Showing papers on "CATS published in 2007"

Inhibition of spinal microglial cathepsin S for the reversal of neuropathic pain

Abstract: A recent major conceptual advance has been the recognition of the importance of immune system–neuronal interactions in the modulation of brain function, one example of which is spinal pain processing in neuropathic states. Here, we report that in peripheral nerve-injured rats, the lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin S (CatS) is critical for the maintenance of neuropathic pain and spinal microglia activation. After injury, CatS was exclusively expressed by activated microglia in the ipsilateral dorsal horn, where expression peaked at day 7, remaining high on day 14. Intrathecal delivery of an irreversible CatS inhibitor, morpholinurea-leucine-homophenylalanine-vinyl phenyl sulfone (LHVS), was antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic in neuropathic rats and attenuated spinal microglia activation. Consistent with a pronociceptive role of endogenous CatS, spinal intrathecal delivery of rat recombinant CatS (rrCatS) induced hyperalgesia and allodynia in naive rats and activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in spinal cord microglia. A bioinformatics approach revealed that the transmembrane chemokine fractalkine (FKN) is a potential substrate for CatS cleavage. We show that rrCatS incubation reduced the levels of cell-associated FKN in cultured sensory neurons and that a neutralizing antibody against FKN prevented both FKN- and CatS-induced allodynia, hyperalgesia, and p38 MAPK activation. Furthermore, rrCatS induced allodynia in wild-type but not CX3CR1-knockout mice. We suggest that under conditions of increased nociception, microglial CatS is responsible for the liberation of neuronal FKN, which stimulates p38 MAPK phosphorylation in microglia, thereby activating neurons via the release of pronociceptive mediators.

Insulin sensitivity, fat distribution, and adipocytokine response to different diets in lean and obese cats before and after weight loss

Abstract: Obesity is a major health problem in cats and a risk factor for diabetes. It has been postulated that cats are always gluconeogenic and that the rise in obesity might be related to high dietary carbohydrates. We examined the effect of a high-carbohydrate/low-protein (HC) and a high-protein/low-carbohydrate (HP) diet on glucose and fat metabolism during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, adipocytokines, and fat distribution in 12 lean and 16 obese cats before and after weight loss. Feeding diet HP led to greater heat production in lean but not in obese cats. Regardless of diet, obese cats had markedly decreased glucose effectiveness and insulin resistance, but greater suppression of nonesterified fatty acids during the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp was seen in obese cats on diet HC compared with lean cats on either diet or obese cats on diet HP. In contrast to humans, obese cats had abdominal fat equally distributed subcutaneously and intra-abdominally. Weight loss normalized insulin sensitivity; however, increased nonesterified fatty acid suppression was maintained and fat loss was less in cats on diet HC. Adiponectin was negatively and leptin positively correlated with fat mass. Lean cats and cats during weight loss, but not obese cats, adapted to the varying dietary carbohydrate/protein content with changes in substrate oxidation. We conclude that diet HP is beneficial through maintenance of normal insulin sensitivity of fat metabolism in obese cats, facilitating the loss of fat during weight loss, and increasing heat production in lean cats. These data also show that insulin sensitivity of glucose and fat metabolism can be differentially regulated in cats.

Prognostic Factors in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract: Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in cats. Hypothesis: Some baseline variables are associated with shorter survival times in cats with CKD. Animals: Client-owned cats. Methods: Cats with CKD with initial plasma creatinine concentration ≤2.0 mg/dL and urine specific gravity (USG) ≤1.025 were recruited into a prospective clinical trial that compared benazepril with a placebo. We describe baseline variables in 190 cats and their influence on renal survival time in the placebo group (95 cats), which was followed for up to 1,097 days. Renal survival time was defined as the time from initiation of therapy to the need for parenteral fluid therapy, euthanasia, or death related to renal failure. Results: Of the 95 cats treated with a placebo, 58 were censored and 37 reached the renal survival end point (died, n = 0; euthanized, n = 17; parenteral fluids, n = 12; parenteral fluids followed by euthanasia, n = 8). Increased plasma creatinine concentration, increased urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC), and increased blood leukocyte count were significantly (P < .01) associated with a shorter renal survival time and were independent risk factors. Increased concentrations of plasma phosphate or urea, and lower blood hemoglobin concentration or hematocrit were significantly (P < .01) associated with a shorter renal survival time and were dependent risk factors, because they also were significantly (P < .01) correlated with plasma creatinine concentration at baseline. Clinical Importance: Several variables were significantly associated with a shorter renal survival time in cats with CKD.

