Hypocalcemia associated with administration of sodium bicarbonate for salicylate intoxication in a cat

Hypocalcemia was believed to be the result of aggressive sodium bicarbonate treatment for a cat with aspirin intoxication. The cat developed progressive neuromuscular tetany during the bicarbonate treatment and was determined to have a low serum ionized calcium value.     

Evaluation of a concentration method for counting Sarcocystis gigantea sporocysts in cat faeces

A technique for determining the numbers of S. gigantea sporocysts in cat faeces using a concentration procedure and haemocytometer was evaluated. The results showed that it was more accurate than a modified McMaster method and had a mean recovery rate of 73% at four levels of infection ranging from about 2000 to over 20,000 sporocysts per gram of faeces.     

Immunoglobulin A myeloma in a cat with pleural effusion and serum hyperviscosity

Immunoglobulin A myeloma, serum hyperviscosity, and septic pleuritis were diagnosed in a cat with pleural and peritoneal effusions. Serum hyperviscosity was determined by use of a WBC pipette, and clinical manifestations included retinopathy and cardiac changes. The presence of Salmonella typhimurium in the pleural fluid may have resulted from increased susceptibility to infection. Postmortem examination revealed plasma cell infiltration of the pleura, mesenteric lymph nodes, and the serosa of the intestine, liver, and spleen. This case represents an unusual form of myeloma in the cat.     

Prediction of serum ionized calcium concentration by use of serum total calcium concentration in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether total serum calcium (tCa) or adjusted tCa concentrations accurately predict ionized calcium (iCa) status in dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: 1,633 canine serum samples. PROCEDURE: The tCa concentration was adjusted for total protein (TP) or albumin concentration by use of published equations. Correlations between iCa and tCa or adjusted tCa, tCa and TP, and tCa and albumin were calculated. Diagnostic discordance between tCa or adjusted tCa and iCa was determined. Diagnostic discordance in predicting iCa was also determined for 490 dogs with chronic renal failure (CRF). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative diagnostic likelihood ratios were calculated for tCa, tCa adjusted forTP, and tCa adjusted for albumin. RESULTS: Diagnostic discordance was 27% when tCa concentration was used to predict iCa status. Use of adjusted tCa increased diagnostic discordance to approximately 37% for all dogs and 55% for dogs with CRF. Positive predictive value and positive diagnostic likelihood ratios were poor when tCa concentration was used to predict iCa status. The tCa concentration overestimated normocalcemia and underestimated hypocalcemia. Adjusted tCa overestimated hypercalcemia and underestimated hypocalcemia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Adjusted tCa or tCa concentrations are unacceptable for predicting iCa status in dogs. Use of adjustment equations is not recommended. Direct measurement of iCa concentration is necessary for accurate assessment of calcium status. Use of tCa or adjusted tCa concentrations to predict iCa status in dogs could cause serious mistakes in diagnosis and case management, especially in dogs with CRF.     

Modification of the concentration of creatinine and sodium in blood serum and urine and the fractional elimination of sodium by electrolyte therapy in calves]

In 32 calves, creatinine and sodium concentrations were determined in blood and urine samples taken simultaneously four times during two periods of two days each (control period: milk or milk replacer; trial period: oral electrolyte solution). Creatinine urine/serum ratios and fractional elimination of sodium (FENa) were calculated. The influence of the type of liquid feed on these parameters was evaluated statistically. Calves fed milk replacer had higher urine sodium concentrations and FENa than calves fed whole milk. All parameters determined were influenced by intake of oral electrolyte solution: creatinine concentrations in serum and urine decreased, whereas sodium concentrations in serum and urine, as well as FENa, increased. It is concluded that sodium content of liquid feed significantly influences FENa.     

