Banu Dokuzeylül

Total oxidant and antioxidant capacities, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels in cats seropositive for the feline coronavirus.

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a highly contagious virus that is ubiquitous in multicat environments and may induce oxidative stress. This virus commonly causes an asymptomatic infection, which can persist in certain individuals. Sporadically and unpredictably, FCoV infection leads to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a highly fatal systemic immune-mediated disease. There are no data in the veterinary literature relating to oxida - tive stress in FCoV. Antioxidant capacity (TAC) can be attributed to single components in the defence systems against free radicals. The measurement of the total oxidant status (TOS) accurately reflects the oxidative status of blood plasma or serum. Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a free radical and contributes to host defences against oxida - tion. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a reliable and commonly used marker of overall lipid peroxidation levels and the presence of oxidative stress. This study aimed to determine levels of oxidative stress markers, serum TAC, total oxidant capacity (TOC), NO and serum MDA in 24 cats seropositive for FCoVs and 15 cats seronegative for FCoVs. Significantly higher serum TOC, NO and MDA levels were found in seropositive animals ( P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) than in seronegative animals. In contrast, serum TAC levels were found to be significantly lower in seropositive cats compared with seronegative cats ( P < 0.001). The results of the present study suggest that FCoV seropositivity is associated with oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant status.

Bacterial species isolated from cats with lower urinary tract infection and their susceptibilities to cefovecin

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine the bacterial species recovered from 61 cats with lower urinary tract infection (LUTI), and their susceptibility to cefovecin in vitro.ResultsThe clinical signs and final clinical diagnosis for cats with confirmed LUTI were also reported. After physical examination of the cats, urine samples including ≥5-6 leucocytes in microscopic evaluation were cultured using bacteriological techniques. The isolates were identified by conventional microbiological methods and tested for in vitro susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Bacterial growth was observed in 16 of 61 urine samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that 13 of 16 (81%) isolates were susceptible to cefovecin. The most frequently isolated bacterium from cats with signs of lower urinary tract infection, was Escherichia coli.ConclusionCefovecin was found to be effective in cats with LUTI. Because cefovecin is a new antimicrobial agent in veterinary medicine, there are only few studies about urine culture of cats with LUTI. It is the first study on in vitro activity of cefovecin against bacterial isolates from cats with lower urinary infections in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Analysis of Computer Data regarding Obesity and Associated Diseases in Cats Examined at Private Veterinary Practices

Background: Cats can be defined as being overweight if their bodyweight is 15% above optimum weight and classified as obese if they are more than 30% above their optimum weight. There is a general agreement among investigators that the incidence of excess body weight in cats is increasing. Obesity has considerable impacts on the health of cats and is linked to a variety of health issues including orthopedic disease, diabetes mellitus and non-allergic skin conditions. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and associated diseases in cats examined at some veterinary practices in Istanbul-Turkey. Materials, Methods & Results: Data of 2,272 patients examined at four private veterinary practices in Istanbul was studied to reveal the association between body weight and diseases. Information regarding sex, age and neutering status was also considered for each patient. Patients were classified according to their body weight to three groups as lightweight (female: 3.0 kg and under, male: 4.5 kg and under), optimum -weight (female: 3.0-4.5 kg, male: 4.5-5.5 kg) and overweight/obese (female: 4.5 kg and over, male: 5.5 kg and over). Accounting all adult cats treated by the clinics, diagnoses of osteoarthritis, heart diseases, dermatological diseases, hepatic lipidosis, metabolic syndrome - diabetes mellitus, lameness, gastrointestinal diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, neoplasia and urinary diseases were statistically evaluated. Considering data coming from 2,272 cats, which were referred to veterinary practices, 33.12%, were classified as overweight-obese, 40.04% were optimum-weight and 26.84% were lightweight. It was determined that overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis and hepatic lipidosis compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease and neoplasia compared to lightweight cats (P < 0.05). Discussion: Obesity in cats is very common and the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity has been reported on a range from 20% to 40% in developed countries. Associated with the increasing welfare, as in humans, the incidence of obesity in the pet population is also increasing. The data studied for this research was evaluated with regard to diseases associated with obesity. It was determined that overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis and hepatic lipidosis compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease and neoplasia compared to lightweight cats (P < 0.05). However, an association between overweight or obesity and heart disease, metabolic syndrome - diabetes mellitus, lameness, musculoskeletal disease or urinary diseases was not found. A percentage of 19.95 of the patients over 2 years of age were classified in the overweight-obese group. These findings require that weight gain needs to be prevented before the animals reach obese status. Dietary management and physical exercise are essential for managing obesity in pets. In this study, it was aimed to explain the importance of weight management in preventing overweight or obesity associated diseases to cat owners by using the results, which demonstrate that overweight or obese animals are statistically more likely to develop associated diseases. Veterinary practitioners can also use this data to strongly advocate for the maintenance of feline patients at ideal body condition.

Prevalence of systemic disorders in cats with oral lesions

Oral disorders of small animals constitute a problem for veterinarians. Chronic oral infections are commonly seen in domestic cats. The objectives of this study were to characterise feline oral lesions, common feline dental problems, and especially the association of oral disease and systemic disease in cats. Two hundred and twenty cats referred over a period of 33 months to the Internal Medicine Department of our University with signs of oral disorders were included in this prospective study and were examined for the occurrence of the most commonly seen diseases. Infectious diseases which frequently cause ulcers and/or erosions within the mouth and on the tongue, constituted a significant proportion of the cases identified in this study. Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) infection was diagnosed in 36 cats (16%), Feline Calicivirus (FCV) in 17 cats (8%) and 16 cats (7%) had three viral infections (FCoV + Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) + Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)) at the same time. We conclude that oral disorders may be a sign of underlying systemic diseases in cats, especially in those diagnosed with feline viral infections. Other diagnosed diseases included immune-mediated disorders, eosinophilic granuloma complex, gastrointestinal system disorders, nutritional disorders, diabetes mellitus, hepatic disorders and chronic renal failure. Therefore, the first step in preventing oral disease in animals must be routine physical examination which includes a comprehensive oral exam.

Effects of Surgical Wound Infiltration with Bupivacaine on Postoperative Analgesia in Cats Undergoing Bilateral Mastectomy

The analgesic effect of wound infiltration with bupivacaine was evaluated in cats undergoing bilateral mastectomy. Twenty-one female cats with mammary gland tumors were anesthetized with propofol and oxygen-isoflurane anesthesia following premedication with atropine. In the trial group (Group I; n=11), 30 ml of saline containing 2 mg/kg of bupivacaine was infiltrated topically into the surgical wound right after removal of the mammary glands, whereas only saline solution was infiltrated in the control group (Group II; n=10). At the same time, carprofen (4 mg/kg) was also administered subcutaneously in both groups. Behavioral signs of pain were monitored during the recovery period after general anesthesia. In order to examine the behavioral changes associated with acute pain, a questionnaire was prepared and given to the owners to be completed 4 hr and then 10 hr after the operation. According to the owners’ anwers to the questionnaire, a pain score was specified using a “numerical rating scale” for each cat. Although some cats showed mild to moderate pain, the pain score recorded at 4 hr after the operation was significantly lower in Group I (P<0.001). No significant difference was found at 10 hr after the operation between the groups. The incidence of vocalization, aggression and convulsion within 2 hr after the operation was also lower in Group I. In conclusion, wound infiltration with bupivacaine before incisional closure provided reliable analgesia at least 4 hr after bilateral radical mastectomy in cats.