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PubMed2002

Toxoplasma gondii infection of cats in epizootiological and clinical aspects.

A total of 200 cats from a south-western region of Poland were tested for antibodies to T. gondii. 105 (52.5%) examined cats were seropositive for T. gondii. Positive results were found in 16 (50%) out of 30 homeless cats, 33 (55%) out of 60 cats kept in shelters, and 56 (51.85%) out of 108 pet cats visiting outpatients clinics. 70 of pet cats stayed indoor and never left house, the others (38 cats) lived at house, but frequently abided outdoor. The seroprevalence in the last group was higher than in cats kept indoor, in shelters or homeless cats, however the differences were not statistically significant. Among the cats kept exclusively indoor the statistically significant difference in seropositivity was noted between the cats fed raw meat (69.23%) and the ones eating only commercial feed or cooked meat (19.35%), chi2 = 17.24, P < 001. Males were more frequently infected than females, but the differences were not statistically significant. In cats over 5 years old the percentage of positive results was significantly higher than in the younger ones. The ranges of antibody titres measured by LAT (latex agglutination test) were in agreement with ranges estimated by IFAT (indirect fluorescent antibody test). The LAT titres over 1980 IU/ml and IF IgG titres over 1:4000 were found only in cats, in which clinical toxoplasmosis was confirmed.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased mean arterial pressure and aldosterone-to-renin ratio in Persian cats with polycystic kidney disease.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in Persian cats has been increasingly reported and compared to human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in the last decade. In cats, however, few studies have dealt with the occurrence and hormonal determinants of hypertension, one of the most common extrarenal manifestations of ADPKD in humans. The purpose of this study was to compare Persian cats >4 years old with PKD to unaffected control cats with regard to blood pressure (BP), plasma renin activity (PRA), serum aldosterone concentration, plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration, and aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR). Three gender- and age-matched groups were studied, each consisting of 7 cats: (1) a control group without cysts, (2) a group with mild PKD, and (3) a group with severe PKD (multiple cysts and renal enlargement). Mild renal insufficiency was found in only 1 of 14 cats with PKD. Cats with PKD had a higher mean arterial pressure (P = .04) and more often had a high ARR (P = .047) than did control cats. Tendencies toward higher diastolic and systolic arterial pressures (DAPs and SAPs, respectively) and lower PRAs were observed in cats with PKD compared to controls (.05 < P < or = .1). No significant differences were found between the groups in serum aldosterone and plasma ANP concentrations. None of the cats had echocardiographic evidence of cardiac hypertrophy. In conclusion, cats with PKD had a minor increase in mean arterial pressure compared to control cats, and half of the cats had a high ARR.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

[Infections with helminths and/or protozoa in cats in animal shelters in the Netherlands].

To determine the prevalence of infections with helminths and protozoa in cats in animal shelters, faecal samples from 305 cats from 22 animal shelters in the Netherlands were examined, using a centrifugation-sedimentation-flotation-technique. The association between potential risk factors and the occurrence of an infection was also tested. Infections with helminths and/or protozoa were found in 160 samples (52.5%). Toxocara cati was found in 86 cats (28.2%), Cystoisospora felis in 59 cats (19.3%), Cystoïsospora rivolta in 43 cats (14.1%), Capillaria spp. in 34 cats (11.2%), Ancylostoma tubaeforma in 9 cats (3.0%), Taenia taeniaeformis in 9 cats (3.0%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in 8 cats (2.6%), Giardia intestinalis in 3 cats (1.0%), Dipylidium caninum in 2 cats (0.7%) and Toxoplasma gondii in 1 cat (0.3%). The highest prevalence was seen in kittens and stray cats. The main preventive factor against infection was a short stay in a shelter.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Lymphocytic/plasmacytic gastroenteritis in cats: 14 cases (1985-1990).

