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Timothy J Gruffydd-Jones

Bio: Timothy J Gruffydd-Jones is an academic researcher from University of Bristol. The author has contributed to research in topics: CATS & Feline immunodeficiency virus. The author has an hindex of 44, co-authored 173 publications receiving 5693 citations.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A random sample of 2980 households in the UK in 2007 showed that 26% and 31 per cent of households owned cats and dogs, respectively, which significantly decreased the likelihood of cat ownership, and respondents aged 65 years or more were less likely to report that their household owned a cat than younger respondents.
Abstract: A random sample of 2980 households in the UK in 2007 showed that 26 per cent and 31 per cent of households owned cats and dogs, respectively. Households with gardens were more likely to own cats and dogs than households without gardens. Households in which someone was qualified to degree level were more likely to own cats and less likely to own dogs than other households. Cats were more likely to be owned by semi-urban/rural households and by female respondents. Dog ownership significantly decreased the likelihood of cat ownership, and respondents aged 65 years or more were less likely to report that their household owned a cat than younger respondents. Households with one or more dogs and children aged 11 to 15 years were more likely to own a cat than other households. The likelihood of dog ownership increased as household size increased. Dogs were more likely to be owned by rural households, and less likely to be owned by households with cats or children aged 10 years or younger. Female respondents and those aged less than 55 years were more likely to report dog ownership than other respondents. The estimated size (and 95 per cent confidence intervals) of the owned cat and dog populations in the UK in 2006 was 10,332,955 (9,395,642 to 11,270,269) cats and 10,522,186 (9,623,618 to 11,420,755) dogs.

217 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The case records of 106 cats with idiopathic cardiomyopathy that presented to the Feline Centre of the University of Bristol between September 1994 and September 2001 were reviewed retrospectively and a greater survival time was observed for cats with UCM when compared with those with HCM, RCM or DCM.
Abstract: The case records of 106 cats with idiopathic cardiomyopathy that presented to the Feline Centre of the University of Bristol between September 1994 and September 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) was the most common form seen (57.5%), followed by restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) (20.7%), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (10.4%) and unclassified cardiomyopathy (UCM) (10.4%). One cat showed echocardiographic changes compatible with a moderator band cardiomyopathy (MBCM). Most affected cats were domestic short hairs (DSH) (57.5%). The mean (+/-SD, range) age of cats with cardiomyopathy at presentation was 6.8 (4.3, 0.5-16) years, with an equal distribution of males and females. Clinical findings, electrocardiographic changes and radiographic abnormalities were also reviewed. The median survival time for 73 cats for which follow-up data was available was 300 days. A greater survival time was observed for cats with UCM (925 days) when compared with those with HCM (492 days), RCM (132 days) or DCM (11 days).

202 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Histopathological examination of the central nervous system revealed changes pathognomonic of the scrapie-like encephalopathies, including widespread vacuolation of the grey matter neuropil, vacUolation of neuronal perikarya and an astrocytic reaction.
Abstract: Naturally occurring transmissible spongiform encephalopathies have been recognised in sheep, man, mink, captive deer and cattle. Recently a similar disease was reported in a domestic cat. This paper describes the clinical and pathological findings in five cats with similar signs, including further observations on the original case. All the cats had a progressive, neurological disease involving locomotor disturbances, abnormal behaviour and, in most cases, altered sensory responses. Histopathological examination of the central nervous system revealed changes pathognomonic of the scrapie-like encephalopathies, including widespread vacuolation of the grey matter neuropil, vacuolation of neuronal perikarya and an astrocytic reaction.

171 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There was evidence that FHV, FCV and B bronchiseptica played a role in URTD, and the risk factors associated with the disease were less than excellent hygiene, contact with dogs with URTd, and larger numbers of cats in the cattery or household.
Abstract: A full history of the management practices and the prevalence of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) at 218 rescue shelters, breeding establishments and private households with five or more cats was recorded. Oropharyngeal and conjunctival swabs and blood samples were taken from 1748 cats. The prevalences of feline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydophila felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica were determined by PCR on swab samples. An ELISA was applied to determine the prevalence of antibodies to B bronchiseptica. The rates of detection by PCR of each pathogen in the cats in catteries with and without ongoing URTD were, respectively, FHV 16 per cent and 8 per cent; FCV 47 per cent and 29 per cent; C felis 10 per cent and 3 per cent; and B bronchiseptica 5 per cent and 1·3 per cent; the seroprevalences of B bronchiseptica were 61 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively. There was evidence that FHV, FCV and B bronchiseptica played a role in URTD. The risk factors associated with the disease were less than excellent hygiene, contact with dogs with URTD, and larger numbers of cats in the cattery or household.

