Diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in the dog using radial enzyme diffusion

• Published in: Acta veterinaria Brno Vol. 71; no. 2; pp. 223 - 228
• Main Authors: Vondrakova, K, Klimes, J. (Veterinarni a Farmaceuticka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Ustav Chorob Zvere, Ryb a Vcel)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2002
• Subjects: ACTIVIDAD ENZIMATICA; ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE; APETITO; APPETIT; APPETITE; CHIEN; CHRONIC COURSE; CONSISTANCE; CONSISTENCIA; CONSISTENCY; DEFAECATION; DEFECACION; DEFECATION; DIAGNOSIS; DIAGNOSTIC; DIAGNOSTICO; DIARREA; DIARRHEE; DIARRHOEA; DOGS; ENZYME ACTIVITY; EXOCRINE GLANDS; FAECES; FECES; GASES; GAZ; GLANDE EXOCRINE; GLANDULAS EXOCRINAS; HECES; IMMUNOENZYME TECHNIQUES; MALABSORCION; MALABSORPTION; PANCREAS; PERDIDA DE PESO; PERRO; PERTE DE POIDS; PROCESO CRONICO; PROCESSUS CHRONIQUE; TECHNIQUE IMMUNOENZYMATIQUE; TECNICAS INMUNOENZIMATICAS; TRIPSINA; TRYPSIN; TRYPSINE; VOLUME; VOLUMEN; WEIGHT LOSSES
• ISSN: 0001-7213; 1801-7576
• DOI: 10.2754/avb200271020223

The aim of the present study was to validate the radial enzyme diffusion (RED) as one of the diagnostic technique for canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) based on the measurement of faecal proteolytic activity. Water solution of skim milk was used instead of Ca-paracaseinate as a substrate for pancreatic proteases. Serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) with 100 % specificity and sensitivity was used as a reference technique. The RED was validated in 24 dogs mostly with chronic diarrhoea. Dogs of various breeds were examined with German shepherds over-represented. Ten clinically healthy dogs were used as controls. Sensitivity of 100 % and specificity of 75 % were calculated for RED. Possible causes of falsely positive and falsely negative results of RED and TLI are discussed. The RED has proven to be a quick, cheap and easy-to-perform method suitable for reliable exclusion of those cases where the diarrhoea is not caused by EPI. However, regarding its lower specificity, positive results should be confirmed by TLI assay.