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Biomedical subjects

J K Levy

Publications and source records attributed to J K Levy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Juvenile nephropathy in two related Pembroke Welsh corgi puppies.

Juvenile nephropathy has been documented in many breeds. Two related Pembroke Welsh corgi puppies presented at three and five months of age, respectively, for evaluation of lethargy, diarrhoea, poor body condition, polyuria and proteinuria. Based upon the clinical presentation, urinalysis and serum biochemistry, chronic renal failure was diagnosed. Renal histopathology was consistent with juvenile nephropathy, revealing lesions similar to the juvenile renal disease of dobermann dogs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of juvenile nephropathy in related Pembroke Welsh corgi dogs. Familial nephropathy should now be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of young Pembroke Welsh corgi dogs presenting with clinical signs indicating renal failure.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Naturally occurring Sarcocystis infection in domestic cats (Felis catus).

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis is an important neurological disease of horses in the United States. Consequently, there is an active research effort to identify hosts associated with the primary causative agent, Sarcocystis neurona. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the domestic cat (Felis catus) is a natural host for S. neurona. Muscle sections from 50 primarily free-roaming domestic cats were examined for the presence of sarcocysts. Serum from cats in this group and another group of 50 free-roaming cats were evaluated for the presence of S. neurona antibody. Sarcocysts were found in five of 50 (10%) cats, and S. neurona antibody in five of 100 (5%) cats. Morphological, molecular (including ribosomal RNA genes), and biological characterisation of these sarcocysts showed that they were not S. neurona or S. neurona-like. Sarcocysts found in the cats were identified morphologically as Sarcocystis felis, a common parasite of wild felids. The life cycle of S. felis is not known, and prior to this study, no molecular marker for S. felis existed. Although cats were found to be infected with S. felis sarcocysts, serological data provided evidence of possible infection with S. neurona as well. Further work is needed to determine the role of the domestic cat in the life cycle of S. neurona.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Use of adult cat serum to correct failure of passive transfer in kittens.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of adult cat serum as an immunoglobulin supplement in kittens with failure of passive transfer. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. ANIMALS: 11 specific pathogen-free queens and their 43 kittens. PROCEDURE: Kittens were removed from the queens at birth, prior to suckling colostrum, and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: colostrum-deprived, colostrum-fed, colostrum-deprived and administration of pooled adult cat serum i.p., and colostrum-deprived and administration of pooled adult serum s.c.. Colostrum-fed kittens were returned to the queen and allowed to suckle normally. Colostrum-deprived kittens were isolated from the queen and fed a kitten milk replacer for 2 days to prevent absorption of colostral IgG. All colostrum-deprived kittens were returned to the queen on day 3. Serum IgG concentrations were measured by radial immunodiffusion in the kittens at birth and 2 days and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after birth. RESULTS: None of the kittens had detectable serum IgG at birth. Both i.p. and s.c. administration of adult cat serum resulted in peak serum IgG concentrations equivalent to those in kittens that suckled normally. Untreated colostrum-deprived kittens did not achieve serum IgG concentrations comparable to those for kittens in the other groups until 6 weeks of age. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that adult cat serum may be used as an immunoglobulin supplement in colostrum-deprived kittens. Although the minimum concentration of IgG necessary to protect kittens from infection is unknown, concentrations achieved were comparable to those in kittens that suckled normally.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Tissue dynamics of CD8 lymphocytes that suppress viral replication in cats infected neonatally with feline immunodeficiency virus.

