Dermatophytosis is a common skin disease in cats and dogs caused by Microsporum and Trichophyton fungi. Species identification and knowledge of their antifungal susceptibility are therapeutically and epidemiologically important. This study assessed the prevalence of feline and canine dermatophytosis in Iran, identified the aetiological agents molecularly and tested their antifungal susceptibility. A total of 308 companion animals (134 dogs and 174 cats) with skin lesions were examined from March 2015 to March 2018. Hair and skin samples were examined by microscopy with 20% KOH and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Fungal isolates were confirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) r-DNA region. The antifungal susceptibility of dermatophytes was tested by broth microdilution assay using standard drugs. Dermatophytes were found in 130 (42.2%) samples, 62 of them feline and 68 canine. Based on sequencing of all strains, M. canis (78.5%, P<0.05), M. gypseum (10.7%), and T. mentagrophytes (10.7%) were the dermatophytes isolated. The non-dermatophyte species Nannizziopsis vriesii was also isolated from two feline dermatomycosis cases. Dogs and cats younger than one year (61.5%) showed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of infection (P<0.05). Caspofungin produced the lowest geometric mean MIC at 0.0018 μg/mL, followed by ketoconazole, terbinafine, itraconazole, miconazole, griseofulvin, clotrimazole and fluconazole, in a 0.038–1.53 μg/mL range. This is the first molecular study to identify the causes of pet dermatophytosis in north-western Iran. ITS-PCR was shown to be a useful and reliable method for the identification of closely related species of dermatophytes in clinical and epidemiological settings. The lowest MIC of caspofungin indicated that this drug was the most potent in vitro.

Opioids are considered the gold standard to manage acute or chronic or mild to severe pain. Tramadol is a widely prescribed analgesic drug for dogs and cats; it has a synthetic partial agonism on μ-opioid receptors and inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. However, the biotransformation and resultant metabolites differ between species and depend on cytochrome P450 interactions. Dogs mainly produce the inactive N-desmethyl tramadol metabolite, whereas cats exhibit an improved antinociceptive effect owing to rapid active O-desmethyltramadol metabolite production and a longer elimination half-life. Tapentadol, a novel opioid with dual action on μ-receptors and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitory activity, is a promising option in dogs, as it is less reliant on metabolic activation and is unaffected by cytochrome polymorphisms. Although scientific evidence on the analgesic activity of tapentadol in both species remains limited, experimental studies indicate potential benefits in animals. This review summarizes and compares the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic efficacy of tramadol and tapentadol in dogs and cats with different pain conditions. According to the available data, tramadol seems a more suitable therapeutic option for cats and should preferably be used as a component of multimodal analgesia in both species, particularly dogs. Tapentadol might possess a superior analgesic profile in small animals, but additional studies are required to comprehensively evaluate the activity of this opioid to manage pain in dogs and cats. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(3.000): 404-422]

Objective: The work aimed to determine the state of lipid peroxidation products and the activity of the antioxidant system in cats with aseptic inflammation and purulent-inflammatory processes of varying severity. Materials and Methods: The intensity of the process of lipid peroxidation- antioxidant system processes in blood plasma was evaluated using commercial kits. The level of diene conjugates (DC), the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the level of medium-weight molecules were deter¬mined from lipid peroxidation indices. The state of antioxidant protection was assessed by indi¬cators of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CT), ceruloplasmin (CP) concentration, glutathione peroxidase activity, glutathione reductase (GLR), and total antioxidant activity (AOA). Results: With aseptic inflammation in the blood of cats, a slow activation of peroxidation reactions occurred. The DC indicator increased by 1.4 times, the SOD level rose by 1.38 times, the amount of GLR by 1.04 times, and the activation of total AOA by 9.06. In sepsis, the values of DC, MDA, and medium-weight molecules increased by 4.4, 8.4, and 8.8 times, respectively. With abscesses in the blood of cats, an increase in CT, CP, and GLR is observed against a background of a decrease in glutathione peroxidase. With purulent wounds, the total AOA of plasma increases by 2.5 times; with abscesses, the total AOA increases by 1.9 times, and with sepsis, it decreases by 1.5 times. Conclusion: With surgical infections in cats, deep biochemical changes or irreversible biochemical changes (in sepsis) occur that indicate a significantly enhanced catabolic orientation of metabolic processes and the accumulation of toxic metabolites, which leads to damage and a decrease in tissue regenerative capacity. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(2.000): 210-217]

