Retrospective study of indications for and outcome of perineal urethrostomy in cats

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate indications for and outcome of perineal urethrostomy in cats. METHODS: The medical records of 59 cats that had undergone perineal urethrostomy were evaluated. Short-term follow up information (for a period of four weeks following surgery) was available for all of the cats. Long-term follow up information (for a period of at least four months) was available for 39 cats. RESULTS: Early complications occurred in 25.4 per cent of cats and late complications were observed in 28.2 per cent of cats. The most frequent late complication was recurring bacterial urinary tract Infection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Despite frequent complications and recurring signs of lower urinary tract disease, 32.2 per cent of the cats had a disease-free long-term outcome (mean four years, median 3.9 years), and 88.6 per cent of clients interviewed thought that their cats had a good quality of life after surgery.

European consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs and cats.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution affecting most mammalian species. Clinical leptospirosis is common in dogs but appears to be rare in cats. Both dogs and cats, however, can shed leptospires in the urine. This is problematic as it can lead to exposure of humans. The control of leptospirosis, therefore, is important not only from an animal but also from a public health perspective. The aim of this consensus statement is to raise awareness of leptospirosis and to outline the current knowledge on the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic tools, prevention and treatment measures relevant to canine and feline leptospirosis in Europe.

Nonthymoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis in 18 cats.

BACKGROUND Exfoliative dermatitis has been described in cats as a paraneoplastic skin disease associated with thymoma. There are anecdotal reports of cases without thymoma, with various suspected aetiologies. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES To identify common features, underlying causes, response to therapy and outcome of nonthymoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis in cats. METHODS Retrospective analysis was carried out of cases presented to dermatology referral centres or cases submitted for histopathological examination. Detailed historical and clinical data were obtained and evaluated statistically. Histopathology was reviewed in a blinded fashion by three dermatopathologists, and PCR for herpesvirus was performed. RESULTS Eighteen cats fulfilled all inclusion criteria. There was no sex, age or breed predisposition. All cats presented with severe generalized (77%) or multifocal exfoliation (23%); 12 cats were severely depressed. In all cats, thymoma was excluded radiographically and feline leukaemia virus tests were negative. Additional imaging procedures in 14 cats and postmortem examination in two cats did not detect neoplasia. Histopathology revealed interface dermatitis, mural interface folliculitis and sebaceous adenitis indistinguishable from findings in thymoma-associated cases. PCR for herpes DNA was negative. No aetiology was identified. Treatment in 12 cases consisted of immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids and/or ciclosporin; one responded to antibiotics, one to shampoo, two went into spontaneous remission, and two did not receive any therapy and were euthanized. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Nonthymoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis in cats is clinically and histopathologically indistinguishable from thymoma-associated cases. Most cases benefit from immunosuppressive therapy; therefore, an immunopathological response to an undefined trigger is suspected.

Use of outdoor ranges by laying hens in different sized flocks.

In studies assessing outdoor range use of laying hens, the number of hens seen on outdoor ranges is inversely correlated to flock size. The aim of this study was to assess individual ranging behavior on a covered (veranda) and an uncovered outdoor run (free-range) in laying hen flocks varying in size. Five to ten percent of hens (aged 9–15 months) within 4 small (2–2500 hens), 4 medium (5–6000), and 4 large (≥9000) commercial flocks were fitted with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. Antennas were placed at both sides of all popholes between the house and the veranda and the veranda and the free-range. Ranging behavior was directly monitored for approximately three weeks in combination with hourly photographs of the free-range for the distribution of hens and 6h long video recordings on two parts of the free-range during two days. Between 79 and 99% of the tagged hens were registered on the veranda at least once and between 47 and 90% were registered on the free-range at least once. There was no association between the percentage of hens registered outside the house (veranda or free-range) and flock size. However, individual hens in small and medium sized flocks visited the areas outside the house more frequently and spent more time there than hens from large flocks. Foraging behavior on the free-range was shown more frequently and for a longer duration by hens from small and medium sized flocks than by hens from large flocks. This difference in ranging behavior could account for the negative relationship between flock size and the number of hens seen outside at one point of time. In conclusion, our work describes individual birds’ use of areas outside the house within large scale commercial egg production.