Identification and concentration of soy isoflavones in commercial cat foods

OBJECTIVE: To determine the absolute and relative soy isoflavone content in commercial cat foods. SAMPLE POPULATION: 14 dry, 6 semimoist, and 22 moist commercial cat foods. PROCEDURE: Soy isoflavone content of each food was determined by use of acid-methanol hydrolysis and high-pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorbance detection. Isoflavones were identified and quantified by reference to authentic standards. RESULTS: Genistein and daidzein were the major soy isoflavones identified in 24 of 42 foods, with concentrations ranging from 1 to 163 microg/g of food. Foods labeled as containing soybean solids (16/42) had isoflavone concentrations > 11 microg/g. More dry (13/14) and semimoist (6/6) foods contained isoflavones than moist foods (5/22). Isoflavone content and food cost were negatively correlated for dry and semimoist foods but not for moist foods. Total amount of isoflavone consumed by cats fed these soy-containing foods as a sole maintenance diet was estimated to be between 0.6 and 4.5 mg/kg of body weight/d, which is comparable to concentrations in humans that result in a measurable although modest effect on serum concentrations of steroid and thyroid hormones. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Genistein and daidzein are common constituents of commercial cat foods. Predictors of isoflavone content included ingredient labeling, food type, and food cost. Soy isoflavones in some commercial cat foods were detected in amounts predicted to have a biological effect.     

Isolation of C-reactive protein from cat serum

C-reactive protein (CRP) was isolated from sera from healthy cats by calcium-dependent affinity chromatography on phosphorylcholine derivatives of bovine albumin-coupled Toyopearl, followed by an anion-exchange chromatography using DEAE cellulose. It was identified as CRP by its immunochemical cross reactivity with human CRP. The molecular weight of cat CRP was approximately 100 kilodaltons (kDa) and composed of two glycosylated subunits (23 kDa) and three non-glycosylated subunits (20 kDa) with non-covalent association. Under electron microscopic examination, cat CRP had a pentameric disc-like configuration which is characteristic of CRP. Immunoelectrophoresis and isoelectric focusing showed that cat CRP is an acidic α₁-globulin (pi 4-1 to 4-3). Serum concentrations of CRP in cats and kittens were measured by single radial immunodiffusion. In 12 healthy cats from various sources, values ranged from 38 to 168 μg/ml. In kittens, serum CRP levels also showed a wide distribution, 81 per cent of them were less than 40 μg/ml.     

Cutaneous lymphosarcoma with IgG monoclonal gammopathy, serum hyperviscosity and hypercalcemia in a cat

A diagnosis of cutaneous lymphosarcoma in an 11 year old castrated male Siamese cat was made. In addition to an IgG monoclonal gammopathy, a variety of unusual paraneoplastic syndromes were associated with this tumor. These included serum hyperviscosity, hypercalcemia and increased susceptibility to infection.     

Time–course monitoring of serum amyloid A in a cat with pancreatitis

Abstract: Time‐course changes in the concentration of serum amyloid A (SAA), a major acute phase protein, were measured in a cat with pancreatitis over an 831‐day period and compared with changes in WBC count and feline trypsin‐like immunoreactivity (fTLI). SAA concentration was increased at the onset of the disease and gradually decreased over 5 days of treatment with an improvement in the clinical condition. In contrast, fTLI concentration and WBC count were not increased at the onset of the disease but increased gradually during the 5 days of treatment. Long‐term monitoring from days 68 to 831 revealed a good correlation between SAA concentration and the reoccurrence of clinical signs in the cat; however, WBC count did not increase even with the exacerbation of disease. These findings suggest that the SAA concentration may be a useful marker for evaluating response to treatment and disease exacerbation in feline pancreatitis.     

Determination of concentration of hyaluronate in equine serum

Concentration of hyaluronate (HA) in equine serum was determined by a recently developed specific radioassay. The mean +/- SD HA concentration in equine serum was 288 +/- 145 micrograms/L, was age dependent, and varied widely between horses (range, 190 to 760 micrograms/L). Light or moderate exercise increased serum HA concentration from baseline values by 1.5- to 3-fold. In all horses, serum HA concentration returned to or below the original resting values 1 and 2 hours after exercise.