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PubMed1975

Feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen. III. Antibody titers in cats from leukemia cluster households.

Serum samples from 182 healthy cats residing in environments known to have a natural exposure to feline leukemia virus (FeLV) were examined for the presence of antibody to the feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen. The number included 138 cats from leukemia-"cluster" households. Such cats previously showed greatly increased frequencies of FeLV infection, as determined by the virus group-specific antigen (gasa) in peripheral blood leukocytes and platelets. The geometric mean antibody titer for all 182 cats with known exposure to FeLV was 4.69, more than four times higher than the mean titer for healthy pet cats from the same geographic areas but with no known FeLV exposure. About 92 percent of the cats in exposure environments were positive for FeLV gsa or feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA) antibody, and gsa-positive cats had lower FOCMA antibody geometric mean titers than gsa-negative cats. In the exposure environments, no differences were seen for cats of different sexes, but a higher geometric mean antibody titer was observed for cats 5 years and over when compared to younger groups. These results prove that previous reports of increased incidences of leukemia in cluster households were not due to chance alone, but rather to increased infection rates of cats in the FeLV environment. Also, they suggest that horizontal transmission of FeLV is highly efficient under crowded conditions, and that most cats naturally exposed to virus elicit an active immune response.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Pathologic changes and tissue gentamicin concentrations after intravenous gentamicin administration in clinically normal and endotoxemic cats.

Hematologic and serum biochemical values, tissue gentamicin concentrations, and renal pathologic changes were determined in clinically normal and endotoxemic cats given 3 mg of gentamicin/kg of body weight, IV. Endotoxemia was induced by IV administration of 0.5 microgram of Escherichia coli endotoxin/kg of body weight. In experiment 1, 6 cats were given endotoxin. After rectal temperature increased at least 1 degree C, cats were given gentamicin. Blood samples were collected before and at 1 and 3 hours after administration of gentamicin. With the exception of severe leukopenia, other hematologic changes or changes in serum biochemical values were not observed. In experiment 2, 24 cats were allotted to 4 groups and were given gentamicin, endotoxin, gentamicin plus endotoxin, or neither substance. Three hours later, cats were euthanatized, and tissue and body fluid specimens were obtained and were assayed for gentamicin concentration. Kidney specimens were examined microscopically. Endotoxemic cats had more gentamicin in the renal medulla than did control cats, but none of the cats had detectable renal lesions. The possible nephrotoxic synergism between gentamicin and severe endotoxemia and the lack of major differences in gentamicin concentration in extrarenal tissues indicated that the dosage of gentamicin in endotoxemic cats does not have to exceed the dosage recommended for clinically normal cats. A single dose of gentamicin administered IV did not cause renal damage in mildly endotoxemic cats, but nephrotoxicity ascribed to multiple doses of gentamicin in more severely endotoxemic cats needs to be evaluated.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Neuronal populations stained with the monoclonal antibody Cat-301 in the mammalian cerebral cortex and thalamus.

The monoclonal antibody Cat-301 was used to examine neurons in the cerebral cortex and dorsal thalamus of several mammalian species, including Old World monkeys, cats, bush babies, guinea pigs, and rats. In each species, subpopulations of cortical and thalamic neurons are stained along the surfaces of their somata and proximal dendrites. Cat-301-positive cortical neurons include specific groups of pyramidal cells (e.g., corticospinal but not corticobulbar or callosal neurons in the monkey sensory-motor areas) and certain GABA-immunoreactive nonpyramidal cells. In the thalamus, the relay neurons projecting to the cortex and not the intrinsic neurons are stained. The Cat-301-positive neurons are nonhomogeneously distributed in the cat and monkey cortex and thalamus. In the cortex, they are densely packed in 2 bands that in most areas include layers III and V, but that in primary sensory areas include layers IV and VI. Because the density of stained neurons, their distribution, and the intensity of their staining vary among cortical areas, the borders between neighboring areas can often be detected by the differences in Cat-301 staining. Broader, regional differences are also readily apparent, for areas in the parietal and occipital lobes contain large numbers of intensely stained cells, but most areas in the frontal and temporal lobes contain fewer, more lightly stained neurons. The same broad differences are seen within the thalamus: only those nuclei reciprocally connected with intensely stained cortical areas contain large numbers of Cat-301-positive neurons. Differences among species include variations in cell density and distribution when a given cortical area or thalamic nucleus is compared between cats and monkeys. Greater differences are seen among the other species. Immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex are sparse and lightly stained in guinea pigs, are restricted to the hippocampal formation in rats, and are very rare and isolated in bush babies. Similarly, Cat-301-positive thalamic neurons are restricted to only one or 2 nuclei in the guinea pig and rat and are extremely rare in the bush baby. Cat-301 stains organized groups of neurons in the cat and monkey cortex and thalamus. In addition to the laminar organization of stained cells in all cortical areas (see above), the Cat-301-positive neurons of monkey areas 17 and 18 are grouped into radial arrays. In area 17, clusters of stained cells are present in layers above and below layer IVC. These clusters lie at the centers of ocular dominance columns, within patches stained for cytochrome oxidase (CO). Most of these cells are also GABA-immunoreactive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Effects of body position and ventilation/compression ratios during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cats.

