Table_4_Combined Untargeted and Targeted Metabolomics Approaches Reveal Urinary Changes of Amino Acids and Energy Metabolism in Canine Babesiosis With Different Levels of Kidney Function.xlsx

Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease with a worldwide distribution, caused by the haemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. One of the most prevalent complication is acute kidney injury, and an early diagnosis of altered kidney function remains a challenge for veterinary practice. The aim of this study was to assess the urine metabolic profile from dogs with babesiosis and different degree of kidney function using untargeted and targeted MS-based metabolomics approaches. In this study, 22 dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis and 12 healthy dogs were included. Untargeted metabolomics approach identified 601 features with a differential abundance between the healthy group and groups of dogs with babesiosis and different level of kidney function, with 27 of them identified as a match to known standards; while targeted approach identified 17 metabolites with significantly different concentrations between the groups. A pattern of significantly altered metabolites referring to the inflammatory host response, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism modulation in babesiosis was presented. Our findings have demonstrated that kidney dysfunction accompanying canine babesiosis was associated with changes in amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and biochemical pathways such as urea cycle and ammonia detoxication. These findings will enable the inclusion of urinary markers for the detection and monitoring of renal damage in babesiosis, as well as in other similar diseases.

犬巴贝斯虫病（Canine babesiosis）是一种全球分布的蜱传疾病，由巴贝斯虫属（Babesia）的血寄生原虫引发。该病最常见的并发症之一为急性肾损伤（acute kidney injury），而早期诊断肾功能异常仍是兽医临床面临的一大挑战。本研究旨在利用非靶向代谢组学（untargeted metabolomics）与靶向代谢组学（targeted metabolomics）两种基于质谱（MS-based）的代谢组学方法，分析巴贝斯虫病患犬及不同肾功能受损程度犬只的尿液代谢谱。本研究共纳入22只自然感染犬巴贝斯虫（Babesia canis）的患犬与12只健康对照犬。非靶向代谢组学分析鉴定出601个在健康组与巴贝斯虫病患犬（伴不同程度肾功能异常）组间丰度存在显著差异的代谢特征，其中27个可与已知标准品匹配；靶向代谢组学分析则鉴定出17个组间浓度存在显著差异的代谢物。本研究揭示了巴贝斯虫病中与宿主炎症反应、氧化应激及能量代谢调控相关的代谢物显著改变模式。研究结果表明，伴随犬巴贝斯虫病出现的肾功能异常，与氨基酸代谢、能量代谢、脂肪酸代谢以及尿素循环、氨解毒等生化通路的改变密切相关。本研究结果可为巴贝斯虫病及其他类似疾病的肾脏损伤检测与监测提供尿液标志物候选方向。