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Objectives: The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of iatrogenic hypothyroidism, with or without azotaemia, based on the measurement of serum total thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and creatinine concentrations, in hyperthyroid cats undergoing radioiodine ( 131 I) treatment where the 131 I dose was calculated using a previously described scoring system. A secondary aim of the study was to determine the positive and negative predictive values of serum T4 and TSH concentrations obtained 19 days after treatment in order to predict the development of iatrogenic hypothyroidism 6-9 months after 131 I treatment., Methods: Serum T4, TSH and creatinine concentrations were measured 19 days and 6-9 months after 131 I treatment. The prevalence of iatrogenic hypothyroidism was assessed with the results obtained 6-9 months after 131 I treatment., Results: The prevalence of overt and subclinical hypothyroidism 6-9 months after 131 I treatment was 40.0% (22/55 cats) and 12.7% (7/55 cats). Overt hypothyroidism with azotaemia was diagnosed in 8/55 (14.5%) cats. The positive and negative predictive values for the prediction of the development of iatrogenic hypothyroidism 6-9 months after 131 I treatment were 72.2% and 80.0%, respectively, for a low serum T4 concentration, and 75.0% and 44.6%, respectively, for an increased serum TSH concentration., Conclusions and Relevance: The use of an individualised scoring system is effective in determining the 131 I dose for the treatment of hyperthyroid cats. However, the prevalence of overt hypothyroidism was higher in comparison with other studies using different dosing protocols. Further studies comparing the efficacy of individualised scoring systems and different fixed doses to determine which method is superior are warranted.

Objectives: Mycobacterium bovis , a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, can infect cats and has proven zoonotic risks for owners. Infected cats typically present with a history of outdoor lifestyle and hunting behaviour, and cutaneous granulomas are most commonly observed. The aim of this study is to describe an outbreak of tuberculous disease commencing with six young cats, living exclusively indoors in five different households across England, being presented to separate veterinarians across the UK with a variety of clinical signs., Methods: Investigations into the pyogranulomatous lesions, lymphadenopathy and/or pulmonary disease of these cases consistently identified infection with M bovis . Infection was confirmed by PCR, where possible, or was indicated with a positive interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), where material for PCR was unavailable. In-contact, cohabiting cats were screened by IGRA and follow-up testing was undertaken/advised where results were positive. A lifestyle investigation was undertaken to identify the source of infection., Results: Six clinically sick cats and seven in-contact cats were identified with evidence of M bovis infection. Five clinical cases were either too sick to treat or deteriorated despite therapy, giving a mortality rate of 83%. Lifestyle investigations revealed the common factors between clusters to be that affected cats had mycobacterial infections speciated to M bovis , were exclusively indoor cats and were fed a commercially available raw food product produced by a single manufacturer. The Food Standards Agency, Animal & Plant Health Agency, Public Health England and the food manufacturer concerned have been notified/informed. Other possible sources of exposure for these cats to M bovis were explored and were excluded, including wildlife contact, access to raw milk, the presence of rodent populations inside the buildings in which the cats lived and exposure to known infectious humans., Conclusions and Relevance: Upon investigations, our results provide compelling, if circumstantial, evidence of an association between the commercial raw diet of these cats and their M bovis infections.

Objectives: Dyspnoea is an unspecific severe presenting sign, which can be life threatening and requires prompt treatment. Dyspnoeic cats often have significant underlying disease. Underlying aetiologies in cats that presented with dyspnoea were reviewed, and associations with patient signalment and outcome were investigated., Methods: The case records of 90 dyspnoeic cats were retrospectively reviewed and separated into different groups depending on aetiology (cardiac, respiratory, neoplastic and trauma). Duration of clinical signs, presentation, hospitalisation length and survival were analysed., Results: Cardiac (38 per cent), respiratory (32 per cent) and neoplastic (20 per cent) diseases were common causes of feline dyspnoea. Cats with respiratory causes had longer duration of clinical signs (P<0.001) before presentation. Cats with neoplasia were significantly older (P<0.001). No significant difference in respiratory rates was present between the groups (P = 0.154). High heart rates (P<0.001) and abnormalities on cardiac auscultation were more likely in the cardiac group., Clinical Significance: Frequent causes of dyspnoea in cats were cardiac disease followed by respiratory causes and neoplastic conditions. Heart rate on presentation and presence of heart murmurs or gallops are useful to identify cardiac causes. Improved proportion surviving was found in the respiratory group (P = 0.027), whereas cats with neoplasia had the worst outcome.

Feline haematology profiles of patients presented to the University of Bristol Small Animal Hospital from January 2000 to October 2005 were evaluated for thrombocytosis (defined as a platelets count of >700x10(9)/l and confirmed on smear evaluation). Thrombocytosis was found in 79 cats (4.64% of the hospital feline population), with values ranging from 703 to 1895x10(9)/l. Signalment, clinical presentation, concurrence of other haematological abnormalities, diagnoses and outcome were evaluated in 51 cases in which complete medical records were available. Other variables (feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukaemia virus status, thyroxine level, haemoplasma PCR, toxoplasma antibody titres) were also evaluated. No association was found between the presence of thrombocytosis and breed or gender. Gastrointestinal signs were the most common clinical presentation. Lymphopenia was the most common concurrent haematological abnormality. Based on final diagnosis reached, cats were grouped both according to the DAMNITV classification and according to the body system affected. Amongst the DAMNITV classification, inflammatory/infectious conditions were most commonly associated with thrombocytosis. According to body systems, gastrointestinal involvement was most represented, followed by endocrine cases. No association was found between the severity of thrombocytosis and outcome.

