Feline caliciviral disease: experimental immunoprophylaxis.

An attenuated feline calicivirus (FCV) was administered intramuscularly to specific-pathogen-free cats. Vaccination did not cause signs of illness. Oropharyngeal replication of attenuated FCV was not detected, nor was there evidence of virus transmission to contact-control cats. Antiviral neutralizing antibody was present in the serum of all vaccinated cats 7 days after they were given the 2nd intramuscular dose of immunogen. Vaccinated and control cats were challenge exposed to aerosols of a virulent FCV strain. All controls developed severe pneumonia and died within 7 days after this challenge exposure. In the vaccinated cats, signs of illness were absent or minimal; pulmonary lesions were milder and less extensive than those in the control cats. Feline calicivirus was isolated from ocular, nasal, and oropharyngeal swabbings from both control and vaccinated cats after viral challenge. Results indicate protective immunity to FCV disease can be induced by intramuscular administration of an attenuated FCV.     

Feline infectious disease control in shelters.

No single factor determines whether a population remains healthy or disease rages out of control. All host and environmental factors taken together provide a number of tools to protect the vulnerable feline shelter population,however. A well-conceived infectious disease control program contributes to improved public perception, increased adoptions, and a healthier feline population within the shelter and in the community in general.     

Feline bronchopulmonary disease.

This author is aware that not all cats fit so neatly into these subcategories. It is hoped, however, that through increased awareness of the differences between cats with bronchopulmonary disease, we can begin to focus and refine our diagnostic and therapeutic efforts and more accurately predict the prognosis of individual cats. The pulmonary functional changes in the cats presented here lend credence to the clinical use of these airway disease subtypes. However, relative to human disease syndromes, our current understanding of feline bronchopulmonary disease is in its infancy. One can only speculate as to why these cats developed airway inflammation in the first place. Constant exposure to dust through litter use or upper respiratory tract infections, seem to be likely causes. But, why do only certain cats become clinically ill when all cats are potentially exposed to similar conditions? Owing to the diversity of disease present in these cats, it is likely that multiple etiologies are involved. Alpha 1-antiprotease deficiency, for example, is a known genetic defect associated with the development of panacinar emphysema in homozygous humans. It is conceivable that similar genetic defects could be present in individual cats of the Siamese breed, as this breed is overrepresented in this syndrome and some of these cats appear to follow a progressive disease course.     

Repair of experimental plaque-induced periodontal disease in dogs

Forty mongrel dogs were used in this study for induction of periodontal disease by placing subgingival silk ligatures affecting maxillary and mandibular premolar teeth during a 12-month period. Experimental premolar teeth received monthly clinical, radiographic, and histometric/pathologic assessments. The results demonstrated significant increases in scores and values of periodontal disease parameters associated with variable degrees of alveolar bone loss. The experimental maxillary premolar teeth exhibited more severe and rapid rates of periodontal disease compared with mandibular premolar teeth. Histometric analysis showed significant reduction in free and attached gingiva of the experimental teeth. Histopathological examination of buccolingual sections from experimental premolar teeth showed the presence of rete pegs within the sulcular epithelium with acanthosis and erosive changes, widening of the periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone resorption. Various methods for periodontal repair were studied in 194 experimental premolar teeth exhibiting different degrees of periodontal disease. The treatment plan comprised non-surgical (teeth scaling, root planing, and oral hygiene) and surgical methods (closed gingival curettage, modified Widman flap, and reconstructive surgery using autogenous bone marrow graft and canine amniotic membrane). The initial non-surgical treatment resulted in a periodontal recovery rate of 37.6% and was found effective for treatment of early periodontal disease based on resolution of gingivitis and reduction of periodontal probing depths. Surgical treatment by closed gingival curettage to eliminate the diseased pocket lining resulted in a recovery rate of 48.8% and proved effective in substantially reducing deep periodontal pockets. Open root planing following flap elevation resulted in a recovery rate of 85.4% and was effective for deep and refractory periodontal pockets. Autogenous bone graft implantation combined with canine amniotic membrane as a biodegradable membrane was used in 18 premolar teeth and failed to improve advanced furcation defects in most teeth.     

Feline dental disease

Periodontal disease and chronic gingivitis/stomatitis are the most common feline dental diseases. With routine dental care and increased emphasis on home oral hygiene, these diseases can be controlled. Cats can be seen with a number of other dental disorders, and improved treatment methods such as restorations of early subgingival resorptive lesions, endodontic therapy, and orthodontic therapy can be performed successfully. More study and research are necessary about the gingivitis/stomatitis syndrome and subgingival resorptive lesions so that improved prevention and treatment recommendations can be made.     

Feline salmonellosis. A nosocomial outbreak and experimental studies.

An outbreak of S. typhimurium gastroenteritis and septicemia is described in young cats admitted to a veterinary hospital for routine medical and surgical reasons. A morbidity of 32% and a mortality of 61% was observed in the outbreak. Affected cats exhibited oral shedding of the organism and contaminated feed and water dishes may have been the vehicle of spread of infection. Possible detrimental effects of incorrect choice of antibiotic therapy are discussed. Attempts to reproduce the disease in a group of laboratory cats were unsuccessful. Antibody production was poorly correlated with infection in these cats.     