Urinary tract infections in cats with hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease

Abstract: The prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in cats with hyperthyroidism (n=90), diabetes mellitus (DM) (n=57) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n=77) was evaluated retrospectively. It was found to be 12% in cats with hyperthyroidism and DM, respectively, and 22% in cats with CKD. Associations between UTIs and clinical signs, biochemical markers in serum and urinalyses were investigated. Many of the cats with UTIs had no clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease or changes in their laboratory values indicative of infection. Therefore, a urinalysis alone should not be used to exclude UTIs in these cats. UTIs are relatively common in cats with hyperthyroidism, DM and CKD, and urine cultures are recommended as part of the basic diagnostic plan for cats suspected of suffering from these conditions.

Role of the cysteine protease cathepsin S in neuropathic hyperalgesia

Abstract: Using a gene expression analysis approach we found that the mRNA encoding the lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin S (CatS) was up-regulated in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following peripheral nerve injury. CatS protein was expressed in infiltrating macrophages in DRG and near the site of injury. At both sites CatS expression progressively increased from day 3 to day 14 after injury. In naive rats, intraplantar injection of activated rat recombinant (rr) CatS (0.3, 1 μg/rat) induced a mechanical hyperalgesia that developed within half-an-hour, diminished by 3 h and was absent after 24 h. Activated rrCathepsin B (CatB) and non-activated rrCatS injected intraplantarly at the same or higher doses than activated rrCatS had no effect on rat nociceptive thresholds. In nerve-injured rats, mechanical hyperalgesia, but not allodynia, was significantly reversed for up to 3 h by systemic administration of a non-brain penetrant, irreversible CatS inhibitor (LHVS, 3–30 mg/kg s.c.). Depletion of peripheral macrophages by intravenous injection of liposome encapsulate clodronate (1 ml, 5 mg/ml) partially reduced established mechanical hyperalgesia but not allodynia, and abolished the anti-hyperalgesic effect of LHVS. Our results demonstrate a pro-nociceptive effect of CatS and indicate that endogenous CatS released by peripheral macrophages contributes to the maintenance of neuropathic hyperalgesia following nerve injury.

Elevated PBDE Levels in Pet Cats: Sentinels for Humans?

Abstract: Co-incident with the introduction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) into household materials nearly 30 years ago, feline hyperthyroidism (FH) has increased dramatically. Risk of developing FH is associated with indoor living and consumption of canned cat food. We hypothesized that increases in FH were, in part, related to increased PBDE exposure, with key routes of exposure being diet and ingestion of house dust. This study was designed to determine whether body burdens of PBDEs in hyperthyroid (HT) cats were greater than that of young or sick non-HT cats. Serum samples and clinical information were collected from 23 cats. Serum and dry and canned cat food were analyzed for PBDEs. A spectrum of BDE congeners was detected in all cats, with BDE-47, 99, 207, and 209 predominating. Mean ± standard error (and median) cumulative ΣPBDE serum concentrations of young, old non-HT, and HT cats were 4.3 ± 1.5 (3.5), 10.5 ± 3.5 (5.9), and 12.7 ± 3.9 (6.2) ng/mL, respectively. Due to high variability within eac...

