Abstract
2024 ISFM feline congress abstracts
ISFM Congress poster session
These abstracts were accepted for presentation at the poster session held during the 2024 ISFM Feline Congress, 27-30 June. The poster session continues to be available to ISFM members as part of the ISFM Virtual Congress until 31 May 2025 by signing in at portal.icatcare.org and clicking on the Events & Webinars tab.
Cat-owner relationship styles and problem behaviours in cats
Lucie D Allcutt, Daniel Mills, Claire Ricci-Bonot
University of Lincoln, UK
Email:
Much remains to be discovered about cat-owner relationships and people's perceptions of problem behaviours in cats.
This study used a previously developed questionnaire characterising cat-owner relationship styles. Additional questions probing owners' experiences of problem behaviours and emotions associated with hypothetical problem behaviour situations were included to determine whether there were any associations between them.
Data were analysed from 2748 responses. Principal component analysis and clustering was used to reproduce relationship styles. Binomial logistic regression analysis assessed for associations between relationship styles and problem behaviours. A χ2 test and standardised residuals were used to test for associations between relationship styles and emotion attribution.
Associations between relationship styles and problem behaviours were discovered, with relationships characterised as having lower emotional investment resulting in more behaviour problems being reported. Distinct behaviour problems were more often reported in line with the characterisation of the different relationship styles (such as an increased likelihood of attention seeking/excessive vocalisation behaviours reported by respondents in a 'co-dependent' relationship with their cat). Respondents were more likely overall to attribute complex emotions to cats exhibiting problem behaviours, and emotion attribution was also associated with relationship styles, with more emotionally invested relationships being more likely than expected to choose secondary emotions than less invested relationships.
Ultimately, how people relate to their cats influences how they perceive problem behaviours. Understanding these dynamics is essential for promoting feline welfare.
Eucoleus species in stray cats in finland
Pia I Rapp, Antti Sukura, Riina E Uski, Inka E Savikoski, Anu S Näreaho
Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Eucoleus aerophilus, Capillaria putorii (syn Aonchotheca putorii) and, more rarely, Eucoleus boehmi are Eucoleus (Capillaria) species parasites known to infest cats. Cats become infested by eating infectious eggs or earthworms, the intermediate or paratenic hosts of E aerophilus and C putorii, or through direct contact with an E boehmi-infected animal. E aerophilus causes respiratory signs, C putorii causes gastrointestinal signs and E boehmi causes upper airway respiratory signs. In earlier studies on stray cats in Europe, the prevalence of Eucoleus species was 5.0% in Germany and 11.2% in the Netherlands, and the prevalence of E aerophilus was 1.4% in Italy and 6.2% in Spain. There are no earlier reports about Eucoleus species in Finnish cats.
Fecal samples from 45 stray cats from two animal shelters in southeastern Finland and one shelter in the capital area of Finland were examined with the quantitative flotation method, Mini-FLOTAC (sensitivity of five eggs per gram of feces) using zinc sulfate with a specific gravity of 1.35.
Of 23 cats for which sex was known, 16 were male and seven were female. Sixteen cats were young adults. Eggs of Eucoleus species were found in six cats (13.3%); five were young adults, all six were from southeast Finland and both sexes were equally represented (n = 3). Toxocara cati infection was simultaneously found from all six cats, and three and two cats were also infected with Taenia species and Isospora species, respectively.
The prevalence of Eucoleus species is unexpectedly high in Finnish stray cats. This must be taken into account when planning the anthelmintic regime for stray cats after capture. The use of a flotation solution with high specific gravity should be considered when examining fecal samples for Eucoleus species eggs for better sensitivity.
Treatment of cats with ocular feline infectious peritonitis with eidd-2801 antiviral and immunotherapy
Petra Černá, Steven Dow, McKenna Willis, Angela Yoon, Haley Jost, Edward Flaherty, Jennifer Hawley, Trevor Arnold, Michael R Lappin
Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Antiviral drugs such as GS-441524 and EIDD-2801 have been successful in the treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Antiviral drugs can act synergistically with immunomodulatory treatments to improve patient outcome and survival in different viral diseases.
The objective of this clinical study was to determine the efficacy of oral liposome-toll-like receptor (TLR3 and TLR9) agonist complex (LTC) as an adjunct treatment for cats with FIP being treated with EIDD-2801.
Six client-owned cats diagnosed with ocular FIP completed 12 weeks of therapy with repeated blood work. Four of the cats presented with anterior uveitis (two in the right eye [OD] and two in both eyes [OU]). Two cats had panuveitis (one in the left eye [OS] and one OU; Figure 1a). Retinal detachment was present in two cats (one with partial detachment OS and one with partial detachment OD and complete detachment OS). Two cats had chorioretinitis (both OS) and two cats presented with cataracts (one OU and one OS). One of the cats with ocular signs also presented with neurologic signs (ataxia and paraparesis) suspected to be secondary to FIP. All of the ocular (Figure 1b) and neurologic signs resolved on therapy. At diagnosis, median serum total protein was 8.85 g/dl (interquartile range [IQR] 8.70-9.53), median albumin was 3.10 g/dl (IQR 2.55-3.58), median globulins were 6.00 g/dl (IQR 5.13-7.03) and median albumin:globulin ratio (A:G) was 0.51 (IQR 0.36-0.72). At the 12-week recheck, median serum total protein was 6.60 g/dl (IQR 6.25-7.18), median albumin was 3.55 g/dl (IQR 3.20-3.68), median globulins were 3.30 g/dl (IQR 3.30-3.38) and median A:G was 1.02 (IQR 0.95-1.13). All cats, at the time of writing, are reported to be clinically healthy. No side effects were reported in these cats and no blood work abnormalities were noted.
These preliminary data suggest that cats with ocular FIP treated with EIDD-2801 antiviral and LTC immunotherapy can be successfully treated without severe side effects.
(a) Right eye of a cat presenting with bilateral panuveitis and (b) the same eye of the same cat 2 months later with complete resolution of panuveitis. Note the return of normal iris color due to control of the uveitis
Exploring incidents in feline veterinary care: types, harm and contributing factors
Lisen Schortz1,2, Liz Mossop3, Annika Bergström1, Catherine Oxtoby4
1University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
2AniCura, Stockholm, Sweden
3Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
4Veterinary Defence Society, Knutsford, UK
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The safe delivery of veterinary care is generally an expectation in the public and providers' eyes and may be taken for granted. Unfortunately, such perceptions do not always reflect reality. Patients are sometimes unintentionally harmed due to the medical care received, and events often called medical incidents. Feline patients are, in general, experts at hiding their illness, might be vulnerable to certain medications and, due to their small body size, have less possibility to counteract, for example, hypothermia and anaesthetic ventilation pressure changes. The types of incidents, degree of harm and causes for incidents are relatively unknown, and this research aims to explore this important topic.
Descriptive statistical analysis characterised critical features in reports recorded between 2021 and 2023 gathered through a company-specific voluntary incident reporting system in 310 small animal practices in mainland Europe. Thematic analysis was utilised to determine contributing factors.
A total of 5564 incident reports were analysed, of which 36% (n = 1996) related to cats. The three most common types of incidents were treatment-related (33%, n = 650) (eg, corneal ulcers post-surgery), medication-related (32%, n = 637) (eg, intravenous fluid overload) and diagnostics-related (10%, n = 193) (eg, delayed diagnosis). Five percent (n = 102) resulted in patient death, 3% in permanent harm (n = 52) and 39% (n = 718) in temporary harm. Anaesthesia-related incidents were the most severe, contributing to patient death in 14% (n = 24), followed by missed, delayed or incomplete diagnostics (10%, n = 19). Factors that contributed to the incidents were: lack of knowledge or training, communication issues, high workload, inadequate patient monitoring, misinterpretation of data and misuse/misreading of equipment, and protocol issues.
