Lactoferrin for Cats with FIV

Kobayashi, S., R. Sato, et al. (2008). "Effect of bovine lactoferrin on functions of activated feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells during chronic feline immunodeficiency virus infection." J Vet Med Sci 70(5): 429-35.

Cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection have chronic overactivation of immune and inflammatory responses, resulting in immune dysfunction. Lactoferrin (LF) is a glycoprotein that plays an important role in immunological defense systems. A previous study by these researchers showed that oral administration of bovine LF improved clinical signs in FIV-infected cats with severe stomatitis. In this study, the in vitro effect of bovine LF on proliferation, cell cycle progression, and cytokine regulation was studied in blood samples from cats in the asymptomatic carrier and the AIDS-related complex phases of FIV. The results suggest that therapy with bovine LF may help modulate immune dysfunction in cats in the terminal stages of FIV infection, and further research is warranted.
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Related articles:
Sato, R., O. Inanami, et al. (1996). "Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin for treatment of intractable stomatitis in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-positive and FIV-negative cats." Am J Vet Res 57(10): 1443-6.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Kobayashi, S., R. Sato, et al. (2008). "Effect of bovine lactoferrin on functions of activated feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells during chronic feline immunodeficiency virus infection." J Vet Med Sci 70(5): 429-35.

Cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection have chronic overactivation of immune and inflammatory responses, resulting in immune dysfunction. Lactoferrin (LF) is a glycoprotein that plays an important role in immunological defense systems. A previous study by these researchers showed that oral administration of bovine LF improved clinical signs in FIV-infected cats with severe stomatitis. In this study, the in vitro effect of bovine LF on proliferation, cell cycle progression, and cytokine regulation was studied in blood samples from cats in the asymptomatic carrier and the AIDS-related complex phases of FIV. The results suggest that therapy with bovine LF may help modulate immune dysfunction in cats in the terminal stages of FIV infection, and further research is warranted.
>> Free full text article

Related articles:
Sato, R., O. Inanami, et al. (1996). "Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin for treatment of intractable stomatitis in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-positive and FIV-negative cats." Am J Vet Res 57(10): 1443-6.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Hematuria Associated With Glomerular Disease in Abyssinian Cats

White, J. D., J. M. Norris, et al. (2008). "Persistent haematuria and proteinuria due to glomerular disease in related Abyssinian cats." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 10(3): 219-229.

Hematuria is a common problem in feline medicine, and may be caused by upper or lower urinary tract disease. In humans, glomerular disease is a common cause of hematuria. However, in dogs and cats, this is not typically the case. While renal failure is often diagnosed in cats, glomerular pathology is not usually present. The only known familial renal diseases in cats are renal amyloidosis in Abyssinians and polycystic kidney disease in Persians. This paper describes glomerular disease in eight, closely related young Abyssinian cats in Australia, characterised by hematuria and proteinuria.
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Related articles:
Grauer, G. F. (2007). "Measurement, interpretation, and implications of proteinuria and albuminuria." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 37(2): 283-95, vi-vii.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

White, J. D., J. M. Norris, et al. (2008). "Persistent haematuria and proteinuria due to glomerular disease in related Abyssinian cats." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 10(3): 219-229.

Hematuria is a common problem in feline medicine, and may be caused by upper or lower urinary tract disease. In humans, glomerular disease is a common cause of hematuria. However, in dogs and cats, this is not typically the case. While renal failure is often diagnosed in cats, glomerular pathology is not usually present. The only known familial renal diseases in cats are renal amyloidosis in Abyssinians and polycystic kidney disease in Persians. This paper describes glomerular disease in eight, closely related young Abyssinian cats in Australia, characterised by hematuria and proteinuria.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Grauer, G. F. (2007). "Measurement, interpretation, and implications of proteinuria and albuminuria." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 37(2): 283-95, vi-vii.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs

Looney, A. L., M. W. Bohling, et al. (2008). "The Association of Shelter Veterinarians veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs." J Am Vet Med Assoc 233(1): 74-86.

Increasing attention has been focused on spay/neuter programs as tools for reduction of the euthanasia of unwanted and unowned cats (and dogs). There are many different types of programs in operation, such as mobile clinics, shelter services, feral cat programs, and various veterinarian-supported low cost programs. Many spay-neuter programs have been established to provide quality spay-neuter services to large numbers of cats and dogs. The proliferation and diversity of these programs has created a need for guidelines for appropriate veterinary medical care in these settings. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians convened a task force consisting of 22 veterinarians from every region of the United States in December 2006. The guidelines they developed consist of recommendations for preoperative care, anesthetic management, surgical care, and postoperative care and are based on current principles of anesthesiology, critical care medicine, microbiology, and surgical practice, as determined by means of reviews of the scientific literature and expert opinion.
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Related articles:
Hughes, K. L., M. R. Slater, et al. (2002). "The effects of implementing a feral cat spay/neuter program in a Florida county animal control service." J Appl Anim Welf Sci 5(4): 285-98.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Looney, A. L., M. W. Bohling, et al. (2008). "The Association of Shelter Veterinarians veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs." J Am Vet Med Assoc 233(1): 74-86.