Evaluation of trends in urolith composition in cats: 5,230 cases (1985–2004)

Abstract: Objective—To determine trends in urolith composition in cats. Design—Retrospective case series. Sample Population—5,230 uroliths. Procedures—The laboratory database for the Gerald V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory was searched for all urolith submissions from cats from 1985 through 2004. Submission forms were reviewed, and each cat's age, sex, breed, and stone location were recorded. Results—Minerals identified included struvite, calcium oxalate, urates, dried solidified blood, apatite, brushite, cystine, silica, potassium magnesium pyrophosphate, xanthine, and newberyite. During the past 20 years, the ratio of calcium oxalate stones to struvite stones increased significantly. When only the last 3 years of the study period were included, the percentage of struvite stones (44%) was higher than the percentage of calcium oxa-late stones (40%). The most common location for both types of uroliths was the bladder. The number of calcium oxalate-containing calculi in the upper portion of the urinary tract...

Neurotrophic factors promote and enhance locomotor recovery in untrained spinalized cats

Abstract: In spinal cats, locomotor recovery without rehabilitation is limited, but weight-bearing stepping returns with treadmill training. We studied whether neurotrophins administered to the injury site also restores locomotion in untrained spinal cats and whether combining both neurotrophins and training further improves recovery. Ordinary rat fibroblasts or a mixture of fibroblasts secreting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) (Fb-NTF) were grafted into T12 spinal transection sites. Cats with each type of transplant were divided into two groups: one receiving daily training and the other receiving no training. As expected, trained cats with/without neurotrophin-producing transplants could step on the treadmill. Untrained cats without neurotrophin-producing transplants could not locomote. However, untrained cats with neurotrophin-secreting transplants performed plantar weight-bearing stepping at speeds up to 0.8 m/s as early as 2 wk after transection. Locomotor capability and stance lengths in these animals were similar to those in animals receiving training alone, suggesting that administration of BDNF/NT-3 was equivalent to treadmill training in restoring locomotion in chronically spinalized cats. Cats receiving both interventions showed the greatest improvement in step length. Anatomical evaluation indicated that all transections were complete and that axons did not enter the cord caudal to the graft. Thus BDNF/NT-3 secreting fibroblasts were equivalent to training in their ability to engage the locomotor circuitry in chronic spinal cats. Furthermore, the rapid time-course of recovery and the absence of axonal growth through the transplants indicate that the restorative mechanisms were not related to supraspinal axonal growth. Finally, the results show that transplants beneficial in rodents are applicable to larger mammals.

Prevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus infection in domesticated and feral cats in eastern Australia

Abstract: Serum samples from 340 pet cats presented to three inner city clinics in Sydney Australia, 68 feral cats from two separate colonies in Sydney, and 329 cattery-confined pedigree and domestic cats in eastern Australia, were collected over a 2-year period and tested for antibodies directed against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) using immunomigration (Agen FIV Rapid Immunomigration test) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods (Snap Combo feline leukaemia virus antigen/FIV antibody test kit, IDEXX Laboratories). Western blot analysis was performed on samples in which there was discrepancy between the results. Information regarding breed, age, gender, housing arrangement and health status were recorded for all pet and cattery-confined cats, while the estimated age and current physical condition were recorded for feral cats. The FIV prevalence in the two feral cat populations was 21% and 25%. The majority of FIV-positive cats were male (60-80%). The FIV prevalence in cattery-confined cats was nil. The prevalence of FIV in the pet cat sample population was 8% (27/340) with almost equal prevalence in 'healthy' (13/170) and 'systemically unwell' (14/170) cats. The age of FIV-positive pet cats ranged from 3 to 19 years; all FIV-positive cats were domestic shorthairs with outside access. The median age of FIV-positive pet cats (11 years) was significantly greater than the median age of FIV-negative pet cats (7.5 years: P<0.05). The prevalence of FIV infection in male pet cats (21/172; 12%) was three times that in female pet cats (6/168; 4%; P<0.05). With over 80% of this pet cat population given outside access and continued FIV infection present in the feral population, this study highlights the need to develop rapid, accurate and cost-effective diagnostic methods that are not subject to false positives created by concurrent vaccination against FIV. This is especially important in re-homing stray cats within animal shelters and monitoring the efficacy of the new vaccine, which has not been challenged against Australian strains. The absence of FIV within cattery-confined cats highlights the value in routine screening and indoor lifestyles. This study provides cogent baseline FIV prevalences in three cat subpopulations which can be used for appraising potential disease associations with FIV in Australia.

