Observations on hypoglycaemia associated with a hepatoma in a cat

Disorientation, muscle fasciculations and weakness seen in a 12-year-old neutered female domestic shorthaired cat were attributed to hypoglycaemia associated with a large hepatoma. Glucagon tolerance tests on this cat and a healthy cat showed that their plasma glucose concentrations increased and decreased at about the same rate. Plasma insulin concentrations in the healthy cat increased and decreased in parallel with the plasma glucose concentration. In the affected cat, plasma insulin concentrations increased initially but decreased more rapidly. Reflecting these observations, the amended insulin to glucose ratios in the affected cat were much lower than those of the healthy cat, until the 4-hour sample. Serum somatostatin, somatomedin and gastrin concentrations were measured but no conclusions as to pathogenesis of the hypoglycaemia could be made. The alterations in insulin secretion in the affected cat suggested that altered hormonal control of glucose homeostasis may have occurred with this tumour.     

Observations on hypoglycaemia associated with a hepatoma in a cat

Disorientation, muscle fasciculations and weakness seen in a 12-year-old neutered female domestic shorthaired cat were attributed to hypoglycaemia associated with a large hepatoma. Glucagon tolerance tests on this cat and a healthy cat showed that their plasma glucose concentrations increased and decreased at about the same rate. Plasma insulin concentrations in the healthy cat increased and decreased in parallel with the plasma glucose concentration. In the affected cat, plasma insulin concentrations increased initially but decreased more rapidly. Reflecting these observations, the amended insulin to glucose ratios in the affected cat were much lower than those of the healthy cat, until the 4-hour sample. Serum somatostatin, somatomedin and gastrin concentrations were measured but no conclusions as to pathogenesis of the hypoglycaemia could be made. The alterations in insulin secretion in the affected cat suggested that altered hormonal control of glucose homeostasis mav have occurred with this tumour.     

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.     

Testicular feminization in a cat

Testicular feminization, caused by an inherited defect of the androgen receptor, was diagnosed in a domestic cat. Individuals affected with this syndrome are genetic males that have testes but fail to undergo masculinization because the internal and external genitalia cannot respond to androgens. The affected cat had the external appearance of a sexually normal female, but during surgery for ovariohysterectomy, only 2 abdominal gonads were found. Müllerian (uterus) or wolffian (epididymides) derivatives were not present. Only testicular tissue was found in histologic sections of the gonad. A normal male chromosome constitution (38,XY) was found in karyotypes prepared from lymphocyte cultures. High affinity binding of dihydrotestosterone was undetectable in fibroblasts cultured from genital skin of the affected cat, indicating that the cytosolic androgen receptor was nonfunctional. Pedigree analysis indicates that this is an X-linked disorder in cats, as it is in other mammals. Accurate diagnosis and genetic counseling are advocated to reduce the prevalence of the disorder.     

Clinical,virological, imaging and pathological findings in a SARS CoV-2 antibody positive cat

This paper reports a presumptive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a cat. A cat with respiratory disease living with three individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 showed bilateral ground-glass opacities in the lung on X-ray and computed tomography. The clinical swabs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, but the serum was positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Interstitial pneumonia and prominent type 2 pneumocyte hyperplasia were noted on histopathology. Respiratory tissues were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen, but the cat was positive for feline parvovirus DNA. In conclusion, the respiratory disease and associated pathology in this cat could have been due to exposure to SARS-CoV-2.     

Survival of a feline isolate of Tritrichomonas foetus in water, cat urine, cat food and cat litter

Feline intestinal trichomoniasis caused by Tritrichomonas foetus is associated with large bowel diarrhea in cats from many parts of the world. It has long been recognized as an economically important sexually transmitted disease that causes early abortion in cattle. Isolates of T. foetus from cattle are infectious for the large intestine of cats and isolates of T. foetus from cats are infectious for the reproductive system of cattle. The parasite is maintained by fecal-oral transmission in cats. The present study was conducted to examine the survival of a feline isolate of T. foetus, AUTf-12, under various conditions that are relevant to fecal-oral transmission in cats. Trophozoites were grown in TYM medium and then exposed to water, cat urine, dry cat food, canned cat food, clumping cat litter, or filter paper for various lengths of time and then re-cultured in TYM medium. Trophozoites survived exposure to distilled or tap water for 30 but not 60 min, while they survived for at least 180 min in urine. Trophozoites survived for 30 min on dry cat food but survived for 120-180 min in canned cat food. No survival of trophozoites was observed on cat litter but trophozoites survived for 15 min when placed on filter paper. Our results indicate that T. foetus can survive and be potentially infectious in water, urine, dry cat food and canned cat food.     

