Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are among the most common infectious diseases of cats. Although vaccines are available for both viruses, identification and segregation of infected cats form the cornerstone for preventing new infections. Guidelines in this report have been developed for diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and management of FeLV and FIV infections. All cats should be tested for FeLV and FIV infections at appropriate intervals based on individual risk assessments. This includes testing at the time of acquisition, following exposure to an infected cat or a cat of unknown infection status, prior to vaccination against FeLV or FIV, prior to entering group housing, and when cats become sick. No test is 100% accurate at all times under all conditions; results should be interpreted along with the patient's health and risk factors. Retroviral tests can diagnose only infection, not clinical disease, and cats infected with FeLV or FIV may live for many years. A decision for euthanasia should never be based solely on whether or not the cat is infected. Vaccination against FeLV is highly recommended in kittens. In adult cats, antiretroviral vaccines are considered non-core and should be administered only if a risk assessment indicates they are appropriate. Few large controlled studies have been performed using antiviral or immunomodulating drugs for the treatment of naturally infected cats. More research is needed to identify best practices to improve long-term outcomes following retroviral infections in cats.

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2008 American Association of Feline Practitioners' feline retrovirus management guidelines

Background The number of pet cats is increasing in most countries, often outnumbering pet dogs, yet cats receive less veterinary care than their canine counterparts.1 Clients state the difficulty o...

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/j.jfms.2011.03.012

AAFP and ISFM feline-friendly handling guidelines.

To assess clinical signs and relevance of osteoarthritis (OA) in cats, the radiographic prevalence of OA in the appendicular skeleton of 100 client-owned cats (≥ 6 years old) was assessed. Possible associations between radiographic OA, clinical locomotor system examination, and owner-perceived behavioural changes were evaluated. OA was most prevalent in the shoulders, elbows, hips and tarsal joints with 61% of cats having OA in at least one joint and 48% in more than one joint. Overall, clinical examination of the larger peripheral joints had the highest sensitivity and specificity for radiographic OA. Regression analysis showed age to be related to OA (P = 0.002), as were decreased mobility and grooming (P = 0.008), although there was a correlation with age. Finally, increased inappropriate elimination was associated with OA (P = 0.046). It was concluded that the prevalence of OA in cats is strikingly high and increases with age. OA in cats seems to be associated with behavioural changes.

Cross-sectional study of the prevalence and clinical features of osteoarthritis in 100 cats.

As efforts to reduce the overpopulation and euthanasia of unwanted and unowned dogs and cats have increased, greater attention has been focused on spay-neuter programs throughout the United States. Because of the wide range of geographic and demographic needs, a wide variety of programs have been developed to increase delivery of spay-neuter services to targeted populations of animals, including stationary and mobile clinics, MASH-style operations, shelter services, feral cat programs, and services provided through private practitioners. In an effort to ensure a consistent level of care, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians convened a task force of veterinarians to develop veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs. The guidelines consist of recommendations for preoperative care (eg, patient transport and housing, patient selection, client communication, record keeping, and medical considerations), anesthetic management (eg, equipment, monitoring, perioperative considerations, anesthetic protocols, and emergency preparedness), surgical care (eg, operating-area environment; surgical-pack preparation; patient preparation; surgeon preparation; surgical procedures for pediatric, juvenile, and adult patients; and identification of neutered animals), and postoperative care (eg, analgesia, recovery, and release). These guidelines are based on current principles of anesthesiology, critical care medicine, microbiology, and surgical practice, as determined from published evidence and expert opinion. They represent acceptable practices that are attainable in spay-neuter programs.

/pdf/the-association-of-shelter-veterinarians-veterinary-medical-a1ixfh1wsc.pdf

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs

Objectives: Quality-of-life (QOL) assessment is a novel field in veterinary medicine. It shares similarities with the more established fields of human QOL assessment and animal welfare science and could prove similarly useful.



Methods: This paper draws on existing literature on human QOL assessment, animal welfare, philosophy and animal QOL assessment.



Results: It provides practical recommendations for QOL assessment in veterinary practice and in veterinary research on what should be assessed, how it should be assessed and who should assess it.



Clinical Significance: These should assist veterinarians intending to develop their use QOL assessment.

Assessment of companion animal quality of life in veterinary practice and research.

BACKGROUND
Liposomal local anaesthetic solutions may provide extended duration analgesia postoperatively but have not been assessed following intra-peritoneal local infiltration in any species.


OBJECTIVES
To evaluate two doses of 1.33% liposomal bupivacaine (LB) versus 0.75% bupivacaine HCL (BHCl) for analgesia following laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares.


