C-Reactive Protein and Inflammatory Responses in Canine Health

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a principal acute-phase protein in dogs, synthesised by hepatocytes in response to proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6. By binding phosphocholine residues on pathogens and damaged cells, CRP facilitates opsonisation and complement activation, thereby enhancing innate immunity. Clinically, serum CRP measurement has become indispensable for distinguishing inflammatory from non-inflammatory disorders, gauging severity in conditions such as sepsis, pancreatitis and pyometra, and monitoring response to therapeutic interventions. Technological advances in species-specific immunoturbidimetric assays and rapid point-of-care platforms have improved analytical precision, allowing veterinarians to obtain reliable results within minutes. Emerging research into alternative sampling matrices, notably saliva, holds promise for non-invasive screening. Given the parallels between canine and human acute-phase responses, insights from canine CRP studies also inform comparative medicine and One Health initiatives.

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C-Reactive Protein and Inflammatory Responses in Canine Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in c-reactive protein and inflammatory responses in canine health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

C-reactive protein (CRP): An acute-phase protein produced by the liver in response to inflammatory cytokines, serving as a biomarker for systemic inflammation.

Acute-phase protein: Plasma proteins whose concentrations change markedly during inflammatory responses, reflecting the host’s reaction to tissue injury or infection.

Opsonisation: The labelling of pathogens or debris by immune proteins such as CRP to promote uptake and destruction by phagocytic cells.

Pyometra: A suppurative uterine infection in intact female dogs, often accompanied by systemic inflammatory response syndrome and endotoxaemia.

Point-of-care assay: A diagnostic test designed for immediate execution at the site of patient care, providing rapid results without the need for specialised laboratory infrastructure.

References

1. Changes in the Salivary Proteome Associated With Canine Pyometra. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2020).
2. Pyometra in Small Animals 2.0. Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice (2022).
3. Evaluation of a novel quantitative canine species-specific point-of-care assay for C-reactive protein. BMC Veterinary Research (2018).
4. Evaluation of a species-specific C-reactive protein assay for the dog on the ABX Pentra 400 clinical chemistry analyzer. BMC Veterinary Research (2017).