Associations between hematological variables and fecal fatty acid profile in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathies

Abstract

The diagnosis of food-responsive enteropathy (FRE) and immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE) relies on dietary response followed by other invasive methods, since the pathogenesis is unknown. This study aimed firstly, to evaluate differences in main blood cells, biochemical profile, and hematological inflammatory indices between (FRE) and (IRE) dogs; and secondly, to study and quantify possible associations between these blood variables and the fecal lipid profile to better understand both diseases. Dogs with IRE showed higher platelet counts, plateletcrit, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) compared to dogs with FRE. Lymphocytes correlated with C16:1n-7 and the C16:1n-7/C16:0 ratio, with significant linear responses differing between FRE and IRE dogs. Positive correlations between fecal fat levels and immune cells or systemic indices of inflammation were observed. Acetic acid (C2) correlated and followed a significant linear response with platelet counts, and the SII index. Fecal C2 levels higher than 2 mM were associated with platelet counts within the reference range in FRE dogs; whereas the opposite was observed in IRE. Blood glucose and fecal short-chain fatty acids also presented significant correlations, quantified by regression equations in FRE dogs. Significant changes were found in NLR as fecal isoC15:0 levels increased, differing between FRE and IRE dogs. This research confirms that systemic changes in FRE and IRE dogs are directly related to the metabolism of fatty acids. Combining the hemogram or inflammatory indices with fecal fatty acids would allow these two enteropathies to be distinguished more accurately and establish a more appropriate dietary treatment.