These findings can help identify and underpin improvement measures specific to feline patients. For example, checklists might include carefully controlling administration routes and dosages, as well as ventilation and body temperature during anaesthesia.
This research has come from a PhD study funded by AniCura. Ethical approval was granted by the University of Lincoln's School of Health and Social Care ethics committee (2023_3498).
Increased levels of n-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide: characterisation of cats in a blood donor programme
Helena Ferreira1, André Cambra1, Samantha S Taylor2, Ignacio Mesa-Sanchez3, Rui Ferreira1,4
1Animal Blood Bank, Porto, Portugal
2University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
3Animal Blood Bank, Barcelona, Spain
4Centro de Estudos de Cięncia Animal (CECA), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Blood donation is contraindicated in cats with underlying cardiac disease, so detection is crucial for donor welfare. This study aimed to describe N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) point-of-care test results in cats enrolled in a blood donation programme, and characterise the population in terms of sex, age, breed, blood type and pre-donation heart murmur presence.
Records of feline blood collections from a blood bank between January and February 2024 were analysed. Data from cats that were already blood donors or candidates presented for first donation were included. Besides NT-proBNP test results, retrospective analysis of donation event records including donor sex, blood type, breed, age and the presence of a heart murmur were included for potential risk factor analysis for NT-proBNP elevation. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for these preliminary results.
The study involved 1597 potential donors. Of these, 46 (2.9%) showed high NT-proBNP levels, including 14 females and 32 males. Forty-two cats had type A blood, three had type B and one had type AB. Breeds included one Siberian, four British Shorthairs, 37 domestic shorthairs, two Persians, one Scottish Fold and one Scottish Straight, while for age distribution, 32.6% of cats were aged 1-3 years, 28.26% were 4-6 years and 39.13% were 7-10 years. Heart murmurs were detected in 24 cats (1.5% of total donors), but only 3/24 (12.5% of cats with elevated NT-proBNP) had abnormal NT-proBNP.
A small percentage of feline donors showed elevated NT-proBNP levels. This occurrence was more prevalent among male cats, British Shorthairs, domestic shorthairs and older cats. Interestingly, heart murmurs were rarely correlated with increased NT-proBNP levels, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the potential limitations of relying solely on heart murmurs or NT-proBNP measurements without accompanying echocardiographic assessment. Therefore, comprehensive cardiac evaluation, including echocardiography, may be warranted prior to blood donation, especially in older cats and predisposed breeds. Further research is essential to better understand the underlying factors contributing to abnormal NT-proBNP levels and their correlation with echocardiographic findings.
Comparison of two methods used for measurement of urinary protein concentration for urine protein:creatinine ratio assessment in cats
Simona Kovarikova1, Jana Blahova1, Ivana Uhrikova2, Petr Marsalek1
1Department of Animal Welfare and Protection and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
2Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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The urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) is the standard method of quantifying proteinuria in cats. Colorimetric methods using pyrogallol red and Coomassie brilliant blue, and turbidimetric methods using benzethonium chloride, measure protein concentration in urine. All of these methods are commonly used in clinical practice and appear in the methodology of recent studies. There is no consensus at this time as to which method is more accurate and reliable, however, and none is established as a reference method. The aim of this study was to compare the colorimetric method using pyrogallol red and the turbidimetric method using benzethonium chloride in the determination of urinary protein concentration, to calculate the UPC and to evaluate the clinical significance of potential differences.
Urine samples from different cats were included in the study, regardless of their age, sex or health status. Urine protein concentration was determined using commercial kits colorimetrically (Total Protein-urine, liquor; BioVendor) and turbidimetrically (Urine/CSF Protein; Abbott). Urinary creatinine concentration was determined using the Jaffe method (Creatinine; BioVendor). All analyses were performed on the automated biochemical analyser Konelab 20i (ThermoFisher Scientific); UPC was then calculated. Agreement between paired measurements was evaluated by Bland-Altman and Passing-Bablock regression analyses. Clinical significance was assessed using International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) classification of proteinuria.
A total of 185 cat urine samples were included in the study. Constant error, but no proportional error, was identified using Passing-Bablock regression between the colorimetric and turbidimetric methods. Bland-Altmann analysis revealed systematic difference between these two methods. Using IRIS classification, a change in substage of proteinuria was detected in 27 cases (14.6%).
Our study suggests that results obtained by different methods may vary and this may have clinical consequences. The same method should therefore be used when serial samples from the same patient are examined.
Caregivers' pain and mobility evaluation in cats suffering from mild-to-moderate degenerative joint disease and supplemented with undenatured type-ii collagen (flexadin advanced) or placebo
Marzia Stabile1, Laura Fracassi1, Luca Lacitignola1, Elena Garcia-Pedraza2, Giulia Tesse1, Antonio Crovace1, Francesco Staffieri1
1DiMePre-J, Universita degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
2Vetoquinol SA, Paris, France
Email:
This prospective, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical study aimed to evaluate the effects of Flexadin Advanced for cats (Vetoquinol) containing undenatured type-II collagen (UCII) on mobility and pain in cats with mild-to-moderate degenerative joint disease (DJD).
Absolute scores variation for (a) client-specific outcome measurements (CSOM), (b) Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) and (c) quality of life (QOL) at each time point (baseline, 6 and 12 weeks) of the study for the Flexadin Advanced for cats (Vetoquinol) (UC-II) and placebo (PL) groups. *P <0.05 compared with baseline
Percentage variation of (a) Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) and (b) client-specific outcome measurements (CSOM) after 6 and 12 weeks of supplementation with Flexadin Advanced for cats (Vetoquinol) (UC-II) or placebo. $ = P <0.05 compared with placebo
To detect effects related to supplementation, client-specific outcome measurements (CSOM), the short form of the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI-sf) and quality of life (QoL) assessments were used to evaluate the cats during the study.
After obtaining ethical committee approval (no. 01/2021/DETO) and written informed consent from the owners, cats underwent complete physical and radiographic examinations at the screening visit. Once DJD was confirmed and comorbidities were excluded, the cats were included in the study and randomly assigned to receive Flexadin Advanced for cats or a placebo (one chew daily for 12 weeks) in a crossover design after a 6-week washout period. Twenty cats were enrolled in the study (13 female and seven male; 8.7 ± 3.5 years; 4.8 ± 0.8 kg). CSOM, FMPI and QoL data, recorded at each time point (baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks), from the 14 cats that completed the study, were statistically analysed. The Flexadin Advanced group showed a significant reduction in absolute scores (Figure 1) of CSOM and FMPI at 6 and 12 weeks (P = 0.006 CSOM; P = 0.009 FMPI) compared with baseline, according to the QoL improvement (P = 0.002). After 12 weeks, the Flexadin Advanced group had a higher reduction in percentage variation (Figure 2) of CSOM and FMPI scores than placebo (-27% and -30% vs +0.4% and +40%, respectively). In addition, the supplemented group had a success rate of 57% (reduction in CSOM of more than 2 points) at 12 weeks, compared with 28% in the placebo group.
Based on owner assessment, the use of Flexadin Advanced supplementation in cats with mild-to-moderate DJD was found to be effective in improving mobility and reducing joint discomfort.
Effect of trauma on the concentration of acute phase proteins in cats
Eva Spada, Liliana Carnevale, Anna Zurlo, Luciana Baggiani, Chiara Giudice, Martina Manfredi, Jessica Bassi, Maurizio Longo, Mauro Di Giancamillo
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
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Trauma may result in an acute phase response, which is reflected by changes in the concentration of acute phase proteins (APPs). In cats, the APPs serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp) and ceruloplasmin (Cr) demonstrate major, moderate or minor increased responses to inflammation.
