Grant Updates: Why Giving Matters

ACVIM Foundation Grant Program

Providing Longer and Healthier Lives for Animals

Thanks to our generous donors, the ACVIM Foundation supports leading veterinary scientists as they take on a range of critical animal health issues. Guided by our Scientific Review Committee, we fund only the most relevant and humane animal health studies. This work helps us achieve our most important goal: longer and healthier lives for animals.

Our 2006/2007 grant cycle resulted in yet another increase in the amount of funding!

What We've Accomplished

2002-2007
29 Studies
$377,715 total awarded

A closer look reveals:

• 14 Canine Studies (includes one Canine/Feline Study)
• 3 Feline Studies (includes one Canine/Feline Study)
• 10 Equine Studies
• 2 Bovine Studies

Specialties represented:

• 3 in Cardiology
• 5 in Oncology
• 9 in Small Animal Internal Medicine
• 12 in Large Animal Internal Medicine

PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF AWARDING $1 MILLION DOLLARS BY THE END OF 2008!

Grant Results

The ACVIM Foundation is committed to communicating results and disseminating knowledge to our donors, the public, and the veterinary community. Below are results from some of our funded studies. We will continue to provide more updates as we receive them.

Grant #04-04R     Resident Grant
"Relationship between surfactant dysfunction and severity of disease in RAO-affected horses"
Dr. Undine Christmann and Dr. Virginia Buechner-Maxwell
Year one completed of two-year study

Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) or "heaves" induces labored breathing in susceptible horses exposed to a typical barn environment containing hay and straw. Airway surfactant (defined as: a fluid secreted by the cells of the alveoli (the tiny air sacs in the lungs) that serves to reduce the surface tension of pulmonary fluids; surfactant contributes to the elastic properties of pulmonary tissue) counteracts airway obstruction by helping to maintain airways open, facilitating mucus removal, and decreasing airway inflammation.

Drs. Undine Christmann (PhD candidate) and Virginia Buechner-Maxwell are investigating surfactant alterations in horses suffering from RAO. They recently demonstrated that horses suffering from RAO have low surfactant levels and changes in surfactant composition. This was true at all disease stages even in remission when RAO horses were free of clinical signs. RAO crisis further exacerbated surfactant alterations. On-going research will evaluate relationships between surfactant composition, function and disease severity.

Dr. Christmann's graduate training research is supported by a grant from the ACVIM foundation.
She was awarded the Joan O'Brien Research Award for outstanding presentation by a graduate student at the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society Forum in 2007. She also achieved 1st place in the basic science category at the graduate student research award competition at the Annual Research Symposium held by the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. The ACVIM Foundation is honored to support Dr. Christmann's work.

Grant #05-12D     Diplomate Grant
"Mechanism of Exercise-Induced Airway Immunosuppression in Horses"
Dr. Michael Davis
Year one completed of two-year study
Study sponsored in partnership with

Everyone who has exercised outside knows that breathing cold air while exercising can result in irritation and burning of the nose and throat. However, studies in humans, dogs, and horses suggest that repeatedly breathing cold air during exercise can cause chronic changes to airways, leading in some cases to an asthma-like syndrome known as "ski asthma."

In other cases, evidence suggests that breathing cold air may weaken the immune system in the lungs, possibly explaining why the "cold and flu season" is in the winter. Dr. Davis and colleagues are using horses to examine the short-term and long-term effects of cold air on the lungs' immune system.

To date, they have demonstrated that even a single 5 min period of exercise while breathing cold air can activate the immune system and trigger influx of inflammatory cells. Further studies are on-going to determine how long this response lasts, and whether the overall effect is one of decreased resistance to viruses.

Grant# 02-21D     Diplomate Grant
"In Vitro Effects of N-Acetylcysteine Against Canine Hemangiosarcoma"
Dr. Douglas H. Thamm
Study completed

Canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a very aggressive blood vessel lining cancer affecting several body organs. Most commonly reported anatomic sites in dogs include spleen, liver, heart and skin. In most cases depending on the clinical stage at the time of diagnosis, the overall survival is shorter with surgery and chemotherapy. On the contrary, a longer survival is anticipated in dogs where the tumor is limited to skin only.