Over a 5-year period, lymphocytic/plasmacytic gastroenteritis was diagnosed in 14 cats. Purebred cats were affected significantly (P less than 0.025) more often than nonpurebred cats. Mean age at onset of clinical signs was 6.8 years (range, 1 to 13 years); 11 cats were male. Vomiting and weight loss, each reported in 10 of 14 cats, were the most common clinical signs. Diarrhea was reported in 7 of 14 cats. Alopecia was found in 4 of 14 cats. High hepatic enzyme activities and low plasma protein concentrations were frequent biochemical findings. Hyperemia, hemorrhage, and a roughened or "cobblestone" mucosa were visualized by endoscopy in only 2 of 8 cats with duodenal disease and in 2 of 5 cats with gastric disease. Lymphocytic/plasmacytic inflammation was detected in biopsy specimens from the stomach or duodenum or both in all cats; the duodenum was affected most commonly. Degree of inflammation frequently varied among gastric, duodenal, and colonic specimens from the same cat. Glucocorticoid treatment and dietary management adequately controlled clinical signs in 7 cats, but treatment was ineffective in 6 cats, 5 of which were euthanatized because of severity of clinical signs.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Neoplasia associated with feline immunodeficiency virus infection in cats of southern California.

Between 1988 and 1991, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection status was evaluated in 1,160 cats examined at an oncology referral and general practice in Los Angeles, California. Twenty-nine (2.5%) cats were FIV positive. Neoplasia was present in 18 of the 29 (62%) cats. Sampling for neoplasia was intentionally biased in the oncology referral group. However, 33% (6/18) of FIV-infected cats with neoplasia originated from the general practice. Three neoplastic processes were observed; myeloproliferative disease (MPD; 5/18), lymphoma (LSA; 5/18), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 7/18). One cat had LSA and SCC. Extranodal sites of LSA were common (66%) in FIV-infected cats. Sites of LSA were submandibular and mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, kidneys, periorbital area, and diffuse (heart, pancreas, bladder). Sites of SCC were sublingual (n = 2), nasal planum (n = 3), nasal planum and eyelids (n = 1), and mandible (n = 2). Feline leukemia virus co-infection was observed in 17% (5/29) of FIV-infected cats. The FIV-infected cats with MPD were young (range, 8 months to 13 years; median, 4 years) and had short survival duration (2, 6, 21, 134, 249 days) even in response to aggressive treatment. The FIV-infected cats with LSA were older (median age, 8 years; range, 4 to 14 years) and survived 60 days if untreated. Cats administered chemotherapy survived 39, 45, 217, and 243 days; the latter 2 cats had partial remission of 2 months' duration. Older FIV-infected cats had SCC (median age, 12 years; remission range, 7 to 16 years) because of more frequent association of both diseases in older cats with outdoor environment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Chylothorax in cats: 37 cases (1969-1989).

Case records of 37 cats with chylothorax examined at 2 institutions were retrospectively evaluated. Dyspnea and coughing were the most common abnormalities noticed by the owners, and most cats were dyspneic on initial examination. There was no statistically significant difference in the gender distribution of cats studied when compared with reference populations; however, purebred cats appeared to be overrepresented in the study population. Four of the cats had unilateral pleural effusion (2 left side, 2 right side) and 9 cats had effusions that were primarily, but not exclusively, on the right side. Surgery was performed on 20 cats. Fifteen cats underwent thoracic duct or cisterna chyli ligation; 20% had complete resolution of pleural fluid. There was no significant difference in the survival rate of cats that underwent thoracic duct ligation and those that were treated by other means. Six cats had mesenteric lymphangiography performed; 2 cats had normal results, and the remainder had various degrees of thoracic lymphangiectasia. Two cats in which pleuroperitoneal shunts were placed and 2 of 3 cats that underwent pleurodesis were euthanatized or died after surgery.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of ketoconazole and itraconazole for treatment of disseminated cryptococcosis in cats.

