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At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Assessment of infectious organisms associated with chronic rhinosinusitis in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine detection rates for feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), Mycoplasma spp, fungi, and bacteria in flush samples and biopsy specimens from the nasal cavities of cats with and without chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 10 CRS-affected cats and 7 cats without signs of respiratory tract disease. PROCEDURES: Nasal flush samples and biopsy specimens were collected from all cats for bacterial (aerobic and anaerobic), fungal, and mycoplasmal cultures; additional biopsy specimens were collected for virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (to detect FHV-1 DNA). RESULTS: Aerobic bacteria were detected in flush samples from 5 of 7 control cats; culture of flush samples from CRS-affected cats yielded aerobic bacteria (9/10 cats), anaerobic bacteria (3/10), and Mycoplasma spp (2/10). No fungal organisms were isolated from any cat. Potential pathogens were isolated significantly more often from CRS-affected cats than from control cats. Bacterial culture of biopsy specimens yielded aerobic bacteria (2/7 control cats and 4/10 CRS-affected cats) and anaerobic bacteria (2/10 CRS-affected cats). Although FHV-1 was not detected in nasal biopsy specimens from control or CRS-affected cats, FHV-1 DNA was detected via PCR assay in specimens from 4 of 7 control cats and 3 of 10 CRS-affected cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with findings in control cats, anaerobic bacteria, Mycoplasma spp, and a variety of potentially pathogenic organisms were detected more commonly in samples from cats with CRS. In both groups, FHV-1 was detected via PCR assay as a nonviable organism or in noncultivable amounts.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Immunity to Hammondia hammondi infection in cats.

Acquisition of immunity to Hammondia hammondi, a newly recognized coccidian of cats, was studied in 18 specific-pathogen-free cats. One cat was given a single oral inoculation, 11 cats were given 2 oral inoculations, and 1 cat was given 3 oral inoculations of homogenized mouse carcasses containing H hammondi. In all cats, oocyst shedding began 6 to 9 days after the 1st inoculation. Oocyst shedding peaked at 1 to 2 days after the onset of shedding and lasted for 1 to 2 weeks. None of the cats became sick. Of the 11 cats inoculated twice (between 2-51 days after the 1st inoculation), 5 shed oocysts 7 to 14 days after the repeat inoculation; however, fewer oocysts were shed at this time. One cat that was inoculated thrice (14 and 51 days after the 1st inoculation) shed oocysts 14 to 17 days after the 3rd inoculation but not after the 2nd inoculation. Spontaneous oocyst shedding was studied in 9 of these 13 H hammondi-infected cats for 5 months. Two cats spontaneously shed oocysts: One cat (inoculated only once) spontaneously re-shed oocysts 21 to 24, 31 to 33, 49 to 50, and 118 to 120 days after inoculation; The other cat (inoculated twice-the 2nd time, 6 days after the 1st inoculation) re-shed oocysts 38 to 48, 85 to 89, and 133 to 136 days after the 1st inoculation. The course of H hammondi infection was studied in 5 cats given weekly injections of 6-methyl prednisolone acetate for at least 7 weeks, starting 18 days before inoculation in 2 cats, and starting 14, 34, and 45 day after inoculation in 3 cats. The induced hyperadrenocorticism did not affect the prepatent period or induce parasitism of extraintestinal organs. The 3 cats infected for 14, 34, and 45 days, re-shed oocysts after hyperadrenocorticism was induced. It was concluded that immunity to H hammondi infection in cats is less stable than immunity to the related coccidian, Toxoplasma gondii.

Adrenocortical Hyperfunction↗
PubMed1991

Primary hyperparathyroidism in cats: seven cases (1984-1989).