Molecular characterisation of the gut microflora of healthy and inflammatory bowel disease cats using fluorescence in situ hybridisation with special reference to Desulfovibrio spp

Abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common cause of chronic large bowel diarrhoea in cats. Although the aetiology of IBD is unknown, an immune-mediated response to a luminal antigen is thought to be involved. As knowledge concerning the colonic microflora of cats is limited and requires further investigation, the purpose of this study was to determine the presence of specific bacterial groups in normal and IBD cats, and the potential role they play in the health of the host. Total bacterial populations, Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium histolyticum subgp., Lactobacillus-Enterococcus subgp. and Desulfovibrio spp. were enumerated in 34 healthy cats and 11 IBD cats using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. The study is one of the first to show the presence of Desulfovibrio in cats. Total bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp. and Bacteroides spp. counts were all significantly higher in healthy cats when compared with IBD cats, whereas Desulfovibrio spp. (producers of toxic sulphides) numbers were found to be significantly higher in colitic cats. The information obtained from this study suggests that modulation of bacterial flora by increasing bifidobacteria and decreasing Desulfovibrio spp. may be beneficial to cats with IBD. Dietary intervention may be an important aspect of their treatment.

Subclinical infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in cats.

Abstract: Avian influenza A virus subtype H5N1 was transmitted to domestic cats by close contact with infected birds. Virusspecific nucleic acids were detected in pharyngeal swabs from 3 of 40 randomly sampled cats from a group of 194 animals (day 8 after contact with an infected swan). All cats were transferred to a quarantine station and monitored for clinical signs, virus shedding, and antibody production until day 50. Despite unfamiliar handling, social distress, and the presence of other viral and nonviral pathogens that caused illness and poor health and compromised the immune systems, clinical signs of influenza did not develop in any of the cats. There was no evidence of horizontal transmission to other cats because antibodies against H5N1 virus developed in only 2 cats.

Mutations within the FGF5 gene are associated with hair length in cats.

Abstract: Hereditary hair length variability in mice and dogs is caused by mutations within the fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feline FGF5 orthologue as a functional candidate gene for the long hair phenotype in cats, which is recessive to short hair. We amplified the feline FGF5 cDNA and characterised two alternatively spliced transcripts by RT-PCR. Comparative cDNA and genomic DNA sequencing of long- and short-haired cats revealed four non-synonymous polymorphisms in the FGF5 coding sequence. A missense mutation (AM412646:c.194C>A) was found in the homozygous state in 25 long-haired Somali, Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll and crossbred cats. Fifty-five short-haired cats had zero or one copy of this allele. Additionally, we found perfect co-segregation of the c.194C>A mutation within two independent pedigrees segregating for hair length. A second FGF5 exon 1 missense mutation (AM412646:c.182T>A) was found exclusively in long-haired Norwegian Forest cats. The c.182T>A mutation probably represents a second FGF5 mutation responsible for long hair in cats. In addition to the c.194C>A mutation, a frameshift mutation (AM412646:c.474delT) was found with a high frequency in the long-haired Maine Coon breed. Finally, a missense mutation (AM412646:c.475A>C) was also associated with the long-haired phenotype in some breeds. However, as one short-haired cat was homozygous for this polymorphism, it is unlikely that it has a functional role in the determination of hair length.

