SERUM CORTISOL CONCENTRATION AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTOR FOR SPONTANEOUS SEPSIS IN CANINES

• Grant number: 25/00690-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Fernandes Marcusso
• Grantee: Andressa de Oliveira Paixão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sepsis is a syndrome that culminates in organ dysfunctions. Due to its severity, it represents one of the main causes of mortality worldwide. It is recognized by the World Health Organization as a serious global public health problem, causing major economic impacts. The clinical criteria for diagnosing sepsis in dogs are similar to those used in humans and generally include parameters such as elevated heart and respiratory rates, abnormal total leukocyte counts, and abnormal body temperature. However, these criteria can lead to late or misdiagnosis, highlighting the need for new diagnostic markers. In this context, cortisol appears to be a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis, since cortisol concentrations can rise beyond physiological levels as an adaptive response to stress. This research project aims to evaluate serum cortisol concentrations in dogs with sepsis and determine its relevance as a prognostic biomarker in this syndrome. The study will be conducted at the Veterinary Hospital of FMVZ - UNESP Campus de Botucatu, and will include dogs diagnosed with SIRS criteria with positive culture and assessment of organ dysfunction by SOFA. The results will be statistically analyzed to identify possible associations between serum cortisol concentration levels in dogs with sepsis and clinical outcomes, thus contributing to a better understanding and management of sepsis in dogs, allowing rapid and effective interventions, thus increasing the chances of survival of the animals.