Detection of occult urinary tract infections in dogs with diabetes mellitus

Dogs with diabetes mellitus may develop occult urinary tract infections. In this study, diabetic dogs with negative and positive bacterial urine cultures were compared. Records from 51 dogs with diabetes mellitus were reviewed at the University of Illinois. No difference was identified between the groups in urine specific gravity, pH, glucose, ketones, protein, red blood cells, white blood cells, or epithelial cells. Dogs with occult urinary tract infection did have an increased incidence of bacteriuria, but this was not a consistent finding. Therefore, the urine on all diabetic dogs should be cultured to accurately identify the presence or absence of bacterial urinary tract infections.     

Evaluation of the prevalence of infections in cats after renal transplantation: 169 cases (1987-2003)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of infections developing postoperatively, document the contribution of infection to increased risk of death, and identify risk factors associated with the development of infectious complications in cats after renal transplantation. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 169 cats that received renal allograft transplants. PROCEDURES: Medical records of cats receiving renal transplants at the University of California from January 1987 through December 2003 were reviewed. RESULTS: 47 infections developed in 43 of 169 cats. Bacterial infections were most common (25/47 cats), followed by viral (13/47), fungal (6/47), and protozoal (3/47) infections. The median duration from transplant surgery to development of infection was 2.5 months. Infection was the second most common cause of death after acute rejection of the transplant, accounting for 14% of deaths overall. Cats with concurrent diabetes mellitus had a significantly increased risk of developing an infection after renal transplantation. Sex, increasing age, concurrent neoplasia, and previous treatment for transplant rejection were not associated with development of infection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infection was a common complication and an important cause of death or euthanasia in cats after renal transplantation. Development of diabetes mellitus after transplantation significantly increased the risk of infection.     

Neutrophil adherence and movement in poorly and well-controlled diabetic dogs

Neutrophil adherence, random movement, and chemotaxis were quantitated in healthy nondiabetic dogs and in dogs with experimentally induced diabetes mellitus. On the basis of glycosylated serum protein values, the diabetic dogs were subdivided into well-controlled and poorly controlled groups. Neutrophil adherence was decreased significantly in poorly controlled diabetic dogs, but significant differences in neutrophil adherences were not found between nondiabetic and well-controlled diabetic dogs. Significant differences in neutrophil random or chemotactic movements were not found between non-diabetic and diabetic dogs. The decreased neutrophil adherence observed in poorly controlled diabetic dogs may predispose these animals to bacterial infection. Therefore, stringent regulation of blood glucose concentrations may decrease the frequency of secondary bacterial infections in spontaneous diabetes mellitus in dogs.     

Serological survey of Neospora caninum infection among dogs in Japan through species-specific ELISA

A seroepidemiological survey of Neospora caninum infection among dogs in Japan was conducted using species-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with recombinant surface antigen (Nc-SAG1t). Among 1,206 dogs examined, 126 dogs (10.4%) from 30 prefectures from Hokkaido to Okinawa were positive to N. caninum infections, which were more frequently detected in females than males. Siberian Huskies showed the highest positive rate compared with the other breeds. Dogs with pyometra and diabetes mellitus showed the higher positive rates than dogs with other diseases or without diseases.     

Systemic candidiasis in a dog

Candida albicans is a common cause of nosocomial infections in humans, but there are few reports of systemic candidiasis in dogs. This report describes an 11-year-old spayed female Scottish Terrier with systemic candidiasis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of results of microbiologic culture of specimens from urine and venous catheters and histologic examination of tissues obtained post mortem. Factors that predisposed the dog of this report to systemic candidiasis included diabetes mellitus, corticosteroid and broad-spectrum antimicrobial administration, venous and urinary catheterization, and administration of nutrition parenterally. The development of pyrexia and leukocytosis in dogs with risk factors that predispose to Candida spp infections warrants evaluation via microbial culture of specimens from urine and vascular catheters used in those dogs.     