Using retrospective and prospective populations generated from trauma patients at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Milan, this study aimed to evaluate APP concentration in 40 cats (mainly stray cats, all domestic shorthairs, aged from 2 months to 12.8 years, 24 males and 16 females) diagnosed with acute trauma. All cats tested seronegative for retroviruses and had a haematobiochemical profile performed within 5 days of the trauma occurring. SAA, Hp and Cr, evaluated by an immunoturbidimetric method, were (1) compared with APPs in a population of 40 healthy cats with similar demographic data (breed, age, sex, lifestyle) and (2) correlated to age and age class (kitten, young adult, mature adult and senior), trauma type (craniofacial and/or vertebral and/or appendicular trauma, localised, multiple or polytrauma), length of hospitalisation (days from admission to discharge), outcome (survival to discharge or death), anti-inflammatory treatment, haematobiochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, albumin:globulin, and total leukocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts).
In cats with trauma, SAA and Hp median concentrations were significantly higher than in healthy control cats (see Figure 1; 97.6 vs 0.3 μg/ml and 140.7 vs 59.4 mg/dl, respectively, P <0.0001). Hp was significantly higher (P = 0.0469) in males (110.7 mg/dl) than in females (70.4 mg/dl). SAA showed a significantly positive correlation (r = 0.447, P = 0.0081) with the length of hospitaliation (median 14 days, range 0-40) in 34 cats with Hp concentrations that survived (r = 0.345, P = 0.0290), and a significantly negative correlation with albumin (r = -0.463, P = 0.0026).
Acute trauma in cats is associated with a significant increase in SAA and Hp. Testing SAA in cats with trauma may represent a useful prognostic indicator of length of hospitalisation.
(a) Serum amyloid A and (b) haptoglobin concentrations in cats with trauma and healthy control cats
Total body surface area and leukocyte profile as early predictors of death in burned cats
Agustin I Cartes, Valentina N Lepe, Francisco J Salazar-Cornejo, Javiera F Puyol
Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Vina del Mar, Chile
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A retrospective analysis was conducted to explore the potential of total body surface area (TBSA) and leukocyte data as early indicators of mortality in burned cats. During a wildfire outbreak in Vina del Mar, Chile, 36 cats were admitted as survivors, of which 27 (75%) were included in the study. Among them, 18 (68%) were male and nine (33%) were female, with a mean age of 5.4 years (0.5 ± 15) and weight of 3.6 kg (0.5 ± 13). These cats presented with burn injuries of varying TBSA scores and severity levels. Patients were categorized into local burn injuries (LBI) or severe burn injuries (SBI) based on TBSA criteria: TBSA >20% was classified as SBI and TBSA <20% as LBI. Of the included cats, 11 (40.7%) were diagnosed with LBI and 16 (59.3%) with SBI. The mean TBSA burned for LBI was 9.6%, while for SBI it was notably higher at 36.64%. A significant association was found between burn severity and survival status, as indicated by the χ2 test (χ2 = 6.677, df = 2, P = 0.0355), highlighting the substantial impact of burn severity on survival likelihood (Figure 1).
Number of survivors of burned cats grouped by burn severity into localised burn injuries (LBI) and severe burn injuries (SBI). *P <0.05
Analysis of leukocyte data revealed marked differences between patients with LBI and SBI. Patients with LBI exhibited an average white blood cell count (WBC) of 9.93 x 109/l (median 8.67, SD 6.23), whereas patients with SBI had a higher mean WBC of 12.68 x 109/l (median 13.86, SD 5.24) (Figure 2a). Similarly, variations were observed in neutrophil (Figure 2b), lymphocyte (Figure 2c), monocyte (Figure 2d), eosinophil (Figure 2e) and basophil counts between the two groups. Despite these distinctions, Spearman correlation analysis did not reveal significant linear relationships between LBI/SBI classification and leukocyte parameters, nor between leukocyte variables and mortality.
Scatter plots depicting the correlation between the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) burned and the number of (a) white blood cells (WBCs), (b) neutrophils (NEU), (c) lymphocytes (LYM), (d) monocytes (MON) and (e) eosinophils (EOS)
Subcutaneous infection by virulent itraconazole-resistant candida glabrata and candida parapsilosis in a cat: a case report
Nilcéia de V Ramos1, Rodrigo V da Motta1, Fernanda S Freitas2, Rita de CM Neves3, Bárbara B do N Pereira4, Gisela L da Costa2, Manoel ME Oliveira2
1Faculdade de Cięncias Médicas de Maricá, Maricá, Brazil
2Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
4Clinicat, Niterói, Brazil
Email:
A 5-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat presented with cutaneous lesions that had persisted for over 3 years. Originating from an initial injury on the pelvic limb, the lesions progressed to subcutaneous nodules and ulcers on the tail and pinnae.
The physical examination revealed no abnormalities other than the cutaneous lesions. Hematological analysis indicated leukocytosis with neutrophilia (19,800 cells/μl), and biochemical testing revealed hypoalbuminemia (1.75 g/dl). Negative feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus tests ruled out viral involvement. Previous treatment by other veterinarians confirmed the presence of yeasts, leading to a presumptive diagnosis of sporotrichosis, which is prevalent in Brazil. However, treatment with itraconazole (100 mg/cat PO q24h) yielded no response.
Cytologic examination revealed yeasts, and subsequent culture results identified the yeasts as Candida species. An antifungigram demonstrated resistance to ketoconazole, itraconazole and miconazole, and sensitivity to fluconazole. Histopathologic analysis indicated a significant presence of yeast-like organisms within macrophages, along with neutrophilic and pyogranulomatous dermatitis of fungal origin. Fluconazole (50 mg/cat PO q24h) was chosen as the preferred therapeutic agent, but despite a 30-day course, the cat remained unresponsive.
Further phenotypic and automated testing confirmed Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis (99% probability). The resistance profile demonstrated sensitivity to amphotericin and voriconazole. Owing to the intravenous use requirement of amphotericin and voriconazole, posaconazole was considered a more suitable therapeutic agent. Posaconazole was initiated at a dosage of 5 mg/kg PO q24h, which proved tolerable without adverse effects. PCR testing after 25 days of posaconazole treatment failed to identify Candida species DNA in tissue samples. Furthermore, an additional fungal culture revealed no growth. A timeline of the abovementioned fungal culture and antifungigram results folllowing the use of the different antifungals is set out in the table.
Owing to the persistence of the lesions, euthanasia was requested by the owner. The absence of an immunosuppression history or signs in the cat is noteworthy, challenging Candida species' typical opportunistic nature. This case underscores the importance of identifying Candida species infections in feline populations.
Electrochemotherapy in the treatment of feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Merianna Foo1, Aliisa Peura2, Yan Shong Toh1, Irina Gramer3
1Southpaws Specialty Surgery, Victoria, Australia
2Veterinary Specialty Center, Bannockburn, IL, USA
3Geelong Animal Referral Services, Victoria, Australia
Email:
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumour arising from squamous epithelium and accounts for 15% of skin tumours; it commonly involves the nasal planum, pinnae and eyelids. Surgical excision with 4-5 mm margins is an effective method to achieve local tumour control and possibly a cure; however, pet owners may find postoperative cosmesis challenging. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) represents an attractive alternative treatment option for most cats, combining the application of short high-voltage electric pulses with intravenous or intralesional administration of cytotoxic agents to enhance chemotherapy potency. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of ECT in the treatment of cutaneous SCC.
Twenty-three cats with cutaneous SCC located on the nasal planum (19/23), lip (1/23), eyelid (1/23), metacarpal pad (1/23) and temporal region (1/23) were included in this retrospective study. Cats were excluded if they did not have a histological or cytological diagnosis, or if clinical records were incomplete. Cats were treated with a clinic-specific standardised protocol using intravenous bleomycin before electroporation of SCC lesions. Cats were staged according to the World Health Organization staging system: T1 (10/23), T2 (4/23), T3 (1/23), T4 (8/23). Data on treatment side effects and response were collected according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) (see table).
