Squamous cell carcinoma of mammary gland in domestic cat

Background: In the feline species, 80% to 93% of neoplasias in the mammary gland are malignant, being the majority carcinomas. Among them, there is the mammary squamous cell carcinoma, which amounts to a very rare neoplasm in the domestic cat, with considerable potential for malignancy. This study aimed to report a case of squamous cell mammary carcinoma in the feline species. Case: A female cat, mixed breed, ten years old, presented history of skin lesion. The cat had been spayed two years before, but with previous administration of contraceptives. At the physical examination, it was observed ulcer between the caudal abdominal mammary glands. The occurrence of skin or mammary neoplasia was conceived. The following complementary tests were requested: complete blood count, serum biochemical profi le (renal and hepatic), chest radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and incisional biopsy of the ulcerated region periphery, followed by classic histopathology. The lesion histopathology was compatible with squamous cell carcinoma of the mammary gland. Due to such a diagnosis, bilateral mastectomy was recommended. The material obtained during the surgical procedure was sent for anatomopathological analysis. Microscopically, surgical margins infi ltration and a regional lymph node were verifi ed. The owner was advised of the need for complementary therapies and medical monitoring of the cat. However, there was no return. It is noteworthy that the animal’s physical and laboratory examinations showed no neoplasia in other regions, being the squamous cell carcinoma of the mammary gland considered primary.\ud Discussion: The malignant mammary neoplasia genesis in feline species, in general, seems to be related to steroid hormones. The ovariectomized females are less likely to develop the disease when compared to intact cats, but there is no protective effect of surgery on those spayed after two years of age regarding the appearance of the neoplasia. Thus, at the time the reported patient was ovariectomized, this effect no longer occurred. The synthetic progestins regularly used to prevent estrus increase by three times the risk of breast carcinomas onset. In humans, there is no clear defi nition of the etiology and pathogenesis of mammary squamous cell carcinoma. However, it has been suggested its association with extreme forms of squamous metaplasia present in pre-existing mammary adenocarcinoma, besides cysts, chronic infl ammations,\ud abscesses and mammary gland adenofi bromas. In a hypothetical way, this etiology could also be related to the feline mammary carcinoma, although, for the case at issue, the exogenous and endogenous hormonal infl uence should not be excluded. It has been reported that mammary squamous cell carcinomas in cats are classifi ed in grades II and III (ie, moderately and poorly differentiated, respectively). Thus, they are considered tumors with more unfavorable prognosis. However, the monitoring of the clinical course, in order to evaluate possible recurrence of the neoplasia and metastases to distant sites, was not possible as the animal under discussion did not return. The squamous cell carcinoma is the most common skin tumor in feline species, despite the primary location in the mammary gland. It is, therefore, important to differentiate squamous cell carcinoma originated in the breast from histological types derived from skin. The description of this special and rare feline mammary carcinoma is important due to its particular characteristics and potential for malignancy

Feline behaviour problems in Brazil: a review of 155 referral cases

Background Geographical variations in feline behaviour problems exist. The occurrence of feline behaviour problems in different regions are therefore important to prepare professionals for the emerging needs of cat owners. Methods One-hundred and fifty-five feline behaviour cases that were referred to a veterinary behaviourist in São Paulo (Brazil) during the period 2008–2014 are described. Results Inter-cat aggression was the main behavioural complaint reported (31%), followed by housesoiling (26.4%). Unlike other international studies, inter-cat aggression was more frequently seen than inappropriate elimination. Oral repetitive behaviours, including problems such as psychogenic alopecia and pica, were also a prevalent problem (ie, 16.8% of the cases). Human-directed aggression accounted for 13.5% of the cases, taking fourth place in the list of the most common feline behavioural problems. Female and male cats were equally likely to be presented (51% and 49% of cases, respectively). Conclusions This study highlights potentially geographical or temporal variation in the behavioural problems that need to be recognised by veterinary behaviourists in order to meet the emerging needs of owners

Canine behavior problems in Brazil: a review of 180 referral cases

Background Behavioural case loads may vary due to cultural differences, and so it is important to know how these differ with geography. Methods One hundred and eighty dog cases referred to a veterinary behaviourist in São Paulo (Brazil) during the period of 2008–2014 are described. Results Aggression against people was the most common behavioural complaint (22.2 per cent of the cases), followed by apparent fears and phobias (13.3 per cent). Forms of aggression against other dogs (12.2 per cent) and repetitive behaviours (11.1 per cent) were third and fourth most frequent, respectively. Female and male patients were equally reported (47.6 and 52.4 per cent, respectively). These results differ slightly from the findings of other international studies, in which aggression was the main behavioural complaint with fears and phobias less common. Conclusion Regional demographic reviews of the case loads of veterinary behaviour specialists help the profession recognise the problems of most concern to pet owners in a given area and thus local priorities, as well as opening up the potential to generate new hypotheses relating to the reasons for regional differences