Combinations of dexmedetomidine and alfaxalone with butorphanol in cats: application of an innovative stepwise optimisation method to identify optimal clinical doses for intramuscular anaesthesia

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to optimise dexmedetomidine and alfaxalone dosing, for intramuscular administration with butorphanol, to perform minor surgeries in cats. METHODS Initially, cats were assigned to one of five groups, each composed of six animals and receiving, in addition to 0.3 mg/kg butorphanol intramuscularly, one of the following: (A) 0.005 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, 2 mg/kg alfaxalone; (B) 0.008 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, 1.5 mg/kg alfaxalone; (C) 0.012 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, 1 mg/kg alfaxalone; (D) 0.005 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, 1 mg/kg alfaxalone; and (E) 0.012 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, 2 mg/kg alfaxalone. Thereafter, a modified 'direct search' method, conducted in a stepwise manner, was used to optimise drug dosing. The quality of anaesthesia was evaluated on the basis of composite scores (one for anaesthesia and one for recovery), visual analogue scales and the propofol requirement to suppress spontaneous movements. The medians or means of these variables were used to rank the treatments; 'unsatisfactory' and 'promising' combinations were identified to calculate, through the equation first described by Berenbaum in 1990, new dexmedetomidine and alfaxalone doses to be tested in the next step. At each step, five combinations (one new plus the best previous four) were tested. RESULTS None of the tested combinations resulted in adverse effects. Four steps and 120 animals were necessary to identify the optimal drug combination (0.014 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, 2.5 mg/kg alfaxalone and 0.3 mg/kg butorphanol). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The investigated drug mixture, at the doses found with the optimisation method, is suitable for cats undergoing minor clinical procedures.

Swiss Feline Cancer Registry: A Retrospective Study of the Occurrence of Tumours in Cats in Switzerland from 1965 to 2008

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in companion animals. Information on the epidemiology of cancer is instrumental for veterinary practitioners in patient management; however, spontaneously arising tumours in companion animals also resemble those in man and can provide useful data in combating cancer. Veterinary cancer registries for cats are few in number and have often remained short-lived. This paper presents a retrospective study of tumours in cats in Switzerland from 1965 to 2008. Tumour diagnoses were coded according to topographical and morphological keys of the International Classification of Oncology for Humans (ICD-O-3). Correlations between breed, sex and age were then examined using a multiple logistic regression model. A total of 18,375 tumours were diagnosed in 51,322 cats. Of these, 14,759 (80.3%) tumours were malignant. Several breeds had significantly lower odds ratios for developing a tumour compared with European shorthair cats. The odds of a cat developing a tumour increased with age, up to the age of 16 years, and female cats had higher risk of developing a tumour compared with male cats. Skin (4,970; 27.05%) was the most frequent location for tumours, followed by connective tissue (3,498; 19.04%), unknown location (2,532; 13.78%) and female sexual organs (1,564; 8.51%). The most common tumour types were epithelial tumours (7,913; 43.06%), mesenchymal tumours (5,142; 27.98%) and lymphoid tumours (3,911; 21.28%).

A QUANTITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF SOURCE AND ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FINE PARTICULATE AIR POLLUTION IN HOUSTON (TEXAS)