The purpose of this study was to determine the tissue distribution and antiviral activity of the CD8 lymphocytes that suppress the replication of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Cell-associated FIV load, CD8alpha(+)beta(low) cells, and CD8 cell-mediated suppression of FIV were measured serially in the blood, thymus, and peripheral lymph nodes after neonatal inoculation. Between 6 and 10 weeks, relative numbers of CD8alpha(+)beta(low) cells increased, whereas CD8alpha(+)beta(high) cells declined in the thymus and blood of infected cats. By 12-16 weeks, the lymph nodes were enlarged because of an absolute expansion of all CD8beta subpopulations. The strength of CD8 cell-mediated FIV suppression in vitro, but not CD8alpha(+)beta(low) cell content, was correlated inversely with virus load in the thymus and blood. Thus, after neonatal FIV inoculation, CD8alpha(+)beta(low) cells first occupy the thymus and blood, where strong CD8 cell-mediated antiviral activity is linked to reduced virus load in multiple lymphoid tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Constitutive expression of types 1 and 2 cytokines by alveolar macrophages from feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats.

Evidence suggests that feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), causes pulmonary immunodeficiency. The overall objective of this study was to explore FIV-induced alterations in cell counts and cytokine gene expression in the pulmonary compartment during the acute stage infection. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells were collected from FIV-infected and control cats at 0, 4, 10, and 16 weeks post-FIV infection for phenotype and cytokine analysis. The major change in BAL cellular populations following FIV-infection was the development of a neutrophilia. Total BAL cell counts and relative numbers of alveolar macrophages (AM), eosinophils, and lymphocytes remained similar in both groups. The RT-qcPCR analyses of AM purified from BAL showed constitutive expression of TNFalpha, IL6 and IL10 mRNAs that peaked during the acute stage of infection then declined. The TNFalpha and IL6 bioactive protein secretion showed a similar response. In contrast, IFNgamma expression increased progressively with time after infection and paralleled a progressive increase in FIV-gag mRNA in AM. The IL12 p40 expression also differed from the other cytokines in that there was a progressive decrease in the number of cats with AM IL12 expression following FIV infection. Infection of AM in vitro with FIV also caused an increase in TNFalpha and IL6 mRNA and bioactive protein suggesting that the increased cytokine response by AM following infection of cats with FIV is an intrinsic characteristic of FIV-infected AM. In summary, pulmonary immune changes seen in FIV-infected cats are similar to those seen in HIV-infected human patients.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

CD8+ thymic lymphocytes express reduced levels of CD8beta and increased interferon gamma in cats perinatally infected with the JSY3 molecular clone of feline immunodeficiency virus.

Biological isolates of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) cause a relative expansion of activated single-positive CD8(+) (SP CD8(+)) lymphocytes within the thymus of infected cats. In this study, thymic SP CD8(+) lymphocytes were analyzed from cats inoculated as neonates with a pathogenic molecular clone of FIV, JSY3, which was previously derived from the wild-type biological isolate FIV(NCSU-1) (NCSU-1). Four cats were inoculated intraperitoneally with NCSU-1 and compared with 11 cats inoculated with JSY3. Five control cats matched in litter and age were administered an intraperitoneal sham inoculum. Between 12 and 16 weeks postinoculation, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA was quantified by RT-PCR in freshly isolated thymocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The quantity of IFN-gamma mRNA was increased more than 10-fold in thymocytes and PBMCs of 13 of 13 FIV-inoculated cats as compared with the sham-inoculated controls. IFN-gamma mRNA coenriched with magnetically sorted CD8(+) PBMCs and single-positive (SP) CD8(+) thymocytes. Cells expressing IFN-gamma mRNA were located within the thymic perivascular zone, along the corticomedullary junction, and adjacent to lymphoid follicles. The expansion of thymic SP CD8(+) cells was associated with an increase in CD8alpha(+)/beta(neg) and CD8alpha(+)/beta(lo) phenotypes, the latter population resembling a previously reported memory/effector peripheral blood cell with FIV suppressor activity. From these data we conclude that JSY3 and NCSU-1 induce similar phenotypic changes in thymic and peripheral blood CD8(+) cells. Thus, JSY3 is pathogenic for the thymus in vivo and will be useful for defining determinants of the CD8(+) cell response in this pediatric AIDS model.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Performance of serologic tests used to detect heartworm infection in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To compare heartworm serum antibody (Ab) and antigen (Ag) test results, using commercial laboratories and in-house heartworm test kits, with necropsy findings in a population of shelter cats. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 330 cats at an animal shelter. PROCEDURE: Between March and June 1998, 30 ml of blood was collected from the cranial and caudal venae cavae of 330 cats that were euthanatized at a local animal shelter. Results of heartworm Ab and Ag serologic tests for heartworm infection were compared with necropsy findings in this population of cats, using commercial laboratories and in-house test kits to measure serum Ab and Ag concentrations. RESULTS: On necropsy, adult Dirofilaria immitis were found in 19 of 330 (5.8%) cats. Combining results from serum Ab and Ag tests achieved higher sensitivities than using serum Ab and Ag test results alone (i.e., maximum sensitivities of 100% vs 89.5%, respectively, whereas use of serum Ag and Ab test results alone achieved higher specificities compared with the use of a combination of serum Ab and Ag results (i.e., maximum specificities of 99.4% vs 92.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On the basis of our findings, if a cat has clinical signs that suggest heartworm disease despite a negative heartworm serum Ab test result, an alternative heartworm Ab test, a heartworm Ag test, thoracic radiography, or two-dimensional echocardiography should be performed.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

