Management of inflammatory polyps in 37 cats

The case records of 37 cats treated for nasopharyngeal or aural inflammatory polyps were reviewed. Thirty of them were managed conservatively with the polyp being removed by traction alone. Long-term follow-up information was available for 22 cats, of which 13 (59 per cent) had no recurrence of clinical signs. The remaining nine cats required recurrent polyps to be removed surgically. Cats with only nasopharyngeal polyps were nearly four times more likely to be cured by traction alone than cats with aural polyps, and none of the cats that was treated with prednisolone after traction suffered a recurrence. Cats with more severe aural signs were more likely to require surgery.     

Obstructive inflammatory laryngeal disease in three cats

Three cats with upper respiratory tract obstruction due to laryngeal inflammation are presented. Cervical radiography showed the presence of a soft tissue mass in the laryngeal region in all cases, and laryngoscopy allowed direct visualization of a mass associated with the larynx. Laryngeal samples were obtained by a combination of fine needle aspiration, cutting biopsy forceps, by ventral laryngotomy, and at post-mortem. Histopathology of the laryngeal samples showed the presence of a predominantly granulomatous inflammation, with macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration. One case was euthanased due to severe dyspnoea. The remaining two cases underwent combined medical (corticosteroid and antibiotic) and surgical (permanent tracheostomy or excision of laryngeal tissue by ventral laryngotomy) treatment. One case died of an undetermined cause 15 weeks after surgery while the other case remains clinically well 20 months after diagnosis. Recognition of the existence of granulomatous laryngitis is important as clinical signs and radiographic findings are indistinguishable from laryngeal neoplasia.     

Ultrasonographic characterization of the feline cardia and pylorus in 34 healthy cats and three abnormal cats

A prospective study was performed in 34 fasted healthy cats to describe the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the cardia and pylorus. Measurements were obtained for the caudal esophageal wall thickness (Ew), cardia wall thickness (Cw), pyloric wall thickness (Pw), thickness of the pyloric muscularis (Mp), length of the thicker part of the proximal duodenal submucosa (Dl). Among the 34 cats, 24 were examined using a linear transducer, and 10 with a microconvex transducer. Ew and Cw could be measured in 70% of the cats when a linear transducer was used, in 100% of the cats when a microconvex probe was used, Pw and Mp could be measured in 100% of the cats whatever probe was used. The submucosa of the most proximal part of the duodenum was thicker in half of the cats in longitudinal section. The muscularis layer of the pylorus was triangular in longitudinal section and thicker than the muscularis of the proximal duodenum. The mean for Ew, Cw, Pw, Mp, and DI was 4.9 mm (SD = 1.1), 5 mm (SD = 0.6), 4.4 mm (SD = 0.6), 2.5 mm (SD = 0.5), and 4.7 mm (SD = 2.38), respectively. Three cats with abnormalities of the cardia and pylorus are also described to illustrate clinical implications.     

Nasopharyngeal polyps in cats

Nasopharyngeal polyps are non-neoplastic, inflammatory growths that arise from the middle ear or the eustachian tube and extend into the pharynx. The exact etiology of nasopharyngeal polyps is unclear; proposed etiologies include a response to chronic upper respiratory tract infection, chronic otitis media, ascending infection from the nasopharynx, or a congenital origin. Clinical signs usually relate to obstruction of the nasopharynx, with Horner's syndrome and head tilt being consistent with otitis media and otitis interna, respectively. Diagnostic tools include digital or visual examination above the soft palate, flexible fiberoptic caudal rhinoscopy, radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Ventral bulla osteotomy combined with traction removal of the polyp is the recommended treatment, although traction only followed by prednisolone therapy can be considered in some cases, especially when there is no evidence of otitis media.     

Pharyngeal polyps in two feline siblings

Pharyngeal polyps were diagnosed in 2 sibling kittens referred for evaluation of chronic upper respiratory tract disease. Surgical excision of the masses was performed in both kittens after skull radiography and oral examination. One kitten had a recurrence of pharyngeal polyps 5 weeks after surgery and was euthanatized and necropsied. The clinical and histologic findings in these 2 cases suggested a congenital origin of this disease.     