Fungal urinary tract infections in the dog and cat: a retrospective study (2001-2004)

Thirty-five animals (23 dogs, 12 cats) with fungal urinary tract infections (UTIs) were retrospectively studied. Dysuria, hematuria, increased frequency of micturition, anorexia, depression, and pyrexia were the most common clinical signs noted. Seven species of fungi were identified in the affected animals. Candida albicans was the most common isolate. Most animals diagnosed with fungal UTI also had other concurrent urinary tract or medical problems. Lower urinary tract diseases, diabetes mellitus, neoplasia, and renal failure were the most common concurrent or preceding diseases identified. Resolution of fungal UTI occurred in 12 animals that received specific antifungal treatment.     

Stress hyperglycemia in cats

It may be difficult to differentiate the possible causes of hyperglycemia in the cat. The following investigation was on transient hyperglycemia in 320 cats. The frequency and degree of stress-hyperglycemia and its relation to different types of primary diseases was proven. Animals with overt diabetes mellitus or pancreatic diseases were not included in this study. Plasma glucose was analyzed with the o-Toluidine- or with the glucose oxidase-method. Plasma immune-reactive insulin (IRI) was estimated by RIA. A glucose concentration of greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl (7.77 mmol/l) in the fasted animal was defined as hyperglycemia. The results of the retrospective investigation show in cats transient hyperglycemia occurs more often (3.2%) than permanent hyperglycemia (0.57%). Contrary to overt diabetes mellitus there is no sex- or age-related predisposition. Glucose values above 300 mg/dl (16.65 mmol/l) with maximal values up to 620 mg/dl (34.42 mmol/l) were estimated in 12% of the animals. In 12 from 19 hyperglycemic animals the basal IRI values were between 4 and 14 microU/ml, 11 animals had a lowered I/G ratio. In the following order of frequency the primary diseases found in combination with transient hyperglycemia were: dys- and stranguria, viral and bacterial infections, gastrointestinal diseases, neoplasia, renal insufficiency, cardiopathies etc. With improvement of the underlying disturbance the stress-related hyperglycemia normalized without insulin therapy within a few days. In conclusion, it is necessary to initially identify basic diseases that may trigger the onset of stress-hyperglycemia in the cat. Neither the extent of the glucose level nor a single plasma-insulin-value are valid indicators of confirming the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Candida spp. urinary tract infections in 13 dogs and seven cats: predisposing factors,treatment, and outcome

Records from 20 animals (13 dogs, seven cats) with Candida spp. urinary tract infections were reviewed. Six Candida spp. were isolated; Candida albicans was the most common isolate. Concurrent diseases or nonantifungal drugs administered within 1 month of isolation included antibiotics (n=16), corticosteroids (n=6), diabetes mellitus (n=4), nonurogenital neoplasia (n=3), and noncandidal urogenital disease (n=14). All animals had sources of local or systemic immune compromise that likely predisposed to infection. Of five animals with resolution of infection, three did not receive specific antifungal treatment. The authors conclude that correction of predisposing conditions is likely critical for management of Candida spp. urinary tract infection.     

Seroepidemiologic survey of feline immunodeficiency virus infection in cats of Wake County, North Carolina

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibodies were detected in 9 of 123 (7.3%) cats. More clinically ill cats had titers to FIV than did healthy cats (15% vs 3.6%). Previous or current illnesses in these FIV-positive cats included urinary bladder disease, anemia, cat-bite abscesses, bacterial infections, bleeding disorders, diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory tract disease. All FIV-positive cats were males, with mean age of 6.0 years (range, 1 to 11 years). Half (n = 3) of the clinically ill FIV-positive cats were concurrently seropositive for FeLV antigen. Three of the ill cats were euthanatized or died 1 month after initially testing, whereas the remaining 3 ill cats and the 3 healthy FIV-positive cats were healthy 1 year after initial testing. Antibody titer to FIV persisted in 4 of 5 cats, but serotest results were equivocal in 1 cat evaluated 1 year later.     

