Myocardial injury in dogs with snake envenomation and its relation to systemic inflammation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Myocardial injury in dogs with snake envenomation and its relation to systemic inflammation

AU - Langhorn, Rebecca

AU - Persson, Frida

AU - Åblad, Bjørn

AU - Goddard, Amelia

AU - Schoeman, Johan P.

AU - Willesen, Jakob

AU - Tarnow, Inge

AU - Kjelgaard-Hansen, Mads

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Objective: To investigate the presence of myocardial injury in dogs hospitalized for snake envenomation and to examine its relationship with systemic inflammation. Design: Prospective case-control study. Setting: University teaching hospital and small animal referral hospital. Animals: Dogs naturally envenomed by the European viper (Vipera berus; n = 24), African puffadder (Bitis arietans; n = 5), or snouted cobra (Naja annulifera; n = 9). Interventions: Blood was collected from dogs envenomed by V. berus at admission, 12-24 hours postadmission, and 5-10 days postadmission. Blood was collected from dogs envenomed by B. arietans or N. annulifera at admission, and 12, 24, and 36 hours postadmission. Measurements and Main Results: 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 V. berus 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 B. arietans 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 N. annulifera at one or more time points. A significant correlation between cTnI and CRP concentrations was found at admission, but not at other time points. Conclusions: Myocardial injury frequently occurred in dogs with snake envenomation. While the degree of systemic inflammation was significantly correlated with degree of myocardial injury in V. berus envenomation at all time points, this was not the case in dogs envenomed by N. annulifera or B. arietans. 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.

AB - Objective: To investigate the presence of myocardial injury in dogs hospitalized for snake envenomation and to examine its relationship with systemic inflammation. Design: Prospective case-control study. Setting: University teaching hospital and small animal referral hospital. Animals: Dogs naturally envenomed by the European viper (Vipera berus; n = 24), African puffadder (Bitis arietans; n = 5), or snouted cobra (Naja annulifera; n = 9). Interventions: Blood was collected from dogs envenomed by V. berus at admission, 12-24 hours postadmission, and 5-10 days postadmission. Blood was collected from dogs envenomed by B. arietans or N. annulifera at admission, and 12, 24, and 36 hours postadmission. Measurements and Main Results: 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 V. berus 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 B. arietans 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 N. annulifera at one or more time points. A significant correlation between cTnI and CRP concentrations was found at admission, but not at other time points. Conclusions: Myocardial injury frequently occurred in dogs with snake envenomation. While the degree of systemic inflammation was significantly correlated with degree of myocardial injury in V. berus envenomation at all time points, this was not the case in dogs envenomed by N. annulifera or B. arietans. 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.

U2 - 10.1111/vec.12127

DO - 10.1111/vec.12127

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24304906

SN - 1479-3261

VL - 24

SP - 174

EP - 181

JO - Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care

JF - Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care

IS - 2

ER -