Eighteen cats were anesthetized and were randomly assigned to 2 groups (9 cats/group). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed on each cat, with the cat in dorsal (group 1) or lateral (group 2) recumbency, by administering 5 external cardiac compressions/1 interposed (diastolic) ventilation (American Heart Association [AHA] technique; n = 3 cats/technique), simultaneous compression and ventilation (SCV; n = 3 cats/technique), or SCV with 1 interposed (diastolic) ventilation every tenth compression (SCV/DV; n = 3 cats/technique). Fourteen of the 18 cats were resuscitated. Central aortic and venous pressures were determined concurrently with lead II electrocardiography. Arterial blood samples were collected during the base-line period (after pressure fluctuations had stabilized, with the cats spontaneously breathing room air), 2.5 minutes after the onset of arrest (defined as the cessation of aortic pressure fluctuations), and after 10 minutes of CPR. Arterial blood gas values during the base-line period or during the period of arrest were not significantly different between group-1 and group-2 cats. After CPR, arterial pH and bicarbonate values were not significantly different between groups or between technique categories. The PaCO2 values were significantly lower in cats resuscitated by SCV or by SCV/DV than in cats resuscitated by AHA (P less than 0.05). The PaO2 values were significantly (P less than 0.001) higher in group-2 cats than in group-1 cats and were significantly (P less than 0.001) different between each technique category, with cats resuscitated by AHA having the lowest PaO2 and cats resuscitated by SCV/DV having the highest PaO2. Body position, CPR technique, sex, weight, or arterial blood gas values after CPR were not predictors of successful resuscitation.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Visually evoked potentials to pattern stimuli in cortex of binocularly deprived cats.

Visually evoked potentials (VEPs) were compared in 7 normally reared cats (N cats) and 9 cats deprived of pattern vision during postnatal period. In 4 deprived cats (D cats) recording was done immediately after deprivation period which lasted from 6 to 24 months. In 5 cats (DE cats) 6 months of deprivation was followed by 4-18 months of visual experience. Two stimuli were used: a large stationary stimulus (a 30 per 30 degrees grating pattern illuminated by flash) and a small moving stimulus (a smaller grating pattern was located in different parts of visual field and illuminated by a moving 1 per 4 degrees light slit). The VEPs were recorded in the marginal, suprasylvian, ectosylvian and sigmoid gyri. As compared with N cats, in D cats the VEPs in all cortical areas were of simpler form, more variable and of greater amplitude. Moreover, in contrast to N cats, in D cats the VEPs were of similar amplitude when evoked from the contra or homolateral visual field. However, results in DE cats showed that these changes are largely reversible.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Early suppression of viremia by ZDV does not alter the spread of feline immunodeficiency virus infection in cats.

Prophylactic zidovudine (ZDV) therapy in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) inoculated cats was evaluated for 12 months postinfection (pi) and 11 months post drug treatment. Plasma FIV antigenemia was prevented in six of six ZDV-treated and none of six untreated cats during the initial phase of infection. The present study is a continuation of that earlier work. CD4 lymphocyte numbers from ZDV-treated cats were higher than in the untreated cats. CD8 lymphocytes numbers were maintained within control limits in the ZDV-treated cats, while they declined in the untreated cats. Anti-FIV antibody titers were comparable between the ZDV-treated and the untreated cats. Histologically, lymphoid tissues for the untreated and ZDV-treated cats were unremarkable and similar to those of the uninfected control cats. Low-level FIV antigen was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in thymus or lymph node homogenates from 3 of 11 cats tested. Polymerase chain reaction analysis showed FIV DNA in blood, lymph node, bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and brain from FIV-inoculated cats irrespective of ZDV treatment. Therefore, while prophylactic ZDV treatment prevented detectable plasma antigenemia and FIV-induced CD8 lymphocyte decline, it did not slow infection of tissues and blood cells of FIV-inoculated cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Risk of feline infectious peritonitis in cats naturally infected with feline coronavirus.