26例犬甲状腺机能减退的临床调查分析

收集了浙江大学附属动物医院门诊26例犬甲状腺机能减退的病例相关资料,通过对其性别、品种、年龄、临床症状和部分血液生化结果进行调查分析,治疗采用口服左旋甲状腺素片20μg/kg,2次/d。结果表明,犬甲状腺机能减退没有性别倾向性,2岁~7岁的中青年犬易发,涉及11个品种;患犬均有不同程度的肥胖、反应迟钝的症状,此外因频繁抽搐服用抗癫痫药物(苯巴比妥)导致甲状腺功能低下的犬3例,仅表现葡萄膜炎的犬2例,并发糖尿病的犬1例,表现为脱毛、色素沉着、继发感染等皮肤异常的犬20例;患犬高胆固醇血症的占15.38%,高甘油三酯血症的占65.38%;给予口服左旋甲状腺素片治疗效果良好。     

Urinary tract infections in cats with hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease

The prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in cats with hyperthyroidism (n=90), diabetes mellitus (DM) (n=57) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n=77) was evaluated retrospectively. It was found to be 12% in cats with hyperthyroidism and DM, respectively, and 22% in cats with CKD. Associations between UTIs and clinical signs, biochemical markers in serum and urinalyses were investigated. Many of the cats with UTIs had no clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease or changes in their laboratory values indicative of infection. Therefore, a urinalysis alone should not be used to exclude UTIs in these cats. UTIs are relatively common in cats with hyperthyroidism, DM and CKD, and urine cultures are recommended as part of the basic diagnostic plan for cats suspected of suffering from these conditions.     

A retrospective study of 60 cases of eccentrocytosis in the dog

BACKGROUND: Eccentrocytes are RBCs that appear in a peripheral blood smear to have their hemoglobin shifted to one side of the cell. This abnormality, which is confined to the RBC membrane and cytoskeleton, is induced by oxidative damage. Eccentrocytes have been reported rarely in dogs and are associated with onion and garlic ingestion and the administration of oxidant drugs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the occurrence and severity of eccentrocytosis in dogs and the diseases or disorders associated with eccentrocytes. METHODS: Detailed history, and results of physical examination, CBC, biochemical and coagulation profiles, and urinalysis from all canine patients admitted during a 2.5-year period were evaluated. Eccentrocytes, when observed, were graded 1+ (few) to 4+ (many). The severity of eccentrocytosis was compared with that of anemia and reticulocytosis. RESULTS: Eccentrocytes were found in blood smears from 60 of 4251 dogs (1.4%) and were associated with mild to moderate anemia in 40 (66.6%) of the cases. Eccentrocytosis was found in 16 (26.6%) dogs with drug administration, 11 (18.3%) with presumptive onion and garlic ingestion, 8 (13.3%) with vitamin K antagonist intoxication, 7 (11.6%) with ketoacidotic diabetes, 5 (8.3%) with T-cell lymphoma, 4 (6.6%) with severe infections, 1 (1.6%) with compensated diabetes mellitus, and 8 (13.3%) with other conditions. Certain dog breeds, such as Whippet, Boxer, and English Setter, and young dogs seemed to be overrepresented. CONCLUSIONS: We describe, for the first time, associations between eccentrocytes and diabetes mellitus, T-cell lymphoma and vitamin K antagonist intoxication in dogs. The significance of eccentrocytes should not be underestimated, because they can be a signal of an oxidative process.     

Experimentally induced anaplasmosis in neonatal isohemolytic anemia-recovered calves

Anaplasma marginale infections were induced in 3 calves previously affected with neonatal immunohemolytic anemia (NIA). Similar infections were induced in 6 splenectomized and 7 intact calves. The response to infection by 3 calves (NIA recovered) closely resembled infections seen in splenectomized calves, being markedly more severe than similar infections in intact calves. Spleens from 3 (NIA recovered) calves after splenectomy were about one-tenth normal size. Marked recrudescing anaplasmal infections were not detected after splenectomy of the calves (NIA recovered), whereas marked recrudescing infections were observed after splenectomy of 2 intact calves having recovered from the primary infections.     