STUDY DESIGN
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Fifteen healthy Quarter Horse mares (age 2-20 years) with normal bilateral ovarian palpation and appearance were enrolled. Horses were restrained in standing stocks and administered an α-2 agonist, butorphanol, and flunixin meglumine, followed by a variable rate infusion of sedation with α-2 agonists. Bilateral paralumbar fossa ovariectomies were performed. Treatment with either 30 mL 0.75% BHCl followed by 20 or 40mL LB 13.3% (LB20, LB40) volume expanded with saline to 80mL total (n=6/group) or 80mL BHCl alone (n=3, BCHL) was infused around incision sites and each mesovarium (LB or BHCl) prior to ovariectomy. Horses were monitored 72h by physical examination, algometry, and pain scoring (Composite Pain Scale by Bussieres et al., Horse Grimace Scale). Abdominocentesis with peritoneal fluid analysis was performed at 72h.


RESULTS
Analgesia achieved with all treatment protocols allowed completion of ovariectomy procedures. Pressure algometry scores were lower in BHCl-treated horses versus both LB groups overall. Pain scores were improved with LB treated horses in a dose-dependent fashion (Horse Grimace Scale scores LB40<LB20<BHCL; Composite Pain Scale scores LB40<BHCL, LB20<BHCL, BHCL and LB20 did not differ). Peritoneal fluid total protein was lower in LB40 vs LB20 and BHCL horses. No complications from LB administration were appreciated.


MAIN LIMITATIONS
Small patient sample size, lack of follow-up past 72h or histopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Analgesia duration was extended, and pain scores improved postoperatively with LB vs. BHCl in a dose-dependent fashion. Further clinical evaluation of extended duration local anaesthetics in horses for improved postoperative pain management is warranted. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Liposomal bupivacaine is both safe and effective when administered via local infiltration at surgical site and mesovarium for laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares.

Introduction Multiple biological therapies for orthopedic injuries are marketed to veterinarians, despite a lack of rigorous comparative biological activity data to guide informed decisions in selecting a most effective compound. Therefore, the goal of this study was to use relevant bioassay systems to directly compare the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity of three commonly used orthobiological therapies (OTs): mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), autologous conditioned serum (ACS), and platelet rich plasma (PRP). Methods Equine monocyte-derived macrophages were used as the readout system to compare therapies, including cytokine production and transcriptomic responses. Macrophages were stimulated with IL-1ß and treated 24 h with OTs, washed and cultured an additional 24 h to generate supernatants. Secreted cytokines were measured by multiplex immunoassay and ELISA. To assess global transcriptomic responses to treatments, RNA was extracted from macrophages and subjected to full RNA sequencing, using an Illumina-based platform. Data analysis included comparison of differentially expressed genes and pathway analysis in treated vs. untreated macrophages. Results All treatments reduced production of IL-1ß by macrophages. Secretion of IL-10 was highest in MSC-CM treated macrophages, while PRP lysate and ACS resulted in greater downregulation of IL-6 and IP-10. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that ACS triggered multiple inflammatory response pathways in macrophages based on GSEA, while MSC generated significant downregulation of inflammatory pathways, and PRP lysate induced a mixed immune response profile. Key downregulated genes in MSC-treated cultures included type 1 and type 2 interferon response, TNF-α and IL-6. PRP lysate cultures demonstrated downregulation of inflammation-related genes IL-1RA, SLAMF9, ENSECAG00000022247 but concurrent upregulation of TNF-α, IL-2 signaling, and Myc targets. ACS induced upregulation of inflammatory IL-2 signaling, TNFα and KRAS signaling and hypoxia, but downregulation of MTOR signaling and type 1 interferon signaling. Discussion These findings, representing the first comprehensive look at immune response pathways for popular equine OTs, reveal distinct differences between therapies. These studies address a critical gap in our understanding of the relative immunomodulatory properties of regenerative therapies commonly used in equine practice to treat musculoskeletal disease and will serve as a platform from which further in vivo comparisons may build.

/pdf/distinct-differences-in-immunological-properties-of-equine-19ztnfxr.pdf

Distinct differences in immunological properties of equine orthobiologics revealed by functional and transcriptomic analysis using an activated macrophage readout system

Gregg M. Griffenhagen

Papers

Liposomal bupivacaine is both safe and effective when administered via local infiltration at surgical site and mesovarium for laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares.

Distinct differences in immunological properties of equine orthobiologics revealed by functional and transcriptomic analysis using an activated macrophage readout system