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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
In Vitro Canine Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation: Dynamic and Quantitative Analysis by Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: August 24, 2018
Neutrophil function in septic dogs
Craig Webb1, Kelly McCord, Steven Dow
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft Collins, CO 80523, USA. cbwebb@colostate.edu
Background:
Leukocytes appear to enter a hypo-inflammatory state in human patients with a severe bacterial infection, whereas, in swine, intra-abdominal sepsis produces an initial increase and subsequent decrease in neutrophil Fc receptor mediated phagocytosis.
Hypothesis:
Impaired neutrophil function (hypo-inflammatory state) develops in dogs with sepsis.
Animals:
Thirteen adult client-owned dogs that developed clinical signs consistent with sepsis were assessed for evidence of neutrophil dysfunction. These results were compared with those of 12 healthy dogs.
Methods:
Flow cytometry combined with the appropriate fluorescent markers allowed for quantification of the phagolysosomal oxidative burst after Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis of immune complexes, neutrophil phagocytosis of opsonized Escherichia coli, and the intracellular concentration of reduced glutathione as a measure of oxidative stress.
Results:
The phagolysosomal oxidative burst after Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis was significantly lower in neutrophils from septic dogs (mean fluorescence intensity +/- standard deviation; 118 +/- 13 and 165 +/- 27 for septic and control dogs, respectively, p = 0.001), although the phagocytosis of opsonized E. coli was significantly increased (155 +/- 74 and 77 +/- 44 for septic and control dogs, respectively, p = 0.004). Intracellular reduced glutathione was not significantly different in neutrophils from septic and healthy control dogs.
Conclusions:
An important component of neutrophil function is decreased in septic dogs. The diminished oxidative burst after Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis in neutrophils from septic dogs could hinder the ability of the innate immune system to clear bacterial infections or it might help protect these patients from the systemic consequences of infection.
