Serum protein analysis by capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a well-established laboratory method used for the diagnosis and follow up of infectious, inflammatory, immune mediated, and neoplastic conditions in human and veterinary medicine. Recently in human medicine, the analysis of urine by CE has been proved as a good technique to identify renal biomarkers in healthy and pathological samples. To these author's knowledge, there are no data about reference values in normal urine electrophoresis in dogs, and there are very few studies in veterinary medicine that relate different kinds of urine proteins with pathological conditions. The aim of this study is to use CE, as a laboratory method to establish normal urine electrophoretic patterns in healthy dogs.

Prospectively, 15 urine samples from healthy dogs with physical examination apparently normal were analyzed. These dogs were tested for a complete blood analysis and Leishmania infantum, Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia conorii serology. Animals with abnormal results or positive serologies were discarded. Owners were asked to collect the first urine of the morning as a sample. Urine was stored at 4°C until analysis (less than 12 hours). Previously to CE, a complete urinalysis that included, specific gravity, pH, leukocytes, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, blood, nitrites, microscopic examination, urine culture, and urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC) was performed. To prepare the urine to the CE, four milliliters (ml) of urine were used to concentrate the proteins in each sample. After several washes and final dialysis, a suitable urine sample for CE was obtained.

The result obtained was 15 similar urine electrophoretic patterns. All the tested urines showed a very similar pattern with protein fractions distributed in a similar way to the serum samples of the same animal. No monoclonal peaks were observed, albumin was recorded as the most abundant protein in all the specimens, and other peaks were detected corresponding with transferrin in less quantity.

The conclusion is that the use of CE to evaluate urinary electrophoresis in healthy dogs, results in comparable patterns that can be used as a reference range of normality.

Disclosures

Disclosures to report.

ECVIM-CA Congress - Abstract disclosures - The authors have the following disclosures related to their presentation: Employee/salary: - Gil L. (Senior lecturer, Universidad Católica Valencia) -Navarro PF. (PhD Student, Universidad Católica Valencia) - Fernández-Barredo S. (Director in Cedivet', analysis reference laboratory).