14 - 4,19% (0,96±0,86%) de hemácias marcadas com anticorpos anti-IgG FITC e 0,29 - 9,58% (1,37±1,71%) com anticorpos anti-IgM FITC, antecedendo a OSH. No momento pós-OSH observou-se 0,18 - 16,2% (2,77±3,67%) de hemácias marcadas para anticorpos anti-IgG FITC e 0,15 - 19,8% (4,01±4,46%) para anticorpos anti-IgM FITC. O percentual de hemácias marcadas com anticorpos anti-IgG FITC diferiu entre os grupos controle e piometra, pré-OSH (p<0,001) e pós-OSH (p<0,001). Em relação a anticorpos anti-IgM FITC, não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos controle e pré-OSH (p=0,09), porém, após a OSH houve aumento na marcação de hemácias, quando comparado ao grupo controle (p<0,001). Apenas alguns animais apresentaram mais de 5% de hemácias marcadas, e isto ocorreu, principalmente, no momento pós-OSH. Entretanto, não resultou no agravamento da anemia, indicando que a piometra em cadelas está associada à deposição de imunoglobulinas G ou M na superfície das hemácias, sem, no entanto, promover hemólise ou agravamento da anemia / The pyometra is a morbid condition characterized by inflammation of the uterus with exudates accumulation resulting from hormonal action and usually associated with the presence of bacteria in the uterine lumen. Anemia is the hematologic changes most frequently observed in bitches with pyometra and is associated with chronic disease, diminished erythropoiesis due to toxemic effect on the bone marrow, decreased iron availability or loss of blood to the uterus. Additionally, the effect of bacterial toxins and free radicals generated by neutrophil oxidative metabolism may result in the modification of antigenic structure of the erythrocyte membrane, allowing the binding of immunoglobulins on their surface and accelerating erythrocyte destruction. This hypothesis can be confirmed by detection of immune complexes in the erythrocyte surface dogs with pyometra. The diagnosis of pyometra was established in 33 dogs attended by the Obstetrics Service/Gynecology of Veterinary Hospital of the University of São Paulo based on history, physical examination and additional tests (ultrasound, blood count and serum concentrations of urea and creatinine). Blood samples were collected in two stages. The first prior to ovariohysterectomy (OSH) and the second, seven to ten days after OSH. Quantification of erythrocyte with deposition of IgG and IgM immune complexes was performed using antibodies anti-IgG and anti-IgM (Bethyl® Laboratories) conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and the reading performed with flow cytometry (FACS Calibur; Becton, Dickinson and Company© 2007 BD), and the results expressed as a percentage of red blood cells marked. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the distribution of data and the comparison between the control group, pre- and post-OSH was carried out making use of the t test or paired t test and Pearson correlation, and test U Mann-Whitney and Spearman correlation for the variables with normal and non-normal distribution, respectively. The stipulated alpha value was 0.05. The analysis of the hematological values of each of the dogs enrolled in the study, it was observed that 19 (57.6%) with anemia normocytic normochromic non-regenerative in the pre-OSH moment and 5 (15.2%) in the post-OSH moment. In control group of dogs were observed from 0.14 to 0.77% (0.43± 0.18%) of red blood cells marked with antibodies anti-IgG FITC and 0.29 to 9.58% (0.68± 0.29%) for antibodies anti-IgM FITC. Already in dogs with pyometra were found 0.14 to 4.19% (0.96 ± 0.86%) of red blood cells marked with antibodies anti-IgG FITC and 0.29 to 9.58% (1.37 ± 1.71%) with antibodies anti-IgM FITC, prior to OSH. In the post-OSH time it was observed 0.18 to 16.2% (2.77 ± 3.67%) of red blood cells marked for antibodies anti-IgG FITC and 0.15 to 19.8% (4.01 ± 4.46%) for antibodies anti-IgM FITC. The percentage of red blood cells marked with antibodies anti-IgG FITC differ between groups control and pyometra, pre-OSH (p<0.001) and post-OSH (p<0.001). Regarding the antibodies anti-IgM FITC, no differences were observed between the control and pre-OSH (p=0.09), however, after the OSH was no increase in labeling of red blood cells compared to the control group (p<0.001). Only a few animals have more than 5% of marked red blood cells, and this was mainly in the post-OSH time. However, not result in the worsening of anemia, indicating that pyometra in dogs is related to the deposition of immunoglobulin G or M on the surface of erythrocytes, without, however, promote hemolysis or worsening of anemia

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-07-11Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:14:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 moraes_lf_me_botfmvz.pdf: 428197 bytes, checksum: bc0cb7abb11b1fca9cd1b81b73ec75e5 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A anemia hemolítica imuno-mediada (AHIM) é a causa mais comum das anemias hemolíticas e tem sido associada a estados de hipercoagulabilidade. Neste trabalho objetivou-se: avaliar a ocorrência de alterações hematológicas, hemostáticas e renais e a prevalência das classes de imunoglobulinas (Ig) envolvidas nas AHIM. 87 cães anêmicos foram submetidos ao teste de Coomb’s, citometria de fluxo (CF) e auto-aglutinação, além de hemograma e contagem de reticulócitos, perfil hemostático e renal, pesquisa de hematozoários e testados para Ehrlichia sp e leptospirose. Os resultados foram analisados pelo teste t, Mann-Whitney ou Kruskal-Wallis ao nível de 5% de significância. 