Nocardial peritonitis in a cat

Objective To illustrate a successfully managed case of nocardial peritonitis in a cat.
Design Case report.
Animal An 8 year old neutered male Burmese cat presented for nonspecific signs of depression, anorexia, pallor and mild dehydration. Pyrexia, loss of weight and abdominal distension developed despite treatment with amoxycillin-clavulanate and supportive therapy.
Procedure Various medical and surgical procedures were used.
Results Haematology revealed severe inflammatory left shift. Biochemistry showed mild prerenal azotemia. A "ground glass" appearance to the abdomen was seen on radiographs. Fluid collected by abdominocentesis contained "sulphur granules" and had characteristics of a septic exudate. Laparotomy allowed drainage of peritoneal fluid and extensive lavage of the peritoneal cavity. Culture of the fluid revealed Nocardia sp. Sensitivity testing resulted in a change of antimicrobial therapy to trimethoprim-sulphadiazine.
Conclusion Response to surgical drainage and change in antibacterial therapy was excellent. No toxic side effects were encountered during the 3 months course of trimethoprim-sulphonamide. The cat made a complete recovery.     

Sparganosis in a Cat

Abstract— —A sparganum is an intermediate stage of certain pseudophyllidean tapeworms and is normally found in various species of fish and small vertebrates. This paper presents an unusual case of sparganosis in a cat, normally considered a definitive host of several genera of Pseudophyllidea. The animal was anorectic and lethargic, and a palpable mass was present in the abdomen. The mass was in the fundic portion of the stomach and protruded into the lumen. The overlying gastric mucosa had ulcerated areas. Histologically, the mass represented a fibrous connective tissue reaction with formation of septa. Sections of a parasite, a sparganum,? were within the compartments formed by the septa. Résurné—Le sparganum, forme larvaire de certains ténias pseudophyllidiens, se rencontre d'habitude chez diverses espèces de poissons et de petits vertérés. L'auteur décrit un cas, excetoinnel, dep sparganose chez le chat, animal normalement considéré comme hôte définitif de plusieurs genres de pseudophyllidiens L'animal atteint, dont l'état etait accompagné d'anorexie et de Iéthargie, prásentait une tumeur abdominale perceptible à la palpation. La tumeur, située dam la région du fundus, s'avançait dam la cavite gastrique. La muqueuse gastrique présentait des zones ulcéreuses. L'examen histologique a permis de constater que la tumeur représentait une réaction du tissu conjonctif fibreux, avec formation de septa. Les alvéoles constituées par ces septa renfermaient des sections d'un parasite, identifié comme sparganum. Zusammenfassung— —Ein Spaaganum ist ein Zwischenstadium bestimmter pseudophyllider Bandwurmer und wird normalerweise in verschiedenen Spezies von Fischen und kleinen Wirbeltieren gefunden. Diese Abhandlung beschreibt einen ungewohnlichee Fall von Sparganosis einer Katze, die normalerweise als Wirtstier verschiedener Genera von Pseudophylliden angesehen wird. Das Tier war anorektisch und lethargisch, und im Abdomen war eine fuhlbare Masse vorhanden. Diese Masse befand sich im Fundus des Magens und ragte in das Lumen hinein. Die daruberliegnde Magenschleimhaut hatte ulcerierte Gebiete. Histologisch stellte die Masse eine fasrige Bindegewebsreaktion mit Bildung von Septa dar. Teile eines Parasiten, eines Sparganum, befanden sich in den von den Septa gebildeten Raumen.     

Generalized Osteosclerosis in a Cat

A 12-year-old, neutered male, domestic long-hair cat was evaluated for a 6-month history of inspiratory stertor and epiphora. In computed tomography of the skull and pelvis, and radiographs of the thorax, right femur and stifle there was generalized osteosclerosis, with obliteration of the nasal turbinates and nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The cat also had a large fibrosarcoma involving the right pelvic limb. Osteosclerosis is a rare disorder that is poorly understood but has been described in several species. Various manifestations, potential causes, and radiologic findings of osteosclerosis are discussed.     

Hemifacial Microsomia in a Cat

A 7‐month‐old domestic medium hair cat presented with facial asymmetry affecting the bony and soft tissue structures of the right side of the head including the maxilla, nose, eye and pinna of the ear. Additionally, neurological dysfunction of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves on the affected side was present. A congenital malformation affecting the first and second embryologic pharyngeal arches was suspected. This is the first case of hemifacial microsomia of likely congenital origin reported in a cat.     