A longitudinal survey of 820 cats in 73 households was conducted over a period of 6 years to establish the fate of pet cats that were seropositive after natural exposure to feline coronavirus (FCoV). In particular, their risk of developing feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was determined. The seropositive cats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: cats from households in which FIP had recently been diagnosed; cats from households in which FIP had not been diagnosed, but from which kittens had been relocated and subsequently died of FIP; and cats from households in which FIP had not been diagnosed. Cats in the first group were not at greater risk of developing FIP than were cats in the other 2 groups. Consequently, any household in which seropositive cats live must be considered a potential source of FCoV that can cause FIP. There was no evidence that the enhanced disease, which has been described after experimentally induced infection of seropositive cats, exists in nature. Thus, analysis of the survival of the seropositive cats over periods of up to 36 months indicated that their risk of developing FIP decreased with time, suggesting the development of immunity rather than increased susceptibility to disease. In addition, of 56 cats deemed to have been naturally reinfected because their anti-FCoV antibody titers decreased and subsequently increased, only 3 developed FIP.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1993

Prophylactic ZDV therapy prevents early viremia and lymphocyte decline but not primary infection in feline immunodeficiency virus-inoculated cats.

Prophylactic zidovudine (ZDV) therapy was evaluated in the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-inoculated cat model for HIV-1 infection in humans. ZDV treatment (30 mg/kg/day via continuous subcutaneous infusion) was initiated 48 h prior to virus inoculation and continued for 28 days. Transient plasma antigenemia evident in six of six untreated cats at week 2 post-inoculation (pi) was absent in the ZDV-treated cats although at 10 and 14 weeks pi (6 and 10 weeks after drug treatment), one of the ZDV-treated cats had low-level antigenemia. Both CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte numbers were consistently higher in the ZDV-treated cats when compared to both the FIV-inoculated untreated cats and the virus-naive, age-matched controls. CD4:CD8 ratios were lower for the ZDV-treated cats than either the FIV-inoculated untreated or virus-naive, control cats. The decreased CD4:CD8 ratios were the result of an increase in CD8 lymphocytes in the ZDV-treated cats while decreased ratios in the FIV-inoculated untreated cats were due to cell loss. Both ZDV-treated and untreated cats showed nearly identical FIV-specific antibody responses beginning 2 weeks pi. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results from blood lymphocytes showed that six of six ZDV-treated and six of six untreated cats were positive for FIV-specific gag sequences. Although primary infection was not prevented, these results suggest that prophylactic ZDV therapy deterred early systemic spread of infection mediated by viremia and delayed absolute CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte decline.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

Primary and secondary Toxoplasma gondii infection in normal and feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats.

Normal and asymptomatic feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected adult cats were inoculated orally with Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts to assess differences in clinical disease, T. gondii serologic test results, hematologic results, and oocyst shedding. There was no difference between FIV-naive and FIV-infected cats in terms of clinical illness and duration of oocyst shedding following primary exposure. Both groups of cats developed significant decreases in neutrophil counts following primary inoculation with T. gondii; FIV-infected cats that were neutropenic prior to inoculation with T. gondii developed the most profound decreases in neutrophil numbers. Both FIV-naive and FIV-infected cats became lymphopenic during acute T. gondii infection; however, only FIV-naive cats developed lymphocytosis in the recovery stage. FIV-infected cats had lower total CD4+ and higher total CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts than FIV-naive cats prior to inoculation with T. gondii, but changes in these lymphocyte subsets were similar between groups of cats during the first several weeks after inoculation. Toxoplasma gondii infection had neither an ameliorating nor enhancing effect on T-lymphocyte subset abnormalities in FIV-infected cats during acute or chronic infection. Both groups of cats developed comparable levels of T. gondii-specific IgM and IgG antibodies and T. gondii antigen-specific lymphocyte blastogenic responses following primary inoculation. Both groups of cats were fed T. gondii tissue cysts 66 wk following primary exposure and both groups were solidly immune as evidenced by a lack of oocyst shedding and only minor changes in IgM but not IgG antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A family of activity-dependent neuronal cell-surface chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in cat visual cortex.