The medical records of 7 hypercalcemic cats with primary hyperparathyroidism were evaluated. Mean age was 12.9 years, with ages ranging from 8 to 15 years; 5 were female; 5 were Siamese, and 2 were of mixed breed. The most common clinical signs detected by owners were anorexia and lethargy. A cervical mass was palpable in 4 cats. Serum calcium concentrations were 11.1 to 22.8 mg/dl, with a mean of 15.8 mg/dl calculated from each cat's highest preoperative value. The serum phosphorus concentration was low in 2 cats, within reference limits in 4, and slightly high in 1 cat. The BUN concentration was greater than 60 mg/dl in 2 cats, 31 to 35 mg/dl in 2 cats, and less than 30 mg/dl in 3 cats. Abnormalities were detected in serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase activities from 2 or 3 cats. Parathormone (PTH) concentrations were measured in 2 cats before and after surgery. The preoperative PTH concentration was within reference limits in 1 cat and was high in 1 cat. The PTH concentrations were lower after surgery in both cats tested. A solitary parathyroid adenoma was surgically removed from 5 cats, bilateral parathyroid cystadenomas were surgically resected in 1 cat, and a parathyroid carcinoma was diagnosed at necropsy in 1 cat. None of the cats had clinical problems with hypocalcemia after surgery, although 2 cats developed hypocalcemia without tetany, one of which was controlled with oral administration of dihydrotachysterol and the other with oral administration of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. All 5 of the cta that underwent removal of an adenoma were alive at least 240 days after surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenoma↗
PubMed1995

Adrenalectomy for treatment of hyperadrenocorticism in cats: 10 cases (1988-1992).

Outcome of and complications associated with bilateral adrenalectomy in 8 cats with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia and outcome of and complications associated with unilateral adrenalectomy in 2 cats with adrenocortical tumor (adrenocortical adenoma, 1 cat; adrenocortical carcinoma, 1 cat) and unilateral adrenomegaly were determined. Glucocorticoids were administered to all cats at the time of surgery, and mineralocorticoids were administered to the 8 cats that underwent bilateral adrenalectomy. A ventral midline celiotomy was performed in all cats. Intraoperative complications did not develop in any cat. Postoperative complications developed in all cats and included abnormal serum electrolyte concentrations (n = 8), skin lacerations (n = 5), pancreatitis (n = 3), hypoglycemia (n = 2), pneumonia (n = 1), and venous thrombosis (n = 1). Three cats died within 5 weeks after surgery of complications associated with sepsis (n = 2) or thromboembolism (n = 1). Clinical signs and physical abnormalities caused by hyperadrenocorticism resolved in the remaining 7 cats 2 to 4 months after adrenalectomy. Insulin treatment was discontinued in 4 of 6 cats with diabetes mellitus. Median survival time for these 7 cats was 12 months (range, 3 to > 30 months). Two cats died of acute adrenocortical insufficiency 3 and 6 months after bilateral adrenalectomy, 2 cats were euthanatized because of chronic renal failure 3 and 12 months after bilateral (n = 1) or unilateral (n = 1) adrenalectomy, and 2 cats were alive 9 and 14 months after bilateral adrenalectomy. In the remaining cat, clinical signs recurred 10 months after the cat had undergone unilateral adrenalectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1993

Histologically confirmed clinical toxoplasmosis in cats: 100 cases (1952-1990).