Age prevalence of trypanosomal infections in female Glossina morsitans morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae) on the plateau area of eastern Zambia

Trypanosomal infections in female Glossina morsitans morsitans were investigated in an area in the Eastern Province of Zambia between 1992 and 1994. A total of 4416 flies were captured, aged using the ovarian ageing method and screened for trypanosomal infections in both the mouthparts, salivary glands and the midgut. Congolense-type infections were identified in 4.8% of the flies. Vivax-type and immature infections were identified in 1.8% and 6.8% of the flies, respectively. The prevalence of congolense-type, vivax-type and immature infections increased with age. For vivax-type infections the age-prevalence relationship could be described by a model assuming a constant per capita rate of infection. For congolense-type and midgut infections, a polynomial term was added to the model significantly improving the fit. The per capita at which flies become infected was significantly higher for immature compared to mature infections. Observations strongly suggest that tsetse acquire new midgut infections at any age and that maturation of these infections is not limited to those obtained during the first blood meal.     

Epidemiologic findings on canine and feline intestinal nematode infections from records of the Iowa state University Veterinary Clinic

A wealth of data was available on intestinal nematode infections of dogs and cats in the Ames, Iowa, practice area served by the Iowa State University Veterinary Clinic. From July 1966 through June 1974, 8.5% of 33,594 dogs and 4.5% of 11,995 cats hospitalized for 1 or more days were recorded as infected with at least 1 type of intestinal nematode. For both dogs and cats, infection rates were generally higher in males than in females and in those that were sexually intact, compared with those that were neutered. The highest prevalence of hookworm infections in both dogs and cats was recorded in June and July, and the highest prevalence of ascarid infections in cats, but not in dogs, was in December. Seasonal patterns were not demonstrated for other nematode infections. Ascarid infections in dogs and cats and hookworms infections in dogs were most prevalent in 2-week-old to 2-month-old animals. Whipworm infections in dogs and hookworm infections in cats generally appeared at greater ages, reaching their highest prevalence in hosts 1 to 2 years old.     

Experimental bovine group-B streptococcal mastitis induced by strains of human and bovine origin

Intramammary infections with Group-B streptococci of human and bovine origin were produced experimentally in cows. The initial cytological response was more rapid to the human than to the bovine strain (Table I), while at later stages the pathological changes induced by the two infections were much the same (Fig. 1). The initial clinical reaction was more acute to the "human" than to the "bovine" infections and the average daily loss of milk was greater in cases of "human" infection than in cases of "bovine" infection (Table II). In contrast to the "bovine" infections the "human" infections showed a pronounced tendency to spontaneous clearance. The rate of excretion of Group-B streptococci with the milk was lower for the "human" than for the "bovine" infections (Table III). The special mode of reaction of the bovine udder against infections with Group-B streptococci of human origin may, in part, explain why such infections have a lower tendency to spread within a herd than infections with bovine strains of B-streptococci.     

Eye infections due to Listeria monocytogenes in three cows and one horse.

A retrospective study was conducted to determine case histories, microbiological characteristics, and molecular subtypes associated with Listeria monocytogenes infections of the eye in large animals. For selected cases, environmental L. monocytogenes contamination patterns on case farms were also evaluated to probe for potential sources and spread of listerial eye infections. Records of 170 L. monocytogenes isolates from animal infections were reviewed to determine the fraction of isolates associated with eye infections (conjunctivitis, keratitis, and uveitis) of animals and to gather information on the clinical history of these cases. Overall, 4 of 170 Listeria monocytogenes isolates were associated with eye infections; 3 of these had occurred in cows and 1 in a horse. Molecular subtyping (by EcoRI ribotying) showed that 4 different L. monocytogenes subtypes were isolated from these 4 cases; the same ribotypes had previously been found among invasive animal listeriosis infections. Although a variety of L. monocytogenes subtypes were isolated from environmental sources, on 1 farm, the same ribotype associated with the eye infection was also isolated from a fecal sample of a healthy animal and from a soil sample. The data reported in this study further suggest that L. monocytogenes can be a cause of eye infections in several animal species. Listerial eye infections do not seem to require specific pathogen-related virulence characteristics but rather seem to be a function of environmental or host factors, such as direct exposure of the eyes of susceptible animals to high numbers of the pathogen. Although listerial eye infections are rarely diagnosed because of its ubiquitous nature, L. monocytogenes may have to be considered more commonly as a causative agent of eye infections in ruminants and horses.     