Monoclonal antibody Cat-301 recognizes a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) expressed on the extracellular surface of cell bodies and proximal dendrites of specific subsets of neurons in many areas of the mammalian CNS, including the cat visual cortex. The Cat-301 CSPG is first detected at the close of the critical period in development, a period during which the pattern of neuronal activity determines the mature synaptic circuitry and neuronal phenotype. In the cat visual cortex, dark-rearing from birth prolongs the duration of the critical period and attenuates the expression of the Cat-301 antigen, implicating the Cat-301 CSPG in the cellular mechanisms that terminate the period of synaptic plasticity. Because the Cat-301 antigen is expressed on only a limited subset of neurons, we have further examined the molecular heterogeneity among neuronal cell-surface CSPGs and have asked (1) whether other neuronal subsets carry distinct CSPGs and (2) whether the activity-dependent expression of the Cat-301 CSPG is a property generalizable to related cell-surface CSPGs. Here, we report two new monoclonal antibodies, Cat-315 and Cat-316, which together with Cat-301 define a family of at least seven related yet distinct CSPGs. These three antibodies define nonidentical subsets of neurons in the cat visual cortex. The expression of normal levels of these CSPGs is reduced by dark-rearing. Together, these data show that the family of cell-surface CSPGs is molecularly diverse, that different sets of neurons express distinct complements of cell-surface antigens, and that the regulation of CSPG expression by activity may be a general feature of neuronal cell-surface CSPGs.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae, Toxoplasma gondii, FIV and FeLV infections in domestic cats in Japan.

Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae, Toxoplasma gondii, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infections was investigated in 1,447 domestic cats derived from the north (Hokkaido) to the south (Okinawa) prefectures in Japan. Of the cats investigated, 8.8% (128/1,447) were seropositive to B. henselae, 5.4% (78/1,447) to T. gondii, 9.8% (107/1,088) to FIV, and 2.9% (32/1,088) to FeLV, respectively. For B. henselae infection, the positive rate varied from 11.5% in cats of 1 to <2 years old to 7.2% in those over 3 years old. Outdoor cats showed higher positive rate (14.5%) than that (7.0%) in indoor ones. The rate (13.5%) in flea-infested cats was significantly higher than that (7.4%) in flea-negative cats. The positive rates in southern and urban sites were more likely to be higher than those in northern and suburban sites, suggesting that warm and humid environments, density of cat population, and raising status, including hygienic condition and flea infestation in cats may correlate to higher seroprevalence of B. henselae infection. For T. gondii, FIV and FeLV infections, the seroprevalence also tended to be higher in outdoor, flea-infested cats and advanced age groups. For FIV infection, the positive rates in male (14.3%) and outdoor cats (15.0%) were significantly higher than those in female (5.0%) and indoor cats (4.6%). On the other hand, no significant difference in seropositivities was observed in FeLV and T. gondii infections concerning to both genders and raising status.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae infection and correlation with disease status in cats in Switzerland.

The prevalence of infection with Bartonella henselae was investigated in cats from different areas of Switzerland. Serum samples of 728 cats were examined for antibodies to B. henselae by immunofluorescent antibody testing, and the results were analyzed with a view to a possible correlation between a positive titer and signalment, clinical signs, infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline coronavirus (FCoV), or feline spumavirus (FeSFV), and the living environments of the cats. The seroprevalence in all cats was 8.3%. No significantly different prevalence was found in sick versus healthy cats (9.2 versus 7.2%); however, in sick cats seropositive for B. henselae, there was an increased frequency of stomatitis and a variety of diseases of the kidneys and the urinary tract. There was an increased prevalence of B. henselae in cats positive for FCoV (P = 0.0185) or FeSFV (P = 0.0235) and no statistically significant increased prevalence in cats infected with FeLV or FIV. There was no correlation between a positive titer and sex or breed. The same prevalence of B. henselae antibodies was found in cats with and without access to the outdoors and in cats from single- and multicat households. The seroprevalence was increased in cats living south of the Alps (12.1%); however, this difference was not significant (P = 0.0616).

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Loss of Catalase-1 (Cat-1) results in decreased conidial viability enhanced by exposure to light in Neurospora crassa.