Tissue sections from 119 cats that died or were euthanatized (1952-1990) because of toxoplasmosis-like illness were reexamined for Toxoplasma gondii by direct microscopy and immunohistochemical staining with anti-T gondii serum. Clinical and pathologic data from 100 of these cats with histologically verified toxoplasmosis were then analyzed. Of these 100 cats, 36 were considered to have generalized toxoplasmosis, 26 predominantly pulmonary lesions, 16 abdominal, 2 hepatic, 1 pancreatic, 1 cardiac, 2 cutaneous, 7 neurologic, and 9 had neonatal toxoplasmosis. In 14 cats, concurrent microbial infections or other maladies were seen. Cats were 2 weeks to 16 years old (median, 2 years; mean, 4 years). Sixty-five cats were males and 34 were females; sex was not recorded for 1 cat. Of 67 cats that had rectal temperatures recorded, 49 (73%) had fever (40.0 to 41.7 C). Dyspnea, polypnea, and signs of abdominal discomfort were frequently observed. Toxoplasmosis had been confirmed antemortem in 8 cats; 4 had a serum antibody titer to T gondii of > or = 1:1,024; and T gondii had been found in cytologic evaluation of tracheal aspirates from 2 cats and pleural fluid from 1 cat, as well as in a biopsy specimen of a mesenteric lymph node from another. Of the 15 cats with T gondii serum-antibody titers determined by the Sabin-Feldman dye test, 6 had no antibody detected in 1:4 dilution of their serum. Indirect fluorescent antibody titers were found in 10 of 10 cats' sera tested. Forty-one eyes from 27 of the cats were examined microscopically. Twenty-two of the 27 cats (81.5%) had evidence of intraocular inflammation in one or both eyes. Multifocal iridocyclochoroiditis was the most common lesion and was seen in 18 (81.8%) of the cats with ophthalmitis. The ciliary body was the most often severely affected portion of the uvea. Of the 22 cats with ocular toxoplasmosis, T gondii was found in eyes of 10. Toxoplasma gondii was found in the retina of 5 cats, the choroid of 2, the optic nerve of 1, the iris of 3, and the ciliary body of 4. Toxoplasma gondii was identified in 80% of 55 brains, 70.0% of 90 livers, 76.7% of 86 lungs, 64.4% of 45 pancreata, 62.7% of 59 hearts, 45.8% of 72 spleens, 41.5% of 65 intestines, 17.7% of 61 kidneys, and 60.0% of 30 adrenal glands.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Diagnosis of naturally acquired type-I and type-II diabetes mellitus in cats.

After IV administration of 0.5 mg of glucagon/cat, glucose tolerance and insulin secretory response were evaluated in 10 lean cats, 10 obese cats, and 30 cats with diabetes mellitus. Blood samples for glucose and insulin determinations were collected immediately before and at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after IV administration of glucagon. Baseline serum insulin concentration and insulin secretory response were used to classify diabetes mellitus in the 30 cats as type I or type II. Mean (+/- SEM) baseline and 30-minute serum glucose concentrations in obese cats were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased, compared with values in lean cats, but were similar at all other blood sample collection times. Serum glucose concentration in diabetic cats was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than values in obese and lean cats at all blood sample collection times. Two statistically different insulin responses to IV administration of glucagon were seen in diabetic cats. Of the 30 diabetic cats, 23 had minimal insulin secretory response after glucagon administration (ie, serum insulin concentration was at or below sensitivity of the insulin assay). Seven diabetic cats had baseline serum insulin concentration similar to that of obese cats and significantly (P < 0.05) greater than that of lean cats and of the other 23 diabetic cats. In these 7 diabetic cats, serum insulin concentration increased after glucagon administration. Total insulin secretion was not significantly different between these 7 diabetic cats and the lean and obese cats, and was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than total insulin secretion in the other 23 diabetic cats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Spatial frequency thresholds of single striate cortical cells in neonatal corpus callosum sectioned cats.

Following section of the corpus callosum at 1-6 postnatal weeks in cats, behavioral visual acuity was measured binocularly and monocularly from 6-29 postnatal weeks; physiological determination of spatial frequency thresholds of single striate cortical cells was performed when the cats were at least 8 months old. Results were compared between cats with callosum section at each postnatal week, as well as with normal cats. Cats with callosotomy at 1-3 postnatal weeks had deficits in behavioral visual acuity, and the deficits were greatest in the youngest operated cats. Cats with callosotomy at 1-2 postnatal weeks failed to resolve as high spatial frequencies as did normal cats, and the resolution of the 1 week operated cats was lower than the resolution of the 2 week operated cats. Cats with callosotomy at 3-6 postnatal weeks had spatial frequency thresholds that were equivalent to those of normal cats. To determine what kinds of striate cells had reduced spatial resolution following neonatal corpus callosum section, cells were categorized according to class (Simple, Complex), receptive field location (Central, Peripheral), and monocular behavioral acuity eye performance (Better Eye, Worse Eye). Cats with corpus callosum section during postnatal week 1 had the lowest spatial resolution for all cell categories compared to all groups tested. However, cats with callosum section during postnatal week 2 had normal spatial frequency thresholds for Simple, Central and Better Eye categories. The cats with callosum section in postnatal weeks 3-6 had normal spatial frequency thresholds for all cell categories. For corpus callosum sectioned cats with and without visual deficits, and for normal cats, visual acuity measured behaviorally is significantly related to visual acuity measured physiologically. The results show that neonatal corpus callosum section in cats can affect behavioral visual acuity, as well as the spatial frequency thresholds of many categories of striate cortical cells. However, callosum section at different ages affects different populations of cortical cells. Furthermore, the results suggest that neonatal corpus callosum section may directly affect a single fundamental property of cells in primary visual cortex with a resulting disruption of many visual functions.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Hydrocephalus in developing cats: physiological properties of visual cortex cells.