During the first part of a study, cats were inoculated with Cryptococcus neoformans via the following routes: intradermal, intranasal, IV, and intracisternal. Only use of the IV route of inoculation consistently induced disseminated cryptococcosis. In the second part of the study, disseminated cryptococcosis was experimentally induced in cats via IV inoculation of C neoformans. One month after inoculation, 3 cats were treated with ketoconazole (10 mg/kg of body weight/d) and 3 cats were treated with itraconazole (10 mg/kg/d) for 3 months. One of the ketoconazole-treated and 2 of the itraconazole-treated cats also had cryptococcosis of the CNS when treatment was begun. During treatment, serum cryptococcal antigen titer progressively decreased in all cats. Abnormalities in CBC values or the serum biochemical profile were not found in any cat during treatment. However, all ketoconazole-treated cats became anorectic and lost weight. Side effects were not seen in itraconazole-treated cats. During the 3-month posttreatment observation period, all cats remained healthy. At necropsy, histologic evidence of cryptococcosis was not found in the 3 ketoconazole-treated cats or in 2 of the itraconazole-treated cats. In the third itraconazole-treated cat, cryptococcal organisms were found in the kidneys.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Serum amyloid A protein concentration measured by radial immunodiffusion in Abyssinian and non-Abyssinian cats.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) protein concentration was determined by use of radial immunodiffusion (RID) in 4 groups of cats: Abyssinian cats with amyloidosis, healthy Abyssinian cats without clinical evidence of amyloidosis, hospitalized non-Abyssinian cats, and clinically normal non-Abyssinian cats. Mean SAA concentration in Abyssinian cats with amyloidosis was significantly (P = 0.05) higher than mean SAA concentration in healthy Abyssinian cats without clinical evidence of amyloidosis and in hospitalized non-Abyssinian cats. Mean SAA concentration in clinically normal non-Abyssinian cats was significantly (P = 0.05) lower than mean SAA concentration in healthy Abyssinian cats without clinical evidence of amyloidosis and in hospitalized non-Abyssinian cats. Affected and healthy Abyssinian cats, however, could not reliably be distinguished on the basis of SAA concentration, because of the wide range of SAA values in these 2 groups of cats.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1989

Hypokalemia in cats: 186 cases (1984-1987).

Retrospective review of serum biochemical data obtained from 501 cats over a 3-year period (1984-1987) indicated that 186 (37%) had hypokalemia (serum potassium concentration less than 4.1 mEq/L). After adjusting for disease diagnosis, cats fed either of 2 commercial diets were 4 times more likely to be hypokalemic than cats fed other diets. Odds ratios (OR; measure of association), adjusted for diet type, were calculated to determine the odds of hypokalemia for a given disease, compared with odds of normokalemia for the same disease. Chronic renal failure (OR = 14.4), hepatic disease (OR = 5.7), systemic infectious diseases (viral or bacterial; OR = 2.7), and neuromuscular or CNS disease (OR = 2.4) were all significantly associated (P less than 0.05) with the occurrence of hypokalemia. Significant differences in age or sex between hypokalemic and normokalemic cats were not found. Within the group of 186 hypokalemic cats, hypercholesterolemia (89 cats; 48%), hyperglycemia (88 cats; 47%), high serum urea nitrogen concentration (86 cats; 46%), hyperchloridemia (80 cats; 43%), and high serum creatinine concentration (73 cats; 39%) were the most common biochemical abnormalities. When disease diagnosis was compared among cats with severe hypokalemia (serum potassium concentration less than 3.0 mEq/L) and those with moderate hypokalemia, cats with severe hypokalemia were 3.5 times more likely to have chronic renal failure than cats with less severe hypokalemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1986

Echocardiography, electrocardiography, and radiography of cats with dilatation cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and hyperthyroidism.

The echocardiographic, ECG, and radiographic findings of sequentially examined cats with dilatation cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 7), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 8), and hyperthyroidism (HT, n = 20) were compared with those of healthy control cats (n = 11). Cats with DCM were easily differentiated from healthy cats by echocardiography and from cats with HCM and HT by a dilated left ventricle at end-diastole with a mean +/- SD of 2.20 +/- 0.36 cm, reduced fractional shortening (2.9% +/- 3.7%), reduced aortic amplitude (0.07 +/- 0.05 cm), reduced left ventricular wall amplitude (0.09 +/- 0.09 cm), and increased E-point septal separation (0.83 +/- 0.29 cm). The cats with HCM were most consistently recognized echocardiographically by increased left ventricular wall thickness at end-diastole (0.75 +/- 0.12 cm). Some cats with HT had abnormal echocardiograms with left ventricular wall hypertrophy. These cats could usually be differentiated from the cats with HCM because of normal or increased ventricular wall amplitude, aortic amplitude, or percentage of thickening of the left ventricular wall and interventricular septum. Left atrial enlargement (left atrial diameter greater than 1.57 cm or left atrium/aorta greater than 1.75) was commonly detected by the echocardiogram in cats with DCM, HCM, or HT. The echocardiogram was helpful in differentiating the type of cardiomyopathy (DCM, HCM, or HT) when plain thoracic radiographs indicated that cardiomegaly existed. The ECG may have indicated incorrectly that there was left ventricular enlargement in some cats with HT, and it did not indicate consistently that left ventricular enlargement existed when present in cats with DCM or HCM. The ECG was a poor indicator of left atrial enlargement in all cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Osteosarcoma in cats: 22 cases (1974-1984).

