14 research outputs found
Influence of high-protein and high-carbohydrate diets on serum lipid and fructosamine concentrations in healthy cats
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether high-protein and high-carbohydrate diets exert differential effects on serum cholesterol, triglyceride and fructosamine concentrations in healthy cats. Methods A randomised, crossover diet trial was performed in 35 healthy shelter cats. Following baseline health assessments, cats were randomised into groups receiving either a high-protein or high-carbohydrate diet for 4 weeks. The cats were then fed a washout diet for 4 weeks before being transitioned to whichever of the two studied diets they had not yet received. Fasting serum cholesterol, triglyceride and fructosamine concentrations were determined at the end of each 4-week diet period. Results Cats on the high-carbohydrate diet had significantly lower serum cholesterol ( P 5) had lower cholesterol ( Pâ=â0.007) and triglyceride ( Pâ=â0.032) concentrations on the high-protein diet than cats within other BCS groups. Conclusions and relevance Diets higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates appear beneficial for short-term glucose control in healthy cats. A high-protein diet was associated with significantly elevated cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in healthy cats, even though the increase was significantly less pronounced in cats with a BCS >5. This finding suggests that overweight cats process high-protein diets, cholesterol and triglycerides differently than leaner cats
International collaborative study to assess cardiovascular risk and evaluate long-term health in cats with preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and apparently healthy cats:The REVEAL Study
Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most prevalent heart disorder in cats and principal cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yet, the impact of preclinical disease is unresolved. Hypothesis/Objectives: Observational study to characterize cardiovascular morbidity and survival in cats with preclinical nonobstructive (HCM) and obstructive (HOCM) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and in apparently healthy cats (AH). Animals: One thousand seven hundred and thirty client-owned cats (430 preclinical HCM; 578 preclinical HOCM; 722 AH). Methods: Retrospective multicenter, longitudinal, cohort study. Cats from 21 countries were followed through medical record review and owner or referring veterinarian interviews. Data were analyzed to compare long-term outcomes, incidence, and risk for congestive heart failure (CHF), arterial thromboembolism (ATE), and cardiovascular death. Results: During the study period, CHF, ATE, or both occurred in 30.5% and cardiovascular death in 27.9% of 1008 HCM/HOCM cats. Risk assessed at 1, 5, and 10 years after study entry was 7.0%/3.5%, 19.9%/9.7%, and 23.9%/11.3% for CHF/ATE, and 6.7%, 22.8%, and 28.3% for cardiovascular death, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between HOCM compared with HCM for cardiovascular morbidity or mortality, time from diagnosis to development of morbidity, or cardiovascular survival. Cats that developed cardiovascular morbidity had short survival (mean \ub1 standard deviation, 1.3 \ub1 1.7 years). Overall, prolonged longevity was recorded in a minority of preclinical HCM/HOCM cats with 10% reaching 9-15 years. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Preclinical HCM/HOCM is a global health problem of cats that carries substantial risk for CHF, ATE, and cardiovascular death. This finding underscores the need to identify therapies and monitoring strategies that decrease morbidity and mortality
Long-term Incidence and risk of noncardiovascular and all-cause mortality in apparently healthy cats and cats with preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Background Epidemiologic knowledge regarding noncardiovascular and allâcause mortality in apparently healthy cats (AH) and cats with preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (pHCM) is limited, hindering development of evidenceâbased healthcare guidelines. Objectives To characterize/compare incidence rates, risk, and survival associated with noncardiovascular and allâcause mortality in AH and pHCM cats. Animals A total of 1730 clientâowned cats (722 AH, 1008 pHCM) from 21 countries. Methods Retrospective, multicenter, longitudinal, cohort study. Longâterm health data were extracted by medical record review and owner/referring veterinarian interviews. Results Noncardiovascular death occurred in 534 (30.9%) of 1730 cats observed up to 15.2âyears. Proportion of noncardiovascular death did not differ significantly between cats that at study enrollment were AH or had pHCM (P =â.48). Cancer, chronic kidney disease, and conditions characterized by chronic weightâlossâvomitingâdiarrheaâanorexia were the most frequently recorded noncardiovascular causes of death. Incidence rates/risk of noncardiac death increased with age in AH and pHCM. Allâcause death proportions were greater in pHCM than AH (65% versus 40%, respectively; P <â.001) because of higher cardiovascular mortality in pHCM cats. Comparing AH with pHCM, median survival (study entry to noncardiovascular death) did not differ (AH, 9.8âyears; pHCM, 8.6âyears; P =â.10), but allâcause survival was significantly shorter in pHCM (Pâ= .0001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Allâcause mortality was significantly greater in pHCM cats due to disease burden contributed by increased cardiovascular death superimposed upon noncardiovascular death
Effect of clinical signs, endocrinopathies, timing of surgery, hyperlipidemia, and hyperbilirubinemia on outcome in dogs with gallbladder mucocele
Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is a common extra-hepatic biliary syndrome in dogs with death rates ranging from 7 to 45%. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the association of survival with variables that could be utilized to improve clinical decisions. A total of 1194 dogs with a gross and histopathological diagnosis of GBM were included from 41 veterinary referral hospitals in this retrospective study.