Values are n (%)
CR = complete remission; PD = progressive disease;
PR = partial remission; RR = recurrence rate;
SCC = squamous cell carcinoma; SD = stable disease
Median (range) follow-up after initial treatment was 136 days (7-1763). Common adverse effects were local effects, documented in 13/23 cats, consisting of erythema, desquamation (dry/moist), ulceration and crusting at the treatment site. Fifteen cats underwent a single ECT treatment while eight received a second treatment. Complete remission was achieved in 65.3% of cases, partial remission in 13%, stable disease in 8.7% and progressive disease in 13%. The overall response rate was 78.3%. The recurrence rate was 26.7%, with a disease-free interval of 466 days.
ECT is effective in treating T1 and T2 cutaneous SCC and should be offered as a first-line therapy for these cases.
Feline management practices and resource provision in the united kingdom: a questionnaire-based study of 565 cat owners
Samantha S Taylor1,2, Isabella M Mackie1, Sharmini J Paramasivam1
1School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
2International Cat Care, Tisbury, UK
Email:
International Cat Care describes five pillars of a healthy feline environment, including multiple and separated key environmental resources, but provision of these is understudied. This study used an online survey, distributed via social media, to investigate the provision of resources by cat owners in the UK. A total of 565 cat owners completed the questionnaire on lifestyle, resources, undesirable cat behaviours and sources of advice.
Results showed that 56% of homes had more than one cat and 60% had no other pet species; of the cats, 74% were non-pedigree, 39% were from shelters/rescues and 42% spent all day indoors.
Most owners (85%) fed a mix of wet and dry food, and most homes of more than one cat had individual food bowls (78%) but shared water bowls (69%). Most cats (67%) could see their water bowl when eating. Water fountains were available to 19% of cats and most had some privacy while eating/drinking (70%). The most frequent location for food/water bowls was the kitchen (62%) and only 27% of homes with more than one cat had food/water in more than one location.
Most homes (82%) had a litter tray, often in the kitchen (28%); however, only 57% of homes with more than one cat had more than one tray and only 15% met the 'one tray per cat plus one' criteria.
The majority of homes had a scratching post (85%), somewhere for the cat to rest with privacy (95%) and toys for mimicking hunting behaviour (89%). More homes had fragrance diffusers (57%) than feline pheromone diffusers (22%).
Owners sought information on their cat's physical and emotional needs from veterinarians (92%) or the internet (55%). Of the 66% of cats with undesirable behaviours, scratching furniture (36%) was most frequent, followed by excessive vocalisation (20%) (Figure 1).
Frequency of undesirable behaviours reported by UK cat owners
This study shows that while some pillars are frequently provided, further owner education on resource management could improve cat welfare and potentially reduce undesirable feline behaviours.
Efficacy of a topical combination of esafoxolaner, eprinomectin and praziquantel for the treatment of thelazia callipaeda eyeworm infestation in cats
Angela Di Cesare1, Stefania Zanet2, Eric Tielemans3
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
2Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
3Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Lyon, France
Email:
The nematode Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) is an ocular parasite affecting a wide range of mammals, including cats, dogs, wildlife and also humans. The adult worm inhabits the conjunctival surface of the definitive host. The indirect parasite life cycle includes the fruit fly as an intermediate vector host and a mammal as the definitive host. The female T callipaeda releases a first-stage larvae (L1) in the conjunctival secretion, which is ingested by the feeding fruit fly. The L1 develops into an infective L3 in the fruit fly, which then transmits the L3 to a new vertebrate host while feeding on its secretions.
The feline thelaziosis clinical picture varies in severity; it can be subclinical, but it can also cause ocular inflammatory disorders such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharospasm, purulent exudate and corneal ulcers due to the irritating mechanical effect of the worm.
An increased number of canine and feline thelaziosis cases have been reported in recent years in several European countries, and therapeutic solutions are limited.
A study investigating the curative efficacy against thelaziosis of a topical product containing esafoxolaner, eprinomectin and praziquantel registered for cats (NexGard Combo) was conducted on naturally infested cats.
Sixteen cats infested with T callipaeda were either treated once with the investigated product (n = 8) or left untreated (n = 8) and evaluated after 1 and 2 weeks for the presence of eye worms and inflammatory ocular signs. The eye worms had fully disappeared in all treated cats after 1 week, while all untreated cats still harboured eye worms after 1 and 2 weeks. The ocular inflammatory signs had fully disappeared in 5/8 treated cats after 2 weeks, while all cats from the untreated groups still displayed inflammatory ocular signs.
This study allowed the demonstration of 100% efficacy (P <0.0001) of one application of the investigated product against natural T callipaeda infestation.
Feline travel anxiety contributes to caregiver burden among cat owners
Terttu J Lamminen1, Heidi T Järvimäki2, Mira E Korpivaara1
1Orion Corporation, Research and Development, Espoo, Finland
2Orion Corporation, Companion Animal Business Unit, Espoo, Finland
Email:
Owners of cats showing signs of travel anxiety were surveyed to assess the effect of their cat's anxiety on both their own and their cat's quality of life, and the human-animal bond between the owner and the cat. Caregivers from the UK and the USA participated in the study and were contacted via email and/or social media. The questionnaire was shared by a public weblink and a commercial online survey tool Webropol 3.0 was used. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics.
The survey was completed for 451 cats (UK: 326; USA: 125) owned by 364 caregivers (UK: 261; US: 103). A considerable number of owners reported that their cat's travel anxiety had restricted their life a little (26%), somewhat (7%) or a lot (1%). Similarly, the owners responded that travel anxiety had affected their cat's quality of life a little (27%), somewhat (8%) or a lot (2%). Almost half of the owners (48%) disclosed having felt bad or guilty, while many reported having had limitations to their holiday (15%) or weekend travelling (10%). Some owners revealed that they had missed their cat's veterinary or other healthcare appointment (10%), or cat shows (1%). Some of the owners also reported a deteriorated human-animal bond (4%), as their cat had showed signs of loss of trust. The percentages were somewhat higher in the USA compared with the UK.
These results indicate that feline travel anxiety contributes to the caregiver burden among cat owners and may decrease the quality of life for both cats and their owners.
Portuguese owners' perception of feline chronic kidney disease
Tomás Rodrigues Magalhăes1,2,3, Inês Guerra4, Ana Luísa Lourenço2,3,5, Ronald Jan Corbee6, Felisbina Luísa Queiroga1,2,3,7
1Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
2Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
3Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
4Hospital do Gato, Lisboa, Portugal
5Department of Animal Science, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
6Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
7Center for the Study of Animal Sciences, CECA-ICETA, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Email: tomas.rodrigues.
Feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) results from progressive loss of kidney function, requiring lifelong management once diagnosed. Therefore, owners' compliance with veterinary recommendations is crucial to ensure a better prognosis.
To evaluate the Portuguese owners' perception of this metabolic disease, an online questionnaire was addressed to people who lived in Portugal and were responsible for a cat with CKD.
In total, 150 owners answered the survey. Most respondents were between 25 and 44 years old (n = 99; 66.0%) and dealing with this disease for the first time (n = 118; 78.7%). Regarding the diagnosis, the majority stated that their veterinarian carried out blood tests (n = 145; 96.7%), urinalysis (n = 98; 65.3%) and abdominal ultrasonography (n = 96; 64.0%), but only 46.0% (n = 69) confirmed that blood pressure measurement was performed. When asked about the CKD staging system, 62.0% (n = 93) mentioned that it was explained and 48.7% (n = 73) knew their cat's stage at diagnosis. The impact of the disease on the emotional connection with the cat was also addressed: 66.0% (n = 99) did not notice any changes, 30.0% (n = 45) thought that it improved and only 2.7% (n = 4) reported that it got worse. The reasons given for the positive effect were the greater proximity and interaction due to constant concern, improved temperament and/or new routines. Most owners felt completely informed by their veterinarian (n = 127; 84.7%), complied with the recommended monitoring frequency (n = 139; 92.7%) and believed that their experience would not influence future decisions regarding the purchase/adoption of a new cat (n = 78; 52.0%). Still, 37.3% mentioned that more educational resources were needed to better understand this disease.