Objective: In this study 2000 normal cats, 50 cats with diabetes and 100 cats with a history of dehydrational crises were examined ophthalmoscopically to determine presence of cataract., Materials and Methods: The cats examined were predominantly from veterinary hospital populations but also from re-homing facilities and breeding catteries. Prevalence of cataract was determined for different age groups (year cohorts). The age at which prevalence of cataract was 50% (C(50)) was determined indirectly from a fitted prevalence curve as previously described. C(50) was determined for animals of different genders and different breeds as well as for those with diabetes and histories of dehydrational episodes related to chronic renal failure, chronic vomiting or chronic diarrhea., Results: The mean +/- standard deviation of C(50) for all normal cats in the study was 12.7 +/- 3.4 years. All cats over 17.5 years were affected by some degree of lens opacity. C(50) for cats with diabetes was 5.6 +/- 1.9 years (significantly different from normal cats at P < 0.0001). For cats with a history of dehydrational crises C(50) was 9.9 +/- 2.5 (difference from normal cats nearing statistical significance at P = 0.06)., Conclusions: The study yields novel findings regarding the prevalence of age-related cataract in normal cats together with cats with diabetes and history of previous dehydrational episodes in which prevalence of cataract is increased.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI), a lysosomal storage disease, is one of the more prevalent inherited diseases in cats and is commonly found in cats with Siamese ancestry. The prevalence of 2 known MPS VI mutations in cats was investigated in 101 clinically normal Siamese cats, in 2 cats with clinical signs of MPS VI, and in 202 cats from 4 research colonies. The mutation L476P which causes a severe clinical phenotype, was present on both alleles in the known MPS VI cats from Italy and North America and was present in all research colonies that originated from North America. However, LA76P was not detected in the Siamese population screened. In contrast, the mutation D520N, which causes a mild clinical phenotype, was identified in 23 of 202 (11.4%) alleles tested in Siamese cats from 3 continents, 2 of which were homozygous for D520N. Thus, the D520N mutation was widespread, and it is likely that cats inheriting both mutations (LA76P/D520N compound heterozygotes) would be in the general Siamese population, particularly in North America. Practitioners should note the high incidence of degenerative joint disease in these animals.

Over a period of 54 months, 3518 dogs and 3806 cats were castrated; 240 of the dogs and 50 of the cats were cryptorchid. Pedigree dogs, in particular the German shepherd dog, boxer and chihuahua were over-represented. Among the dogs, right-sided inguinal cryptorchidism was the most common form, followed by right-sided abdominal cryptorchidism. The location of the affected testicle(s) was most variable in the boxer. Among the cats, left- or right-sided inguinal cryptorchidism were the most common forms of the condition.

Metabolic acidosis is reported to be a common complication of feline chronic renal failure (CRF) but acid-base status of feline patients with this disease is rarely assessed by general practitioners. A cross-sectional study involving 59 cases of naturally occurring feline CRF was conducted to determine the prevalence of acid-base disturbances. Cases were categorised on the basis of their plasma creatinine concentrations as mild, moderate or severe. A group of 27 clinically healthy, age-matched cats was assessed for comparison. A low venous blood pH (<7.270) was found in 10 of the 19 severe cases (52.6 per cent), three of the 20 moderate cases (15 per cent) and none of the 20 mild cases. Acidaemia was associated with an increased anion gap contributed to by both low plasma bicarbonate and low chloride ion concentrations. Biochemical analysis of urine samples showed urine pH to decrease with increasing severity of renal failure. Urinary loss of bicarbonate was not associated with the occurrence of acidaemia and there was a tendency for urinary ammonium ion excretion to decrease as the severity of renal failure increased. Cats with naturally occurring CRF do not show plasma biochemical evidence of acid-base disturbances until the disease is advanced.

Objective: To determine prevalence of systolic hypertension and associated risk factors in cats with chronic renal failure evaluated in first-opinion practice., Design: Prospective study., Animals: 103 cats with chronic renal failure., Procedure: Systolic arterial blood pressure (SABP) was measured with a noninvasive Doppler technique, and cats that had SABP > 175 mm Hg on 2 occasions or that had SABP > 175 mm Hg and compatible ocular lesions were classified as hypertensive. Information from the history (previous treatment for hyperthyroidism, age), physical examination (sex, body weight), routine plasma biochemical analyses (creatinine, cholesterol, potassium, sodium, chloride, and calcium concentrations), and thyroid status were evaluated as potential risk factors for systolic hypertension. Variables associated with systolic hypertension were evaluated by use of logistic regression., Results: 20 (19.4%; 95% confidence interval, 13 to 28%) cats had systolic hypertension. Plasma potassium concentration was significantly and inversely associated with systolic hypertension., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Prevalence of systolic hypertension, although clinically important, was lower than that reported previously. The cause of the inverse association between systolic hypertension and plasma potassium concentration is not yet known.

The litter prevalence of feline dystocia was investigated using a questionnaire survey of cat breeders. Information was obtained on 2928 litters, from 735 queens. Dystocia was reported to have occurred in 5.8 per cent of litters. The level of dystocia in individual breeds ranged from 0.4 per cent of litters born in a large colony of cats of mixed breeding, to 18.2 per cent of litters in the Devon rex. Pedigree litters were at significantly higher risk than litters of cats of mixed breeding (odds ratio: 22.6). Relatively high levels of dystocia were identified in Siamese-type, Persian and Devon rex litters, whereas cats of mixed breeding showed a relatively low litter prevalence. Dolicocephalic and brachycephalic types were found to have significantly higher levels of dystocia than mesocephalic cats.