Feline demodicosis caused by an unnamed species

A case of feline demodicosis is described in this report. A 13-year-old spayed female domestic short hair cat weighing 4.5 kg was being treated with cefovecin and alternately with prednisone or methylprednisolone. On further physical examination, the cat showed mild erythema and hair loss on the bridge of the nose, around the eyes, on the chin, on the side part of the breast and on the abdomen. A large number of Demodex mites were found in deep skin scrapings from the affected areas. The cat was then treated with ivermectin at 600 μg/kg administered SC daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, the cat was clinically normal with no mites detected in the skin scrapings from the face or breast areas. The mite responsible may represent a previously seen but as yet unnamed new species. This is third report that describes a case of feline demodicosis caused by a different, unnamed mite species that has different morphological characteristics to those of known Demodex mites and may represent a previously seen but as yet unnamed species.     

Pulmonary cryptococcosis and Capillaria aerophila infection in an FIV-positive cat

A 12-year-old, FIV-positive, domestic longhair cat was presented with a history of sneezing and coughing during the previous seven months. On thoracic radiographs, a prominent bronchial pattern and three focal, opacified nodules were seen. Cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid demonstrated spherical, capsulate, narrow-necked, budding yeasts within macrophages. Culture of the fluid yielded a heavy growth of Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans. The serum latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination test titre was 158. The cat was treated with itraconazole and the cough resolved over a 5-month period but then recurred. Repeat thoracic radiographs showed resolution of the pulmonary nodules but a persistent bronchial pattern. Adult nematodes and ova with morphology characteristic of Capillaria aerophila were seen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and no yeasts were cultured from the fluid. The cryptococcal titre was zero. The lungworm infection was treated successfully with abamectin and the cough resolved. Immunosuppression related to FIV infection may have predisposed this cat to sequential respiratory tract infections.     

Suspected epidural morphine analgesia induced chronic urinary and bowel dysfunction in a cat

A 12-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair developed chronic urinary retention, constipation and a decreased perineal reflex following a single lumbo-sacral epidural injection of morphine during general anesthesia. Similar adverse effects have been reported in humans following epidural analgesia, but this is the first reported case of both urinary and bowel dysfunction in a cat purportedly from an epidural. The cat was medically managed with manual bladder expressions, intermittent enemas, and various medications including bethanechol, cisapride and stool softeners. The cat continues to have long-term neurologic dysfunction 15 months post-onset. This case report describes a rare but serious potential risk of lumbo-sacral epidural injections in cats.     

Clinical presentation,diagnosis, treatment and outcome of spinal epidural empyema in four cats (2010 to 2016)

This case series reviews previous publications and reports four feline spinal epidural empyema cases that presented with non-ambulatory thoracolumbar myelopathy. Two cats underwent myelography and two MRI. Bacteria were obtained in three cases, in two from epidural abscesses and from a tail base wound in one; histopathological examination of epidural tissue showed pyogranulomatous changes in the remaining cat. Three cats were treated by surgical decompression plus antimicrobial therapy and one cat was treated medically. All cats showed satisfactory improvement following treatment over a follow-up period of 3 months. Spinal epidural empyema is a rare condition but all cats in this series had favourable outcomes.     

Congenital factor XI deficiency in a domestic shorthair cat

A 6-month-old, female, domestic shorthair cat was examined after onychectomy and ovariohysterectomy because of bleeding from the paws. Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time was discovered, Coagulation factor analyses revealed deficiency of factor XI coagulant activity. Plasma mixing studies indicated factor deficiency or dysfunction rather than factor inhibition. Feline factor XI deficiency in one adult cat has been previously reported but was attributed to factor XI inhibitors. The signalment, lack of primary disease, and the finding of persistent factor XI deficiency in the absence of coagulation inhibitors were considered compatible with congenital factor XI deficiency in the cat of this report.     