Circadian rhythm of intraocular pressure in cats

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the rhythm of intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy domestic cats with no evidence of ocular disease and to analyze the influence of photoperiod, age, gender and ocular diseases on diurnal-nocturnal variations of cat IOP. Animals All animals were Domestic Short-haired cats; 30 were without systemic or ocular diseases, classified as follows: 12 male intact adult cats, five intact adult female, five adult spayed female, and eight male cats; the latter were less than 1 year of age. In addition, five adult cats with uveitis and three adult cats with secondary glaucoma were included. Procedure IOP was assessed with a Tono-Pen XL at 3-h intervals over a 24-h period in 12 healthy adult male cats kept under a photoperiod of 12-h light/12-h darkness for 2 weeks. Eight animals from the same group were then kept under constant darkness for 48 h, and IOP was measured at 3-h intervals for the following 24 h. In addition, IOP was assessed at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. in five intact females, five spayed females, and in eight young cats, as well as in five adult cats with uveitis and three glaucomatous cats. Results Consistent, daily variations in IOP were observed in animals exposed to a light-dark cycle, with maximal values during the night. In cats exposed to constant darkness, maximal values of IOP were observed at subjective night. Differences of IOP values between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. (diurnal-nocturnal variations) persisted in intact females, spayed females, and young animals, as well as in uveitic and glaucomatous eyes. Conclusions The present results indicate a daily rhythm of cat IOP, which appears to persist in constant darkness, suggesting some level of endogenous circadian control. In addition, daily variations of cat IOP seem to be independent of gender, age, or ocular diseases (particularly uveitis and glaucoma).

Sperm morphology in the domestic cat, and its relation with fertility : A retrospective study

Abstract: Knowledge about normal ranges in semen quality and the association between sperm morphology and fertility in felids is limited. The aims of this retrospective study were to (1) define a normal spermiogram in cats; (2) evaluate possible effects of season, age and breed on sperm morphology; and (3) evaluate the relationship between sperm morphology and fertility. Semen samples collected by electroejaculation from 52 cats were evaluated for sperm morphology. The cats constituted two groups: a general population of cats (n = 48) and cats examined because of poor breeding records (n = 4). The general population was divided into household (n = 20), pedigree (n = 19) and colony cats (n = 9) and into three age classes, or=60 months. The median percentage of normal spermatozoa in the general population was 44.0% (range 1.0-91.0%). Criteria were tentatively set for what was considered a normal spermiogram. The mean percentage of normal spermatozoa was higher during February to July than during August to January (p < 0.05). Pedigree cats had a lower mean percentage of normal spermatozoa than did household cats (p < 0.05). Age had no effect on the percentage of normal spermatozoa but was positively correlated with the percentage of proximal droplets. Of the cats with <40% normal spermatozoa (n = 19), all those with known breeding records (n = 11) had produced litters. The four cats examined because of poor breeding results had higher percentages of different sperm abnormalities than tentatively stipulated for the normal spermiogram. In two of these cats both sperm morphology and fertility changed over time.

Effect of Feline Interferon‐Omega on the Survival Time and Quality of Life of Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Abstract: Background There is no therapy with proven efficacy to treat cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Hypothesis Feline interferon-omega (FeIFN-omega) prolongs survival time and increases quality of life in cats with FIP. Animals Thirty-seven privately owned cats were subjects of this study. Methods The study was performed as a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Feline infectious peritonitis was confirmed by histology or immunostaining of feline coronavirus (FCoV) antigen in effusion or tissue macrophages or both. The cats were randomly selected for treatment with either FeIFN-omega or a placebo. All cats received adjunctive treatment with glucocorticoids and antibiotics and passive immunization with Feliserin. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the survival time of cats treated with FeIFN-omega versus placebo or in any other variable evaluated (with the exception of the lymphocyte count). The cats survived between 3 and 200 days (median, 9 days). There was only 1 long-term survivor (> 3 months), and the cat was in the FeIFN-omega group. Conclusion and clinical relevance No effect of FeIFN-omega on survival time or quality of life could be demonstrated in this study.

Use of conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the epidemiology of hemoplasma infections in anemic and nonanemic cats.

