ACVIM Forum 2006

The 24th Annual ACVIM (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine) Forum was in Louisville, Kentucky, May 31st-June 3, 2006. I love this meeting because of the quality and variety of information available and I would like to share some feline highlights from the Forum this year.

I attended a pre-Forum session presented by the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN). Membership in this group is $40 per year and the group has an excellent website and listserve. The AAVN also provides a research symposium with abstracts and a luncheon at ACVIM for no additional charge other than the yearly membership fee.

Here are some highlights from the AAVN abstracts and posters;

• A.E. Tanner showed that obese cats on a high protein diet had less oxidative stress, less inflammation, and more lean tissue gain than cats on a high carbohydrate diet. Both diets were formulated for rapid weight loss and were fed at 50% of the individual MER for 12 weeks.

  NUTRITIONAL AMELIORATION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED BY OBESITY AND ACUTE WEIGHT LOSS. KE Saker, AE Tanner, CD Thatcher, J Martin, JM Forkner. VMRCVM, Blacksburg, VA

• S.J.M. Niessen said that cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin-like growth factor were significantly increased in diabetic cats, and high fructose concentrations, which indicate poorly controlled diabetes, correlated with high cholesterol levels showing once again that diabetes mellitus is a disorder of both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. CHOLESTEROL, TRIGLYCERIDES, IGF-I AND GROWTH HORMONE IN DIABETIC CATS. SJM Niessen, M Khalid, G Petrie, F Gaudiano, DB Church. Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK

• The NRC (National Resource Center) considers nucleotides (purine and pyrimidine) nonessential for dogs, cats and humans. A poster at the AAVN session found that puppies fed a nucleotide supplement designed to mimic nucleotides in bitch's milk (Nucleoactive®, Bioiberica, Spain) had improved immune responses and higher levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA, increased brush border enzymes, liver growth and repair, and decreased inflammation and mortality. Although this study did not involve cats or kittens, supplementation with nucleotides might be a safe and inexpensive option in the continuing quest to improve immunity in our patients.

DIETARY NUCLEOTIDES IMPROVETHE IMMUNE STATUS OF PUPPIES ATWEANING. V Romano, D Martinez-Puig, C Torre, N Iracuiis, LI Vilaseca, C Chetrit. Affinity Petcare SA and Bioiberica SA Palafolls, Barcelona, Spain

For more information about the AAVN, check out their website at http://www.aavn.org!

ACVIM abstract sessions are 15 minutes long and are presented by one of the original authors of the abstract. The infectious disease abstracts are always interesting

Here are a few highlights from those abstracts

• Staphylococcus felis was demonstrated as a primary pathogen in approximately 18% of the cats with bacterial cystitis in a study presented by Annette Lister. This bacterium discovered in 1989 is culturally similar to S. simulans and infection with it tends to correlate with a relatively high urine specific gravity.

  ABSTRACT #1: ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OFSTAPHYLOCOCCUS FELIS AND ITS ROLE AS A FELINE URINARY TRACT PATHOGEN. A Litster, S Moss, R Rees, D Trott. School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland and Bayer Animal Health Ltd, Australia

• Michael Lappin from Colorado State University was entertaining and informative as he pointed out that flea dirt from fleas infected with Bartonella spp. is infective for at least 9 days and we can get infected through cuts on our hands and contact with flea dirt without being scratched by a cat. Frequent hand washing is essential when working around fleas! There was no significant difference in seropo sitivity for Bartonella in a group of cats with fever of unknown origin and a group of healthy cats. Western Blot was not a good predictor of infection with Bartonella [doesn't correlate with a positive PCR to Bartonella] and 70% of healthy cats have tested positive to Bartonella on ElISA testing. There appears to be a lot more to learn about this bacterial species!

  ABSTRACT it2: BARTONELLA SPP. ANTIGEN RECOGNITION PAITERNS IN CATS WITH AND WITHOUT FEVER. MR Lappin, JR Hawley, EB Breitschwerdt. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

• The amazing Julie Levy said that the canine parvovirus fecal tests can be used to diagnose panleukopenia in cats. Cats in shelters are fully protected for feline distemper 72 hours after vaccination with panleukopenia virus and are immediately protected against exposure from a contaminated environment. Vaccination can produce a weak positive reaction on the parvovirus fecal tests for up to fifteen days after vaccination. 75-100% of kittens vaccinated with modified-live vaccines [MLV] for panleukopenia had protective tite rs after 2 weeks compared to 25-3B% of kittens receiving inactivated [IA] distemper vaccine.