Dogs with GBM that demonstrated abnormal clinical signs had significantly greater odds of death than subclinical dogs in a univariable analysis (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.14â8.23; P < 0.001). The multivariable model indicated that categorical variables including owner recognition of jaundice (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.19â3.77; P = 0.011), concurrent hyperadrenocorticism (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.08â3.47; P = 0.026), and Pomeranian breed (OR, 2.46; 95% CI 1.10â5.50; P = 0.029) were associated with increased odds of death, and vomiting was associated with decreased odds of death (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30â0.72; P = 0.001). Continuous variables in the multivariable model, total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01â1.04; P < 0.001) and age (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.08â1.26; P < 0.001), were associated with increased odds of death. The clinical utility of total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration as a biomarker to predict death was poor with a sensitivity of 0.61 (95% CI, 0.54â0.69) and a specificity of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.59â0.66). This study identified several prognostic variables in dogs with GBM including total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration, age, clinical signs, concurrent hyperadrenocorticism, and the Pomeranian breed. The presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus did not impact outcome in this study.Supplemental Table S1. Number of dogs included from each institution and years reviewed.Supplemental Table S2. Included breeds.Supplemental Table S3. Distribution of various reasons given for performing cholecystectomy in the 179 subclinical dogs with gallbladder mucocele (GBM).Supplemental Table S4. Distribution of clinical signs associated with systemic illness in 982 dogs with gallbladder mucocele.Supplemental Table S5. Distribution of reasons for death in-hospital (i.e. euthanized and died) in 179 dogs with gallbladder mucocele that underwent cholecystectomy.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/tvjlhj2020Companion Animal Clinical Studie
Mitochondrial genetic diversity, selection and recombination in a canine transmissible cancer.
Canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a clonally transmissible cancer that originated approximately 11,000 years ago and affects dogs worldwide. Despite the clonal origin of the CTVT nuclear genome, CTVT mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs) have been acquired by periodic capture from transient hosts. We sequenced 449 complete mtDNAs from a global population of CTVTs, and show that mtDNA horizontal transfer has occurred at least five times, delineating five tumour clades whose distributions track two millennia of dog global migration. Negative selection has operated to prevent accumulation of deleterious mutations in captured mtDNA, and recombination has caused occasional mtDNA re-assortment. These findings implicate functional mtDNA as a driver of CTVT global metastatic spread, further highlighting the important role of mtDNA in cancer evolution.Wellcome Trust Investigator Award, 102942/Z/13/A
Elizabeth P Murchison
Leverhulme Trust Philip Leverhulme Prize Elizabeth P Murchison
Royal Society Research Grant, RG130615 Elizabeth P Murchiso
Doramectin toxicity in a group of lions (<i>Panthera leo</i>)
Ten lions (Panthera leo) that were treated with a single injection of doramectin at a dose ranging between 0.2 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg showed clinical signs consistent with avermectin toxicity, namely ataxia, hallucinations, and mydriasis. Two subsequently died whereas the other eight lions recovered after 4â5 days with symptomatic therapy. Post-mortem examinations of the two that died showed cyanosis, severe pulmonary oedema, pleural effusion, and pericardial effusion, with histopathology not revealing any abnormalities. In both these lions, doramectin brain and liver tissue concentrations were elevated. Although doramectin is regularly used in wild felids, to date there have been no reports of avermectin toxicity in the literature. This article highlights the potential for doramectin toxicity in this species
Use of the melanoma vaccine in 38 dogs: The South African experience
The commercially available vaccine Oncept Âź is indicated for the management of dogs with stage II or III oral melanoma after local control has been achieved. Survival times in dogs with both oral and digit melanoma have been shown to be significantly increased following vaccination. This retrospective study was designed to document the investigatorsâ experiences with Oncept Âź vaccine when used as an adjunct therapy for treatment of stage IIâIV oral, digit and malignant melanoma of other sites after local control had been achieved in dogs presented to a South African specialist referral veterinary practice. Thirty-eight dogs diagnosed with melanoma (25 oral, 6 digit and 7 infiltrative at various other sites) underwent a combination of surgical excision and Oncept Âź vaccination. At the end of the study period there were 16 live and 22 dead dogs; median survival time of the live dogs was 29 months (range 2â46 months) versus 8 months (range 2â16 months) for those that died from progressive disease. This study showed that by using a combination of surgical excision and vaccination with Oncept Âź survival times in dogs with malignant melanoma of the oral cavity, digit and other sites can be increased significantly
A comparative study between high-definition volumetric imaging CT and multi-slice CT in the detection of acute thoraco-lumbar extrusions in dogs
Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to image intervertebral disc extrusion
(IVDE) in dogs. The current gold standard for CT imaging is the use of multi-slice CT
(MS CT) units. Smaller high-definition volumetric imaging (HDVI) mobile CT has
been marketed for veterinary practice. This unit is described as an advanced flat panel. The
goal of this manuscript was to evaluate the ability of the HDVI CT in detecting IVDE
without the need for CT myelography, compared with the detection of acute disc
extrusions with a MS CT without the need for MS CT myelogram. Retrospective blinded
analyses of 219 dogs presented for thoraco-lumbar IVDE that had a HDVI CT (n = 123) or
MS CT (n = 96) were performed at a single referral hospital. A total of 123 cases had HDVI
CT scans with surgically confirmed IVDE. The IVDE was identified in 88/123 (72%) dogs
on pre-contrast HDVI CT. The remaining 35/128 (28%) cases required a HDVI CT myelogram
to identify the IVDE. Ninety-six cases had MS CT scans with surgically confirmed IVDE.