Abstract: Background: The goals of this study were to develop and apply conventional (c) and real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’ (Mhp), and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ (Mhm) to blood samples of cats to determine the epidemiology of these infections in cats. Hypothesis: Cats are infected with >2 hemoplasma species, and organism load correlates with disease induced by these organisms. Animals: Blood samples from 263 anemic and nonanemic cats were used. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. Results: Forty-seven (18%) samples were positive. Three samples (1%) yielded 170 base pair cPCR products, 1 of which was positive for Mhf using real-time PCR. Forty-four samples (17%) yielded 193 base pair cPCR products, 40 of which were positive for Mhm using real-time PCR. Organism loads ranged from 375 × 106/mL to 6.9 × 106/mL of blood. Sequencing of cPCR products from samples testing negative using real-time PCR identified 2 Mhp-like sequences, 1 Mhm-like sequence, and 1 sequence resembling ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis.’ Cats infected with Mhm were less likely to be anemic than uninfected cats. Older age, outdoor exposure, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) seropositivity, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and stomatitis were associated with Mhm infection. Cats from the Sacramento Valley were more often infected with Mhm than cats from the San Francisco bay area. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Cats may be infected with 4 hemoplasma species. The association between Mhm infection, FIV, and SCC may reflect outdoor roaming status of infected cats. The clustered distribution of infection suggests an arthropod vector in transmission.

Feline Acromegaly: An Underdiagnosed Endocrinopathy?

Abstract: Background: Feline acromegaly has been reported infrequently in the veterinary literature and current knowledge of this endocrinopathy is based on limited numbers of animals with relatively advanced clinical signs. Hypothesis: This study was undertaken to screen diabetic cats for the presence of acromegaly. Animals: Diabetic cats with variable control examined by general practitioners in the United Kingdom. Methods: Blood samples were screened for the possible presence of acromegaly with basal serum concentrations of insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and, when available, feline growth hormone (fGH). In patients with markedly increased IGF-1 concentrations intracranial computed tomography (CT) was offered, and in selected cats additional imaging was performed. Results: IGF-1 was determined in 184 variably controlled diabetic cats; 59 cats had markedly increased IGF-1 concentrations (.1,000 ng/mL; reference interval, 208–443 ng/mL). Eighteen cats subsequently were examined, and acromegaly was confirmed in 17 cats. Notable findings included absence of a detectable pituitary mass lesion in some affected cats regardless of whether CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used. Hypertension was not found to be a complication in the evaluated cats and respiratory stridor was more prevalent than previously reported. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Measurement of IGF-1, growth hormone (GH), or both is useful in the diagnosis of acromegaly in cats.

Clinical signs, treatments, and outcome in cats with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: 20 cases (1990–2004)

Abstract: Objective—To characterize demographics and clinical signs and evaluate outcomes of treatments in cats with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder. Design—Retrospective case series. Animals—20 cats with TCC. Procedures—Medical records of 20 cats with a bladder mass identified as a TCC that were examined at 2 veterinary institutions between 1990 and 2004 were evaluated. Signalment, treatments, and outcome were assessed. Results—Breeds included domestic short hair (n = 14), long hair (2), and medium hair (2) cats, Siamese (1), and Abyssinian (1). All cats had been neutered at an early age (< 1 year old; 13 neutered males and 7 spayed females). The median age at diagnosis of TCC was 15.2 years. The trigone region was affected in 9 cats. Treatments included piroxicam administration, chemotherapy, or surgery as single interventions or in combination; 6 cats were not treated. At the time of diagnosis, 3 cats had pulmonary metastasis and 1 cat had metastasis to local lymph nodes. Median survival...

Response of nineteen cats with nasal lymphoma to radiation therapy and chemotherapy

Abstract: The records of 19 cats treated for stage I nasal lymphoma with radiation therapy and chemotherapy were reviewed to determine response to therapy, treatment outcome and possible prognostic indicators. All cats were treated with megavoltage radiation therapy to a total dose ranging from 22 to 48 Gy (median dose = 42 Gy). All cats were prescribed at least 6 months of multiagent chemotherapy. The median progression-free interval for all cats was 945 days (31 months). Two cats did not achieve clinical remission. Of 17 cats evaluable for relapse, 10 (58.8%) were progression free during the entire follow-up period. Four cats (23.5%) suffered local recurrence, while three (17.6%) experienced distant relapse. The median survival time was 955 days (31.4 months). The only variable found to have a significant negative impact on survival was destruction of the cribriform plate before therapy (P= 0.002). The long progression free and survival times reported here indicate that cats with stage I nasal lymphoma treated with aggressive local and systemic therapy can have a favorable outcome when compared with other anatomic forms of lymphoma. Despite strong clinical responses to the multimodality therapy used, the fact that three (17.6%) cats relapsed distantly supports the recommendation that treatment with radiation therapy alone is insufficient until further prospective studies can be performed.