The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe cases of feline intermediate- to high-grade alimentary lymphoma regarding signalment, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, response to therapy (modified 25-week University of Wisconsin-Madison [UW-25] vs. COP [cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone]), toxicosis, and outcomes and to identify prognostic factors. Sixteen cats were treated with chemotherapy protocols. Response rates and survival did not differ statistically between the two protocols. The progression-free interval (PFI) and median survival time (MST) in cats achieving a response to therapy were longer than in those with no response [NR] (complete remission [CR] vs. partial remission [PR] vs. NR; PFI, 124 vs. 49 vs. 12 days, p < 0.001; MST, 361 vs. 118 vs. 16 days, p < 0.001). Clinical stage was another prognostic factor for PFI and MST. The PFI and MST in cats in stage I were longer than in those in other stages (PFI, 107 days vs. 30 days; MST, 193 days vs. 54 days). Hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicosis was mostly low grade. In comparing the modified UW-25 protocol with the COP protocol, there was not much difference in the number of neutropenic episodes and grade levels.

OBJECTIVE To identify associations between microbes and host genes in cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), a debilitating inflammatory oral mucosal disease with no known cause, compared with healthy cats and cats with periodontitis (control cats). ANIMALS 19 control cats and 23 cats with FCGS. PROCEDURES At least 1 caudal oral mucosal swab specimen was obtained from each cat. Each specimen underwent unbiased metatranscriptomic next-generation RNA sequencing (mNGS). Filtered mNGS reads were aligned to all known genetic sequences from all organisms and to the cat transcriptome. The relative abundances of microbial and host gene read alignments were compared between FCGS-affected cats and control cats and between FCGS-affected cats that did and did not clinically respond to primary treatment. Assembled feline calicivirus (FCV) genomes were compared with reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) primers commonly used to identify FCV. RESULTS The only microbe strongly associated with FCGS was FCV, which was detected in 21 of 23 FCGS-affected cats but no control cats. Problematic base pair mismatches were identified between the assembled FCV genomes and RT-PCR primers. Puma feline foamy virus was detected in 9 of 13 FCGS-affected cats that were refractory to treatment and 5 healthy cats but was not detected in FCGS-affected cats that responded to tooth extractions. The most differentially expressed genes in FCGS-affected cats were those associated with antiviral activity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that FCGS pathogenesis has a viral component. Many FCV strains may yield false-negative results on RT-PCR-based assays. Coinfection of FCGS-affected cats with FCV and puma feline foamy virus may adversely affect response to treatment.

Acid-base disorder is a common problem in veterinary emergency and critical care. Traditional methods, as well as the Stewart method based on strong ion difference concepts and the Fencl-Stewart method, can be used to analyze the underlying causes. On the other hand, there are insufficient comparative study data on these methods in cats. From 2018 to 2020, 327 acid-base analysis data were collected from 69 sick and 18 healthy cats. The three most well-known methods (traditional method, Stewart method, and Fencl-Stewart method) were used to analyze the acid-base status. The frequency of acid-base imbalances and the degree of variation according to the disease were also evaluated. In the traditional acid-base analysis, 5/69 (7.2%) cats showed a normal acid-base status, and 23.2% and 40.6% of the simple and mixed disorders, respectively. The Fencl-Stewart method showed changes in both the acidotic and alkalotic processes in 64/69 (92.8%), whereas all cats showed an abnormal status in the Fencl-Stewart method (semiquantitative approach). The frequencies of the different acid-base imbalances were identified according to the analysis method. These findings can assist in analyzing the underlying causes of acid-base imbalance and developing the appropriate treatment.

