Clinical Biochemistry - Clinical Pathology 410
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Questions and Answers

What is the most likely reason for increased ALT activity due to anticonvulsants?

  • Increased production of red blood cells
  • Severe muscle injury
  • Hepatocellular necrosis (correct)
  • Bile duct obstruction
  • Which of the following conditions may lead to an increase in ALT activity due to hepatocyte damage?

  • Corticosteroid treatment
  • Intravascular haemolysis
  • Ischemic myopathy
  • Hypoxia (correct)
  • Which animal's ALT activity is least affected by intravascular haemolysis?

  • Cats
  • Horses
  • Dogs
  • Cattle (correct)
  • What effect do corticosteroids have on ALT levels?

    <p>Increase ALT to 2-3 times normal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement regarding AST is true?

    <p>AST activity can indicate both liver and muscle injury.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main reason for increased ALT associated with cholestasis?

    <p>Toxic effects of retained bile salts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which animal does AST have the shortest half-life?

    <p>Cats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What would most likely result in increased ALT activity due to muscle injury in cats?

    <p>Ischemic myopathy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the presence of red color in faeces typically indicate?

    <p>Large intestine bleeding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which consistency of faeces is associated with constipation?

    <p>Hard</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of odour in faeces suggests high fat feeding or low digestion?

    <p>Rancid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following conditions is indicated by green faeces?

    <p>Abnormal GIT flora</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended amount of faeces needed for a faecal culture?

    <p>2-3 g</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What symptom is associated with steatorrhoea?

    <p>Large volume and rancid odour</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of faeces consistency suggests a reduced absorptive surface area?

    <p>Doughy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the best practice for storing faeces if there is a delay in examination?

    <p>Refrigerate at 4°C</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where are paraproteins typically found?

    <p>As a monoclonal peak in the beta or gamma region</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What condition is commonly associated with increased IgM levels?

    <p>B cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process is used to separate proteins based on their charge and mass-induced inertia?

    <p>Electrophoresis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary risk for foals, calves, and crias regarding immunity?

    <p>Failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In an electrophoretogram, which protein is known to form a distinct single band?

    <p>Albumin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When is it optimal to measure IgG for llamas to assess passive transfer?

    <p>48 hours after birth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the minimum IgG concentration recommended for adequate passive transfer in foals?

    <blockquote> <p>80 g/L</p> </blockquote> Signup and view all the answers

    Which technique provides greater resolution for negatively charged molecules than standard gel electrophoresis?

    <p>Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What serum total protein concentration correlates with an IgG concentration of 100 g/L in calves?

    <p>52 g/L</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are the globulins separated in the electrophoretogram?

    <p>Into several fractions including alpha, beta, and gamma</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What IgG concentration indicates failure of passive transfer (FPT) in crias?

    <p>&lt;45 g/L</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following immunoglobulins may extend into the beta region of the electrophoretogram?

    <p>IgM and IgA</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a densitometer in protein electrophoresis?

    <p>To calculate protein concentrations in samples</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What specific condition might complicate the assessment of serum total protein concentration in sick calves with FPT?

    <p>Relative hyperproteinaemia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic causes immunoglobulins with more complex structures to move slower in electrophoresis?

    <p>Complicated tertiary and quaternary structures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is indicated by a positive result on the faecal occult blood test?

    <p>Potential gastrointestinal inflammation, ulceration, or neoplasia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does increased TLI concentration indicate?

    <p>Acinar cell damage caused by pancreatitis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What influences the predictable separation of proteins in electrophoresis?

    <p>pH, voltage, and surface of the gel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component is predominantly detected in healthy animals' TLI tests?

    <p>Trypsinogen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many faecal occult blood tests should be conducted for a definitive diagnosis?

    <p>Three</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one factor that increases TLI concentration after food intake?

    <p>Stimulation by cholecystokinin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What describes the specificity of the faecal occult blood test for abomasal ulceration?

    <p>97%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the preferred condition for collecting a serum sample for TLI measurement?

    <p>Starved for 12 hours</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does low renal clearance of TLI suggest?

    <p>Decreased glomerular filtration rate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which condition is most likely to cause inadequate absorption of glucose in the intestine?

    <p>Villous atrophy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason for unexpectedly high peak glucose concentrations?

    <p>Diabetes mellitus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which electrolyte is typically found in higher concentrations inside cells (ICF)?

    <p>Potassium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following processes can lead to increased retention of electrolytes in the body?

    <p>Renal retention</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement is true regarding sodium and chloride concentrations in the extracellular fluid (ECF)?

    <p>Rich in Na+ and Cl-</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might serum electrolyte concentrations not accurately reflect the body balance of those electrolytes?

    <p>Specific ionic shifts can occur outside of testing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common cause for increased loss of electrolytes from the body?

    <p>Diarrohea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which electrolyte is most commonly associated with increased levels during in vitro lysis of blood cells?