We have studied electrophysiologically by single cell recording in the visual cortex, whether modification of the visual system in developing and in adult cats by hydrocephalus has an effect on processing of visual information. One of our cats (H1) had developed a complete hydrocephalus and the others partial, as proved by either complete or partial dilation of the lateral ventricles, respectively and by the thinning of the cortex. Despite this, the horizontal lamination and the vertical organization of the cortex were fully preserved. Except for the optic radiation and the corpus callosum which was remarkably modified, the optic tract, chiasm, nerve and retina were morphologically and histologically normal. The visual behavior of the hydrocephalic cats was normal. This was also reflected, by and large, in the physiological properties of the visual cortex. However, in cat H1 there were many more visually unresponsive cortical cells in comparison to its matched controls (C1) and the normal cats. A reduced responsiveness was also found in cat H2 with partial hydrocephalus but not in the other partial hydrocephalic cats. Similarly, the ocular dominance distribution of the cells was affected in cat H1 in comparison to the control cats as indicated by the changes found in the relative proportions of contralaterally and ipsilaterally driven cells in the two hemispheres. No change was, however, found in the partially hydrocephalic cats. Most of the cells in the hydrocephalic cats were orientation specific, similarly to the result of their matched controls. Direction specific cells were much smaller in proportion in cat H1 but not in the other cats, in comparison with their matched controls. In keeping with this, a large increase was found in the receptive field area of cat H1, a smaller one in cat H2 and none in the other hydrocephalic cats in comparison to the matched controls. The eccentricity distribution of the receptive fields in the hydrocephalic cats was the same as expected under normal conditions. It was concluded that in the way hydrocephalus had modified the brain of several of our cats, a quantitative effect was induced in visual cortex cells leading to some degradation of function; this change, however, did not interfere with their basic visual properties.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

GnRH immunocontraception of male cats.

The development of nonsurgical contraceptives for cats may facilitate population control of the species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of GnRH for immunocontraception of male cats. Male cats (n=12) were divided into groups of three and were immunized once with 0 (sham), 50, 200, or 400 microg synthetic GnRH coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and combined with a mycobacterial adjuvant to enhance immunogenicity. GnRH antibody titer, serum testosterone concentration, and scrotal size were determined monthly. At 6 months, semen was collected by electroejaculation and testes were examined histologically. GnRH antibodies were detected in all cats receiving GnRH vaccine by 1 month post-treatment and persisted throughout the study. No dose effect of GnRH was observed; titers were not different among cats treated with 50, 200, or 400 microg GnRH (P=0.5). Six of nine treated cats were classified as responders based on high GnRH antibody titers (>32,000). By 3 months post-treatment, responder cats had undetectable testosterone concentrations and testicular atrophy. Nonresponder cats had GnRH titers of 4000-32,000 and testosterone concentrations intermediate between responder and sham-treated cats. At 6 months, total sperm counts were similar for sham-treated cats (3.1+/-1.8 x 10(6) sperm) and nonresponder cats (3.4+/-1.6 x 10(6) sperm; P=0.7). Only one of the six responder cats produced sperm, none of which were motile. Combined testicular weights of responder cats (1.3+/-0.1 g) were lower than sham-treated controls (5.3+/-1.3 g; P=0.02) and nonresponder cats (2.9+/-0.3 g; P=0.02). Histologic evaluation of the testes revealed that in responder cats, the interstitial cells that were present were pale and shrunken compared to the plump, polyhedral eosinophilic cells in sham-treated cats. GnRH responder cats had marked tubular atrophy with vacuolated Sertoli cells and a paucity of germ cells. Single-dose GnRH treatment resulted in testosterone concentrations and semen quality consistent with immunocastration in a majority of cats treated.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1996

