Resources for tests for gastrointestinal disor­ders

GI Laboratory

The GI Lab at Texas A&M University is an excellent resource, although some samples cannot be shipped successfully from overseas. Contact de­tails are:

e-mail: gilab@cvm.tamu.edu

Shipping address:

Gastrointestinal Laboratory

4474 TAMU

College of Veterinary Medicine

Texas A&M University

College Station, TX 77843-4474

Tel: (979) 862 2861; Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 5:00 PM (Central Time, USA)

Fax: (979) 862 2864

Tests available:

• Serum Trypsin-Like Immunoreactivity (TLI): For exocrine pancreatic function testing (i.e.

• Serum Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) and Folate: Test of small intestinal function (not species specific)

• Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity (PLI): Test for diagnosis of pancre­atitis in dogs and cats (species specific) • Faecal Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor: Test for protein-losing enteropathy

- dogs and cats

• Serum Bile Acids: Test for hepatic function - dogs, cats and other spe­cies

• Canine C-reactive Protein: Test for systemic inflammation - dogs only

• Tritrichomonas foetus: PCR testing

• Campylobacter spp.: PCR test for differentiation and species specific identification of Campylobacter jejuni, C. upsaliensis, C. coli, C. helveticus

• Canine schistosomiasis: PCR test for Heterobilharzia americana

• Enterotoxigenic Clostridiumperfringens: PCR test for the gene encoding C. perfringens enterotoxin

• Thyroid hormones and cortisols: Total T4, TSH, free T4 by equilibrium dialysis, cortisols

• Serum gastrin

IDEXX Laboratories

IDEXX, as well as a full service veterinary laboratory, IDEXX offers the Spec cPL and Spec fPL for quantitative specific pancreatic lipase in dogs and cats for diagnosis of pancreatitis. They also have a range of in house tests available, e.g. SNAP tests for Giardia and Parvovirus. Their contact details in the UK are:

IDEXX Laboratories Ltd

Milton Court

Churchfield Road

Chalfont St Peter

Buckinghamshire SL9 9EW

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)175 389 1660

Fax: +44 (0)175 389 1520

Myasthenia gravis

The ‘gold standard’ for the diagnosis of acquired MG in both dogs and cats is the documentation of antibodies against Ach receptors by immunoprecipitation radioimmunoassay.

Tritrichomonas foetus

In the USA, samples can be submitted to the College of Veterinary Medi­cine, North Caroline State University for this test. Information on this is available at: www.cvm.ncsu.edu/mbs/gookin_jody.htm

In the UK the PCR test is available from Capital Diagnostics in Edin­burgh ( + 44 (0)131 535 3145).

The organism can also be cultured from faecal samples using a sys­tem developed for diagnosis in cattle. The ‘In Pouch tm TF' test (BioMed Diagnostics, Oregon, USA) uses a liquid culture system in a sterile plastic pouch. The pouch can be inoculated with 0.05 g of faeces (about half the size of a small pea). The pouches are incubated at room temperature and can be examined microscopically for the motile organisms every 2 days for 12 days. This test is more sensitive than direct examination of faeces and helpful for detecting infections where direct smears are neg­ative. Giardia and other similar organisms will not grow in this specific culture medium. In the UK, this system is available from Capital Dia­gnostics in Edinburgh (+44 (0)131 535 3145).

Most tests in this book were run at the:

Veterinary Pathology Unit

Easter Bush

Midlothian EH25 9RG

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)131 650 6403

E-mail: vpu.enquiries@ed.ac.uk

Obtaining cisapride

Since withdrawal of cisapride from the human market, it has become increasingly difficult, but not impossible to obtain this drug. The drug may still be imported from abroad, on a named patient basis as follows:

• Obtain a Special Treatment Certificate (STC) from the Veterinary Medi­cines Directorate

• A written application must be made in the first instance to the Veter­inary Medicines Directorate, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3LS (01932 336911).

• Repeat applications can be made online

• Further information available at: www.vmd.gov.uk

• The drug can then be imported via IDIS Ltd, IDIS House, Churchfield Road, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8DB; Available at: www.idispharma.com

• The brand name is Gasprid and it comes as 10 mg tablets made by a Polish company Teva Polska. Polfa Kutno, ul. Sienkiewicza 25, 99-300 Kutno, Tel: +48 24 355 01 00, Fax: +48 24 355 03 50; Available at: www.teva.pl/u235/navi/90

• The 10 mg tablets may be reformulated into a more cat-friendly size (e.g. 2.5 mg capsules) by Nova Laboratories Ltd, Martin House, Gloucester Crescent, Wigston, Leicester LE18 4YL; Available at: www.novalabs.co.uk

• Cisapride suspension has a shelf life of 28 days.

• If a European source of drug is no longer available, then it may be possible to import from veterinary pharmacies in the USA (e.g. www.vetrxdirect.com; www.diamondbackdrugs.com), but currently European sources must be used in the first instance.