Evaluation of Environmental, Nutritional, and Host Factors in Cats with Hyperthyroidism

The pathologic changes associated with hyperthyroidism (adenomatous hyperplasia, adenoma of the thyroid gland) have been well characterized in cats, but the pathogenesis of these changes remains unclear. In this research, we undertook a case-control study to search for potential risk factors for this disease. Owners of 379 hyperthyroid and 351 control cats were questioned about their cats' exposure to potential risk factors including breed, demographic factors, medical history, indoor environment, chemicals applied to the cat and environment, and diet. The association between these hypothesized risk factors and outcome of disease was evaluated by conditional logistic regression. Two genetically related cat breeds (ie, Siamese and Himalayan) were found to have diminished risk of developing hyperthyroidism. Cats that used litter had higher risk of developing hyperthyroidism than those that did not. Use of topical ectoparasite preparations was associated with increased risk of developing hyperthyroidism. Compared with cats that did not eat canned food, those that ate commercially prepared canned food had an approximate 2-fold increase in risk of disease. When these 4 variables (breed, use of cat litter, consumption of canned cat food, and use of topical ectoparasite preparations) from the univariate analysis were selected for further study as candidate risk factors and analyzed by multivariate conditional logistic regression, a persistent protective effect of breed (ie, Siamese or Himalayan) was found. In addition, results suggested a 2- to 3-fold increase in risk of developing hyperthyroidism among cats eating a diet composed mostly of canned cat food and a 3-fold increase in risk among those using cat litter. In contrast, the use of commercial flea products did not retain a strong association. The results of this study indicate that further research into dietary and other potentially important environmental factors (eg, cat litter) is warranted.     

Clinical Sarcocystis neurona encephalomyelitis in a domestic cat following routine surgery

Sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) in horses in the Americas. An EPM-like neurological disease also has been reported from other mammals but it is difficult to induce this disease in the laboratory. A 4-month-old male domestic cat developed neurological signs 3 days following castration. The cat was euthanized 12 days later because of paralysis. Encephalomyelitis was the only lesion and was associated with numerous Sarcocystis schizonts and merozoites in the brain and spinal cord. The protozoa reacted positively with S. neurona-specific polyclonal rabbit antibody. Two unidentified sarcocysts were present in the cerebellum. It may be possible that stress of surgery triggered relapse of S. neurona infection in this cat.     

Chondrosarcoma of the proximal humerus in a cat

Chondrosarcoma of the proximal humerus was diagnosed in a four-year-old, castrated male, domestic shorthair cat that was presented with a slowly growing solid mass in the region of the proximal humerus. Forequarter amputation was advised, but declined by the owners. Following surgical debulking clinical signs resolved, but two months after surgery the cat was readmitted because the mass had recurred in the same region. The forequarter was amputated. Histopathological evaluation of the tumour confirmed the diagnosis of chondrosarcoma. Follow-up examinations performed over a period of 15 months from initial presentation revealed that the cat was doing well and had no signs of metastatic disease. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of chondrosarcoma of the proximal humerus in a cat to be diagnosed and surgically treated. This case demonstrates that animals with such tumours may recover well after complete excision.     

Successful treatment of distichiasis in a cat using transconjunctival electrocautery

A 2-year-old male castrated Domestic Short-haired cat presented to the Ophthalmology Service at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania for evaluation of chronic bilateral ocular discharge and blepharospasm. Initial ophthalmic examination revealed severe conjunctivitis and keratitis and the presence of upper eyelid distichiae bilaterally. Initial therapy for suspected feline herpesviral infection provided moderate, but not complete, resolution of the clinical signs. Over the subsequent year, the cat suffered from recurrent, severe, ulcerative keratitis in both eyes despite appropriate medical therapy. Approximately 13 months after the initial presentation, the distichiae were surgically removed using transconjunctival electrocautery, which resulted in complete resolution of the clinical signs. This report documents bilateral distichiasis in a cat, a condition that is considered rare in this species.     

Lymphosarcoma in experimentally induced feline immunodeficiency virus infection [corrected]

A cat experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) but known to be free of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) developed lymphosarcoma. The lesions in the liver and kidneys were present nine months after infection, when the cat was 21 months old. The cat had no overt signs of immunodeficiency and it is suggested that the B cell activation induced shortly after FIV infection produced a large pool of proliferating lymphocytes from which the malignant cells emerged.     

Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoperitoneum, and pneumoretroperitoneum after gastrostomy tube placement in a cat

A 17-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat developed subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoperitoneum, and pneumoretroperitoneum during endoscopic placement of a gastrostomy feeding tube after gastric insufflation and cannula insertion. The cat underwent exploratory laparotomy to investigate the possibility of gastric rupture but only a 2- to 3-mm defect was found in the gastric fundus at the site of cannula insertion. Pasteurella multocida and Enterobacter spp were cultured aerobically from the peritoneal cavity. The cat recovered without complications.     

Host association, on-host longevity and egg production of Ctenocephalides felis felis

Host association, on-host longevity and egg production of Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché) were evaluated using fleas from a commercial laboratory colony and first generation, laboratory-reared, native Indiana fleas. Fleas were placed on cats that were declawed, fitted with Elizabethan collars and housed in specially designed metabolic cages. An average of 85% of the female and 58% of the male fleas stayed continuously on the cats for at least 50 days, indicating that the cat flea is a permanent ectoparasite. The maximum longevity of the cat flea was not determined, but it was shown that it can survive and reproduce on the cat for at least 113 days. A female cat flea may produce up to 1745 eggs during a 50-day period.     

滞育诱导温度和光照节律对家蚕sod基因和cat基因的表达的影响

家蚕(Bombyxmori)是卵滞育性鳞翅目模式昆虫,其滞育性受亲代卵孵化期(催青期)温度、光节律等环境因子诱导。为了研究家蚕滞育与温度和光照节律的关系,本文调查了温度、光照节律对家蚕sod基因和cat基因表达的影响。催青期中除了孵化期,25℃持续光照下(25LL)卵的sodmRNA均保持在较高水平,另外,sod基因在20℃光照黑暗(20LD)12h交替环境下的表达量要高于15℃持续黑暗(15DD)条件,且孵化后期这种现象更加明显。cat基因在25LL、20LD和15DD环境之间的表达量无差异,但是孵化后期(积温2160-3600℃.h),cat基因表达水平显著上调,这与在此阶段的蚕卵胚胎对滞育诱导环境温度和光节律比较敏感的结论相一致。此外,本文还调查了子代卵中sod基因和cat基因的表达情况。sod基因在人工活化卵(DTE)中的表达水平显著高于非浸酸的滞育性卵(DDE);卵龄24-192h,25LL子代卵逐渐进入滞育,sod基因表达量下调。低温黑暗条件会上调家蚕子代卵sod基因的表达水平。在初期的盐酸活化卵(DTE)中,cat表达量低于滞育卵(DDE),而后逐渐上升,直至接近滞育卵表达量,这表明盐酸可能会抑制cat基因表达。在恒温条件下,黑暗条件会促进子代卵上调cat表达。在温度光照协同作用下,20LD子代卵中cat表达量低于25LL和15DD。     

MRI characteristics of suspected acute spinal cord infarction in two cats, and a review of the literature

A 10-year-old neutered male Persian cat and a 4-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair (DSH) cat were evaluated for acute-onset severe lateralising tetraparesis and hemiplegia, respectively. Both cats also had left-sided Horner's syndrome. Neurological examination of the cats localised the lesion to cranial to C5 in the Persian and the left cervical intumescence (C6-T2) in the DSH. Physical examinations were otherwise generally unremarkable. Routine laboratory tests and spinal radiography were normal for the Persian cat and were not performed for the DSH cat. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap was attempted for the Persian cat but aborted because of gross blood contamination, and was not performed for the DSH cat. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the Persian cat revealed a lesion within the spinal parenchyma at segments C1 to C3 (slightly more left-sided) which was iso- to hypointense on T1-weighted scans and hyperintense on T2-weighted scans, and which enhanced slightly with gadolinium. MRI of the DSH cat revealed a lesion within the spinal parenchyma at segment C7 (predominantly left-sided) which was hypointense on T1-weighted scans and hyperintense on T2-weighted gradient echo scans. Contrast was not administered. The MRI findings in both cases were highly suggestive of acute spinal cord infarction, based upon comparison to human cases. Both cats made full neurological recoveries with supportive treatment only. This paper describes two cases of suspected acute spinal cord infarction in the cat, demonstrates the potential diagnostic value of MRI, and discusses the clinical syndrome of this condition with a brief review of published cases.