These findings show that, overall, Portuguese owners are informed and involved in the management of their cats' CKD. Even so, communication with the owner could still be improved, especially during diagnosis and staging, to better manage expectations and maximise their commitment to the recommended protocol.
The authors would like to thank all respondents for their collaboration. This work was supported by the PhD Studentship number 2021.07272.BD (DOI: 10.54499/2021.07272.BD) and the project UIDB/ 00772/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00772/2020) funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
Has feline coronavirus (fcov)-23 arrived in europe? Survey on the spread of a new fcov variant causing feline infectious peritonitis
Michaela Gentil1, Jennifer Scherzer1, Elisabeth Müller1, Amanda S Warr2, Charalampos Attipa2, Christine Tait-Burkard2
1Laboklin, Bad Kissingen, Germany
2Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
Email:
Beginning in January 2023, a severe outbreak of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) occurred in cats in Cyprus. Within 7 months, the number of PCR-confirmed cases increased more than 40-fold compared with 2022. Subsequent analysis showed that this was caused by a highly pathogenic feline/canine recombinant coronavirus, proposed to be named feline coronavirus (FCoV)-23. Preliminary data were highly supportive for direct transmission of this virus and that there is no need for a biotype change to cause FIP. The aim of this study was to assess whether, and to what extent, FCoV-23 has spread to Europe.
An RT-PCR targeting spike gene of FCoV-23 was performed on 478 residual samples (peritoneal, pleural or cerebrospinal fluid, EDTA blood), which were submitted to a commercial laboratory between January 2023 and February 2024 and had previously tested positive for feline coronavirus via RT-qPCR targeting the 7b gene. They originated from Cyprus (n = 107) as well as other European countries: Austria (n = 21), Bulgaria (n = 13), Croatia (n = 28), Germany (n = 162), Greece (n = 18), Italy (n = 20), Malta (n = 4), Romania (n = 57), Serbia (n = 2), Slovakia (n = 15), Slovenia (n = 9), Spain (n = 14), Switzerland (n = 5) and the UK (n = 3).
The FCoV-23 spike gene was detectable in 78 samples from Cyprus and in two samples from Bulgaria (dates of sampling: April and June 2023). At the time of writing this abstract, further sequencing is in progress for the latter, and additional suspect cases are being investigated, but they show genetic differences.
The new virus variant FCoV-23 seems to be already present in mainland Europe. There is an urgent need to raise awareness, as well as for further research.
Clinical errors affecting cats in 71 primary care and referral clinics in the uk in 2023
Aarti Hogan1, Samantha Taylor1,2
1Linnaeus Veterinary, Shirley, UK
2International Cat Care, Tisbury, UK
Email:
Clinical errors may result in harm to patients, yet are understudied in veterinary medicine, particularly those affecting cats. Understanding the most frequent errors and situations in which they occur can inform measures to reduce their occurrence, including education and process implementation. The aim of the study was to document the reported clinical errors affecting cats at 71 clinics (17 referral and 54 primary care) in the UK during 2023.
Clinical errors were recorded using the VetSafe reporting service and categorised by users according to level of harm (no/low/moderate/severe harm, near miss, death) and type of error (selected from options covering areas of the clinic/procedures). Errors involving medication were divided according to medication type and if the error involved dispensing (eg, wrong species, wrong dosage), administration (eg, route, timing, dosage error) or an adverse reaction to medication. Additionally, errors per full-time veterinarian were calculated for each clinic to allow comparison between referral and primary care and between accredited Cat Friendly Clinics (CFCs) and non-accredited clinics (non-CFCs) using Mann-Whitney U tests.
A total of 2264 clinical errors involving cats were reported in 12 months; the most frequent categories were 'treatment/medication' (680/2264; 30%), followed by 'inpatient/hospitalisation' (447/2264; 20%) (Figure 1). The most frequent treatment/medication errors involved parasiticides (177/680; 26%), followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (76/680; 11%). Drug dosage errors occurred most commonly (343/680; 50%) but reports also included 76 incidents of canine medications dispensed to cats.
Most errors were reported as resulting in no (969/2264; 42.8%) or low (590/2264; 26.1%) harm, and 107/2264 (4.7%) resulted in severe harm or death. The median number of errors per veterinarian per year was 1.4 (range 0.05-9.3), was lower in referral clinics (1.1) compared with primary care (1.5) (P = 0.014) and was not significantly different between non-CFCs (1.1) and CFCs (1.4) (P = 0.208).
The study shows areas of frequent error (medications, inpatient care) that could be improved to optimise patient safety.
Frequency of errors according to selected category affecting cats at 71 veterinary clinics in 2023
Current trends in the treatment of feline chronic kidney disease: a questionnaire-based study in the uk
Tomás Rodrigues Magalhăes1,2,3, Felisbina Luísa Queiroga1,2,3,4, Ronald Jan Corbee5, Ana Luísa Lourenço2,3,6
1 Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
2Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
3Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
4Center for the Study of Animal Sciences, CECA-ICETA, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
5Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
6Department of Animal Science, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Email:
Feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered the main cause of death in senior cats. Therefore, a therapeutic plan must be defined and continuously adjusted to each patient in order to minimise clinical signs, delay disease progression and improve quality of life.
To assess how feline CKD is currently being treated in the UK, all veterinarians who have diagnosed and treated at least one case in the past year were invited to complete an online questionnaire.
A total of 200 completed questionnaires were received, with most veterinarians (n = 182; 91.0%) confirming the use of published therapeutic guidelines. Transitioning to a renal diet was recommended by almost all respondents (n = 198; 99.0%), particularly the combination of dry and wet commercial food (n = 135; 67.5%). However, a limited diet acceptance rate was described among these, as 54.0% (n = 108) stated that this therapeutic food represented less than 75% of the daily food intake in most of their patients. In line with that, a significant percentage (n = 155; 77.5%) prescribed oral and/or transdermal mirtazapine to promote food intake. A calcium channel blocker (n = 161; 80.5%) and an angiotensin receptor blocker (n = 126; 63.0%) were, respectively, the most commonly used drugs to control systemic hypertension and proteinuria, and subcutaneous fluid therapy proved to be a common practice (n = 140; 70.0%), with Ringer's lactate being the most commonly used electrolyte solution. Phosphate binders were the supplements most prescribed (n = 116; 58.0%), followed by potassium (n = 50; 25.0%), omega-3 fatty acids (n = 29; 14.5%) and iron and B vitamins (n = 14; 7.0%).
Based on the study findings, most veterinarians in the UK are complying with current international recommendations. However, dietary intervention must be improved to increase food acceptance in order to maximise patient prognosis. Critical analysis must be carried out to identify potential limiting factors, such as inadequate food introduction or limited owner compliance.
The authors would like to thank all respondents for their collaboration. This work was supported by the PhD Studentship number 2021.07272.BD (DOI: 10.54499/2021.07272.BD) and the project UIDB/00772/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00772/2020) funded by thePortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
Characterisation of pain behaviors in kittens undergoing ovariohysterectomy using video assessment
Sabrine Marangoni1,2, Diane Frank1, Paulo V Steagall1,2,3
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Universite de Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, Canada
2Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
3Centre of Animal Health and Welfare, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Email:
This study aimed to characterize the duration and/or frequency of pain behaviors in kittens undergoing ovariohysterectomy using video assessment.