Object discrimination learning and object-pattern discrimination transfer in visually deprived cats.

We used binocularly deprived cats (BD cats), control cats reared in the laboratory with open eyes (C cats) and normal wild cats (N cats). In stage 1, the cats were trained to discriminate a black ping-pong ball and a 3-dimensional cross of the same size and color for food reward. The BD cats learned slower than N cats. The difference between BD cats and C cats was statistically insignificant. A comparison of these data and previous data on discrimination of corresponding 2-dimensional black patterns (disk and cross) show that in discrimination learning the 3-dimensionality of stimuli is helpful for N cats, but not for BD cats. Thus, the objects and their patterns are for BD cats highly similar. In stage 2, the objects were replaced by corresponding 2-dimensional patterns (disk and cross). Pattern discrimination was learned slower by BD cats than by N cats. Thus, the objects and their patterns are for BD cats certainly not identical and BD cats are deficient in discrimination transfer of even highly similar pairs of visual stimuli.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Identification and clinical significance of allergenic molecules of cat origin. Part of the DAS 76 Study.

Freeze-dried extracts from cat dander and the corresponding rabbit antibodies were used for establishing the CIE reference pattern for cat dander extracts. Anti-Cat Ag 1 and anti-cat albumin were used for identification of the corresponding antigens. CRIE on sera from selected groups of American and Danish cat-allergic patients demonstrated antigen-specific IgE binding to 10 of 15 cat dander antigens (Cat Ag 1 being the major allergen). Only minor differences were found between the two groups. Four of these allergens were serum proteins. Variable amounts of many of the 10 allergens were measured by QIE in saliva, serum, urine and three cat pelt extracts. However, extremely wide ranges for content of the serum allergens and the non-serum allergens were found. This was exemplified by an albumin/cat Ag 1 ratio between 1 and 400, smallest in cat dander. Immunoabsorption using anti-cat dander, anti-cat albumin and anti-Cat Ag 1 indicated that the anti-cat dander, anti-cat albumin, and the anti-Cat Ag 1 absorbed approximately 90%, 25%, and 56%, respectively, of the dander RAST activity, and 87%, 11%, and 45%, respectively, of the saliva RAST activity, confirming the major importance of Ag 1. It is concluded that cat allergenic extracts should contain only modest amounts of serum albumin and other serum-derived antigens and that any relevant standardization must include quantification of at least Cat Ag 1 and cat albumin.

Albumins↗
PubMed1996

Retinal slip neurons in the nucleus of the optic tract and dorsal terminal nucleus in cats with congenital strabismus.

