Transplantion of foetal retinal cells in cats with hereditary retinal degeneration
Magdalene Seiler and others, University of South California
Abyssinian cats are affected by a form of inherited progressive retinal degeneration that is similar to certain inherited eye diseases in humans. So the condition has been suggested as a possible model in studies that could potentially benefit both species. Allografts of foetal retinal sheets are being investigated as a possible means for replacing dying photoreceptor cells in human conditions such as agerelated macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa.
The authors transplanted foetal cells incubated with the growth factor BDNF into the sub-retinal space of four cats with early stage disease. Examination of the eyes up to four months later showed that there was good integration of the transplants into the host neural retina in two of the four cats. However, there was no evidence of functional improvement from photopic flash electroretinograms and longer follow up times may be necessary.
Veterinary Ophthalmology 12 (3): 158- 169.
Resolution of dermatophyte mycetoma following terbinafine treatment in two cats
Tim Nuttall and others, University of Liverpool
Mycetomas are subcutaneous dermatophyte infections with nodules, ulcers and draining sinus tracts that are almost exclusively seen in Persian cats. The authors describe the successful treatment of this condition with the fungicide terbinafine in a Persian and a Maine coon.
Both cats had been treated with itraconazole which had been withdrawn because of adverse effects or lack of efficacy. Each received 26- 31mg/kg terbinafine daily with complete resolution in the Maine coon after only seven weeks.
Veterinary Dermatology 19 (6): 405-410.
Long-term monitoring of serum amyloid A levels in a cat with pancreatitis
Takashi Tamamoto and others, University of Tokyo
Serum amyloid A is an acute phase protein which has been shown to be useful in human medicine for monitoring disease progression in patients with pancreatitis. The authors assess its potential value in feline patients, measuring its levels in the serum of a six-year-old cat with confirmed diabetes over a period of 831 days. The SAA levels were elevated at the onset of treatment and gradually decreased over the next five days. Thereafter, there was a good correlation between SAA concentrations and the reoccurrence of clinical signs.
Veterinary Clinical Pathology 38 (1): 83- 86.
Management of acute renal failure by peritoneal dialysis in six cats
Patricia Dorval and Soren Boysen, University of Montreal
Peritoneal dialysis is a less technologically demanding method for treating acute renal failure than some of the techniques available. Yet there is little information in the literature on its use in treating cats. The authors report a retrospective study of six cases in which the methods was used. Complications included subcutaneous oedema, hyperglycaemia, dialysate retention and hypoalbuminaemia, but the technique effectively replaced renal function allowing renal recovery in five cases. These five were discharged while the other cat died.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 11 (2): 107-115.
Radiographic abnormalities in cats with feline bronchial disease
Julie Gadbois and others, University of Montreal
Feline bronchial disease (also known as allergic bronchitis or feline asthma) is a condition of unknown aetiology that affects up to 1% of cats in the US. The authors carried out a retrospective examination of radiographs from 40 cases which were assessed by five different clinicians. Bronchial and unstructured lung patterns and lung hyperinflation were the abnormalities most commonly identified. Examiner diagnosis and level of confidence were significantly associated with the severity of the bronchial pattern.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 234 (3): 367-375.
Excessive production of sex hormones in a cat with an adrenocortical tumour
Ralph Millard and others, University of Tennessee
A 13-year-old neutered male domestic short hair was examined after developing behavioural signs which included spraying strong smelling urine and becoming increasingly aggressive. Abdominal ultrasound showed a mass in the region of the right adrenal gland and serum hormone analyses showed highly elevated androstenedione and testosterone. Surgery was performed to remove the mass and the cat’s behaviour and serum hormone assays returned to normal. Examination of the mass revealed an adrenocortical adenoma.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 234 (4): 505-508.
Fasciotomy and fascial excision enhances cutaneous wound healing in cats
Akiko Mitsui and others, North Carolina State University
In cats with large open wounds, the formation of granulation tissue over the exposed underlying muscle fascia is much slower than in dogs. Delays in the formation of granulation tissue will increase the risk of infection and other complications. The authors investigate the effects of different treatments which disturb the surface of the muscle fascia on this process. They found that wound healing was accelerated by fascial excision or fasciotomy, compared with fascial abrasion or in controls with undisturbed muscle fascia.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 70 (4): 532-538.
Measurements of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide in feline cardiomyopathy cases
Tanja Zimmering and others, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide is the stable metabolite of ANP, a peptide produced in cardiac tissue that has been shown to be a reliable marker of left ventricular hypertrophy in human patients. The authors measured plasma levels of the metabolite in cats with and without cardiomyopathy. They found that levels were significantly higher in cats with cardiomyopathy compared with healthy animals and that the marker may also help distinguish between cardiomyopathy cases with and without cardiac failure.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 70 (2): 216-222.
Pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging velocities in healthy and diseased geriatric cats
Kerry Simpson and others, University of Edinburgh
Pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging (pw-DTI) is a method which allows the non-invasive assessment of myocardial dynamics. The authors applied this technique to investigate whether geriatric cats with systemic diseases known to be linked to specific cardiomyopathies in humans had altered myocardial velocity profiles compared with healthy geriatric animals. The method detected diastolic dysfunction in untreated cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and increased systolic function in hyperthyroid cats.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 11 (4): 293-304.
Pretreatment with ephedrine in the prevention of anaesthesiainduced hypotension Christine Egger and others, University of Georgia Anaesthesia will often result in significant hypotension which in some cases may require treatment to maintain normal tissue perfusion. The authors investigated the effects of preanaesthetic, intramuscular administration of ephedrine on blood pressure in cats anaesthetised with acepromazine, butorphanol, ketamine and isoflurane. In contrast with cats receiving saline, the systolic arterial pressure of treated cats stayed above 80mmHg for up to 25 minutes after induction. So treatment delayed but did not eliminate hypotension.
Canadian Veterinary Journal 50 (2): 179- 184.