Increasing attention has been focused on spay/neuter programs as tools for reduction of the euthanasia of unwanted and unowned cats (and dogs). There are many different types of programs in operation, such as mobile clinics, shelter services, feral cat programs, and various veterinarian-supported low cost programs. Many spay-neuter programs have been established to provide quality spay-neuter services to large numbers of cats and dogs. The proliferation and diversity of these programs has created a need for guidelines for appropriate veterinary medical care in these settings. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians convened a task force consisting of 22 veterinarians from every region of the United States in December 2006. The guidelines they developed consist of recommendations for preoperative care, anesthetic management, surgical care, and postoperative care and are based on current principles of anesthesiology, critical care medicine, microbiology, and surgical practice, as determined by means of reviews of the scientific literature and expert opinion.
>> Free full text article

Related articles:
Hughes, K. L., M. R. Slater, et al. (2002). "The effects of implementing a feral cat spay/neuter program in a Florida county animal control service." J Appl Anim Welf Sci 5(4): 285-98.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Tissue Doppler Imaging for Feline HCM

Koffas, H., J. Dukes-McEwan, et al. (2008). "Colour M-mode tissue Doppler imaging in healthy cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy." J Small Anim Pract 49(7): 330-338.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease of cats. It appears to be hereditary in some families of cats, and genetic mutations causing HCM have been identified in the Maine Coon cat and Ragdoll cat. Definitive diagnosis of HCM is accomplished by ultrasound imaging. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a tool for quantification of myocardial function, and has been used in humans, dogs and cats. TDI may allow for improved identification of myocardial functional abnormalities, and may be superior to conventional ultrasound for identification of cats affected with HCM. Colour M-mode TDI is one of the applications of the TDI technique that has not yet been studied in cats. This prospective study was carried out to investigate the differences in some of the colour M-mode TDI indices between normal cats and cats with HCM. We hypothesised that these new TDI techniques would discriminate between the healthy and the diseased myocardium. Myocardial velocity gradient and mean myocardial velocities were measured by colour M-mode TDI in the left ventricular free wall of 20 normal cats and 17 cats with HCM. The study showed that myocardial velocity gradients recorded by colour M-mode TDI can discriminate between the healthy and diseased myocardium. This technique shows promise for discriminating normal from affected cats when screening cats for HCM.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Simpson, K. E., B. C. Devine, et al. (2007). "Assessment of the repeatability of feline echocardiography using conventional echocardiography and spectral pulse-wave Doppler tissue imaging techniques." Vet Radiol Ultrasound 48(1): 58-68.
>> PubMed Abstract

Koffas, H., J. Dukes-McEwan, et al. (2003). "Peak mean myocardial velocities and velocity gradients measured by color m-mode tissue doppler imaging in healthy cats." J Vet Intern Med 17(4): 510-524.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Koffas, H., J. Dukes-McEwan, et al. (2008). "Colour M-mode tissue Doppler imaging in healthy cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy." J Small Anim Pract 49(7): 330-338.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease of cats. It appears to be hereditary in some families of cats, and genetic mutations causing HCM have been identified in the Maine Coon cat and Ragdoll cat. Definitive diagnosis of HCM is accomplished by ultrasound imaging. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a tool for quantification of myocardial function, and has been used in humans, dogs and cats. TDI may allow for improved identification of myocardial functional abnormalities, and may be superior to conventional ultrasound for identification of cats affected with HCM. Colour M-mode TDI is one of the applications of the TDI technique that has not yet been studied in cats. This prospective study was carried out to investigate the differences in some of the colour M-mode TDI indices between normal cats and cats with HCM. We hypothesised that these new TDI techniques would discriminate between the healthy and the diseased myocardium. Myocardial velocity gradient and mean myocardial velocities were measured by colour M-mode TDI in the left ventricular free wall of 20 normal cats and 17 cats with HCM. The study showed that myocardial velocity gradients recorded by colour M-mode TDI can discriminate between the healthy and diseased myocardium. This technique shows promise for discriminating normal from affected cats when screening cats for HCM.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Simpson, K. E., B. C. Devine, et al. (2007). "Assessment of the repeatability of feline echocardiography using conventional echocardiography and spectral pulse-wave Doppler tissue imaging techniques." Vet Radiol Ultrasound 48(1): 58-68.
>> PubMed Abstract

Koffas, H., J. Dukes-McEwan, et al. (2003). "Peak mean myocardial velocities and velocity gradients measured by color m-mode tissue doppler imaging in healthy cats." J Vet Intern Med 17(4): 510-524.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More