The Current and Future of Acute Phase Protein Assays in Dogs and Cats: A Dialog from the Experts

Acute phase proteins are liver-released proteins that fluctuate in blood serum concentration during an acute phase reaction to infection or inflammation. Clinicians need accurate inflammation markers to assess the condition of small animals. In Japan, CRP measurement is a routine in-house test, but knowledge of other acute phase proteins like serum amyloid A (SAA) and user-friendliness of tests are lacking, making diagnostics less advanced. This article features a dialog between Dr. José Cerón and Dr. Koichi Ohno, who are both known for their studies on acute phase proteins. They discuss the acute phase proteins characteristics, measurement significance, challenges, and future prospects.