Osteosarcoma was diagnosed in 22 cats. Diagnosis was based on results of physical, radiographic, and histologic findings. Fifteen tumors arose from the appendicular skeleton, 4 from the skull, 2 from the pelvis, and 1 from a rib. Radiography revealed that in 14 of 15 cats (93%) with appendicular tumors, the lesion was metaphyseal, primarily lytic, with a "moth-eaten" appearance; absence and presence of periosteal new bone formation were associated with the tumors in 12 and 3 cats, respectively. The remaining 7 cats had axial tumors that were characterized by the presence of periosteal new bone formation in addition to bony lysis. Of the 15 cats with appendicular tumors, 12 were treated by amputation and 3 were euthanatized at the time of diagnosis. Of the cats undergoing amputation for treatment of their appendicular tumors, 6 cats were still alive 64 months after surgery (range, 13 to 64 months); the median survival time of the 5 cats (1 cat was lost to follow-up evaluation) that died was 49.2 months (range, 1 to 122 months). Four of 12 cats (33%) survived greater than or equal to 5 years after diagnosis. Of the cats with axial tumors that were not euthanatized at the time of diagnosis (6 of 7), the median survival time was 5.5 months. Based on these findings, we concluded that cats with appendicular osteosarcoma have a better prognosis than those with axial osteosarcoma, and that amputation is a viable treatment for cats with appendicular osteosarcoma.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Radioiodine treatment of 524 cats with hyperthyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a protocol for subcutaneous radioiodine treatment of cats with hyperthyroidism in which the dose was determined on the basis of severity of the cat's clinical signs, thyroid tumor size, and magnitude of the serum thyroxine (T4) concentration. DESIGN: Prospective case series. ANIMALS: 524 cats with hyperthyroidism. PROCEDURE: A scoring system based on 3 factors (severity of clinical signs, size of the thyroid gland, and magnitude of the serum T4 concentration) was used to select the dose of radioiodine to be administered subcutaneously. RESULTS: On the basis of the scoring system, 310 (59%) cats were treated with a low dose of radioiodine (< 3.5 mCi; median, 3.0 mCi), 158 (30%) were treated with a moderate dose (3.5 to 4.4 mCi; median, 4.0 mCi), and 56 (11%) were treated with a high dose (> or = 4.5 mCi; median, 5.0 mCi). At time of discharge from the hospital, serum T4 concentration was still high in 80 (15.3%) cats, but by 6 months after administration of radioiodine, the serum T4 concentration had decreased to within or below reference range in all but 8 (1.5%) cats with persistent hyperthyroidism. Many cats had low serum T4 concentrations at some time after radioiodine treatment, but only 11 (2.1%) cats developed clinical and clinicopathologic features of hypothyroidism and required supplementation with L-thyroxine. Thirteen (2.5%) cats had a relapse of hyperthyroidism 1.1 to 6.5 years after initial radioiodine treatment. Overall, the response to treatment was considered good in 94.2% of the cats. Median survival time in the cats was 2.0 years; the percentage of cats alive after 1, 2, and 3 years of treatment was 89, 72, and 52%, respectively. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Results of the study suggest that this method of dose estimation works well and that subcutaneous administration of radioiodine provides a safe and effective means of treating hyperthyroidism in cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effect of an orally administered sulfonylurea, glipizide, for treatment of diabetes mellitus in cats.