An investigation was undertaken to determine the chemical characterization of inhalable particulate matter in the Houston area, with special emphasis on source identification and apportionment of outdoor and indoor atmospheric aerosols using multivariate statistical analyses.^ Fine (<2.5 (mu)m) particle aerosol samples were collected by means of dichotomous samplers at two fixed site (Clear Lake and Sunnyside) ambient monitoring stations and one mobile monitoring van in the Houston area during June-October 1981 as part of the Houston Asthma Study. The mobile van allowed particulate sampling to take place both inside and outside of twelve homes.^ The samples collected for 12-h sampling on a 7 AM-7 PM and 7 PM-7 AM (CDT) schedule were analyzed for mass, trace elements, and two anions. Mass was determined gravimetrically. An energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer was used for determination of elemental composition. Ion chromatography (IC) was used to determine sulfate and nitrate.^ Average chemical compositions of fine aerosol at each site were presented. Sulfate was found to be the largest single component in the fine fraction mass, comprising approximately 30% of the fine mass outdoors and 12% indoors, respectively.^ Principal components analysis (PCA) was applied to identify sources of aerosols and to assess the role of meteorological factors on the variation in particulate samples. The results suggested that meteorological parameters were not associated with sources of aerosol samples collected at these Houston sites.^ Source factor contributions to fine mass were calculated using a combination of PCA and stepwise multivariate regression analysis. It was found that much of the total fine mass was apparently contributed by sulfate-related aerosols. The average contributions to the fine mass coming from the sulfate-related aerosols were 56% of the Houston outdoor ambient fine particulate matter and 26% of the indoor fine particulate matter.^ Characterization of indoor aerosol in residential environments was compared with the results for outdoor aerosols. It was suggested that much of the indoor aerosol may be due to outdoor sources, but there may be important contributions from common indoor sources in the home environment such as smoking and gas cooking. ^

THE OCCURRENCE OF GROUP G STREPTOCOCCUS IN THE DOMESTIC CAT: COMPARISON OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF GROUP G STREPTOCOCCUS ISOLATED FROM HUMANS AND CATS

The occurrence of group G streptococci in cats and evaluation of the recovered organisms as potential human pathogens was investigated. Throat swabs were obtained from 89 cats (47 males and 42 females) and vaginal swabs from 39 female cats. Eighty-three of the examined cats were housed in individual cages at a University Animal Care Facility. Six cats, 2 mature males, 2 mature females and 2 young females were family pets in a rural area. Beta-hemolytic streptococci were recovered from 33 (37%) of the 89 cat throats cultured, and 27 (30.3%) were identified as group G. More males (34%) than females (24%) had throat cultures positive for group G. From the 39 vaginal cultures examined, 24 (61.5%) contained beta-hemolytic streptococci and 23 (58.9%) were identified as group G streptococci. Streptococci were not recovered from the vaginal cultures of the 5 females under 6 months of age.^ Thirty one group G streptococci isolated from cats were compared with 37 isolates of group G obtained from humans (health status or site of origin unknown). More group G cat isolates (81%) produced deoxyribonuclease (DNase) than did the human isolates (36%). The proportion of cat throat and vaginal isolates producing DNase was the same. Production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide glycohydrolase (NADase) by group G isolates of human origin was 70%, cat throat isolates 53% and cat vaginal isolates 37%. The Serum Opacity Factor was present in 73% of the cat throat isolates of group G, 43.7% of the cat vaginal isolates and 58.6% of the human isolates. Possession of an anti-phagocytic factor (M protein like substance) demonstrated by the ability to multiply in fresh human blood was greater in the group G from cat throats (46.7%) than from cat vagina (37.5%) or from the human isolates (13.5%). Many of the biochemical characteristics of the group G streptococci of cat origin were more similar to the biochemical characteristics of group A streptococci, than to the characteristics of group G of human origin. The group G streptococci, found in a large number of cats, could be potential human pathogens, as their physiological and biological characteristics are very similar to those of group A, a known human pathogen. ^

Exploring the association of children's engagement in nature and outdoor activity with physical activity: A systematic review

The natural environment and green spaces are settings that may facilitate physical activity and, as a result, combat childhood obesity and benefit children's physical health. A systematic review was conducted to assess the effect of children's engagement in outdoor activity on children's physical activity levels. A total of 169 articles were initially identified, of which 11 were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. Studies were heterogeneous: cross-sectional, RCT, cohort, and direct observation. Study participants were between the ages of 3-15 years, and physical activity was measured by accelerometers, pedometers, direct observation or surveys. A majority of the studies (9/11) found a positive association between time spent outdoors and physical activity in children and adolescents. Of these 9 studies, 5 found this association specifically between time spent outdoors in greenspace and physical activity. Despite limitations, the findings of this review support the positive association between time spent outdoors and physical activity in children and adolescents, and the notion that children and adolescents who spend more time outdoors are more physically active. This demonstrates the need to use outdoor environments as settings for children's and adolescents' physical activity.^