T cells overexpressing interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 are found in both the thymus and secondary lymphoid tissues of feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats.

Similar to human immunodeficiency virus type 1, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) replicates in the thymus of infected animals, causing marked alteration in thymic lymphocyte subpopulations. The immune phenotype and cytokine patterns in the thymus and secondary lymphoid tissues of FIV-infected cats were investigated. FIV infection caused an acute-stage transient reduction in CD4CD8 double-positive thymocytes, a marked increase in CD8 single-positive thymocytes, and formation of thymic B cell lymphoid follicles. Interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA were up-regulated in both the thymus and lymph nodes of FIV-infected cats. Analysis of purified CD4 and CD8 cells revealed that CD4 cells produced most of the IL-10, whereas IFN-gamma was produced by both subsets. Quantitative-competitive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that thymocytes, especially CD4CD8 thymocytes, had much greater levels of gag mRNA than did lymph node T cells. Thus, overexpression of IFN-gamma and IL-10 is a feature of the thymus and secondary lymphoid tissues of FIV-infected cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Ego-syntonic alien hand syndrome after right posterior cerebral artery stroke.

The alien hand syndrome classically consists of involuntary movements accompanied by a feeling of foreignness and personification of the affected limb. Autocriticism, in which patients criticize and express astonished frustration with the behavior of the autonomous limb, is a commonly noted feature. Most cases of alien hand are associated with lesions of the supplementary motor areas of the frontal lobes, the corpus callosum, or both. The authors report on a 79-year-old man who sustained a right posterior cerebral artery distribution infarction and developed alien hand syndrome in the absence of callosal involvement. Also unique is that the patient perceived the alien hand as acceptable and positive, not hostile and repugnant. This case suggests not only that the neuroanatomic regions responsible for alien hand syndrome may require re-examination, but also that its definition may need expansion.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Feline immunodeficiency virus is shed in semen from experimentally and naturally infected cats.

Although a laboratory isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), FIV-NCSU1, has been transmitted by artificial insemination in domestic cats, transmission by naturally infected males during mating has not been reported. In order to determine whether virus shedding in semen is unique to the NCSU1 isolate, we analyzed electroejaculates from four specific-pathogen-free males infected with another laboratory strain, FIV-Petaluma, and eight random source males with naturally acquired infections. Seminal cell lysates from the cats infected with the Petaluma isolate were screened by nested polymerase chain reaction amplification for FIV gag DNA. Seminal cells and seminal plasma from these FIV-Petaluma cats were further analyzed for the presence of virus by cocultivation with a feline CD4+ T cell line and Crandell feline kidney cells. Electroejaculates from the naturally infected cats were cocultivated with the T cell line. Our results demonstrated that cell-free FIV was present in seminal plasma from two FIV-Petaluma cats and two naturally infected cats. Cell-associated seminal virus was detected in all of the FIV-Petaluma infected cats and one naturally infected cat. Secretion of viral gag p26 antigen, an indication of active viral replication, was evident in cocultures containing motile sperm purified by a swim-up procedure from a FIV-Petaluma cat. These results confirm that FIV shedding in semen is not restricted to a specific virus isolate. Furthermore, swim-up sperm from FIV-infected cats may be infectious in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Use of recombinant human erythropoietin for management of anemia in dogs and cats with renal failure.

