Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine | June 10, 2021

Yun T, Koo Y, Chae Y, Lee D, Kim H, Kim S, Chang D, Na KJ, Yang MP and Kang BT

J Vet Intern Med. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16184

Abstract

Background

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a neuron-specific cytoskeletal protein expressed in axons. Damaged axons of the central nervous system release NfLs into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood. In humans with neurologic diseases, NfL is used as a biomarker.

Objectives

To identify the potential of NfL as a supportive tool for the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE) in dogs.

Animals

Twenty-six client-owned healthy dogs, 10 normal Beagle dogs, and 38 client-owned MUE dogs.

Methods

Cohort study. The concentrations of NfL in serum and CSF were measured using single-molecule array technology.

Results

Median NfL concentration was significantly higher in MUE dogs (serum, 125 pg/mL; CSF, 14 700 pg/mL) than in healthy dogs (serum, 11.8 pg/mL, P < .0001; CSF, 1410 pg/mL, P = .0002). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of serum and CSF NfL concentrations were 0.99 and 0.95, respectively. The cut-off values were 41.5 pg/mL (serum) and 4005 pg/mL (CSF) for differentiating between healthy and MUE dogs, with sensitivities of 89.19% and 90%, respectively, and specificities of 96.97% and 100%, respectively. The NfL concentration showed a significant decrease (pretreatment, 122 pg/mL; posttreatment, 36.6 pg/mL; P = .02) in the good treatment-response group and a significant increase (pretreatment, 292.5 pg/mL; posttreatment, 1880 pg/mL, P = .03) in the poor treatment-response group.

Conclusions and Clinical importance

Neurofilament light chain is a potential biomarker for diagnosing MUE and evaluating response to treatment.

This study was performed using the Quanterix HD-1 Analyzer.