  ABSTRACT it5: IMPACT OFVACCINATION ON PARVOVIRUS TESTING IN KIITENS. JK Levy, EV Patterson, MJ Reese SJ Tucker. University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL

Here are a few points from the endocrinology abstracts:

• Rebecca Berg presented data showing a serum insulin-like growth factor-I [IGF-I] radioimmunoassy test could be used as a screening test for acromegaly in poorly controlled diabetic cats. If the IGF-I value was high, than pituitary imaging should be done to confirm acromegaly. The sensitivity for the IGF-I test was 84% and the specificity was 91%.

  ABSTRACT it57: SERUM INSULIN-LIKEGROWTH FACTOR-I CONCENTRATION IN DIABETIC AND ACROMEGALIC CATS. RIM Berg. RWNelson, ECFeldman, PH Kass, KR Refsal. School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA. and College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing. MI

• Dr. Diabetes, Jacqui Rand, presented work showing the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose [25 mg/cat for cats fed once a day and 12.5 mg/cat BID for cats fed multiple meals], decreased AUCglucose and mean glucose concentrations when healthy cats were fed a high carbohydrate diet [57.9% ME]. Acarbose was only effective for 12 hours. The acarbose effect was much less when cats were fed a low carbohydrate diet [6.6% ME].

ABSTRACT it59: SWITCHING TO AN ULTRA-LOW CARBOHYDRATE DIETHAS A SIMILAR EFFECT ON POSTPRANDIAL BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATIONS TO ADMINISTERING ACARBOSE TO HEALTHY CATS FEDA HIGH CARBOHYDRATE DIET. R Singh, JS Rand, JM Morton. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand and Centre for Companion Animal Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Australia

In the October pink pages, Dr. Twedt from Colorodo State University will explain the new World Small Animal Veterinary Association liver histology classification system.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FELINE PRACTITIONERS CONTINUING EDUCATION CALENDAR

Save The Dates

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FELINE PRACTITIONERS CONTINUING EDUCATION CALENDAR

2006 FALL CONFERENCE

October 22-24, 2006

Westin Harbour Cast le Hotel

Toronto, Canada

Theme: GERIATRICS AND PAIN MANAGEMENT

The AAFP member registration rate is extended to ourcolleagues in the ESFM

2007 WINTER/SPRING CONFERENCE

March 3-5, 2007

InterContinental Hotel

Miami, Florida

Theme: UPDATE IN FELINE THERAPEUTICS

2007 FALL CONFERENCE

October 27-30, 2007

Hyatt Regency Austin

Austin, Texas

Theme: FELINE DENTISTRY AND DISEASES OF THE HEAD AND NECK

The AAFP member registration rate is extended to ourcolleagues in the ESFM

2008 WINTER/SPRING CONFERENCE

TO BEDETERMINED

2008 FALL CONFERENCE

October 11-14, 2008

San Francisco, CA

The AAFPmember registration ra te is extended to ourcolleagues in the ESFM

Q: Have you told your clients about the: SUBTLE SIGNS of Sickness in Cats?

Twice-a-year exams help prevent, diagnose or treat many feline health problems before they become life-threatening.

America's milli on s of cats face lllany threat s to thei r health - illnesses and diseases which may be treated if caught in the early stage or, ideally, even prevented. Man y cat own ers may not realize cats are masters at biding illness or tha t specific behavior s may be signs of u nderlying illnesses.

“Healthy Cats for Life” is a clinic ed ucation pro gram and public awareness campaign sponsored by the American Association of Felin e Practition ers (AAFP) and Fort Dod ge Anima l Health. The campaign emp hasizes the imp ortance of twice-a-year veterinary exams and recognizing behaviors as they relate to feline wellness. To raise awareness among the cat-owning public, th e campaign is su ppo rted by a media relat ions effort an d a Web site, www.catwellness.org.

Beacuse physical illness and pain are often recognized as anonspecific change in behavior, it is important for clients to be aware of a cat's normal routine and note even the smallest changes. This comprehensive list of the subtle sings of sickness may be useful in educating your clients about behavior as it relates to feline health.

The Subtle Signs of Sickness

1. Inappropriate Elimination Behavior or Litter Box Use

2. Changes in Interaction

3. Changes in Activity

4. Changes in Sleeping Habits

5. Changes in Food and Water Consumption

6. Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain

7. Changes in Grooming

8. Signs of Stress

9. Changes in Vocalization

10. Bad Breath

Sample Behavior Assessment Questions to Ask During an Exam

Conducting a behavior assessmen t at twice-a-year veter ina ry visits is important for prevention and earl y detection of behavior -related and/or med ical problems

1. Does yo ur cat urinate or defecate ou tside the litter box?

2. Does you r cat show signs of agg ression, including h issing, biting or scratching people?

3. Does your cat exh ibit any fear ful behavio rs that concern you?

4. Has the re been an y cha nge in your eat's behav ior or disposition?

For more information, visit www.catwellness.org. www.npwm.com.

Encourage twice-a-year wellness exams!

Adapted from The Association of American Feline Practitioners Feline Behavior Guidellnes.