A total of 229 videos comprising 18 h of recordings were obtained during a prospective, randomized, clinical trial using an opioid-free protocol with (multimodal group [MMG]) or without (control group [CG]) multimodal analgesia. Videos included general, playing, feeding and post-feeding behaviors of 37 kittens (≤6 months of age) before and after surgery, and pre-/post-rescue analgesia. Behavioral assessment was performed by a board-certified behaviorist who was blinded to time points using a validated ethogram and Noldus software. Statistical analyses were performed using linear models with Benjamini-Hochberg corrections (P <0.05).
Duration (percentage of time) of being positioned at the 'back' of the cage was shorter (39.9 ± 37.5% and 44.0 ± 30.7%, P = 0.047) and 'grooming post-feeding' was longer (14.5 ± 17.3% and 5.7 ± 9.3%, P = 0.012) in the MMG than CG at 480 mins. Duration of 'lying dorsoventrally with pelvic limb extended/contracted', 'lowered head position' and 'eyes partially closed' was longer in kittens pre- than post-rescue analgesia (40.8 ± 33.9% and 32.0 ± 30.0%, P = 0.046; 3.2 ± 10.6% and 0.3 ± 1.8%, P = 0.016; 10.0 ± 25.1% and 5.0 ± 15.8%, P = 0.005, respectively). Duration of 'playing (with an object)' was shorter pre- than post-rescue (48.0 ± 37.0% and 67.4 ± 32.2%, P = 0.027, respectively).
This study identified specific behavioral differences between painful and non-painful kittens undergoing ovariohysterectomy contributing to acute pain assessment in cats.
This study was a recipient of the International Veterinary Association of Pain Management and Fear Free Scholarship. This study received funding from a private donor through the City University of Hong Kong.
✜ This abstract won both the Scientific Committee Best Abstract Award and the Delegates' Choice Best Poster Award.
Evaluation of the effect of physical disinfection methods on feline calicivirus and parvovirus
Veronika Vojtkovská1, Dana Lobová2, Vladimír Večerek1
1Department of Animal Protection and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
2Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
Email:
A high level of hygiene is important for keeping animals healthy. This especially applies to facilities where more than one cat is housed (eg, cat shelters, breeding catteries, veterinary clinics). Nowadays, in addition to commonly used chemical disinfectants, novel methods of physical disinfection are starting to be of interest. The aim of this study was to experimentally verify the effect of two physical methods of disinfection (application of gaseous ozone and visible 405 nm violet-blue light produced by commercially available devices) on pathogens of viral origin (feline calicivirus [FCV] and feline parvovirus [FPV]), which are commonly found in multi-cat facilities.
FCV and FPV were placed on Petri dishes and exposed to ozone gas application (generator's output 20 g/h) and to 405 nm violet-blue light in the laboratory. The efficiency of 2, 4 and 6 h of ozone applications was investigated and, in the case of light, 8 h of application was tested. The distance between the ozone generator and the samples was 2 m, and the distance between the samples and the light-generating device was 1 m. Only one of the devices was in operation during the experiment. After the experiment, samples were inoculated under aseptic conditions into a microtiter plate containing Crandell-Reese feline kidney cells monolayer. Positive and negative controls were cultured concurrently with the samples. After the culture period, the samples were monitored with microscopy to check the presence of any cytopathic effect (CPE; see table). Specificity of the CPE for each virus was verified using quantitative PCR analysis.
A potential disinfecting effect of both tested methods was found only in the case of FCV; survival of FPV was not detected by the tested methods. Long exposure times (6 h and 8 h) were needed to affect FCV survival (see table). Based on the results, the physical methods tested show potential virucidal effects, but their efficacy may vary between pathogens and other environmental factors.
CPE = cytopathic effect; FCV = feline calicivirus; FPV = feline parvovirus
First quantitative pcr identification of chlamydia felis infection in a cat and its owner in the czech republic
Martina Načeradská1, Michaela Fridrichová2, Soňa Peková3
1Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Natural and Food Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
2Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
3Tilia Laboratories, Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics, Pchery, Czech Republic
Email:
Chlamydia felis (formerly Chlamydophila felis) is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that preferentially infects cats. It has been isolated worldwide, primarily causing inflammation of feline conjunctiva, rhinitis, pneumonia and rarely urogenital tract infections.
This case report describes the transmission of C felis from a castrated 8-year-old male cat to its owner through close contact (licking the owner's face), with both presenting with rhinitis and conjunctivitis initially suspected to be of allergic origin. The owner was unsuccessfully treated with two courses of local antibiotics over a period of 2 months. Finally, quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed, targeting Mycoplasma species, Chlamydia species, Ureaplasma species, feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) and cilia-associated respiratory bacillus (CAR), in both the cat and the owner. The test revealed a significant positivity for C felis, with a quantity of 1 x 104 copies of the microorganism per 1 ml of the initial sample eluate.
Both the owner and the cat were treated with doxycycline monohydrate for a total of 20 days until the cat's control swab was PCR-negative. All other four cats in the household were treated similarly. At the end of the therapy, both the owner and all doxycycline-treated cats showed no signs of conjunctivitis. Only a 14-year-old castrated male cat remained with mild clear nasal discharge but tested negative for C felis on PCR.
This case report describes the transmission of a zoonotic infection from a cat to its owner, which was not initially correctly treated due to the diagnostic approach of the human ophthalmologist not considering potential zoonoses. The authors would therefore like to advocate for a more comprehensive diagnostic approach, especially in clinical cases where zoonotic involvement might be a potential option. Thus, detailed anamnestic examination cannot be underestimated, in both veterinary and human clinical settings, especially in cases where recurrent and empirically treatment-resistant cases are dealt with.
In sickness and in health: ethical considerations among owners to cats treated for diabetes mellitus
Ninni Rothlin-Zachrisson1, Bodil S Holst1, Malin Öhlund2, Helena Röcklinsberg3
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
2Swedish Medical Products Agency, Uppsala, Sweden
3Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Email:
Diabetes mellitus in cats presents an increasingly favourable prognosis, yet necessitates a significant commitment from owners towards medical management. The decisions made by these owners are not only related to medical prognosis, but are intricately linked to their ethical perspectives, impacting communication dynamics and interactions with attending veterinarians.
This study encompassed qualitative individual in-depth semi-structured and thematically analysed digital interviews with Swedish owners (n = 13) of cats diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Areas of discussion included motivations behind selecting medical treatment, the veterinarian's role, the disease's impact on owner lifestyle and perspectives on euthanasia.
All owners chose to pursue medical treatment for their cat rather than euthanasia. This decision stemmed from a profound sense of responsibility as pet guardians, reflecting their commitment to providing care for their cats under all circumstances. They prioritised the cat's wellbeing by choosing either the optimal or recommended diabetes treatment or ensuring a satisfactory quality of life, although the latter might not always align with optimal treatment. Ethical challenges emerged when the daily realities and practical constraints faced by the cat owner clashed with the moral principles guiding the acceptability of euthanasia. Communication dynamics between owners and veterinarians upon the diabetes diagnosis revealed varied owner needs, wherein the veterinarian's demeanour, whether encouraging or pessimistic, could profoundly influence owners' decisions.
Owner commitment and ethical considerations are pivotal in the management of diabetes mellitus in cats, and it is essential to be aware of the potential challenges this can bring to veterinary-owner communication. This highlights the complex interplay between ethical principles, practical constraints and the human-animal bond in veterinary care.
Comparing the ease of administration of a feline-specific vs a human-registered pregabalin formulation in cats
Terttu J Lamminen1, Heidi T Järvimäki2, Tarmo O Laine1, Mira E Korpivaara1
1Orion Corporation, Research and Development, Espoo, Finland
2Orion Corporation, Companion Animal Business Unit, Espoo, Finland
Email:
Administering medications to cats at home often poses challenges for owners, highlighting the importance of easy product administration in feline medicine. In two separate clinical field trials, the usability of two different pregabalin formulations was evaluated. These studies involved client-owned cats with a history of anxiety and fear associated with veterinary visits and/or travelling.
