Sepsis and Systemic Inflammatory Response in Veterinary Medicine

Sepsis in veterinary species is characterised by a maladaptive host response to infection that triggers widespread inflammation and can progress to organ dysfunction and death. Terms such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) describe the clinical and laboratory criteria used to identify early sequelae of infection, including fever or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnoea and leukocyte abnormalities. The pathophysiology involves an initial hyperinflammatory phase dominated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, endothelial activation and microvascular dysfunction, followed in many cases by an immunosuppressive state that predisposes to secondary infections and complicates therapy. Research has focused on the mechanisms of pathogen recognition, the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators and the impact of reperfusion injury and endothelial glycocalyx damage. These insights have informed advances in diagnostic strategies, such as biomarker assessment, and in clinical management, including targeted fluid therapy and organ-supportive care. The global significance of veterinary sepsis research extends from companion animals to livestock, underpinning improved outcomes and informing comparative studies that benefit both animal and human health.

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Sepsis and Systemic Inflammatory Response in Veterinary Medicine publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sepsis and systemic inflammatory response in veterinary medicine across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Sepsis: A life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS): A set of clinical criteria indicating widespread inflammation, not specific to infection.

Biomarker: A measurable indicator of a biological or pathological process useful for diagnosis or prognosis.

Procalcitonin: A peptide precursor of calcitonin that rises in bacterial sepsis and reflects disease severity.

Cytokine: A signalling protein released by immune cells that modulates inflammation and host defence.

References

1. The Immunopathology of Sepsis: Pathogen Recognition, Systemic Inflammation, the Compensatory Anti‐Inflammatory Response, and Regulatory T Cells. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2012).
2. KC-like chemokine as a biomarker of sepsis in dogs with pyometra. BMC Veterinary Research (2024).
3. Classification of Septic Shock Phenotypes Based on the Presence of Hypotension and Hyperlactatemia in Cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2021).
4. Plasma procalcitonin concentrations predict organ dysfunction and outcome in dogs with sepsis. BMC Veterinary Research (2018).
5. Fluid Therapy in Dogs and Cats With Sepsis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2021).