61 cães (70,11%) foram positivos para AHIM na CF, 31 (35,63%) para o Coomb’s e 24 (27,58%) para auto-aglutinação. Não houve predomínio de uma classe de Ig envolvida. As alterações clínico-laboratoriais para cães com AHIM incluíram anemia regenerativa, macrocítica, hipocrômica e reticulocitose, além de icterícia, febre, hiperglobulinemia e bilirrubinúria. 9,8% dos cães positivos apresentaram esferocitose, 29,5% leucocitose, 39,6% neutrofilia e 72,1% trombocitopenia. A proteinúria e o aumento na relação proteína: creatinina urinárias revelam indícios de lesão renal. Os cães anêmicos positivos e negativos para AHIM apresentaram diferença estatística em relação ao grupo controle para contagem de plaquetas, TP, TTPA, AT, PDF e Dímeros D. 25 cães positivos e sete cães negativos para AHIM apresentaram um estado tromboembólico. Estas alterações hemostáticas podem ser atribuídas à causa base predominante para a anemia em questão, uma vez que 74,6% dos casos de AHIM foram atribuídos às doenças infecciosas, a maioria associados à Ehrlichia sp / Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is the most common cause of hemolytic anemia and has been associated with hypercoagulable states. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate the incidence of hemostatic, renal and hematological abnormalities, and the prevalence immunoglobulin’s classes involved in IMHA. 87 anemic dogs were selected and submitted to Coomb’s test, flow cytometry (FC) and auto-agglutination, along with CBC, reticulocyte count, hemostatic and renal profile, hemoparasite search in peripheral blood smears, and Ehrlichia sp and leptospirosis tests. The results were analyzed by t test, Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis at 5% of significance. 61 dogs (70.11%) were positive to IMHA by CF, 31 (35.63%) by Coomb's test and 24 (27.58%) by auto-agglutination. There wasn’t a predominance of IgG or IgM involvement. The hematological and clinical changes in dogs with IMHA included macrocytic, hypochromic regenerative anemia, and reticulocytosis, as well as icterus, fever, auto-agglutination, hyperglobulinemia and bilirubinuria. 9.8% of dogs with IMHA had spherocytosis, 29.5% leukocytosis, 39.6% neutrophilia and 72.1% thrombocytopenia. Proteinuria and the increase in urine protein creatinine ratio reveal evidences of renal injury. There were statistical differences between the control group and anemic dogs positive or negative for IHMA to the following tests: platelet count, PT, APTT, AT, FDP and D-dimer. 25 positive dogs and seven negative dogs for IMHA were in a thromboembolic state. These hemostatic changes observed in both groups of anemic dogs may be attributed to the predominant underlying cause of anemia, since 74.6% of IHMA cases were attributed to infectious diseases; mostly Ehrlichia sp related

Orientador: Regina Kiomi Takahira / Banca: Raimundo Souza Lopes / Banca: Áureo Evangelista Santana / Resumo: A anemia hemolítica imuno-mediada (AHIM) é a causa mais comum das anemias hemolíticas e tem sido associada a estados de hipercoagulabilidade. Neste trabalho objetivou-se: avaliar a ocorrência de alterações hematológicas, hemostáticas e renais e a prevalência das classes de imunoglobulinas (Ig) envolvidas nas AHIM. 87 cães anêmicos foram submetidos ao teste de Coomb's, citometria de fluxo (CF) e auto-aglutinação, além de hemograma e contagem de reticulócitos, perfil hemostático e renal, pesquisa de hematozoários e testados para Ehrlichia sp e leptospirose. Os resultados foram analisados pelo teste t, Mann-Whitney ou Kruskal-Wallis ao nível de 5% de significância. 61 cães (70,11%) foram positivos para AHIM na CF, 31 (35,63%) para o Coomb's e 24 (27,58%) para auto-aglutinação. Não houve predomínio de uma classe de Ig envolvida. As alterações clínico-laboratoriais para cães com AHIM incluíram anemia regenerativa, macrocítica, hipocrômica e reticulocitose, além de icterícia, febre, hiperglobulinemia e bilirrubinúria. 9,8% dos cães positivos apresentaram esferocitose, 29,5% leucocitose, 39,6% neutrofilia e 72,1% trombocitopenia. A proteinúria e o aumento na relação proteína: creatinina urinárias revelam indícios de lesão renal. Os cães anêmicos positivos e negativos para AHIM apresentaram diferença estatística em relação ao grupo controle para contagem de plaquetas, TP, TTPA, AT, PDF e Dímeros D. 25 cães positivos e sete cães negativos para AHIM apresentaram um estado tromboembólico. Estas alterações hemostáticas podem ser atribuídas à causa base predominante para a anemia em questão, uma vez que 74,6% dos casos de AHIM foram atribuídos às doenças infecciosas, a maioria associados à Ehrlichia sp / Abstract: Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is the most common cause of hemolytic anemia and has been associated with hypercoagulable states. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate the incidence of hemostatic, renal and hematological abnormalities, and the prevalence immunoglobulin's classes involved in IMHA. 87 anemic dogs were selected and submitted to Coomb's test, flow cytometry (FC) and auto-agglutination, along with CBC, reticulocyte count, hemostatic and renal profile, hemoparasite search in peripheral blood smears, and Ehrlichia sp and leptospirosis tests. The results were analyzed by t test, Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis at 5% of significance. 61 dogs (70.11%) were positive to IMHA by CF, 31 (35.63%) by Coomb's test and 24 (27.58%) by auto-agglutination. There wasn't a predominance of IgG or IgM involvement. The hematological and clinical changes in dogs with IMHA included macrocytic, hypochromic regenerative anemia, and reticulocytosis, as well as icterus, fever, auto-agglutination, hyperglobulinemia and bilirubinuria. 9.8% of dogs with IMHA had spherocytosis, 29.5% leukocytosis, 39.6% neutrophilia and 72.1% thrombocytopenia. Proteinuria and the increase in urine protein creatinine ratio reveal evidences of renal injury. There were statistical differences between the control group and anemic dogs positive or negative for IHMA to the following tests: platelet count, PT, APTT, AT, FDP and D-dimer. 25 positive dogs and seven negative dogs for IMHA were in a thromboembolic state. These hemostatic changes observed in both groups of anemic dogs may be attributed to the predominant underlying cause of anemia, since 74.6% of IHMA cases were attributed to infectious diseases; mostly Ehrlichia sp related / Mestre

