1. Association of Plasma Metabolites and Diagnostic Imaging with Hepatic Lipidosis in Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps).
- Author
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Barboza, Trinita K., Susta, Leonardo, Linden, Alex zur, Gardhouse, Sara, and Beaufrère, Hugues
- Subjects
METABOLITES ,DIAGNOSTIC imaging ,LIPIDOSES ,BEARDED dragons (Reptiles) ,ULTRASONIC imaging - Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between plasma metabolites, biochemical analytes, diagnostic imaging findings, and hepatic lipidosis in bearded dragons. Fourteen bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) with varying severity of hepatic lipid accumulation (with and without hepatic lipidosis) were included. Animals underwent coelomic ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scans, and coelioscopic hepatic biopsies. Clinical pathology tests included lipidologic tests, hepatic biomarkers, and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Hounsfield units on CT were negatively associated with increased hepatic vacuolation, while ultrasound and gross evaluation of the liver were not reliable. On biochemistry, low beta-hydroxybutyric-acid (BHBA) was significantly associated with hepatic lipidosis. Metabolomics and lipidomics data found BHBA and succinic acid to be potential biomarkers for diagnosing moderate-to-severe hepatic lipidosis. These findings provide information on the antemortem assessment of hepatic lipidosis in bearded dragons and paves the way for further research in diagnosis and treatment of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022