Atypical manifestations of feline inflammatory polyps in three cats

Inflammatory polyps of the feline middle ear and nasopharynx are non-neoplastic masses that are presumed to originate from the epithelial lining of the tympanic bulla or Eustachian tube. The exact origin and cause are unknown, however, it is thought that inflammatory polyps arise as a result of a prolonged inflammatory process. It is unclear whether this inflammation initiates or potentiates the development and growth of inflammatory polyps. Cats with inflammatory polyps typically present with either signs of otitis externa and otitis media or with signs consistent with upper airway obstruction. Traditional diagnostics involve imaging of the tympanic bulla either with skull radiographs or computed topography (CT). Treatment consists of traction and avulsion of the polyp with or without ventral bulla osteotomy (VBO) to remove the epithelial lining of the tympanic bulla. The three cases described here are unusual manifestations or presentations of feline inflammatory polyps that address the following issues: (1) concurrent otic and nasopharyngeal polyps, (2) potential association with chronic viral infection, (3) polyp development in the contralateral middle ear, (4) CT appearance of the skull following VBO, and (5) development of secondary pulmonary hypertension.     

"Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" infections in 21 client-owned cats

Medical records were reviewed for 21 clinically ill cats testing positive for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" in their blood. Fever, anorexia, lethargy, and anemia were among the most common abnormalities recorded. Thirteen cats were anemic; seven had evidence of other diseases that could have been the primary cause of anemia or activated hemoplasmosis. For six cats, "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" was the only recognizable cause of the anemia. Of these cats, anemia resolved in one cat without treatment and in three cats that were treated with doxycycline, with or without prednisone. Results of the study suggest that this hemoplasma species can be a primary pathogen in cats.     

The detection of Cytauxzoon felis in apparently healthy free-roaming cats in the USA

Cytauxzoon felis typically causes fatal disease in domestic cats. Survival after infection and persistent parasitemia without clinical illness has been documented in a few cases. To our knowledge there are no prevalence studies of C. felis in domestic cats. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of C. felis infected cats that were presented to trap-neuter-return programs in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee. Cats that were presented to trap-neuter-return programs were tested using a C. felis-specific PCR assay. A total of 961 domestic cats were tested (494 from Florida; 392 from North Carolina; 75 from Tennessee). Prevalence of C. felis infection in this population was 0.3%. Two cats from Florida and one cat from Tennessee tested positive for the presence of C. felis DNA. These amplicons were sequenced and confirmed to be C. felis. The cat from Tennessee was alive without evidence of illness 2 months post-surgery. The other two cats were alive 24 h post-surgery, but were then lost to follow-up. This is the first report documenting C. felis infections in free-roaming cats. Despite the low prevalence rate, the presence of apparently healthy infected free-roaming cats suggests that they may have the capacity to serve as an additional reservoir host for C. felis. Further investigations should evaluate the potential vector competence of domestic cats as well as the role of chronically infected cats in areas in which cytauxzoonosis appears hyperendemic.     

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.     

Progressive ataxia and seizures in a Cocker Spaniel: a new type of neurodegenerative disease with novel intra-neuronal inclusions

AIMS: To describe the histopathological lesions of a new canine disease characterised by progressive ataxia, head tremor and seizures, and to deduce the cause of the lesions.

METHODS: Formalin-fixed tissues were processed into paraffin wax and epoxy resin for light and transmission electron microscopy of variously stained tissue sections.

RESULTS: Significant lesions relevant to the disease were found only in the brain. They consisted of hypoplasia of the cerebellum and the presence of large pale inclusions in the perikaryon of neurons in the neocortex and in macrophages. The inclusion material was not compartmentalised and did not stain for carbohydrate, mucopolysaccharide or lipid. This material displaced nuclei to the periphery of the cells where they were seen as basophilic distorted crescent-shaped structures.

CONCLUSIONS: The inclusions were probably made of polymerised protein similar, though not identical, to those of Pick, Lewy and Collins bodies that characterise a variety of chronic neurodegenerative diseases of humans. A genetic basis to this disease was considered probable.     

Effects of a single dose of an intranasal feline herpesvirus 1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia vaccine on clinical signs and virus shedding after challenge with virulent feline herpesvirus 1

The objective of this study was to determine whether intranasal administration of a commercially available FVRCP vaccine to kittens lessened clinical signs and feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) viral shedding when compared to unvaccinated control kittens after FHV-1 challenge. Three groups of 10 unvaccinated kittens were administered one dose of vaccine 6 days (group 1), 4 days (group 2), or 2 days (group 3) before challenge, respectively. One group was maintained as unvaccinated controls (group 4). FHV-1 challenge was then induced and the kittens were observed for 14 days. When the grouped vaccinated kitten results (groups 1-3) were compared to group 4 results, clinical scores following challenge were significantly lower (P<0.05) and significantly lower body temperatures (P<0.05) were detected on days 0, 5 and 9 post-challenge. When evaluated by individual group, group 1 and group 2 kittens had significantly lower clinical scores (P<0.05) than group 4 kittens post-challenge. In addition, FHV-1 shedding was lower in group 1 kittens when compared to group 4 kittens on day 6 after challenge (P<0.05). Administration of this vaccine within several days prior to exposure lessened clinical signs of disease and FHV-1 shedding compared to unvaccinated kittens.