Cyclosporine and prednisone are immunosuppressive drugs that are commonly used in combination for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases, and have been shown to individually cause significant suppression of IL-2. Currently, no studies have been performed to determine how a combination of the two drugs would impact suppression of IL-2, and if an additive or synergistic effect on cytokine production could be demonstrated, as in studies of other species. An additive effect of immunosuppression associated with this drug combination could allow clinicians to decrease dosages of drugs, thereby reducing drug costs and minimizing adverse drug side effects. In a cross-over study design using six healthy dogs, the expression of IL-2 was affected with administration of cyclosporine, prednisone, or a combination of each drug. However, there was no significant difference in the level of immunosuppression compared to cyclosporine alone. Small sample size and the dosages of each drug used potentially affected the strength of the results.

Over the past century, the prevalence of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) has increased worldwide. It has been identified that exposures to environmental factors early in life are associated with increased risk of these diseases. However, hypothesis-driven analyses do not always identify all risk or protective factors, nor do they adequately explain interactions between variables on the risk of disease. Data mining has the capability of exploring the data without considering specific a priori hypotheses, instead providing possible hypotheses for further analysis. Though, data mining techniques are still not popular among epidemiologists as a trustworthy analytical tool to analyze population-based diseases due to inexplicability of some of the methods (e.g., neural networks), unfamiliarity with, or uncommon use of machine learning and data mining methods in real-world health care applications. At the same time, large amounts of routinely collected health data are amassed as a matter of operating electronic health systems. Routinely collected health data are not collected for research purposes; however, they are great sources of information for research as a secondary use of the data. In this study, following the design science research methodology, we developed a methodology to reliably analyze health administrative data using data mining techniques to provide reproducible, reliable, and trustworthy findings. The reliable data mining methodology on health administrative data was designed in this study to address impartiality, validity, and sustainability concerns in five stages: Data Selection, Preprocessing, Modelling, Evaluation, and Feedback. As part of the main contributions, we developed two unique preprocessing guidelines as the key components of the designed methodology in order to standardize technical steps and address contextual sources of bias. While the proposed methodology is general in its design, to evaluate the designed methodology, we implemented it in several case studies on the real health administrative data housed at ICES, Ontario, first to analyze children suffering with an IMID in Ontario, predict new cases, and, most importantly, generate new hypotheses. The first case study was extended to a second one to narrow focus from all IMIDs to asthma which formed the majority of the IMID cases. Eventually, a third case study was implemented focusing on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) to better compare the findings. We applied both predictive and descriptive modelling techniques such as decision tree, neural network, logistic regression, and k-means clustering on the prepared datasets with more than 700K records and over 80 input variables. We built classification models with notable quality of performance (AUC of 68%), identified the significant factors associated to IMIDs, and extracted multifactorial rules causing protectiveness against or high risk of developing asthma, IBD, and SARDs. The factors that highly contributed to the extracted multifactorial rules were “general childhood infection”, “use of antibiotics”, “streptococcus pyogenes”, “respiratory infection”, “gastroenteritis”, “mother's prevalence of any IMID”, and “baby's sex”. The findings were evaluated and verified by health experts. Most data mining studies which are applied to health data do not handle bias and confounding in their work. However, the systematic errors were identified, and their risks were assessed in these case studies due to following the designed reliable methodology. The results with high risk of bias were reported to disregard. Therefore, this process allowed us to apply data mining techniques to discover new multifactorial rules and identify the factors with the highest impact among the 128 factors observed in the past epidemiological studies, while preserving the trust of domain experts in the results.