    <p>Potassium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Clinical Biochemistry - Clinical Pathology 410

    • This is a course on clinical biochemistry within the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria.
    • The recommended textbooks for the course are: Thrall, Weiser, Allison & Campbell. Veterinary Hematology and Clinical Chemistry (2nd Ed). Wiley-Blackwell, 2012; Stockham & Scott. Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (2nd Ed). Blackwell Publishing, 2008; Latimer, Duncan & Prasse's Veterinary Laboratory Medicine - Clinical Pathology (5th Ed). Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.
    • Copies of these books are available in the Clinical Pathology reserved study collection in the library.

    Clinical Enzymology

    • Enzymes are found in different organs, tissues, or cells.
    • Certain enzymes are specific to particular tissues and are useful for diagnostic purposes, helping to identify the site of tissue injury or increased enzyme production.
    • Enzyme activity is directly proportional to enzyme concentration.
    • Enzyme activity is reported in units per liter (U/L).
    • Important concepts for interpreting serum enzyme assay results include the distinction between leakage and induced enzymes, the duration of enzyme activity (biological half-life), tissue specificity, and the correct handling/ storage of serum samples.
    • Leakage enzymes are released when cell injury alters cell membranes, while induced enzymes result from increased production of an enzyme by cells that normally produce it in smaller quantities.

    Leakage vs. Induced Enzymes

    • Leakage enzymes are released from damaged cells, while induced enzymes are produced in higher amounts in response to a stimulus.
    • Serum enzyme activity reflects the speed at which a substrate is consumed or a product is formed.

    Enzyme Half-Life

    • The amount of time an enzyme remains active in the serum.
    • The half-life varies depending on the enzyme and its source (tissue).
    • Knowing an enzyme's half-life helps determine the timing of tissue damage.

    Tissue Specificity

    • An enzyme's presence and concentration in specific tissues.
    • This is important for correctly identifying the source of enzyme leakage into the serum.

    Serum Handling and Storage

    • Proper handling and storage of serum samples are crucial to ensure accurate enzyme assay results.
    • The handling and storage procedures vary from species to species and for each particular enzyme.

    Liver and Hepatic Injury (ALT)

    • ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase): Primarily located in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes.
    • Serum ALT activity is noticeably high in cases of hepatocellular injury or disease.
    • The half-life is 2-3 days in dogs and approx 3-4 hours in cats.
    • Potential interfering factors include in-vitro or intravascular haemolysis
    • Increased serum activity of ALT is strongly indicative of hepatocellular injury. Drugs, especially corticosteroids are potential factors for increased ALT activity.

    Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

    • AST is found in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of various tissues (especially liver and muscle).
    • Serum AST activity is a less sensitive marker of muscle injury compared to CK.
    • AST is used to ascertain the timing of muscle injury.
    • Serum AST activity will increase gradually and plateau for many hours/days in dogs or horses. AST is a sensitive indicator of hepatic injury.

    Other Enzymes (e.g., GLDH)

    • GLDH is usually used for hepatic injury in larger animals (birds, reptiles, etc)
    • GLDH is mitochondrial-enzyme that causes glutamate to oxoglutarate

    Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

    • ALP is a non-specific enzyme and is present in liver, bone, kidney, intestine etc.
    • ALP is used as a sensitive indicator for cholestasis in the dog.
    • This test is species specific.

    Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)

    • GGT is primarily membrane bound and found in the liver, pancreas etc.
    • GGT is used specifically for increased pressure in the biliary system.
    • GGT activity is increased in dogs with bile duct obstruction
    • GGT levels increase can precede increases in ALP when there is liver disease in the cat.

    Amylase and Lipase

    • Amylase & Lipase are used to evaluate diseases of the pancreas or intestinal diseases, respectively.

    Trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI)

    • TLI assays use species-specific antibodies and is useful in evaluating pancreatic disease.
    • TLI is useful in dogs and cats to evaluate pancreatitis.

    Creatine Kinase (CK)

    • CK is an enzyme found in the cytoplasm of muscle cells.
    • CK levels rise rapidly due to muscle damage (e.g. exercise, injury etc).
    • CK levels decrease within 24-48 hours in dogs post-injury.
    • Measurements of CK and AST can indicate when muscle injury occurred and is ongoing.

    Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)

    • LDH is a non-specific enzyme and is found in several tissues.
    • Increased serum LDH is indicative of muscle injury or disease.
    • Increases after acute injury.

    Plasma Proteins

    • Plasma proteins are typically categorized into albumin and globulins.
    • Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and is primarily produced by the liver
    • Globulins include immunoglobulins (antibodies), complement proteins, clotting factors, and other carrier proteins.
    • The albumin-globulin (A/G) ratio is used in diagnostics to indicate potential disease states, especially when there are abnormal levels.
    • Protein electrophoresis helps in assessing a patient's protein fractions, especially the globulins.

    Urine Tests

    • Urine specific gravity (SG) can indicate hydration status and kidney function
    • Tubular function is assessed by analyzing different urine constituents which usually include proteins, glucose, ketones, and bilirubin.
    • Abnormal levels of these constituents can reveal different kidney and/or extrarenal disorders.

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    Explore the essential concepts of Clinical Biochemistry in the context of Veterinary Science. This quiz examines various aspects of clinical pathology, including enzyme functions and diagnostic significance. Ideal for students in veterinary clinical chemistry courses.

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