Essential Thrombocythemia in a Cat

The diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia in a cat was made by fulfilling the five applicable criteria set forth by the Polycythemia Vera Study Group for use in humans. The criteria were 1) a platelet count persistently above 600,000/microL, 2) a normal initial hematocrit that did not rise in response to iron therapy, 3) normal serum iron concentration, 4) absence of collagen fibrosis of the bone marrow, and 5) no cause for reactive thrombocytosis. In addition, normal thrombopoietin concentrations and splenic hypofunction were demonstrated. Melphalan was not effective in decreasing the platelet count and the cat died of sepsis.     

Granulocytic Leukemia in a Cat

Abstract— Granulocytic leukemia was diagnosed in a 41/2-yr-old, male domestic cat that died following an acute illness characterized by malaise, anorexia, anemia, very high white blood cell count, palpable lymphadenopathy, development of subcutaneous leukemic nodules, and terminal neurologic signs. Leukemic involvement of liver and spleen were found post mortem.
Résumé— Un cas de leucémie granulocytique fut diagnostiqué chez un chat domestique, agé de 4 ans et demi, qui mourut après une maladie aigue, caracterisée par des malaises, de l'anorexie, de l'anémie et une forte leucocytose, des ganglions; apparition de nodules leucémiques sous-cutanés, et des symptomes neurologiques terminaux.
A l'autopsie on trouva des signes de leucémie dans le foie et la rate.
Zusammenfassung— Eine Granulocytenleukämie wurde an einer 41/2 jahrigen männlichen Hauskatze diagnostiziert. Sie starb nach einer akuten Erkrankung, die durch Schwächegefühl, Appetitlosigkeit, Anämie, starke Leukocytose, fühlbare Lymphdrüsenvergrösserung, Entwicklung von subkutaner leukämischer Knotenbilding und durch terminale neurologische Veränderungen charak-terisiert war. Bei der Sektion fanden sich leukämische Veränderungen in der Milz und Leber.     

Bacterial Pleuritis with Thickened Mesothelial Hyperplasia in a Young Beagle Dog

A five-month-old male beagle dog suddenly became moribund. Bloody fluid accumulated in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, and soft yellow flecks were floating in the thoracic fluid. The mediastinum and pericardium became dark reddish with villous thickening. Other parietal and pulmonary pleurae were rough, and the organs adhered to each other. Histologically, most mediastinal pleura formed papillary projections covered by a single layer of mesothelial cells. Many macrophages and neutrophils infiltrated the submesothelial connective tissue. At the mediastinum adjacent to the pericardium, cuboidal mesothelial cells proliferated solidly and formed a thick surface stratum. The flecks consisted of gram-negative filamentous or small bacillary (coccoid) bacteria. In the right posterior lobe of the lung, neutrophilic infiltration and a large encapsulated abscess including a bacterial colony were present. We diagnosed this case as “bacterial pleuritis with thickened mesothelial hyperplasia”. The cause of the pleuritis might be a chronic pleural infection spread via the lung abscess.     

Traumatic Atlanto-Occipital Luxation in a Cat

Traumatic atlanto-occipital luxation was diagnosed in a cat that presented with right hemiparesis. The luxation was reduced by manipulation, and the head and neck immobilized for eight weeks with a splint formed from aluminum rod. Clinical neurologic recovery was complete.     

Chronic Idiopathic Neutropenia in a Cat

Persistent neutropenia (0-0.6 X 10(9) neutrophils/l) was documented during a 10-month period in a 4-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat that was presented for anorexia and depression. Salient abnormalities detected on physical examination were fever (40.3 degrees C), dehydration, and gingivitis. The cat was neutropenic (0.5 X 10(9) neutrophils/l) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for feline leukemia virus was negative. A bone marrow aspirate showed decreased numbers of mature granulocytic cells. In vitro bone marrow cultures for colony-forming units-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) were performed comparing bone marrow from the patient with that of a normal cat. The patient had fewer CFU-GM than the control. The number of CFU-GM increased when bone marrow mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of 10(-5) and 10(-6) mol/l of hydrocortisone, but the cat did not respond to oral prednisolone therapy. The pathogenesis of the neutropenia in this cat remains obscure, but resembles the chronic idiopathic neutropenia syndrome of man.