The IVDE was identified in 78/96 (81%) dogs on the pre-contrast MS CT. The remaining
18/96 (19%) cases had a MS CT myelogram to identify the IVDE. Multi-slice CT
detected IVDE significantly more than HDVI CT (p = 0.032). This study showed that the
ability of HDVI CT for detecting IVDE is lower than that of MS CT. The HDVI CT
system may be useful in smaller referral practices, with a lower case load where space is
limited.http://www.jsava.co.zaam2022Companion Animal Clinical Studie
Prognostic value of blood lactate, blood glucose, and hematocrit in canine babesiosis
Canine babesiosis typically causes hemolytic anemia but also can result in multiple organ dysfunction. Human patients with severe disease often have persistent hyperlactatemia, and blood lactate concentration is correlated with survival rate. In dogs, blood lactate concentration has been shown to be of prognostic value in patients with gastric dilatation-volvulus and in dogs admitted to intensive care units. Serial blood lactate and glucose concentrations and hematocrit on admission were determined in 90 dogs with naturally occurring, severe or complicated canine babesiosis. Forty-five dogs (50%) had hyperlactatemia (blood lactate concentration >22.5 mg/dL) and 20 (22.2%) had hypoglycemia (blood glucose concentration <59.4 mg/dL) at presentation. Measurements significantly associated with mortality were hypoglycemia on admission, blood lactate concentration >45 mg/dL on admission, blood lactate concentration >22.5 mg/dL at 8, 16, and 24 hours after admission, and increase or <50% decrease in blood lactate concentration within 8 and 16 hours after admission. Blood lactate concentration persistently >40 mg/dL indicated a very poor prognosis. We conclude that serial blood lactate measurements are useful in predicting survival in dogs with severe and complicated canine babesiosis
Nitric oxide metabolites in naturally occurring canine babesiosis
Babesiosis, caused by the virulent haemoprotozoan parasite Babesia canis rossi, is an important disease of dogs in South Africa. The nitric oxide metabolites, nitrate and nitrite (collectively termed reactive nitrogen intermediates or RNIs) were measured in admission sera from dogs in a babesiosis-endemic area. Five groups were prospectively studied: mild uncomplicated (n=9), severe uncomplicated (severe anaemia) (n=10) and complicated babesiosis (n=11); and two groups of healthy aparasitaemic dogs: endemic controls from the study area (n=10) and experimental dogs kept in tick-free conditions (n=10). Four measures of RNI production were studied: (i) serum RNI; (ii) serum RNI/creatinine ratio; (iii) fractional clearance of RNI (FC(RNI)); (iv) fractional excretion of RNI (FE(RNI)). Marked elevations of serum RNI occurred in only two dogs, both in the severe uncomplicated group. The highest concentration (log value 5.29 micromol/l) was in a dog that died, but concentrations in the other four dogs that died were unremarkable (0, 0.34, 1.66 and 2.64 micromol/l). Age, appetite and free serum haemoglobin were significant covariates for measures of RNI production. There were no significant differences among the babesiosis groups for serum RNI. Adjustment for creatinine had minor effects on the results. All babesiosis groups had significantly higher serum RNI and RNI/creatinine than the tick-free control group, but did not differ from the endemic controls except for the severe uncomplicated group, which had higher RNI/creatinine. The complicated group had significantly lower FC(RNI) and FE(RNI) than all other groups, except for the tick-free control group, which had similar FE(RNI). The results indicate that, in an endemic area, measures of RNI production are unlikely to be useful indicators of severity or outcome in canine babesiosis