Feline corneal disease

The cornea is naturally transparent. Anything that interferes with the cornea's stromal architecture, contributes to blood vessel migration, increases corneal pigmentation, or predisposes to corneal edema, disrupts the corneas transparency and indicates corneal disease. The color, location, and shape and pattern of a corneal lesion can help in determining the underlying cause for the disease. Corneal disease is typically divided into congenital or acquired disorders. Congenital disorders, such as corneal dermoids are rare in cats, whereas acquired corneal disease associated with nonulcerative or ulcerative keratitis is common. Primary ocular disease, such as tear film instability, adenexal disease (medial canthal entropion, lagophthalmus, eyelid agenesis), and herpes keratitis are associated with the majority of acquired corneal disease in cats. Proliferative/eosinophilic keratitis, acute bullous keratopathy, and Florida keratopathy are common feline nonulcerative disorders. Nonprogressive ulcerative disease in cats, such as chronic corneal epithelial defects and corneal sequestration are more common than progressive corneal ulcerations.     

Effective periodontal disease control using dental hygiene chews

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a newly developed dental hygiene chew for dogs, with and without a natural antimicrobial additive, compared with a reference diet. Efficacy was determined by measuring the severity of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental plaque and calculus in dogs after 4-weeks of being fed the different dietary regimens. Dogs fed a single daily dental chew had significantly less gingivitis (P = 0. 02), plaque (P = 0. 0004), and calculus (P = 0.0001) compared with dogs in the control group that were fed an identical diet but received no chews. The inclusion of the antimicrobial agent did not improve the efficacy of the product. The dental hygiene chews tested in this study have potential to help reduce the incidence of periodontal disease in dogs.     

Feline herpesvirus ocular disease

Infection by FHV-1 is one of the most common ophthalmic diseases of domestic cats worldwide. Although the usual manifestations are conjunctivitis and keratitis, infection with this virus has been linked to a variety of other ophthalmic syndromes of cats, including keratoconjunctivitis sicca and corneal sequestration. Ocular FHV-1 infection of cats provides a significant diagnostic challenge to the practicing veterinarian because, in chronic cases, antigen detection tests often yield negative results. Although therapy for FHV-1 infections of cats is often difficult, the recent development of nontoxic antiviral drugs that demonstrate considerable efficacy against FHV-1 offers hope for improved therapeutic success in the future.     

Canine periodontal disease control using a clindamycin hydrochloride gel

Stabilizing or reducing periodontal pocket depth can have a positive influence on the retention of teeth in dogs. A topical 2% clindamycin hydrochloride gel (CHgel) was evaluated for the treatment of periodontal disease in dogs. The CHgel formulation provides for the sustained erosion of the matrix, but also flows into the periodontal pocket as a viscous liquid, and then rapidly forms a gel that has mucoadhesive properties and also may function as a physical barrier to the introduction of bacteria. A professional teeth cleaning procedure including scaling and root planing was done in dogs with one group receiving CHgel following treatment. Periodontal health was determined before and after the procedure including measurement of periodontal pocket depth, gingival index, gingival bleeding sites, and number of suppurating sites. There was a statistically significant decrease in periodontal pocket depth (19%), gingival index (16%), and the number of bleeding sites (64%) at 90-days in dogs receiving CHgel. Additionally, the number of suppurating sites was lower (93%) at 90-days for the group receiving CHgel. The addition of CHgel effectively controlled the bacterial burden (e.g, Fusobacterium nucleatum) at both day 14 and 90. Gingival cells in culture were shown to rapidly incorporate clindamycin and attain saturation in approximately 20-minutes. In summary, a professional teeth cleaning procedure including root planning and the addition of CHgel improves the gingival index and reduces periodontal pocket depth.     

Feline early life ocular disease

Objectives Histomorphologic changes in six globes from six cats, which experienced early life ocular disease of undetermined etiology, are described. Design A retrospective morphologic study of six eyes from six cats with early life ocular surface disease of unknown etiology, from 2002 to 2006 extracted from a pathology collection, which includes 2200 feline submissions. Procedure Sections of affected globes, stained with H&E were examined with a light microscope. Results The mean age of the affected cats, at the time of enucleation, was 7.5 months ranging from 7 weeks to 2 years. The cats were one male, one female, one male neutered, and one female spayed cat. For the remaining two cats the sex was not known. All cats were DSH. Significant histomorphologic findings included collapse of the globe in all cases and a broad corneal perforation with protrusion of the anterior uvea, which was epithelialized in all cases. Three cases revealed uveal hematopoiesis in the anterior and posterior uvea. All cases had recognizable corneal tissue at the limbus on both sides. Inflammation in all cases consisted of variable but generally mild uveitis and no eyes had endophthalmitis. Four of the globes had no recognizable lens tissue. Three of the cats had symblepharon formation described as part of the clinical condition. The other three cases had no mention of symblepharon. Conclusions These cases are considered to represent changes associated with early life corneal ablation of unknown etiology. Uveal prolapse, mild inflammation, and symblepharon are considered to be either secondary or caused by the same destructive primary event that affected the cornea. These cases are the first cases we are aware of with uveal extramedullary hematopoiesis in cats. Careful consideration of cell morphology is necessary to distinguish this condition from round cell neoplasms or inflammation.