Abstract: The present invention provides a canine S100 calcium binding protein useful in diagnosing an inflammatory disease. Also provided are methods of diagnosing an inflammatory disease by assaying a biological sample for the canine S100 calcium binding protein. The invention further provides antibodies specifically binding to the canine S100 calcium binding protein and related kits comprising the antibodies.

Abstract: A novel form of lipase, namely feline pancreatic lipase (also termed feline classical pancreatic lipase) has an N-terminal amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO. 1. A method of purifying this lipase includes collecting pancreatic tissue from cats, delipidating the pancreatic tissue to produce a delipidated pancreatic extract, extracting pancreatic lipase from the delipidated pancreatic extract, and eluting the extracted pancreatic lipase through various columns. This lipase can be used for measuring pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in serum thereby diagnosing pancreatitis in cats. To do so, antiserum against feline pancreatic lipase is prepared, and immunoassays are then performed in serum samples using this antiserum. In the event that increased concentration of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity above the control range is detected in the serum, the cat might have pancreatitis.