Light is one of the most important factors inducing morphogenesis in Neurospora crassa. The reception of light triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Catalase-1 (Cat-1) is one of three catalases known to detoxify H(2)O(2) into water and oxygen. We reported that the photomorphogenetic characteristics of mutants in nucleoside diphosphate kinase-1 (NDK-1), a light signal transducer, are severely affected, and NDK-1 interacted with Cat-1 in a yeast two-hybrid assay. To disclose the function of Cat-1, we created a Cat-1 loss-of-function mutant (cat-1 ( RIP )) by the repeat induced point-mutation (RIPing) method. No Cat-1 activity was detected in the mutant strain. Forty guanines were replaced with adenines in the cat-1 gene of cat-1 ( RIP ), which caused 30 amino acid substitutions. The mutant strain grew normally, but its conidia and mycelia were more sensitive to H(2)O(2) than those of the wild type. The lack of Cat-1 activity also caused a significant reduction in the conidial germination rate. Furthermore, light enhanced this reduction in cat-1 ( RIP ) more than that in the wild type. Introduction of cat-1 into the mutant reversed all of these defective phenotypes. These results indicate that Cat-1 plays an important role in supporting the survival of conidia under oxidative and light-induced stress.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed1994

Development of a novel quantitative assay for the measurement of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) mRNA.

Most host cells transfected with chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) expressing plasmids display relatively low levels of constitutive CAT activity. While this is ideal to study factors that enhance gene transcription, decreases in CAT levels are difficult to quantitate, using conventional CAT assays. Thus, investigators have used cell activating agents or co-transfection of the cell lines with a second enhancer plasmid to yield higher levels of CAT activity. However, such measures can interfere with the cellular pathways studied and eventually alter the results. To avoid this problem, our laboratory has designed an RT-PCR assay to quantitate CAT mRNA. The ability of this assay to detect CAT mRNA but not CAT DNA demonstrates its specificity and is achieved using a tailed oligoprimer for the reverse transcription step. This assay is able to measure the equivalent of as few as eight copies of CAT mRNA, is reproducible and relatively easy to perform. The quantitative capability of the assay relies on a constant production of CAT mRNA, which is achieved using permanently transfected and cloned cell lines bearing a defined number of CAT DNA copies per cell. This assay provides a tool for monitoring events at the transcriptional level and thereby complements the currently used CAT ELISA and thin-layer chromatography assays.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Large diameter primary afferent input is required for expression of the Cat-301 proteoglycan on the surface of motor neurons.

The expression of a cell surface proteoglycan, recognized by monoclonal antibody Cat-301, is regulated by neuronal activity in early life. Here we report that the expression of the Cat-301 proteoglycan on motor neurons depends on primary afferent input in the early postnatal period. Previously we showed that in two different systems, Y-cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus and motor neurons in the hamster spinal cord, the expression of the Cat-301 antigen requires neuronal activity during a circumscribed period in development. Disrupting the activity of Y-cells (by dark rearing or by monocular lid suture) or of motor neurons (by sciatic nerve crush or by spinal cord lesion) during the early postnatal period prevents Cat-301 expression. Disrupting neuronal activity in adults has no effect on Cat-301 expression. The onset of Cat-301 expression corresponds to the end of the period of activity-dependent development. In order to further dissect the components of the segmental reflex are required for the expression of Cat-301 on motor neurons, here we evaluated the effect of deafferentation by dorsal rhizotomy. In adult animals two weeks after deafferentation all sciatic motor neurons continue to express Cat-301. In contrast, in neonates two weeks after deafferentation the normal developmental expression of Cat-301 is reduced and less than 50% of sciatic motor neurons express Cat-301. We next selectively lesioned the small diameter afferents using the neurotoxin capsaicin. In contrast to rhizotomy, neonatal deletion of small diameter afferents has no effect on the development of Cat-301 expression on motor neurons. These results imply that input relayed by large diameter primary afferents (probably those conveying muscle and/or joint information) is required for normal maturation of motor neuronal properties during early life. They also provide further evidence for activity-dependent maturation of motor neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Effect of eye rubbing on signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in cat-sensitive individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of eye rubbing on signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in cat-sensitive individuals. DESIGN: Two prospective, nonrandomized comparative studies. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen patients in the first study and 20 patients in the second study with a documented history of acute allergic conjunctivitis induced by exposure to cats were enrolled. INTERVENTION: In the first trial, all patients had one eye rubbed 15 times by the investigator without exposure to airborne allergens. Both eyes were evaluated after 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes using subject questionnaires and slit-lamp examination. At least 1 week later, each patient was exposed to cat dander for 75 minutes; 15 minutes after entering the cat room, each patient had one eye rubbed 15 times by the examiner. Subjects' eyes were then evaluated using questionnaires and slit-lamp examination. In the second trial, the visits were identical to the first trial, except that the rubbed eye in each visit was rubbed 20 times and with more force, and that patients wore masks during exposure to cat dander. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In both studies, the difference between patients' rubbed and nonrubbed eyes with respect to ocular itching, chemosis, and hyperemia was noted 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after controlled eye rubbing. RESULTS: Without exposure to the cat room, rubbed eyes exhibited increased itching at 5 minutes in both studies and at 15 minutes in the second study (P < 0.05), increased chemosis at 5 and 15 minutes in the second study (P < 0.05), and increased hyperemia at 5 minutes in the second study (P < 0.05) compared with nonrubbed eyes. During exposure to cat dander, rubbed eyes consistently exhibited increased itching at 5, 15, and 30 minutes in the first and second study as well as at 60 minutes in the second study compared with nonrubbed eyes. Furthermore, during exposure to cat dander, rubbed eyes consistently exhibited increased chemosis at 5 and 15 minutes (P < 0.05) and increased hyperemia at 5, 15, and 30 minutes (P < 0.05) in the second study compared with nonrubbed eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Firm eye rubbing causes a mild and transient increase in ocular itching, chemosis, and hyperemia. However, after exposure to cat allergens in cat-sensitive individuals, the effects of eye rubbing are longer and more dramatic. Eye rubbing may play a role in ocular signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in cat-sensitive individuals, especially after exposure to cat dander.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Differences in food preferences between individuals and populations of domestic cats Felis silvestris catus.