The first pilot study employed a crossover design and used the pregabalin 20 mg/ml oral solution formulation (Lyrica) registered for human use. This study involved administering doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg to 11 cats, with a total of 22 administrations. In the second study, a more concentrated pregabalin 50 mg/ml oral solution formulation (Bonqat), specifically developed and flavoured for cats, was administered once at the label dose of 5 mg/kg to 108 cats. Owners evaluated the usability of both formulations using a four-point rating scale (very easy, easy, somewhat difficult, very difficult), and the results were evaluated statistically.
Most owners found administering the human-registered formulation to be somewhat difficult (68%) or very difficult (5%), while some assessed it to be easy (14%) or very easy (14%). The volume of the treatment administered varied from 1.0 to 3.5 ml per administration. In contrast, the majority of owners assessed the administration of the cat-specific formulation as very easy (48%) or easy (31%), and only a few as somewhat difficult (17%) or very difficult (5%). The range of dose volumes for this formulation was between 0.2 and 0.8 ml per cat. The difference between usability assessments of the two formulations was statistically significant (P <0.0001).
The novel feline-specific oral formulation was found to be easier to administer compared with the formulation registered for human use. The good usability of the cat-specific product can likely be attributed to its small dosing volume (0.1 ml/kg) and flavoured liquid formulation.
Cats with potential pain-related diabetic neuropathy have loss of sensory function when compared with healthy controls
Hélène LM Ruel1, Vanessa Bruneau1, Bérénice Conversy1, Sabrine Marangoni1,2, Paulo V Steagall1,2,3
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Universite de Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, Canada
2Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
3Centre of Animal Health and Welfare, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Email:
This study aimed to evaluate sensory function by measuring mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) between cats with diabetes mellitus (DMcats) and healthy controls while assessing the diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC).
Eight cats with diabetes mellitus and 12 healthy controls were included in a prospective, randomized study after caregivers' written consent was obtained. MNTs (N) were measured using a sharp-tipped 4 cm polypropylene probe to apply increasing pressure bilaterally against the metatarsal pad until paw withdrawal, or when a cutoff was reached (10 N) (Bioseb; MNTbio). MNTs were also measured using a limb-mounted mechanical actuator attached to the cat's pelvic limb (ProdPro; Topcat Metrology; MNTtop). Stimuli were performed in a randomized order by an observer unaware of the cat's condition. The DNIC was assessed by comparing MNTtop before and after the application of a conditioning stimulus (inflated blood pressure cuff around the humerus 200 mmHg for 1 min). A student's t-test, and Spearman's and Pearson's tests were used (P <0.05).
MNTbio of controls were significantly lower (2.1 ± 0.7 N) than those of DMcats (3.6 ± 1.2 N). MNTbio were significantly higher in male (3.3 ± 1.3 N) than female cats (2.1 ± 0.4 N). DNIC and MNTtop were not different between groups. There was a positive correlation (ρ = 0.52) between body weight and left tarsus MNTbio.
These results suggest the presence of hypoalgesia in the distal pelvic limb of DMcats and loss of sensory function as demonstrated in humans with pain-related diabetic neuropathy. This study could not differentiate the DNIC between healthy cats and DMcats.
This study was approved by the local animal care committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universite de Montreal (19/20-Rech-2035).
Allogenic blood patch pleurodesis for management of presumptive secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in a cat
Jihyun Han1, Jeongmin Lee1,2, Kyoung-A Youp1, Heetae Park3, Jiwoong Her2, Jinhwa Chang1, Gippeum Lee1
1Korea Animal Medical Center, Cheongju, South Korea 2College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, USA
3Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
Email:
Feline secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is commonly suspected to be due to feline lower airway disease (FLAD). This report presents the first case treated with allogenic blood patch pleurodesis (BPP). BPP may be effective in resolving persistent pneumothorax due to FLAD. This method is relatively simple, low in complexity and may be suitable for treating mild pneumothorax without clinical signs.
High-resolution CT scan reveals a bilateral pneumothorax. Several subpleural blebs are visible in bilateral cranial lobes (red arrows in [a,b]) and in a caudal part of the left cranial lung lobes (red arrow in [c]). A paraseptal emphysema (yellow arrow in [a]) of the right cranial lobe is seen. (d) Bronchial wall thickening with bronchiectasis and focal ground-glass attenuation are seen in the bilateral caudal lung parts
A 7-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat presented with respiratory distress due to presumed spontaneous pneumothorax. High-resolution CT (HRCT) identified subpleural blebs and paraseptal emphysema with peribronchial thickening and bronchiectasis (Figure 1). FLAD was suspected as the causative agent, considering the patient's living environment and HRCT findings. The pneumothorax persisted despite medical treatment and continuous suction via thoracostomy tube. Two allogenic BPPs were performed, which successfully resolved the spontaneous pneumothorax. After 5 months, the pneumothorax recurred but resolved after thoracocentesis.
Effects of an alpha-casozepine complementary feed on behavioural disorders in cats during transportation
Gaëlle Porcheron1, Camille Guénan1, Aude Barichard2, Pierre Julié3, Julie Brault4, Olivier Roy1, Oscar Fantini5, Elena Garcia-Pedraza5
1Cebiphar, Fondettes, France
2Clinique vétérinaire ChatDoc, Bayonne, France
3Clinique vétérinaire Saint-Exupery, Toulouse, France
4Clinique vétérinaire du Gabereau, Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, France
5Vetoquinol, Paris, France
Email:
Behaviour disorders in cats during transportation are a well-known challenge among their caregivers. The aim of this open, multicentric clinical study in France was to assess the effects of a supplement containing alpha-casozepine on transportation-related behaviour issues in cats.
Twenty-five cats with signs compatible with transportation-related disorders were included. The cats received a complementary feed (Zylkene; Vetoquinol) once a day for 9 days on average (day 5 to day 14 ± 1) at a higher amount than the recommendation on the label (x 2 for cats <5 kg and x 1.5 for cats ≥5 kg). The cats' behaviour when placed into the carrier and during transportation in a car was assessed at baseline (day 0), then 2 days after starting product administration (day 7) and at the end of product administration (day 14 ± 1).
An improvement in the ability to transport the cats in a car was observed: 26% of owners scored 'excellent', 'good' or 'fair' at day 0 compared with 52% after 2 days and 80% after 9 days of Zylkene administration. The mean total score of signs of behavioural disorders (eg, vocalisation, urination) when placed into the carrier significantly decreased by 32% between days 0 and 7 and 53% between days 0 and 14. Similarly, the mean total score of signs of behavioural disorders during transportation significantly decreased by 30% between days 0 and 7 and 43% between days 0 and 14.
Moreover, 55% of the veterinarians and caregivers evaluated that there were positive effects of the product on behavioural disorders during transportation after 9 days of administration.
This study shows that Zylkene reduces transportation-related behaviour disorders in cats from 2 days after the start of administration and improves the experience of cats and caregivers. The study design has limitations, however, and further investigation may be needed, including a control group in future studies.
Feline chronic kidney disease in the uk: how are diagnosis and monitoring being managed in these cats?
Tomás Rodrigues Magalhăes1,2,3, Ana Luísa Lourenço2,3,4, Ronald Jan Corbee5, Felisbina Luísa Queiroga1,2,3,6
1Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
2Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
3Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
4Department of Animal Science, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
5Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
6Center for the Study of Animal Sciences, CECA-ICETA, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Email:
Early diagnosis and regular monitoring of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) are essential to ensure more appropriate clinical management and, consequently, a more favourable prognosis. The aim of this study was to characterise how this approach is being conducted in the UK.
An online questionnaire was addressed to all veterinarians working in small animal practices in the UK who had diagnosed and treated at least one case of feline CKD in the previous 12 months.