1. Visual response properties of neurons in the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract (DTN) were electrophysiologically investigated in five congenitally strabismic cats and compared with normal adult cats and 3- to 4-wk-old kittens. 2. As in normal cats, NOT-DTN cells of strabismic cats preferred horizontal ipsiversive stimulus movement. However, NOT-DTN neurons in strabismic cats altered their activity to a lesser amount per degree change of stimulus direction than do normal adult cats. In addition, NOT-DTN cells in strabismic cats exhibited a broader directional tuning, i.e., they increase their activity to a broader range of directions than control NOT-DTN cells. 3. Spontaneous activity and activity difference between preferred and nonpreferred direction were significantly lower in NOT-DTN neurons of strabismic cats than in normal adult cats and resembled that found in 3-wk-old kittens. Maximal stimulus-related activity was lower than in normal adult cats but higher than in kittens. 4. Visual latencies to onset of movement in the preferred direction were indistinguishable in strabismic and in normal adult cats. Visual latencies to onset of movement in the nonpreferred direction, however, were shorter in strabismic cats than in normal adult cats. 5. The average velocity tuning curve of NOT-DTN cells in strabismic cats was very flat without a well-defined optimal stimulus velocity. Thus it closely resembled data from 3-wk-old kittens. 6. Binocular convergence was significantly altered to a stronger dominance of the contralateral eye in NOT-DTN of strabismic cats. This reduction of binocular neurons was less pronounced than in cats with artificially induced strabismus or in 3-wk-old kittens. 7. In conclusion, the data presented here for retinal slip neurons in the NOT-DTN of strabismic cats closely resemble those from 3-wk-old kittens where no functional cortical input to the NOT-DTN is present. However, the elevated stimulus-driven activity and the still relatively high degree of binocularity give a clear indication of a functional, albeit weak and abnormal, cortical input to the NOT-DTN in these naturally strabismic cats.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cat sensitivity: 7-yr audit in children attending a paediatric allergy clinic in North Italy.

Sensitivity to cats and exposure to cat allergen is a common cause of asthma exacerbation in children. To date, there is no data on the prevalence of cat sensitivity in children living in North Italy. Therefore, a 7-yr survey was performed in patients attending an allergy clinic for the first time. Skin prick tests (SPT) for perennial allergens and for pollens relevant to the region were performed in 4,957 children attending the outpatient clinic 1992-1998. A questionnaire on present or past cat ownership was presented to all cat-skin prick test positive children. An evaluation of cat ownership on the general population was made by telephone interview on a random sample of 1,268 families living in the same area. With a 3-mm wheal as a positive cut-off 439 (8.85%) children had a positive SPT to cats. Of these 103 (23.4%) had a cat at home and 336 (76.6%) never had a cat in the house. With a greater positive cut-off(a wheal diameter > or =4 mm) 140 (2.8%) showed a positive SPT to cats of these 35 (25%) had a cat at home and 105 (75%) had only an indirect exposure to the pet. Of the telephone interviewed families; 16% stated they had a cat at home. Cat sensitivity is less prevalent in Italy, in this hospital based population, compared with other European countries and this is in agreement with a lower rate of cat ownership. Cat sensitivity was three times more frequent in children who never had a cat at home, than in children living with cats, when the selected positive cut-off was either a wheal diameter of 3 mm or > or =4 mm. Thus in a population with a low prevalence of cat ownership public exposure seems to be more important than domestic exposure for the development of sensitivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Saccular influence on the otolith-spinal reflex and posture during sudden falls of the cat.

HYPOTHESIS: The saccule provides important input for the otolith spinal reflex during sudden falls in the cat. BACKGROUND: Previous studies on cats have identified two distinct components of muscle activity in response to sudden falls: an early otolith-dependent component (OSR) and a later nonlabyrinthine component associated with landing. The presence of an otolith-dependent reflex suggests a discrete role of the otolith organs in the control of posture and locomotion. METHODS: The influence of saccular input on the OSR during sudden falls was studied by simultaneous video and electromyographic (EMG) recordings obtained from saccular-deficient deaf white cats and white cats with normal hearing. RESULTS: A total of 628 sudden falls from five cats (two normal, one unilaterally deaf and two bilaterally deaf) were studied. Normal cats had a total of 337 drops, 276 of which (82%) were acceptable; a unilaterally deaf cat had a total of 79 drops, 56 of which (71%) were acceptable; deaf cats had a total of 212 drops, 177 of which (83%) were acceptable. The earliest of five observed behavioral events was that of forelimb extension which had a mean latency of 98 +/- 32 msec in normal cats and 139 +/- 28 msec in deaf cats (p < 0.0001). The mean latency of early EMG activity in normal cats was 19 +/- 7 msec and in deaf cats was 30 +/- 13 msec (p < 0.0001). The unilaterally deaf cat exhibited behavior and early EMG responses that were similar to those of normal cats. Deaf cats displayed poor body control during landings that improved with experience. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the saccule provides important input for the otolith spinal reflex in the cat, and cats that lack both saccules have discernible behavioral and EMG differences in response to sudden falls, when compared with normal cats.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Seroprevalences of antibodies against Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii and fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and Toxocara cati in feral and pet domestic cats.