Complications and long-term outcomes of the ligation of congenital portosystemic shunts in 49 cats

Abstract: Only two of 49 cats undergoing surgical ligation of congenital extra- and intrahepatic portosystemic shunts died perioperatively, a mortality rate comparable with the mortality rates of dogs undergoing surgical attenuation of congenital portosystemic shunts and cats in which the shunts are attenuated with an ameroid ring constrictor. Thirty (83 per cent) of the 36 cats for which long-term information was available were still alive at a median follow-up period of 47 months (range six to 105 months); the outcome was excellent (no clinical signs) in 20 of them (median follow-up 37 months, range six to 105 months) and good (minimal clinical signs) in seven (median follow-up 39 months, range 10 to 73 months) and none of these 27 cats was on any long-term medication or special diet. The only major cause of morbidity was the development of neurological signs in 18 (37 per cent) of the cats. These included seizures and a wide variety of other neurological signs, and their development and persistence was not affected by the presence of preoperative seizures, the type of shunt, the degree of shunt attenuation or the age of the cat. The serum concentrations of ammonia and preprandial bile acids were normal or significantly below normal in the cats with neurological signs. Liver histopathology was similar in the cats with and without neurological signs. Ten (56 per cent) of the 18 cats that developed neurological signs recovered normal neurological function long term.

Pericardial Effusion in Cats: A Retrospective Study of Clinical Findings and Outcome in 146 Cats

Abstract: Background: Pericardial effusion (PE) in dogs most often is associated with neoplasia or idiopathic pericarditis, and frequently causes cardiac tamponade. Studies of PE in the cat are limited. Hypothesis: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common cause of PE in the cat. Animals: All cats diagnosed with PE on echocardiographic examination at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (MJR-VHUP) from 2000 to 2005. Methods: The clinical and pathologic findings in 146 cats with PE were reviewed. Records were examined retrospectively to identify additional underlying conditions. Follow-up status and cause of death were determined by review of the medical records or phone interviews with the owners. Results: The most common cause of PE in this study was CHF (75%). Biochemical abnormalities were uncommon, but aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity frequently was increased (85%). Follow-up information was available on 108 cats (74%). Median survival time (MST) was 144 days for cats that were not euthanized within 24 hours (n = 85). The MST of cats with heart failure was 41 days, whereas the MST of cats without heart failure was 361 days, when those euthanized within 24 hours were excluded. Conclusions: Survival time of cats with heart failure in this study was significantly shorter than previously reported, and significantly shorter than in cats without heart failure as a cause of PE.

Nasal and nasopharyngeal lymphoma in cats: 50 cases (1989-2005).