Feline immunodeficiency virus infection in cats from São Paulo, Brazil

Os aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos de três casos de Síndrome de Imunodeficiência Adquirida dos Felinos (SIDAF), relacionados à infecção pelo FIV são descritos neste estudo. Dois dos animais eram gatos siameses, com três anos de idade sendo um macho e uma fêmea e o terceiro, um gato doméstico de pelo curto, macho, com seis anos de idade. Os sintomas observados foram febre, icterícia, esplenomegalia, emaciação e fraqueza. As principais alterações hematológicas foram a anemia, não relacionada à Hemobartonelose, encontrada em dois gatos, neutrofilia encontrada nos três animais e linfopenia observada em um. A necrópsia realizada em dois dos animais revelou que a sepse foi a maior causa da piora das condições clínicas nos gatos infectados pelo FIV. Moraxella phenilpiruvica foi isolada do rim de um dos animais. Todos os gatos apresentaram testes sorológicos positivos para FIV e negativos para FeLV e manifestavam há longo tempo sinais clínicos relacionados à SIDAF.Clinical and epidemiological aspects of three cases of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in cats related to FIV infection are described. Two of the patients were siamese, male and female, three years old cats and the third one was a male, six years old, short haired domestic cat. Fever, icterus, spleen enlargement, ematiation and weakness were the clinical signs observed. The main hematological alterations were anemia, apparently not related to hemobartonellosis, found in two of the cats, neutrophilia in all of them and lymphopenia observed in one. The necropsy made on two cats revealed that sepsis was the major cause of the worsening of clinical conditions of the FIV infected cats. Moraxella phenilpiruvica was isolated from kidney of one patient. All of the cats were FIV positive and FeLV negative and had been sick for a long time with clinical signs related to feline AIDS

A Case-Controlled Comparison of Behavioural Arousal Levels in Urine Spraying and Latrining Cats

It is often suggested that both latrining and spraying in the home are associated with increased stress in cats. However, the scientific evidence for this is weak. We therefore examined faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) levels in subjects using a case-control design. Eleven spraying and 12 problematic latrining cats (assessed as healthy after detailed medical examinations on an initial population of 18 spraying and 23 latrining cats) were assessed along with behaviourally normal and similarly healthy control subjects from the same multi-cat (n = 3–9) households. Individual faecal samples were collected by owners from both “case” and “control” cats after observing them defecate in all but one pair in each group. A total of five samples per cat (typically taken on a weekly basis) were collected and submitted to extraction procedures prior to FCM analysis via an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Participant cats, both “cases” (nine “sprayers” and eight “latriners”) and controls, were also individually video recorded (together with the owner) for 5 min in a dedicated room. FCM levels were significantly higher in individuals (“sprayers” and their controls) from spraying households than from the latrining households (“latriners” and their controls), but there was no significant difference between cats from the same household. Within a video observation test, cats from spraying houses spent proportionally more time moving (as opposed to stationary), but again there was no difference between cats from the same house. These results indicate that households in which a cat exhibits urine spraying, are generally more aroused, but “sprayers” are not more aroused than their housemates. Accordingly, we suggest appropriate management needs to be applied to the whole household to help alleviate the potential stress of all the cats in the home, and not just the one expressing this through urinary spraying behaviour

A closer look at the health of cats showing urinary house-soiling (periuria): a case-control study

Objective The aim was to perform a case-control medical evaluation of cats from multi-cat households presenting with inappropriate latrining and spraying behavior. Methods Owners of 18 ‘spraying’ and 23 ‘latrining’ cats with normal control subjects available from the same households were recruited for a case-control study. Otherwise overtly healthy dyads (each dyad consisting of a case cat and a control cat) were brought together to the veterinary hospital of the University of São Paulo for a medical work-up (ie, physical examination, complete blood count, biochemical profile, urinalysis and urine culture, abdominal ultrasound of the urinary system and in females, where possible, cystoscopy). Results Medical problems were identified with similar frequency in the ‘sprayers’ (38.9%), ‘latriners’ (39.1%) and controls of the latrining group (26.1%), but not the controls of the spraying group (5.5%). The difference between ‘cases’ and ‘controls’ from spraying households was significant. Common potential health-related changes include renal insufficiency, cystitis and bladder lithiasis. Renal calculi, higher creatinine levels (within normal reference interval) and ‘glomerulations’ (detected during cystoscopy) were also found in the remaining sprayers and latriners that were considered clinically healthy. Post-cystoscopy, a new form of periuria occurred in two cats (one sprayer and one latriner). Conclusions and relevance These results indicate that spraying or latrining behavior in the home, as well as living with a cat that is not using the litter box as a latrine, are all associated with a higher level of urinary tract abnormalities, but not living with a cat that is spraying. The findings also suggest that both forms of periuria might be associated with interstitial cystitis. We therefore conclude that all cats with periuria need to be carefully evaluated medically and that treatment of latrine-related problems should consider all cats in the house, whereas spraying may be more focused on the individual displaying the problem

Feline immunodeficiency vírus - an update

O vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) é um lentivírus da família Retroviridae. O vírus é um patógeno dos felinos domésticos, de distribuição mundial e associado com uma variedade de condições mórbidas como gengivite, estomatite, infecções secundárias recidivantes e ou ainda linfomas de células B. O marco da infecção, provocada pelo FIV, é a deleção de linfócito-T CD4+. Desde o primeiro isolamento do vírus da imunodeficiência dos felinos (FIV), pesquisadores envidam esforços para compreender a infecção pelo FIV, a patogênese da doença e as manifestações clínicas verificadas nos animais infectados pelo vírus. O FIV é tanto um importante patógeno felino e também serve como modelo experimental para o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) – síndrome da imunodeficiência humana (AIDS). Este artigo revisa o atual conhecimento da infecção pelo FIVThe feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus of the Retroviridae family. It is a pathogen found worldwide that affects domestic cats and is associated with a variety of morbid conditions, such as gingivitis, stomatitis, recurrent secondary infections and B cell lymphomas. The hallmark of the infection is a gradual depletion of CD4+ helper T lymphocytes. Since the FIV was first isolated, research efforts have focussed on understanding the resulting infection, pathogenesis and clinical signs in domestic cats. Those studies are due to FIVs importance not only as a veterinary pathogen, but also as an animal infection model for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the related acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This article reviews the current state of knowledge about the FIV infectio