OBJECTIVE: To compare seroprevalences of antibodies against Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii and fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and Toxocara cati in feral and pet domestic cats. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional serologic and coprologic survey. ANIMALS: 100 feral cats and 76 pet domestic cats from Randolph County, NC. PROCEDURE: Blood and fecal samples were collected and tested. RESULTS: Percentages of feral cats seropositive for antibodies against B. henselae and T. gondii (93% and 63%, respectively) were significantly higher than percentages of pet cats (75% and 34%). Percentages of feral and pet cats with Cryptosporidium spp (7% of feral cats; 6% of pet cats), Giardia spp (6% of feral cats; 5% of pet cats), and T. cati ova (21% of feral cats; 18% of pet cats) in their feces were not significantly different between populations. Results of CBCs and serum biochemical analyses were not significantly different between feral and pet cats, except that feral cats had a significantly lower median PCV and significantly higher median neutrophil count. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that feral and pet cats had similar baseline health status, as reflected by results of hematologic and serum biochemical testing and similar prevalences of infection with Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and T. cati. Feral cats did have higher seroprevalences of antibodies against B. henselae and T. gondii than did pet cats, but this likely was related to greater exposure to vectors of these organisms.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Emergency CAT in stroke-why?].

INTRODUCTION: A stroke is considered to be a neurological emergency, and it is recommended that an immediate CAT scan should be done in all patients. However, its usefulness may be controversial in the early stages. OBJECTIVE: To show the diagnostic usefulness of early CAT scans following strokes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We made a retrospective study of a random sample of the requests for cranial CAT scans in suspected cerebrovascular disease between October 1998 and April 2000. We analyzed the diagnostic and therapeutic variations before and after CAT scans (pre CAT and post CAT moments). RESULTS: We selected 210 cases. Average age: 72 10.4 (57% males). There was no difference in CAT findings (normal or vascular) related to the day it was done. Pre CAT diagnosis: non specific, 39.3%; intracranial haemorrhage (ICH), 17%. Post CAT diagnosis: the commonest was thrombotic infarct (23.7%), followed by non vascular , 20%. Pre CAT treatment: no treatment 47.9%; antiaggregant 30.4%; low molecular weight heparin 7.4%. Post CAT treatment: no treatment 17%, 21.7% of the patients with ICH received antiaggregants or anticoagulants prior to cranial CAT. Hemiplegia was more often associated with a vascular CAT scan whilst isolated dysarthria was with a normal CAT scan. Nineteen patients died and all of these had vascular CAT scans. The patients with vascular CAT scans were more often admitted to hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of cranial CAT scans during the acute stage of strokes are unpredictable. Early CAT scans in stroke patients permits improved diagnosis and treatment of patients, avoids serious errors of treatment and affects the outcome.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1994