OBJECTIVE: To test efficacy and safety of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) administration in dogs and cats with naturally developing chronic renal failure. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 6 client-owned dogs and 11 client-owned cats with chronic renal failure. PROCEDURES: r-HuEPO was administered intravenously or subcutaneously. Erythropoietic effects were monitored by determining CBC, performing cytologic examination of bone marrow aspirates, and measuring serum iron concentration before and during treatment. Development of adverse effects was monitored by performing sequential clinical assessments, CBC, and serum biochemical tests and by measuring indirect blood pressure and anti-r-HuEPO antibody titers. RESULTS: Administration of r-HuEPO increased RBC and reticulocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, and Hct comparably in dogs and cats. Assessments of clinical well-being, including appetite, energy, weight gain, alertness, strength, and playfulness, were improved variably. Adverse effects, including anemia, anti-r-HuEPO antibody production, seizures, systemic hypertension, and iron deficiency, were demonstrated inconsistently in dogs and cats. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Anemia contributes to clinical manifestations of chronic renal failure in dogs and cats. Administration of r-HuEPO has the potential to resolve anemia and improve clinical well-being. However, its administration poses risks of antibody production and adverse effects associated with correction of RBC mass. Use of r-HuEPO in dogs and cats requires conscientious assessment of risks and benefits until homologous forms of erythropoietin are available.

Anemia↗
PubMed1998

Rehabilitation of the post-cardiac surgery stroke patient: analysis of cognitive and functional assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether, as expected, patients sustaining post-cardiac surgery stroke (PCS) (n = 19) differ from other stroke (OS) patients (n = 216). DESIGN: A total of 235 stroke patients were surveyed. Therapist ratings of Functional Independence Measure (FIM) on admission to and discharge from a rehabilitation unit were compared. Cooperation with formal neuropsychologic evaluation was assessed. SETTING: The rehabilitation unit of a tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Medical records for consecutive stroke patients were reviewed (January 1994 to December 1995). Groups did not differ in age, gender, or admission FIM. INTERVENTIONS: Standardized neuropsychologic evaluation of seven cognitive domains was attempted for each patient referred to the neuropsychology service. All of the patients received FIM ratings on admission to and discharge from the rehabilitation unit. OUTCOME MEASURES: Gain in FIM per week of rehabilitation unit stay (FIM efficiency) and discharge destination. RESULTS: Contrary to expectations, PCS patients did not differ significantly from OS patients in FIM efficiency or discharge destination. However, PCS patients were significantly less able to cooperate with formal neuropsychologic testing, possibly secondary to their physical condition, higher-level cognitive deficits, or both. CONCLUSION: Although PCS patients may sustain medical and cognitive deficits that interfere with exhaustive neuropsychologic evaluation, these deficits do not significantly interfere with functional progress in rehabilitation and should not make PCS patients ineligible for rehabilitation services.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

Elevated interleukin-10-to-interleukin-12 ratio in feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats predicts loss of type 1 immunity to Toxoplasma gondii.

