Element status and inflammatory response in dogs with pyometra

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Canine Health
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Pyometra is a severe uterine infection in female dogs, characterized by inflammation and bacterial presence.
• Antioxidant mechanisms, involving minerals and trace elements, play a crucial role in disease processes.
• Understanding these mechanisms can aid in diagnosing and managing pyometra.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between pyometra and various hematological and biochemical markers.
• To evaluate serum and uterine concentrations of key minerals (iron, copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese) and their ratios.
• To assess the potential of these markers, particularly the copper/zinc ratio, as biomarkers for oxidative stress in canine pyometra.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 43 female dogs, divided into a control group (n=23) and a pyometra group (n=20).
• Ovariohysterectomy was performed on all dogs, with intrauterine swabs collected for bacterial culture.
• Serum and uterine tissue mineral analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).

Main Results:

• Dogs with pyometra exhibited elevated white blood cell count (WBC), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and progesterone (P4) levels.
• Albumin (ALB) levels were decreased in pyometra cases.
• Significant alterations in mineral concentrations were observed, with increased serum and uterine copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg), and decreased selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) in pyometra cases. The Cu/Zn ratio was significantly higher in pyometra cases.

Conclusions:

• Hematological and biochemical markers like CRP, WBC, MLR, NLR, P4, and ALB reflect the inflammatory state and immune status in canine pyometra.
• Altered serum and uterine concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mg, Se, and Zn suggest their role as non-enzymatic antioxidant biomarkers in pyometra.
• The study highlights the copper/zinc ratio as a novel oxidative stress biomarker in canine pyometra, with magnesium and other trace elements also showing potential as markers for non-enzymatic antioxidant status.