Rochalimaea henselae infection. A new zoonosis with the domestic cat as reservoir.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reservoir and vector(s) for Rochalimaea henselae, a causative agent of bacillary angiomatosis (BA) and cat scratch disease, and to estimate the percentage of domestic cats with R henselae bacteremia in the Greater San Francisco Bay Region of Northern California. DESIGN: Hospital-based survey of patients diagnosed with BA who also had significant exposure to at least one pet cat, as well as a convenience sampling of pet or impounded cats for prevalence of Rochalimaea bacteremia. SETTING: Community and university hospitals and clinics; veterinary clinics treating privately owned or impounded cats. PATIENTS: Patients with or without human immunodeficiency virus infection, with biopsy-confirmed BA, who had prolonged exposure to pet cats prior to developing BA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cultures and laboratory studies were performed on blood drawn from pet cats associated with patients with BA. The Rochalimaea species infecting pet cats and fleas and causing the BA lesions in human contacts of these cats was identified by culture, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and DNA sequencing. The presence of R henselae bacteremia in pet cats was documented, and predictor variables for culture positivity were evaluated. RESULTS: Four patients diagnosed with BA who had prolonged contact with seven pet cats were identified. The Rochalimaea species causing BA lesions in these patients was determined to be R henselae. The seven pet cats were found to be bacteremic with R henselae; this bacterium was also detected in fleas taken from an infected cat by both direct culture and polymerase chain reaction. Blood samples were cultured from pet and impounded cats (N = 61) in the Greater San Francisco Bay Region, and R henselae was isolated from 41% (25/61) of these cats. CONCLUSION: We have documented that the domestic cat serves as a major persistent reservoir for R henselae, with prolonged, asymptomatic bacteremia from which humans, especially the immunocompromised, may acquire potentially serious infections. Antibiotic treatment of infected cats and control of flea infestation are potential strategies for decreasing human exposure to R henselae.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Virulence differences between two field isolates of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV-APetaluma and FIV-CPGammar) in young adult specific pathogen free cats.

The goal of this study was to identify a strain of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) that would be more virulent for adult cats than the prototype FIV-APetaluma and, thereby, enhance the FIV infection model for HIV-1 related research. Diehl et al. reported that one clade C strain of FIV, FIV-CPGammar, was more virulent than other known FIV isolates. Mortalities from 58 to 100% were reported for kittens 12 weeks of age and less following intravenous inoculation. A more variable and somewhat less virulent disease course was observed in neonatal to 8-10-week-old kittens infected orally, intravaginally or intrarectally with this same isolate (Obert and Hoover, 2000). However, no studies have been done with FIV-CPGammar in adult cats. Therefore, the virulence of FIV-CPGammar for young adult cats was compared to that of FIV-APetalulma, the original FIV isolate. One group of five cats were inoculated intraperitoneally with 470 TCID(50) of FIV-CPGammar in the form of pooled plasma from acutely infected cats, while a second group was infected with plasma containing the 750 TCID50 of FIV-APetaluma. The cats were observed for 20 weeks for gross signs of disease, hematologic abnormalities, time of antibody appearance, and plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) associated virus levels. Viral RNA and proviral DNA were measured by a real-time PCR, sensitive to 50 copies per milliliter. The only outward sign of disease was lymphadenopathy, which occurred at a similar time and intensity in both groups of cats. Cats infected with FIV-CPGammar were more likely to be neutropenic and lymphopenic during the first 10-12 weeks of infection than cats infected with FIV-APetaluma. Both groups of cats showed similar overall declines in absolute mean CD4 cell counts and identical concomitant increases in CD8 cells. CD4/CD8 cell ratios were also similar. Antibody, as measured by an ELISA against recombinant FIV-TM antigen, appeared in all cats by 4 weeks post-infection. The most significant differences were in plasma viral RNA and PBMC proviral DNA levels. Cats infected with FIV-CPGammar had up to 100 times higher mean levels of viral RNA during the first few weeks of infection than cats infected with FIV-APetaluma. This difference was also mirrored in levels of proviral DNA in PBMC, which were significantly higher in the FIV-CPGammar infected cats. Plasma viral RNA and PBMC proviral DNA levels were virtually identical in both groups of cats at 20 weeks post-infection. However, proviral DNA in tissues such as thymus and popliteal lymph nodes was 10-fold or so higher in FIV-CPGammar infected cats at 20 weeks and histopathologic lesions were more severe. Based on these various parameters, we concluded that FIV-CPGammar was more virulent than FIV-APetaluma in young adult cats during the 20-week study period. However, we were not able to recreate the severe and rapidly progressive disease previously reported for kittens, suggesting an age-related resistance similar to that observed previously for FIV-APetaluma (George et al., 1993).

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