Similar to human immunodeficiency virus, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) induces immunodeficiency and enhanced susceptibility to secondary pathogens. To explore cytokine alterations in lentivirus immunodeficiency, constitutive mRNA expression was measured in lymph nodes of healthy and FIV-infected cats before and after challenge with Toxoplasma gondii. Cytokine mRNA expression was similar in control and FIV-infected cats during the first 10 weeks after infection. At 16 weeks, interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA were increased in FIV-infected cats. Challenge with T. gondii induced an increase in IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-12 in the lymph nodes of control cats, whereas IFN-gamma and IL-10 but not IL-2 or IL-12 increased in the lymph nodes of FIV-T. gondii coinfected cats. These results indicate that FIV immunodeficiency may derive from a failure to generate an IL-12-dependent type 1 response and that an elevated level of IL-10 mRNA expression is a predictor of lentivirus immunodeficiency.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cytologic identification of Toxoplasma gondii in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of experimentally infected cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether it was possible to retrieve organisms, by means of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), from cats inoculated with Toxoplasma gondii. DESIGN: Experimental study. ANIMALS: 27 cats. Sixteen of the 27 were experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus. PROCEDURE: All cats were inoculated with T gondii tachyzoites. Cats were grouped on the basis of feline immunodeficiency virus status and route (IV or intra-arterial) and number of tachyzoites administered. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed by means of a standard technique. Lavage fluid was evaluated cytologically for tachyzoites. RESULTS: Clinical signs of toxoplasmosis varied widely among individual cats, but were generally most pronounced in group-1 and -2 cats (n = 5 each) and less pronounced in group-3 (n = 5) cats. Group-4 and -5 cats (n = 6 each) did not have clinical signs of toxoplasmosis. In 14 of the 15 cats in groups 1, 2, and 3, tachyzoites were detected in BAL fluid collected 7 days after inoculation. Tachyzoites were detected 14 days after inoculation in the single cat without tachyzoites 7 days after inoculation. A necropsy was performed on 9 of these cats, and tachyzoites were identified histologically in 4 of the 9. Tachyzoites were not detected in BAL fluid collected 3 days (n = 6) or 7 days (n = 6) after inoculation from the 12 cats in groups 4 and 5. Tachyzoites were not identified histologically in any of these 12 cats. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: BAL may be useful in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, particularly in cats with signs of pulmonary involvement.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Fulminant hepatic failure associated with oral administration of diazepam in 11 cats.

Acute fulminant hepatic necrosis was associated with repeated oral administration of diazepam (1.25 to 2 mg, PO, q 24 or 12 h), prescribed for behavioral modification or to facilitate urination. Five of 11 cats became lethargic, atactic, and anorectic within 96 hours of initial treatment. All cats became jaundiced during the first 11 days of illness. Serum biochemical analysis revealed profoundly high alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities. Results of coagulation tests in 3 cats revealed marked abnormalities. Ten cats died or were euthanatized within 15 days of initial drug administration, and only 1 cat survived. Histologic evaluation of hepatic tissue specimens from each cat revealed florid centrilobular hepatic necrosis, profound biliary ductule proliferation and hyperplasia, and suppurative intraductal inflammation. Idiosyncratic hepatotoxicosis was suspected because of the rarity of this condition. Prior sensitization to diazepam was possible in only 1 cat, and consistent risk factors that could explain susceptibility to drug toxicosis were not identified. On the basis of the presumption that diazepam was hepatotoxic in these cats, an increase in serum transaminase activity within 5 days of treatment initiation indicates a need to suspend drug administration and to provide supportive care.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Hypoglycemia associated with intra-abdominal leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma in six dogs.

Intra-abdominal leiomyoma or leiomyosarcoma was diagnosed in 6 dogs that had hypoglycemia (resting blood glucose concentration < 50 mg/dl). Tumors were large (12 to 24 cm) and arose from intra-abdominal structures including the jejunum, pylorus, duodenum, stomach, and liver. Four dogs had a leiomyoma, and 2 dogs had a leiomyosarcoma. In those dogs in which the tumor was successfully removed at surgery, blood glucose concentration returned to the reference range after tumor resection. Four dogs lived for at least 12 months after tumor resection, without redeveloping hypoglycemia.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