Bile composition of healthy cats and cats with suspected hepatobiliary disease using point-of-care analyzers: A prospective preliminary study.

Although hepatobiliary disease is common in cats, little is known about the bile composition in either these diseased states or in healthy cats. The objectives of this study were to evaluate several analytes from the bile of healthy cats and to investigate the usefulness of measuring these variables to predict bacterial cholangitis. Cats were prospectively enrolled and divided into 3 groups: 21 healthy cats (group 1) and 14 cats with suspected hepatobiliary disease: 9 without bacterial biliary infection (group 2) and 5 with bacterial biliary infection (group 3). Percutaneous ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis was conducted on each cat. Bile cytology and culture were carried out and bile was analyzed for pH, lactate, and glucose levels using several point-of-care (POC) devices. Reference values for several bile analytes in healthy cats were calculated and are presented in this study. Neither the pH (P = 0.88) nor the lactate concentration (P = 0.85) was significantly different among the 3 groups. Sodium concentration was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 2 (P < 0.05). Bile pH, lactate, and glucose levels were unable to predict the presence of a bacterial infection in the bile. Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.