Due to overall shorter survival in visceral HSA, novel therapies are desperately needed. Since the tumor is derived from the blood vessels, it appears that antiangiogenic (restricting tumor blood supply) therapies may be uniquely efficacious for HSA. In this study, the investigators have shown efficacy of an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against HSA cells. N-acetylcysteine is a potent free radical scavenger.

The results have demonstrated that the antioxidant NAC was capable of significantly inhibiting angiogenic factor production by canine HSA cells, although a higher concentration of NAC was required. Unfortunately, based on these results it appears that it is unlikely that NAC will have a meaningful anti-tumor effect.

Through this study we learned that use of NAC does not carry any clinical value in dogs, leaving us with other unanswered questions. It is possible that more potent antioxidants could prove clinically useful for the treatment of canine HSA in the future. Our scientists will keep looking into more innovative approaches until a remedy is unraveled for such an aggressive malignancy.

Research abstract presented at 2005 ACVIM Forum in Baltimore, MD and published:
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, May-June 2006

Grant #02-07D     Diplomate Grant
"Evaluating the effect of pamidronate with bone resorption markers and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in canine osteosarcoma"
Dr. Timothy Fan
Study completed

Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor of large-breed dogs, typically affecting the long bones. Traditionally, removing the source of pain requires amputation of the affected limb or palliative radiation therapy. Innovative medical treatment options which decrease bone destruction may also provide pain relief.

Pamidronate is a drug that prevents bone mineral loss, and minimizes local bone pain caused by tumors that spread to the bone in human cancer patients. This study evaluated the clinical and biologic effects of pamidronate in dogs with primary bone cancer. Eleven of the 41 dogs treated experienced clinical pain relief for greater than 4 month's duration. A significant increase in primary tumor bone mineral density was also observed in these 11 dogs.

The investigators concluded that pamidronate was well-tolerated by all canine patients, and the dosages evaluated exert bone remodeling effects as demonstrated by reductions in urine N-telopeptide and enhanced bone mineral density. This study may lead to new treatment techniques for canine osteosarcoma and may improve the quality of life of patients.

Published:
"Evaluation of Intravenous Pamidronate Administration in 33 Cancer-Bearing Dogs with Primary or Secondary Bone Involvement"
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, January-February 2005

Grant #05-06D     Diplomate Grant
"Indicators of Cardiac Damage in Rattlesnake Envenomated Horses"
Dr. Todd C. Holbrook
Year one completed of two-year study

Rattlesnake bites in horses are not uncommon in the southwestern United States. Anecdotally, horseman have noted that once bitten, often these horses are not the same athletes as they were previously. Currently, the specific effect of rattlesnake venom on the horse's heart after the bite is unknown.

Last year, the ACVIM Foundation funded researchers at Oklahoma State University to study the cardiotoxic effect of rattlesnake bites in horses. To date, they have collected data on 16 horses bitten by rattlesnakes. Their research has confirmed that in some horses, cardiac damage does indeed occur. Future research will be aimed at determining the exact components of venom that cause this damage, and investigate preventive approaches.

Abstract to be presented at 2007 ACVIM Forum in Seattle, WA

Grant #02-18D     Diplomate Grant
"Systemic endocrine and immune effects of an inhalant steroid in cats"
Dr. Carol R. Reinero
Study completed

Feline bronchial disease, sometimes called feline asthma, is commonly treated with oral glucocorticoids (OGC). These drugs, of which prednisone in the most commonly used, may cause complications in cats with infections and/or certain conditions such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease or kidney disease. Inhalant glucocorticoid (IGC) treatment has been used in an attempt to try and reduce the inflammation in the airways without exposing the rest of the body to the medication.

This study compared an IGC, and OGC and a placebo. Six healthy cats received each medication for 2 weeks. Comparisons were made for hormone levels and immune function between both forms of treatment and the placebo. While both treatments affected hormone levels, the IGC treatment showed significantly less effects on the overall immune system. The knowledge obtained from this study may help improve treatment of feline asthma.

