The Analysis of Computer Data regarding Obesity and Associated Diseases in Cats Examined at Private Veterinary Practices

Background: Cats can be defined as being overweight if their bodyweight is 15% above optimum weight and classified as obese if they are more than 30% above their optimum weight. There is a general agreement among investigators that the incidence of excess body weight in cats is increasing. Obesity has considerable impacts on the health of cats and is linked to a variety of health issues including orthopedic disease, diabetes mellitus and non-allergic skin conditions. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and associated diseases in cats examined at some veterinary practices in Istanbul-Turkey.Materials, Methods & Results: Data of 2,272 patients examined at four private veterinary practices in Istanbul was studied to reveal the association between body weight and diseases. Information regarding sex, age and neutering status was also considered for each patient. Patients were classified according to their body weight to three groups as lightweight (female: 3.0 kg and under, male: 4.5 kg and under), optimum -weight (female: 3.0-4.5 kg, male: 4.5-5.5 kg) and overweight/obese (female: 4.5 kg and over, male: 5.5 kg and over). Accounting all adult cats treated by the clinics, diagnoses of osteoarthritis, heart diseases, dermatological diseases, hepatic lipidosis, metabolic syndrome - diabetes mellitus, lameness, gastrointestinal diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, neoplasia and urinary diseases were statistically evaluated. Considering data coming from 2,272 cats, which were referred to veterinary practices, 33.12%, were classified as overweight-obese, 40.04% were optimum-weight and 26.84% were lightweight. It was determined that overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis and hepatic lipidosis compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease and neoplasia compared to lightweight cats (P < 0.05).Discussion: Obesity in cats is very common and the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity has been reported on a range from 20% to 40% in developed countries. Associated with the increasing welfare, as in humans, the incidence of obesity in the pet population is also increasing. The data studied for this research was evaluated with regard to diseases associated with obesity. It was determined that overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis and hepatic lipidosis compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease and neoplasia compared to lightweight cats (P < 0.05). However, an association between overweight or obesity and heart disease, metabolic syndrome - diabetes mellitus, lameness, musculoskeletal disease or urinary diseases was not found. A percentage of 19.95 of the patients over 2 years of age were classified in the overweight-obese group. These findings require that weight gain needs to be prevented before the animals reach obese status. Dietary management and physical exercise are essential for managing obesity in pets. In this study, it was aimed to explain the importance of weight management in preventing overweight or obesity associated diseases to cat owners by using the results, which demonstrate that overweight or obese animals are statistically more likely to develop associated diseases. Veterinary practitioners can also use this data to strongly advocate for the maintenance of feline patients at ideal body condition

Sütçü sığırlarda Q hummasının seropozitifliği ve eser elementler arasındaki i̇lişkinin araştırılması

Query fever (Q fever) which is caused by Coxiella burnetii is a continuing problem as a zoonotic disease in the world. In ruminants, infections are mostly asymptomatic however, abortions and stillbirths may occur during late pregnancy. Trace elements are important for the reproductive performance of ruminants and all have roles in immune function. However, serum trace element levels of Coxiella seropositive infertile and healthy dairy cows have not been investigated yet. The present was aimed to evaluate the trace element status of cattle associated with Coxiella burnetii. For this purpose, 200 dairy cattle with and without clinical problems (infertility, metritis and abortion) were compared. Q fever infection was confirmed with ELISA. Levels of trace elements of samples were analysed utilizing inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer. Serum levels of trace elements of the samples were expressed as μg/mL. In total, 20 of 200 sera were diagnosed to be positive by ELISA. Nine of 20 sera were positive from asymptomatic cattle. Seven of 11 sera were positive from cattle with infertility, while 4 of 11 sera were positive from cattle with abortion. No significant differences were found between trace element levels of ELISA seropositive cattle and asymptomatic seropositive cattle. In conclusion, although statistical analysis of serum trace elements is no significant, our findings clearly show that analysis of trace element levels in cattle may be useful predictors in early treatment and prognosis. Further studies are required to clarify the connection between Coxiella seropositivity, trace elements and clinical symptoms in cattle.Q humması, Coxiella burnetii tarafından oluşturulan ve tüm dünyada devam eden zoonoz bir hastalıktır. Ruminantlarda enfeksiyon genellikle asemptomatik seyretmekte, ancak gebeliğin geç döneminde abort ve ölü doğumlar görülebilmektedir. Eser elementler ruminantlarda üreme performansı ve immün fonksiyon üzerinde önemli rol oynar. Coxiella pozitif olan kısır ve sağlıklı süt ineklerinde serum eser element düzeyleri henüz araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı; sığırlarda Coxiella burnetii ile ilişkili serum eser element düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesidir. Bu amaçla klinik olarak hasta olan (infertilite, metritis, abort) ve olmayan süt sığırları karşılaştırıldı. Q ateşi ELISA yöntemiyle teşhis edildi. Eser element seviyelerinin ölçümü, indüktif olarak eşleşmiş plazma-optik emisyon spektrofotometresi kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Serum örneklerinden elde edilen sonuçlar μg/mL cinsinden belirtildi. Toplamda 200 örnekten 20 serum ELISA ile pozitif olarak saptandı. Asemptomatik sığırlardan elde edilen 20 serumun 9’u pozitif olarak tespit edildi. Abort yapan sığırlardan elde edilen 11 serumdan 4’ü pozitifken, infertilitesi olan sığırların7’si pozitif olarak belirlendi. ELISA seropozitif ve asemptomatik seropozitif sığırların serum eser element düzeyleri arasında önemli bir farklılık görülmemiştir. Sonuç olarak; serum eser element seviyelerinde istatistiksel olarak önemli bir fark bulunmamasına rağmen çalışmamızda sığırlarda erken tedavi ve prognozun belirlenmesinde eser element analizlerinin kullanışlı bir yöntem olduğu görüldü. Sığırlarda Coxiella seropozitifliği, eser elementler ve klinik semptomlar arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi amacıyla daha fazla çalışma yapılması gerektiği düşüncesindeyiz

Early detection of septic arthritis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis in a dog – a case report

In this report, a seven-year-old English Pointer male with Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis arthritis joint infection is presented. The dog was referred to the Internal Medicine Department Policlinics with the symptoms of anorexia, weakness, swollen joints and ulcerative wounds on testes. On physical examination, the dog was depressed and manifesting discomfort during manipulation of the fore and hind legs’ joints. There were palpable effusions of the right carpal, elbow, and tibiotarsal joints. Haematological and serum biochemical analyses showed mild anaemia, moderate thrombocytopaenia, and elevated alanine aminotransferase. As soon as the synovial fluid aspirates were obtained aseptically from the right elbow, radiocarpal, and tibiotarsal joints, they were sent to bacteriological examination. Symptomatic and supportive treatment was initiated immediately. Empirical enrofloxacin therapy was initially started. Bacteria which were cultivated from the synovial fluid aspirates specimen were identified as S. equisimilis. The isolate was found to be resistant to enrofloxacin and susceptible to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. According to the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, enrofloxacin therapy was terminated and amoxycillin/clavulanic acid therapy was immediately started lasting for four weeks. The dog was treated successfully. To our knowledge, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis was isolated from the synovial fluid from a dog for the first time in Turkey, as it is rarely seen in dogs