155 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Examination under Wood's lamp had a positive predictive value and a negative predictive value of 94 per cent in determining M canis infection, and direct microscopy had positive and negative predictive values in determining the presence of dermatophytosis owing to the occurrence of false positive and false negative results.
Abstract: Between 1956 and 1991, 8349 samples from dogs and cats were received for investigation of suspected dermatophytosis, and 1368 (16 per cent) yielded positive cultures. Cats had a significantly higher proportion of positive cultures (26 per cent) than dogs (10 per cent), and of these Microsporum canis accounted for 92 per cent in cats and 65 per cent in dogs. The other isolates were diverse but mainly sylvatic dermatophytes, and M gypseum was isolated on only four occasions. Different breeds of dog and cat had significantly different prevalences of infection, with pedigree and long-haired cats, and Jack Russell and Yorkshire terrier dogs having a particularly high proportion of positive cultures. Animals less than one year old appeared to be predisposed to infection, but there was no apparent sex predisposition and no conclusive evidence of any seasonal variation in the incidence of the disease. In comparison with the results of dermatophyte culture, examination under Wood's lamp had a positive predictive value of 90 per cent and a negative predictive value of 94 per cent in determining M canis infection, and direct microscopy had positive and negative predictive values of 93 per cent in determining the presence of dermatophytosis. However, cultural examination alone was insufficient for the diagnosis of dermatophytosis owing to the occurrence of false positive and false negative results.

137 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The future use of prebiotics may allow species-level changes in the microbiota, an extrapolation into genera other than the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, and allow preferential use in disease-prone areas of the body.
Abstract: Prebiotics are non-digestible (by the host) food ingredients that have a beneficial effect through their selective metabolism in the intestinal tract. Key to this is the specificity of microbial changes. The present paper reviews the concept in terms of three criteria: (a) resistance to gastric acidity, hydrolysis by mammalian enzymes and gastrointestinal absorption; (b) fermentation by intestinal microflora; (c) selective stimulation of the growth and/or activity of intestinal bacteria associated with health and wellbeing. The conclusion is that prebiotics that currently fulfil these three criteria are fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides and lactulose, although promise does exist with several other dietary carbohydrates. Given the range of food vehicles that may be fortified by prebiotics, their ability to confer positive microflora changes and the health aspects that may accrue, it is important that robust technologies to assay functionality are used. This would include a molecular-based approach to determine flora changes. The future use of prebiotics may allow species-level changes in the microbiota, an extrapolation into genera other than the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, and allow preferential use in disease-prone areas of the body.

2,312 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
02 Oct 1997-Nature
TL;DR: It is shown that the strain of agent from cattle affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) produces a characteristic pattern of disease in mice that is retained after experimental passage through a variety of intermediate species, providing strong evidence that the same agent strain is involved in both BSE and vCJD.
Abstract: There are many strains of the agents that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or 'prion' diseases. These strains are distinguishable by their disease characteristics in experimentally infected animals, in particular the incubation periods and neuropathology they produce in panels of inbred mouse strains. We have shown that the strain of agent from cattle affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) produces a characteristic pattern of disease in mice that is retained after experimental passage through a variety of intermediate species. This BSE 'signature' has also been identified in transmissions to mice of TSEs of domestic cats and two exotic species of ruminant, providing the first direct evidence for the accidental spread of a TSE between species. Twenty cases of a clinically and pathologically atypical form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), referred to as 'new variant' CJD (vCJD), have been recognized in unusually young people in the United Kingdom, and a further case has been reported in France. This has raised serious concerns that BSE may have spread to humans, putatively by dietary exposure. Here we report the interim results of transmissions of sporadic CJD and vCJD to mice. Our data provide strong evidence that the same agent strain is involved in both BSE and vCJD.

1,957 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
24 Oct 1996-Nature
TL;DR: Strain characteristics revealed here suggest that the prion protein may itself encode disease phenotype, consistent with BSE being the source of this new disease.
Abstract: Strains of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are distinguished by differing physicochemical properties of PrPSc, the disease-related isoform of prion protein, which can be maintained on transmission to transgenic mice. 'New variant' Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) has strain characteristics distinct from other types of CJD and which resemble those of BSE transmitted to mice, domestic cat and macaque, consistent with BSE being the source of this new disease. Strain characteristics revealed here suggest that the prion protein may itself encode disease phenotype.

1,729 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 1963-Nature
TL;DR: Experimental NeurologyBy Prof. Paul Glees.
Abstract: Experimental Neurology By Prof Paul Glees Pp xii + 532 (Oxford: Clarendon Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1961) 75s net

1,559 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The appearance of a novel human prion disease, variant CJD, and the clear experimental evidence that it is caused by exposure to BSE has highlighted the need to understand the molecular basis of prion propagation, pathogenesis, andThe barriers limiting intermammalian transmission.
Abstract: ▪ Abstract Prion diseases are transmissible neurodegenerative conditions that include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie in animals. Prions appear to be composed principally or entirely of abnormal isoforms of a host-encoded glycoprotein, prion protein. Prion propagation involves recruitment of host cellular prion protein, composed primarily of α-helical structure, into a disease specific isoform rich in β-sheet structure. The existence of multiple prion strains has been difficult to explain in terms of a protein-only infections agent, but recent studies suggest that strain specific phenotypes can be encoded by different prion protein conformations and glycosylation patterns. The ability of a protein to encode phenotypic information has important biological implications. The appearance of a novel human prion disease, variant CJD, and the clear experimental evidence that it is caused by exposure to BSE has highlighted the need to understand the ...

1,284 citations