Published:
"Inhaled Flunisolide Suppresses the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis, but Has Minimal Systemic Immune Effects in Healthy Cats"
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, January-February 2006

Grant #04-05D     Diplomate Grant
"Mechanism of Postoperative Bleeding in Retired Racing Greyhounds"
Dr. Guillermo Couto
Study completed

Postoperative bleeding appears to be relatively common in retired racing Greyhounds, sometimes requiring life-saving blood transfusions. Most dogs have normal clotting times during and after the bleeding episodes. This study was performed to investigate the prevalence, severity and cause of post-operative bleeding in Greyhounds having surgery at Ohio State University-Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Of 88 Greyhounds that were spayed or neutered, 26% had moderate to severe bleeding 36-48 hours after surgery. None of these dogs required transfusions. There were no differences in clotting between the "bleeders" and "non-bleeders." However, a few tests suggested that the "bleeders" may be breaking down blood clots sooner than "non-bleeders." This would explain why the bleeding is seen 1-2 days after surgery rather than during surgery. The "bleeders" were more anemic and had lower platelet counts after surgery, which is expected with blood loss.

While this study showed that 26% of Greyhounds had post-operative bleeding, the lack of difference in clotting times before and after surgery between the "bleeders" and "non-bleeders" makes it unlikely to be caused by a clotting disorder. None of the routine clotting tests were able to predict if a dog was likely to have post-operative bleeding. The data obtained from this study may help future surgical care and treatment of Greyhounds.

Abstract to be presented at 2007 ACVIM Forum in Seattle, WA

Grant #05-02R     Resident Grant
"Relative Adrenal Insufficiency in Critically Ill Neonatal Foals"
Dr. Michelle Barton and Dr. Kelsey Hart (Resident)
Year one completed of two-year study

Occasional episodes of stress are a normal part of life for all animals, and as a result animals have developed mechanisms for handling stress that include the release of stress hormones. These hormones help the animal manage short-term challenges to their health. It has long been recognized that stressed foals are more susceptible to disease, and for many years, it was believed that this susceptibility was due to the effects of stress hormones. However, preliminary evidence in this study suggests that the opposite is true: the LACK of the normal stress hormone response is associated with illness in foals.

The investigators have developed an improved method of assessing the stress hormone responses in foals and using this new method, demonstrate in small numbers of foals that sick foals have a lower capacity to release stress hormones that healthy foals. In the second year of the project, the investigators will continue to collect and analyze samples from foals to confirm this trend. If confirmed, their findings have the potential to have a significant impact on the early detection and management of foals at risk for developing serious disease.

Grant #03-16D     Diplomate Grant
"Real-Time RT-PCR Based Detection of the Prevalence of Feline Calicivirus Urinary Tract Infections in Cats with Idiopathic Cystitus"
Dr. John M. Kruger
Study completed

Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is a bladder disorder of unknown cause that is characterized by bloody, painful and frequent urinations, house soiling, and life-threatening urinary blockage. The disorder is believed to affect a quarter to half million cats in the United States annually. As of yet, there is no effective therapy.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is best known as a cause of upper respiratory disease in domestic cats. However, there is increasing evidence that FCV may have a causative role in feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). Previous studies have been hindered by lack of a rapid and sensitive means of identifying FCV urinary infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of FCV urinary tract infection in cats with and without FIC by using a new rapid, specific, and sensitive test for detection of FCV in urine developed by the investigators.

The results confirmed urinary shedding of FCV in cats with and without respiratory signs. Although urine shedding of FCV was not observed in asymptomatic control cats, there was not a significant difference in the prevalence of FCV urinary tract infection. These results did not conclusively establish a causative role of FCV in idiopathic cystitis, but thanks to the initial work funded by the ACVIM Foundation, the investigators were able to secure further funding to continue with a large-scale study of the epidemiology of FCV urinary tract infection in cats with idiopathic cystitis.

Pending analysis of other explanatory variables, results of the large-scale study indicate increased exposure of cats with FIC to FCV compared to asymptomatic controls. These results clearly indicate the need for additional investigations into the pathogenic role of FCV in feline idiopathic cystitis. Results from such studies could lead to the development of specific antiviral drugs, more effective vaccines, reduction of severity or duration of clinical signs and life-threatening complications which would be of substantial value to affected cats and their owners.