Ileal polyps in Siamese cats

Intestinal obstruction occurred in a 2-year-old Siamese cat with a mucosal polyp in the lower ileum. A daughter of this cat also developed an intestinal obstruction at 21/2 years of age; a similar lesion was found on her ileum. The cause of these polyps is not known, but the familial occurrence in young animals suggests an hereditary influence.     

The isolation and enumeration of three feline oral Porphyromonas species from subcutaneous abscesses in cats

Samples were examined from 15 subcutaneous fight wound abscesses from 15 cats. All abscesses were closed at the time of sampling and cats had received no prior treatment. Samples were processed within 20 min and quantitative assessment made of total facultative and obligately anaerobic flora isolated. Digoxigenin labelled whole chromosomal DNA probes directed against three feline members of the genus Porphyromonas (P. gingivalis VPB 3492, P. circumdentaria NCTC 12469T and P. salivosa VPB 3313) were used to identify members of this genus and quantification of these species was made from each cat using colony lifts and southern hybridisation from nitrocellulose membranes taken from replicate plates from each abscess sample. Twelve of the 15 abscesses yielded a variety of facultative and obligately anaerobic (FOA) bacterial species and members of the genus Porphyromounas were enumerated from each of these 12 abscesses. Of the 12 abscesses in which Porphyromonas species were detected, seven contained one species only (five contained only P. gingivalis and two contained only P. salivosa) three abscesses contained two species (both P. gingivalis and P. circumdentaria) and two abscesses contained all three species of Porphyromonas. These results show that members of the genus Porphyromonas are likely to be significant contributors to the purulent disease process in subcutaneous abscesses in cats.     

Computed tomographic features of feline nasopharyngeal polyps

The computed tomographic (CT) findings of histopathologically confirmed nasopharyngeal polyps are described in 13 cats. Most polyps were mildly hypoattenuating to adjacent muscles and isoattenuating to soft-tissue (n= 13), homogeneous (n = 12) and with ill-defined borders (n = 10) on precontrast images. After contrast medium administration, the polyps were homogeneous (n = 11), with well-defined borders (n = 13), oval (n = 13), and had rim enhancement (n = 13). Nasopharyngeal polyps were pedunculated in 11 cats with a stalk-like structure connecting the polyp through the auditory tube to an affected tympanic bulla. All cats had at least one tympanic bulla severely affected, with CT images identifying: (1) complete (n = 12) or partial (n = 1) obliteration of either the dorsal or ventral compartments with soft-tissue attenuating material; (2) pathologic expansion (n = 13) with wall thickening (n = 10) that was asymmetric in nine cats; and (3) identification of a polyp-associated stalk-like structure (n = 11). Nine cats had unilateral tympanic bulla disease ipsilateral to the polyp, and four cats had bilateral tympanic bulla disease, most severe ipsilateral to the polyp with milder contralateral pathologic changes. Two cats had minimal osteolysis of the tympanic bulla. Enlargement of the medial retropharyngeal lymph node was seen commonly (n = 8), and in all cats it was ipsilateral to the most affected tympanic bulla. One cat had bilateral lymphadenopathy. CT is an excellent imaging tool for the supportive diagnosis of nasopharyngeal polyps in cats. CT findings of a well-defined mass with strong rim enhancement, mass-associated stalk-like structure, and asymmetric tympanic bulla wall thickening with pathologic expansion of the tympanic bullae are highly indicative of an inflammatory polyp.     