It was aimed to investigate whether chia seeds provide an advantage during ultrasonographic imaging in cats when added to food by means of its high water-holding capacity. Ten healthy cats were ultrasonographically examined following 12- hour fasting period and after feeding with 3 different food types at 1-week intervals. Thus, 4 study group were formed as follows; FST; fasting 12- hour period, WF; feeding with wet cat food following 12- hour fasting period DWF; feeding with ½ of same wet food diluted with the same volume drinking water, CWF; feeding with ½ of same wet food mixed with 36 ml swollen chia seeds obtained by holding 2 hours 3ml chia seeds in 33 ml drinking water. Cats were evaluated ultrasonographically immediately after feeding, and at the 30th minutes and 60th minutes.Especially in terms of thickness, gastric wall evaluation was easier after food intake. In the CWF, the stomach was fully imaged on the frame at all times. The gastrointestinal tract content moved faster when cats were fed DWF or CWF; In the examination immediately after feeding the contents were in duodenum and seen in the jejunum and ileum in the 30- and 60-minutes’ examinations. CWF and DWF revealed more heterogeneous images then WF and also CWF provided better visualization for the intestinal canal wall layer.Ultrasonographic examination after feeding with chia seed added formula can be used as a complementary method following the fasting examination.

Recently, diagnostic cases of Mycoplasma screening from feline kept rising. In 2018, there were two cases in felines that were positively diagnosed as Mycoplasma co-infection in which one of the two cases was due to mycoplasmosis. Diagnosis of mycoplasmosis was based on isolation and identification using biochemical testing. Mycoplasma was successfully isolated from both cases. Based on the feline death case, the result indicated that Mycoplasma gateae was isolated from the blood-stained trachea sample. In contrast, none was isolated from the lung. As the infection was associated with other microorganisms, this case concluded that the cause of death of the cat was due to Parvovirus with secondary infection of Mycoplasma gateae.

The advantages of ventral and flank approaches for ovariohysterectomy (OHE) in terms of wound healing rate when compared to each other are still understudied. The effects of different OHE approaches on the wound healing rates of cats in Selangor, Malaysia were investigated. A total of 50 female cats were randomly included in this study. They were divided into the ventral-approach group (n=25) and the flank approach group (n=25). The wound healing rates and possible complications that could arise from the surgery in all cats were monitored daily from Day 1 until Day 7 post-surgery. Data were analysed using Independent T-test. Overall, the incision site wound healing rate in cats from the flank-approach group was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in cats from the ventral-approach group (72.55 ± 3.48 % vs. 59.91 ± 3.34 %; mean ± SEM). Complete healing of the incision site was observed in 12 % of cats from the flank-approach group as compared to 8 % of cats from the ventral-approach group. However, 8 % of cats from the ventral approach group had post-surgery complications whereas the flank-approach group had none. Results from the alternative approach may be attributed to reduced accessibility and contamination of the incision site during recovery

An intact male, 2.5 kg, 1 ½ years old Domestic Long Hair (DLH) cat was brought to the University Veterinary Clinic, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan with the complaint of inability to stand and inappetence since it was hit by a car a day before presentation. Physical examination and radiography revealed multiple fractures including fracture of the pubis, fracture of the left ischium and fracture of the right femoral neck. There was also a left sacroiliac fracture-luxation. The cat was stabilized with intravenous fluid using normal saline, analgesic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic drugs. The sacroiliac fracture-luxation was repaired using a lag screw. The surgical site developed swelling due to seroma formation post operatively, where a drainage tube was placed which necessitated daily wound cleaning and dressing. The cat was able to ambulate with satisfactory weight bearing of the hind limbs at 10 days post-surgery and four weeks later, the cat demonstrated improvement in gait. At 5-months post-surgery, the cat was completely back to its normal gait and ambulation normally.