Identification of differential serum proteins associated with bitches piometra: a proteomic approach

• Grant number: 20/08541-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2021
• End date: February 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Ferreira de Souza
• Grantee: Marina Luiza Marques Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pyometra is a common disease in female dogs and less common in other species, including cats. It affects non-castrated bitches, usually elderly and nulliparous. It can occur without apparent evidence and its manifestation is sometimes only noticed at an advanced stage, requiring emergency measures. In view of the importance of the disease in female dogs, this project aims to study proteins of female dogs affected by pyometra. For the study, the blood serum of bitches attended by the Small Animal Reproduction area of Hospital Veterinário, FMVZ, UNESP, Botucatu will be used. The animals will be divided into 3 groups, control group (n = 10), and animals with pyometra, who were discharged in 48 hours after surgery (less severe pyometra, minimum 10 animals) and who had been hospitalized for more than 48 hours or who had died (pyometra more severe, minimum 10 animals). The serum will be separated and subjected to depletion of albumin. After determining the total protein concentration, 50 µg of will be prepared for triptych digestion in gel and shotgun label free mass spectrometry. The results will be based on the relative quantification of each protein (Exponentially Modified Protein Abundance Index - emPAI) for the analysis of the main component, discriminating analysis by complete partials (PLS-DA) and obtaining the variable importance in the projection (VIP score), which indicates the abundance of proteins in each group. It is expected to determine differential serum proteins in dogs affected by pyometra, which can categorize a disease, in addition to biomarkers that indicate the state of severity related to the disease. (AU)