Total protein
Total protein in normal reptiles generally varies between 30 and 80g/l.Hypoproteinaemia is often associated with malnutrition. Other causes include malabsorption, maldigestion (e.g. intestinal parasitism), protein losing enteropathies, severe blood loss and chronic hepatic or renal disease.
Total Protein, Albumin and Globulins
Serum proteins vary widely in their size, structure and function. Abnormal levels of proteins are termed dysproteinaemias. Total protein and albumin concentrations are determined and the globulin concentration arrived at by subtraction. Total protein levels are affected by physiological as well as pathological factors. Total protein levels are low in neonates rising to adult levels by 6 months to 1 year of age. Serum total protein levels are approximately 5% less than those of plasma due to the loss of fibrinogen in the clotting process.
Causes of Hyperproteinaemia in Small Animals
Hyperalbuminaemia
- Dehydration
Hyperglobulinaemia
- Inflammation
- Immune-mediated disease
- Neoplasia
Causes of hypoproteinaemia in Small Animals
Hypoalbuminaemia
- Hepatic insufficiency
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Protein-losing nephropathy
- Haemorrhage
- Protein malnutrition/malabsorption/maldigestion
- Exudation (body cavity, skin)
- Compensatory for a hyperglobulinaemia
Hypoglobulinaemia
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Haemorrhage
- Neonates
- Congenital immunodeficiency
Complementary tests in Small Animals
Serum protein electrophoresis, urine protein electrophoresis, radial immunodiffusion for canine IgG, IgA and IgM (suspected immunodeficiency and classification of myelomas).
Causes of hyperproteinaemia in Equine
Hyperalbuminaemia
- Dehydration
Hyperglobulinaemia
- Inflammation
- Immune response to infection
- Neoplasia for example lymphoma (rare)
- Cyathostomiasis, large strongylosis, mixed helminthiasis
Causes of hyproteinaemia in Equine
Hypoalbuminaemia
- Intestinal lymphoma
- Cyathostomiasis, large strongylosis, mixed helminthiasis
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Advanced hepatic insufficiency – usually fibrosis (Ragwort poisoning)
- Idiopathic granulomatous enteritis
- Salmonellosis
- Clostridiosis
- Protein-losing nephropathy
- Compensatory for a hyperglobulinaemia
- NSAIDS
- Glomerulonephritis/pyelonephritis
Less common causes of hypoabuminaemia
- Starvation
- Chronic hepatitis
- Hepatic neoplasia
- Amyloidosis
- Chronic eosinophilic enteritis (rare)
Hypoglobulinaemia
- Inadequate transfer of colostrum (neonates)
- Severe combined immunodeficiency disease in Arabian foals
Complementary tests in Equine
Protein electrophoresis.
References
Total Protein, Albumin and Globulins References: NationWide Laboratories