The food preferences of 64 cats, of which 28 were domestic pets and 36 were free-ranging animals on three farms, were tested using five food types; a sixth type was also tested on the farm cats. Information was also gathered on the background diet of the house cats (individually) and of each farm cat colony. Consistent differences were found between the predefined groups of cats in their preferences for three foods, Hard Dry (HD), Canned Meat (CM) and Raw Beef (RB), the greatest differences being between house cats and farm cats as a whole. The three colonies of farm cats showed distinct differences in preference, for RB and/or CM, and for the sixth food, Soft Dry (SD). Differences between farms could be explained by a reduced preference for items similar to major components of the background diet of each colony, i.e. selection in favour of foods that were temporally rare. Differences between house and farm cats, and within the house cats, could not be explained in this way; the house cats were neophobic towards RB, and the farm cats ate little of the HD food, possibly because they found it difficult to ingest.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Applications of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) to the assessment of headache impact.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and the reliability and validity of CAT-based estimates of headache impact scores in comparison with 'static' surveys. METHODS: Responses to the 54-item Headache Impact Test (HIT) were re-analyzed for recent headache sufferers (n = 1016) who completed telephone interviews during the National Survey of Headache Impact (NSHI). Item response theory (IRT) calibrations and the computerized dynamic health assessment (DYNHA) software were used to simulate CAT assessments by selecting the most informative items for each person and estimating impact scores according to pre-set precision standards (CAT-HIT). Results were compared with IRT estimates based on all items (total-HIT), computerized 6-item dynamic estimates (CAT-HIT-6), and a developmental version of a 'static' 6-item form (HIT-6-D). Analyses focused on: respondent burden (survey length and administration time), score distributions ('ceiling' and 'floor' effects), reliability and standard errors, and clinical validity (diagnosis, level of severity). A random sample (n = 245) was re-assessed to test responsiveness. A second study (n = 1103) compared actual CAT surveys and an improved 'static' HIT-6 among current headache sufferers sampled on the Internet. Respondents completed measures from the first study and the generic SF-8 Health Survey; some (n = 540) were re-tested on the Internet after 2 weeks. RESULTS: In the first study, simulated CAT-HIT and total-HIT scores were highly correlated (r = 0.92) without 'ceiling' or 'floor' effects and with a substantial reduction (90.8%) in respondent burden. Six of the 54 items accounted for the great majority of item administrations (3603/5028, 77.6%). CAT-HIT reliability estimates were very high (0.975-0.992) in the range where 95% of respondents scored, and relative validity (RV) coefficients were high for diagnosis (RV = 0.87) and severity (RV = 0.89); patient-level classifications were accurate 91.3% for a diagnosis of migraine. For all three criteria of change, CAT-HIT scores were more responsive than all other measures. In the second study, estimates of respondent burden, item usage, reliability and clinical validity were replicated. The test-retest reliability of CAT-HIT was 0.79 and alternate forms coefficients ranged from 0.85 to 0.91. All correlations with the generic SF-8 were negative. CONCLUSIONS: CAT-based administrations of headache impact items achieved very large reductions in respondent burden without compromising validity for purposes of patient screening or monitoring changes in headache impact over time. IRT models and CAT-based dynamic health assessments warrant testing among patients with other conditions.

Computer Systems↗