Equine dental disease part 4: a long-term study of 400 cases: apical infections of cheek teeth

Of 400 horses referred because of equine dental disease, 162 suffered from primary apical infections of their cheek teeth (CT), including 92 with maxillary CT infections and 70 with mandibular CT infections. Maxillary swellings and sinus tracts were more common (82 and 26% incidence, respectively) with infections of the rostral 3 maxillary CT, than with infections of the caudal 3 maxillary CT (39 and 5% incidence, respectively). Nasal discharge was more commonly present with caudal (95%) than rostral (23%) maxillary CT infections. Mandibular CT apical infections commonly had mandibular swellings (91%) and mandibular sinus tracts (59%) and these infections were closely related to eruption of the affected CT. A variety of treatments, including medical treatment, apical curettage, repulsion and oral extraction of affected teeth were utilised in these cases, with oral extraction appearing to be most satisfactory. Infections of caudal maxillary CT with a secondary paranasal sinusitis were most refractory to treatment, with a complete response to the initial treatment achieved in just 33% of these cases. Most other cases responded fully to their initial treatment. The long-term response to treatment was good in most cases.     

Protection against Pasteurella pneumotropica during infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Lung infections of specific-pathogen-free rats were studied to determine cross-immunity between infections with Pasteurella pneumotropica and Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Rats were found to have differences in mortality due to pneumonic infections with P pneumotropica and A cantonensis and to coinfections of P pneumotropica and A cantonensis. Single infections of P pneumotropica were not dosage-dependent in their lethality for specific-pathogen-free rats. The mortality of coinfection with P pneumotropica and A cantonensis was significantly lower than that of a monoinfection with P pneumotropica, demonstrating a cross-protective phenomenon.     

Concurrent infection with Trichinella spiralis and other helminths in pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate possible influence of different helmintosis in the development of Trichinella spiralis in experimental infected pigs. Forty-two Iberian pigs were allocated to six groups. Three groups were single inoculated with Ascaris suum, Metastrongylus apri or T. spiralis, respectively. Two groups were co-infected with T. spiralis and A. suum or T. spiralis and M. apri, respectively, while the last group included uninfected control pigs. Clinical signs were only observed in pigs with single or concurrent M. apri infections, with more severe respiratory symptoms in pigs with mixed M. apri infection. The number of A. suum and M. apri lung larvae, intestinal larvae of A. suum and adult M. apri were reduced in pigs with mixed Trichinella infections compared to pigs with single infections. In contrast, the number of liver white spots was higher in pigs with mixed infections. While T. spiralis muscular larval burdens were increased in pigs concomitantly infected with M. apri, they were reduced in pigs concomitantly infected with A. suum, compared to pigs receiving single infections with either of these helminths. Pigs with single or mixed A. suum infections showed higher eosinophil levels compared to the remaining groups. IgGt, IgG1, IgG2 and IgM against T. spiralis antigen could not be detected in pigs with single Ascaris or Metastrongylus infections, indicating that no cross-antibodies were produced. IgGt, IgG1 and IgM antibodies were detected earlier and generally at higher levels in mixed T. spiralis infections compared to single T. spiralis infections. The results suggest that T. spiralis had a low synergistic interaction with M. apri in concomitantly infected pigs, and an antagonistic interaction in concurrent infection with A. suum.