An orally administered sulfonylurea drug, glipizide, was evaluated for treatment of diabetes mellitus. Confirmation of diabetes was based on evidence of appropriate clinical signs, persistent hyperglycemia, and glucosuria. Glipizide (5 mg, PO, q 12 h) was administered to each cat. Sixteen cats were fed a commercial high-fiber diet and 4 cats were fed a commercial low-fiber diet. Insulin was not administered to any cat during the study. Each cat was evaluated 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after initiation of treatment. Three clinical responses to glipizide treatment were identified. Mean preprandial blood glucose concentration and mean blood glucose concentration during an 8-hour postprandial period decreased to < 200 mg/dl in 5 of 20 (25%) cats. In these 5 cats, glucosuria was no longer detected and clinical signs resolved by the 4-week reevaluation. Euglycemia was maintained after discontinuing glipizide treatment in 2 of these 5 cats. Glycemic control has been maintained in 2 of 5 of the responding cats for 5 and 7 months of glipizide treatment. One of 5 of the responding cats developed insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus after 6 months of glipizide treatment. Seven of 20 (35%) cats failed to respond to treatment. Mean preprandial blood glucose concentration and mean blood glucose concentration during an 8-hour postprandial period did not change from pretreatment values after 2 +/- 1 months; glucosuria persisted and clinical signs progressively worsened. Insulin treatment was required to establish glycemic control in these 7 cats. Eight of 20 (40%) cats partially responded to glipizide treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Lymphocytic/plasmacytic colitis in cats: 14 cases (1985-1990).

Lymphocytic/plasmacytic colitis was diagnosed in 14 cats during a 5-year period. Purebred cats were affected significantly (P < 0.001) more often than were nonpurebred cats. Six cats were male and 8 were female. Mean age at onset of clinical signs was 5.1 years (range, 0.5 to 9 years). Hematochezia, observed in 13 cats, was the most commonly reported sign; diarrhea was reported in 11 cats. Mildly high serum alanine transaminase activity and hypokalemia were frequent biochemical abnormalities. Campylobacter sp was cultured from the feces of 1 cat. On endoscopic examination, petechia and hyperemia of the colonic mucosa were detected in 7 of 8 cats. Cats were initially treated with dietary management alone or with a combination of dietary and pharmacologic management. Clinical signs in 7 of 11 treated cats completely resolved, whereas signs in 3 cats were considered improved. One cat was euthanatized when an inadequate response to treatment was observed. Most cats were eventually maintained on dietary management alone.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Adenomatous polyps of the duodenum in cats: 18 cases (1985-1990).

Medical records were reviewed for 18 cats with adenomatous polyps of the proximal portion of the duodenum. Cats of Asian ancestry were over represented (8/18), and male castrated cats were common (15/18). The median age was 11.8 years. Common clinical signs were acute and chronic vomiting and hematemesis. Nine cats were anemic. Contrast radiography was performed in 12 cats, and a mass of the proximal portion of the duodenum was identified in 10 cats. Endoscopy was used to confirm existence of the mass in 3 cats. Complete excision of the duodenal mass was performed in 17 cats. One cat died before abdominal exploratory surgery, and a duodenal adenomatous polyp was identified at necropsy. Fifteen cats survived the immediate postoperative period, with 13 of 15 having complete resolution of clinical signs. Five cats had concurrent disease, which caused 4 of them to die between 3 and 26 months after surgery. Redevelopment of adenomatous polyps was not detected in any cat during the follow-up period of 1 to 49 months. Results of the study indicated that benign, adenomatous polyps of the duodenum in cats can be safely excised and that the prognosis for return to normal function is excellent.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Mediation of immunity to Toxoplasma gondii oocyst shedding in cats.

Immunity to Toxoplasma gondii, as measured by oocyst shedding, was studied in cats. In 3 trials, 12 3-mo-old T. gondii-free cats were fed tissue cysts of the ME-49 strain of T. gondii. All cats shed T. gondii oocysts for approximately 1 wk starting 3-5 days after ingesting tissue cysts. One cat became ill because of toxoplasmic pneumonia and was killed 17 days after inoculation. The remaining cats remained clinically normal. Approximately 3 mo after primary infection, these 11 cats (immune) and 11 age-matched or littermate uninfected cats (nonimmune) were challenged orally with tissue cysts of the ME-49 strain. In trials 1 and 3, 1 immune and 1 nonimmune cat were killed at 36 hr, 60 hr, 5 days, and 12 days after challenge and the development of T. gondii in intestines was studied histologically; in trial 2, cats were killed at 36 hr, 60 hr, and 5 days only. None of the "immune" cats shed oocysts after challenge. Asexual T. gondii types were found at 36 and 60 hr and at 5 days, indicating partial development of T. gondii in the intestine of immune cats. There were no significant differences in lymphocyte CD4+/CD8+ from spleen, popliteal, and mesenteric lymph nodes of immune cats compared to nonimmune cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine responses of hyperthyroid cats to thyrotropin.