Abstract: Lymphoma is the most common nasal cavity tumor in cats, yet few reports specifically address the anatomic, immunohistologic, and cytologic features of this neoplasm. Fifty cats were diagnosed with lymphoma at necropsy, via biopsy or by cytology alone. Ten cats displayed multiorgan involvement, and in 2 of these the involvement was limited to the cerebellum and frontal cortex, respectively. Of the tumors, 41 of 50 (82%) were classified as nasal lymphoma, 5 of 50 (10%) were classified as nasopharyngeal lymphoma, and 4 of 50 (8%) involved both nasal and nasopharyngeal tissue. Histologically, all were considered diffuse lymphoid neoplasms and no cats displayed features of follicular lymphoma. Of the 44 cases available for slide review by the pathologist, 40 of 44 (91%) were classified as immunoblastic lymphoma, 2 of 44 (5%) as diffuse large cell, and 1 as diffuse mixed; 1 was unclassified. Of the 45 cats for which immunohistochemical stains were available, 32 were uniformly positive for CD79a, 7 were uniformly CD3 positive, and 6 had a mixed population of CD79a and CD3 cells. Epithelioptropism was exhibited in 4 of 5 (80%) cats in which there was sufficient epithelium present for evaluation. Of those 4, 3 were B-cell and 1 was a granulated T-cell lymphoma. In the 21 cats which nasal cytology was performed, 15 were cytologically diagnosed with lymphoma; the diagnoses in the remaining five cats were inflammatory (n = 4), normal lymphoid tissue (n = 1), or nondiagnostic (n = 1). The most common biochemical abnormalities were panhyperproteinemia in 26/46 (57%) of cats and hypocholesterolemia in 11/46 (24%) of cats.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats under veterinary care in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract: Intestinal parasitism is an important cause of disease in pets. Fecal samples from pets from different neighborhoods in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were used to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites. These samples were sent to Laborvet (Veterinary Laboratory) on the period of January, 2002 through December, 2004. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats under veterinary care. The total amount of examined samples was 1,761, being 1,473 (83.6%) from dogs and 288 (16.4%) from cats. Positive results with the presence of at least one parasite corresponded to 26.6% (392) for dog samples and to 20.5% (59) for cat samples. In both hosts, Ancylostoma spp., Toxocara spp., Isospora spp. and Giardia spp. were the more frequent parasites. Animals that were zero to six months-old showed high intestinal parasite infection, revealing the rates of 39.5% for dogs and 29.5% for cats. Highest infection rates were diagnosed for Isospora spp. and Toxocara spp. Summer was the season, with the highest prevalence rate, with 30% of infected dogs and 27.6% of infected cats. When monoparasitism was compared to poliparasitism, the presence of a single parasite species was more frequent in dogs and cats (23.8% and 19.4%, respectively). Importantly, our findings showed the prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats that cause zoonotic diseases. It is essential to keep domestic animals under veterinary care to avoid the spread of intestinal parasite infections among pets and humans. Key-words: Parasitic deseases. Dogs. Cats. Feces (sample). Intestinal deseases, parasitic. Prevalence.

Intra-tumoral Gene Delivery of feIL-2, feIFN-γ and feGM-CSF using Magnetofection as a Neoadjuvant Treatment Option for Feline Fibrosarcomas: A Phase-I Study

Abstract: Despite aggressive pre- or postoperative treatment, feline fibrosarcomas have a high relapse rate. In this study, a new treatment option based on immune stimulation by intra-tumoral delivery of three feline cytokine genes was performed. The objective of this phase-I dose-escalation study was to determine a safe dose for further evaluation in a subsequent phase-II trial. Twenty-five client-owned cats with clinical diagnosis of fibrosarcoma - primary tumours as well as recurrences - entered the study. Four increasing doses of plasmids coding for feIL-2, feIFN-gamma or feGM-CSF, respectively, were previously defined. In groups I, II, III and IV these doses were 15, 50, 150 and 450 microg per plasmid and a corresponding amount of magnetic nanoparticles. Two preoperative intra-tumoral injections of the magnetic DNA solution were followed by magnetofection. A group of four control cats received only surgical treatment. Side effects were registered and graded according to the VCOG-CTCAE scale and correlated to treatment. Statistical analyses included one-way anova, post hoc and Kruskal-Wallis tests. ELISA tests detecting plasma feIFN-gamma and plasma feGM-CSF were performed. One cat out of group IV (450 microg per plasmid) showed adverse events probably related to gene delivery. As these side effects were self-limiting and occurred only in one of eight cats in group IV, this dose was determined to be well tolerable. Altogether six cats developed local recurrences during a 1-year observation period. Four of these cats had been treated with dose IV. Regarding these observations, a subsequent phase-II trial including a representative amount of cats should be tested for the efficacy of dose IV as well as dose III.