In total, 200 veterinarians responded to the questionnaire, most with at least 6 years of experience in feline medicine (n = 158; 79.0%) and who diagnosed, on average, two to five cases per month (n = 118; 59.0%), relying particularly on blood tests (n = 199; 99.5%) and urinalysis (n = 198; 99.0%). Almost all practitioners surveyed were aware of the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines (n = 198; 99.0%), mostly using both creatinine and symmetric dimethylarginine for staging (n = 125; 62.5%). However, only 24.5% (n = 49) reported measuring systolic blood pressure in all CKD cases, and the main reasons mentioned for not always doing so were owners' financial and/or time constraints (n = 117; 58.5%), difficulty in performing this measurement (n = 44; 22.0%) and stress/lack of patient compliance (n = 34; 17.0%). In addition, the average monitoring frequency of cats in a stable stage varied between what was ideally recommended and what veterinarians were actually able to carry out (see table). Financial (n = 184; 92.0%) and time (n = 52; 26.0%) constraints and patient stress during transportation and/or at the veterinary practice (n = 150; 75.0%) were once again the main justifications given.
Although most UK veterinarians apply international guidelines, substaging and clinical monitoring are suboptimal. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness among owners about the importance of regular reassessments, and veterinarians must refine their approach to these patients, adopting more cat friendly strategies to improve compliance.
The authors would like to thank all respondents for their collaboration. This work was supported by the PhD Studentship number 2021.07272.BD (DOI:10.54499/2021.07272.BD) and the project UIDB/ 00772/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00772/2020) funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
2024 ANZCVS Conference Abstracts
ANZCVS abstracts
These abstracts were presented as part of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists' conference held 25-27 July 2024.
Treatment of feline infectious peritonitis with molnupiravir: 53 cases
Tessa Clark1, Sally Coggins2, Richard Malik3, Rachel Korman4
1Veterinary Specialist Services, QLD, Australia
2Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, Australia
3Centre for Veterinary Education Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
4Veterinary Specialist Services, QLD, Australia
Email:
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a life-threatening disease. Molnupiravir, an orally bioavailable ribonucleoside analogue, demonstrates antiviral effectiveness and emerges as a promising, cost-effective treatment option for FIP.
This was an observational study with retrospective and prospective arms. Medical records of 65 cats diagnosed with FIP between September 2022 and February 2024, across 31 veterinary practices predominantly in Australia, were reviewed. Fifty-three cats met the inclusion criteria. Complete remission was characterised by the resolution of clinical signs and normalisation of the albumin:globulin ratio (A:G) (to ≥0.6).
Seventeen cats received molnupiravir monotherapy, 11/17 achieved complete remission, and three more attained sustained clinical remission. This resulted in an overall response rate of 82.3% (14/17), with a provisional cure rate of 65% accounting for instances of relapse. Twenty-nine cats had a short induction treatment with GS-441524 and/or remdesivir before switching to molnupiravir monotherapy. Twenty four of twenty nine attained complete remission, with an additional three achieving sustained clinical remission, to give an overall cure rate of 93% (27/29), given no relapses were recorded. Seven cats initially treated with extended courses of GS-441524, remdesivir and/or mefloquine experienced treatment failure or relapse. Molnupiravir was subsequently introduced as a rescue therapy. Complete remission was documented in 6/7, with the remaining cat achieving sustained clinical remission, to give an overall cure rate of 100% given no relapses were recorded.
Molnupiravir as a single agent, or in combination with other antivirals, represents an accessible, effective treatment for FIP when given at a dosage of 10-15 mg/kg q12h.
Scintigraphy-derived radioactive iodine-131 dose for individualised feline hyperthyroidism treatment
Niquet Reid1, Shiphrah Tagore2, Pete Tually2, Geoffrey Currie3
1TeleMedVET/Epsom Ave Veterinary Hospital, WA, Australia
2TeleMedVET, WA, Australia
3Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia
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Radioactive iodine (131I) is the preferred treatment for feline hyperthyroidism; however, dose optimisation is yet to be determined. This study aimed to assess how thyroid scintigraphy (Figure 1) can influence 131I dosage to improve treatment outcomes.
Feline 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy
A retrospective study of sixty-five cats treated with 131I at a referral centre was conducted. 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy (planar and single-photon emission CT) was performed to calculate thyroid uptake values and assess morphology. 131I dose was titrated against an established dose algorithm and administered subcutaneously. Post-treatment serum total thyroxine concentration (TT4) was used to determine success. Euthyroidism was achieved in 90.2% of cases, with a small number, 2.4%, of iatrogenic hypothyroid cases. The statistical significance was calculated using χ2 analysis for nominal data and Student's t-test for continuous data.
Post-therapy data from 41/65 cats was available for analysis. 131I dose ranged between 94 MBq and 219 MBq. There was no statistically significant difference in thyroid morphology based on age, sex and 131I dose. While there were no statistically significant variations in baseline TT4 or percentage uptake among bilateral symmetrical, bilateral asymmetrical and unilateral disease, ectopic disease had statistically higher TT4 (P = 0.0176) and uptake (P = 0.0002) equating to higher131I doses.
Utilising scintigraphy to guide individualised 131I dosing in the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism has demonstrated promising outcomes, particularly when assessing ectopic thyroid tissue. There remains room to refine the algorithm used to further optimise results.
Clinical outcomes following cerebrospinal fluid collection in cats
Gemma Spinoglio1, Ann Thompson1, Rachel Korman2
1Veterinary Specialist Services, QLD, Australia
2Cat Specialist Services, QLD, Australia
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection permits investigation of encephalopathies. Risks include iatrogenic trauma, haemorrhage and brain herniation. This study aimed to assess feline CSF collection outcomes and associated exposure variables.
Records were retrospectively searched from three referral centres from January 2012 to December 2022 for cats with CSF collection. History, signalment, physical examination, procedure records, diagnostic results and diagnosis were recorded. Outcomes included CSF collection complications, anaesthetic recovery, survival to discharge and survival duration. Risk factors were assessed as predictors of outcome with univariate binary logistic regression χ2 distribution testing; risk factors tested included: breed, sex, body weight, age, evidence of herniation, general anaesthetic (GA) maintenance protocol, CSF nucleated cell count, CSF red blood cell count, CSF total protein and a retrospectively applied modified Glasgow Coma Scale score. Multivariate analysis was performed on variables with a P value <0.1.
Preliminary analysis identified that the number of cats in the outcome groups (CSF collection complication and non-survival to discharge) were too few for multivariate analysis, so these groups were combined into one and described as CSF collection complication or non-survival to discharge (CONS).
Of 120 cats that underwent CSF collection, 10 (8.3%) experienced complications, including apnoea, vital parameter deviations, including Cushing's reflex, and suspected iatrogenic spinal cord trauma. Cats with complications reported a 20% non-survival to discharge compared with 10% of cats without complications that did not survive to discharge. Overall, 107 (89.16%) cats survived to discharge, from which seven (6.54%) survived <1 month, five (4.67%) survived for 1-6 months and 94 (87.85%) survived >12 months. The 13 (10.83%) non-survivors to discharge consisted of nine euthanased between 0 and 5 days post-procedure, three deaths within 1-2 days of CSF collection and one that failed to recover spontaneous ventilation following the procedure and was euthanased. CONS occurred in 21 (17.5%) cats. Non-survival to discharge was significantly associated with lower body weight (OR 0.476), evidence of herniation (OR 10.1) and pleocytosis (OR 4.92) on univariate analysis. CONS was significantly associated with non-isoflurane GA protocol (OR 5.42) and evidence of herniation (OR 7.05) at multivariate analysis.
Feline CSF collection had a low complication rate, with most cats surviving to discharge. Risk assessment should include increased precaution in lower body weight cats. Assessment for herniation on advanced imaging should be performed prior to CSF collection. Identification of pleocytosis should increase monitoring vigilance for detection of complications and risk of non-survival to discharge.