OBJECTIVE: To document circulating total thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) responses after administration of thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) to hyperthyroid and healthy cats and assess the value of these responses as an additional diagnostic test for hyperthyroidism. DESIGN: Prospective case series. ANIMALS: 21 healthy and 40 hyperthyroid cats. PROCEDURES: Serum total T4 and T3 concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay before and 6 hours after administration of 0.5 IU of bovine TSH/kg of body weight. RESULTS: In healthy cats, serum total T4 concentration increased after administration of TSH (mean +/- SD, 114.0 +/- 36.4 nmol/L) representing a mean increment 3 times baseline concentration (mean +/- SD, 33.7 +/- 7.6 nmol/L). In hyperthyroid cats, the relative increase in serum total T4 concentration was significantly (P < 0.001) different; baseline values (mean +/- SD, 236.2 +/- 146.0 nmol/L) increased minimally after TSH administration (mean +/- SD, 308.1 +/- 178.9 nmol/L) There was a significant negative correlation (rs = -0.366) between relative increase in serum total T4 concentration after TSH administration and baseline concentration in hyperthyroid cats. In 3 cats with equivocal baseline serum total T4 concentration, the T4 response to TSH administration was indistinguishable from that in healthy cats. Serum total T3 response to TSH administration was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in hyperthyroid, compared with healthy, cats but the T3 response in healthy cats was more variable than that for T4 CONCLUSIONS: Thyrotoxic cats with high baseline serum total T4 concentration have a limited T4 response to TSH stimulation. Hyperthyroid cats with equivocal baseline serum total T4 concentrations have T4 response after TSH stimulation similar to those of healthy cats. Measurement of serum total T3 concentration provides no additional information. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The TSH response test is of limited value in diagnosing hyperthyroidism in cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Profile of electrodiagnostic abnormalities in cats with GM1 gangliosidosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which electrodiagnostic tests yield abnormal findings in cats with GM1 gangliosidosis, and to determine the approximate age of onset of electrodiagnostic abnormalities. ANIMALS: Cats (28 to 335 days old) affected with GM1 gangliosidosis (n = 11) and unaffected controls (n = 14). PROCEDURE: Cats were grouped by age: group 1, < or = 90 days, group 2, 91 to 200 days; and group 3, > 200 days. Electrodiagnostic tests were conducted, including needle electromyography, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, spinal evoked potentials, and brainstem auditory evoked potentials. Results for control and affected cats were compared, using the general linear model for ANOVA and Scheffé's test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Needle electromyography did not reveal abnormal spontaneous activity in skeletal muscles of any cat; furthermore, statistical analysis did not indicate significant difference between affected and control groups for nerve conduction velocity, confirming that degeneration of peripheral nerve fibers is not a feature of this disease. However, spinal evoked potentials were abnormal in group-3 cats; conduction velocity within sensory pathways in the cranial part of the spinal cord was significantly slower in GM1-affected cats (P = 0.0002). Brainstem auditory evoked responses also were abnormal: wave V (generated in the region of the pons) had prolonged latency in cats of groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.0003 and 0.0001, respectively, at 90 decibels sound pressure level). In the oldest cats, latencies for earlier waves within the auditory pathway also were prolonged; wave I (generated by the cochlear nerve) was prolonged in group-3 cats (P = 0.0423). CONCLUSIONS: Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities remained within normal limits in GM1-affected cats. However, spinal evoked potentials indicated slowing in conduction velocity along the cranial part of the spinal cord in group 3 cats. Brainstem auditory evoked responses indicated prolonged latencies in cats of groups 2 and 3.

Animals↗