Atypical primary ocular melanoma in cats

The clinical and pathologic features of six cases of atypical primary ocular melanoma in cats are described. In contrast to diffuse iris melanomas, these atypical tumors originated multifocally from any portion of the uvea and in five of the six cases were very advanced at the time of clinical presentation. Two of the advanced cases involved primarily the ciliary body, while three others showed extensive involvement of the choroid. Histologically, these tumors consisted primarily of round, heavily pigmented cells lacking the anaplastic nuclear features characteristic of advanced diffuse iris melanomas. The advanced stage of the tumors at presentation may have been due to either the posterior uveal origin of these tumors or to more rapid progression. Additional cases with long-term follow-up need to be studied in order to accurately assess the biological behaviour of these tumors.     

Feline inflammatory polyps: historical,clinical, and PCR findings for feline calici virus and feline herpes virus-1 in 28 cases

Inflammatory polyps are associated with significant aural or nasopharyngeal disease in cats. It has been proposed that chronic viral infection may induce the masses. Ventral bulla osteotomy (VBO) is usually recommended for definitive therapy but removal of masses from the nasopharynx or external ear canal by traction/avulsion is also used. A retrospective study of 28 cats with inflammatory polyps was conducted to correlate recurrence with mode of therapy. Tissues from 41 polyps were assayed for feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus-1 by RT-PCR and PCR, respectively. Of the 14 cats initially treated by traction/avulsion, recurrence was detected in five of nine cats with radiographic evidence of bulla disease but none of the cats with normal bullae. Traction/avulsion is a reasonable treatment for inflammatory polyps if the bullae are radiographically normal. Failure to detect feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus-1 suggests that tissue persistence of these viruses is not associated with the development of inflammatory polyps.     

Fractious cats and feline aggression

Despite variation in terminology it is clear that the context in which feline aggression occurs is important for classification, prevention and treatment. Many of the aggressions discussed can be considered variants of normal feline behavior, so client education is particularly important. Educated clients will know when their cat can benefit from veterinary intervention, and when closing a door may be sufficient. The goals of treating all feline aggressions should be safety for all concerned, and quality of their living environment for the cats. The greater our knowledge, the more likely we are to achieve these goals.     

Ocular manifestations of feline herpesvirus.

Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection is ubiquitous in the domestic cat population worldwide. The most common clinical ocular manifestations of infection with FHV-1 are conjunctivitis and keratitis. This paper reviews the pathogenesis of feline herpesvirus-1 and discusses the various clinical ocular manifestations, diagnostic techniques and treatment of FHV-1-induced diseases. Ocular manifestations include: conjunctivitis, keratitis, stromal keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, ophthalmia neonatorium, symblepharon, corneal sequestrum, eosinophilic keratitis and anterior uveitis. Diagnostic techniques discussed include: virus isolation, fluorescent antibody testing, serum neutralising titers, ELISA and polymerase chain reaction. Various therapies are also discussed.     

Prognostic factors in cats with feline panleukopenia

Background: Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious and often lethal disease. Objective: The purpose of the study was to identify prognostic factors for survival of cats with panleukopenia. Animals: Between 1990 and 2007, 244 cats were diagnosed with panleukopenia in the Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU University of Munich, Germany. Diagnosis was established by electron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction of feces or blood, antigen ELISA of feces, pathognomonic histopathological lesions at necropsy, or some combination of these procedures. Methods: Medical records of each cat were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Survival rate was 51.1%. No significant correlation was found between outcome and living conditions, age, vaccination status (unvaccinated versus one or more vaccines administered), or severity of clinical signs. However, of the vaccinated cats, none had received a vaccine later than 12 weeks of age as a kitten. Nonsurvivors had significantly lower leukocyte and thrombocyte counts at presentation compared with survivors. The relative risk of death for patients with <1,000/μL leukocytes was 1.77 times as high as in patients with a leukocyte count of 1,000–2,500/μL (P= .038), and 1.85 times as high as in patients with >2,500/μL leukocytes (P= .001). The likelihood of a fatal outcome was higher when serum albumin concentration was <30 g/L or serum potassium concentration <4 mmol/L. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Vaccination strategies that do not include vaccination of kittens beyond 12 weeks of age may not be adequate to prevent panleukopenia. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypokalemia are negative prognostic factors in cats with panleukopenia.