Abstract to be presented at 2007 ACVIM Forum in Seattle, WA

List of ACVIM Foundation Awarded Studies

Large Animal Internal Medicine (LAIM)

Dr. Jill Beech: "Evaluation of Endogenous Alpha MSH Concentrations at Different Seasons and in Response to TRH in Normal Horses and Those with Pituitary Hyperplasia"

Dr. Nicholas Frank: "Improved diagnosis and monitoring of equine endocrine disorders"

Dr. Ramiro Toribio: "Endocrine dysregulation in foal sepsis: the role of arginine vasopressin in neonatal septicemia and foal survival"
Recipient of the Dr. Mary Rose Paradis Multi-Center Grant

Dr. Jeff W. Tyler: "Efficacy of serum transfusions in reducing mortality in dairy heifer calves"

Dr. Michael Davis: "Mechanism of Exercise-Induced Airway Immunosuppression in Horses"
Study sponsored in partnership with

Dr. Janice Sojka: "A Novel Method to Diagnose Equine Pituitary Dysfunction Using Domperidone"

Dr. Michelle Barton and Dr. Kelsey Hart (Resident): "Relative Adrenal Insufficiency in Critically Ill Neonatal Foals"

Dr. Todd C. Holbrook: "Indicators of Cardiac Damage in Rattlesnake Envenomated Horses"

Dr. Melissa Mazan: "Stable Dust, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammatory Airway Disease in Horses"

Dr. Charles MacAllister: "Force Plate Phenylbutazone and Flunixin Therapy in horses"

Dr. Buechner-Maxwell: "Relationship between Surfactant Dysfunction and severity of disease in RAO-affected horse"

Dr. Sheila McGuirk: "Early Detection of Dairy Calf Pneumonia Using a Respiratory Scoring System"

Small Animal Internal Medicine (SAIM)

Dr. Mary Beth Callan: "Evaluation of canine platelet cryopreservation methods"

Dr. Stephanie Kottler: "Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA carriage in three populations"
Study sponsored in partnership with

Dr. Michael Davis: "Efficacy of Famotidine for the Prevention of Stress-Induced Gastric Ulcers"

Dr. Guillermo Couto: "Mechanism of postoperative bleeding in retired racing greyhounds"

Dr. David Panciera: "Effect of Hypothyroidism on reproduction in the female dog"

Dr. John M. Kruger: "Real-Time RT-PCR-Based Detection of the Prevalence of Feline Calicivirus Urinary Tract Infections in Cats with Idiopathic Cystitis"

Dr. Robert G. Sherding and Dr. Jeannette S. Messer (Resident): "PCR Using Universal Bacterial Primers for Diagnosis of Canine Septicemia"

Dr. Fréderic Gaschen and Dr. Nicole Luckschander (Resident): "Evaluation of markers of disease activity in the blood of dogs with IBD"

Dr. Carol Reinero: "Systemic endocrine and immune effects of an inhalant steroid in cats"

Oncology

Dr. Cheryl A. London: "Investigating the Biologic Activity of Gemcitabine in Canine Osteosarcoma"
Study sponsored in partnership with the Chase Away K9 Cancer Campaign and the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers Association

Dr. Michael Kent: "Ondansetron's effect on emesis in dogs treated with half body irradiation"

Dr. Timothy Fan: "Evaluating the effect of pamidronate with bone resorption markers and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in canine osteosarcoma"

Dr. Douglas Thamm: "In vitro effects of N-acetylcysteine against canine hemangiosarcoma"

Dr. David Ruslander and Dr. David Proulx (Resident): "Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in canine epithelial neoplasms"

Cardiology

Dr. Mark Kittleson: "Magnetic resonance imaging in boxers with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy"

Dr. Kathryn M. Meurs and Dr. Ryan D. Baumwart (Resident): "A Doppler Echocardiographic Study of Canine Right Ventricular Function"

Dr. Michael O'Grady and Dr. Regan Williams (Resident): "Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in Dogs: Atrioventricular Node Ablation"

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