Bacteremia in Cats

Greiner, M., G. Wolf, et al. (2008). "A retrospective study of the clinical presentation of 140 dogs and 39 cats with bacteraemia." J Small Anim Pract 49(8): 378-383.

Bacteremia is the presence of viable bacteria in the bloodstream. Bacteremia may develop in animals with impaired immune defenses, and is a common cause of sepsis. Sepsis is the systemic inflammatory response to infection. Bacteremia is associated with a high mortality rate in animals so that early diagnosis and intervention is very important. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial species that can be isolated from blood cultures in dogs and cats with bacteremia. Retrospective data from 39 cats (and 140 dogs) with positive blood cultures presented to the University of Munich were evaluated. Sepsis was diagnosed in 59.5% of the cats with bacteremia. The most commonly isolated organism was E. coli, accounting for 30% of the isolates in cats. Cats in this study had a higher mortality rate than dogs. The authors conclude that clinical and laboratory findings are not helpful in determining the type of bacteria involved and blood cultures need to be performed to guide therapy.
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Related articles:
Greiner, M., G. Wolf, et al. (2007). "Bacteraemia in 66 cats and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates (1995-2004)." J Feline Med Surg 9(5): 404-10.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Greiner, M., G. Wolf, et al. (2008). "A retrospective study of the clinical presentation of 140 dogs and 39 cats with bacteraemia." J Small Anim Pract 49(8): 378-383.

Bacteremia is the presence of viable bacteria in the bloodstream. Bacteremia may develop in animals with impaired immune defenses, and is a common cause of sepsis. Sepsis is the systemic inflammatory response to infection. Bacteremia is associated with a high mortality rate in animals so that early diagnosis and intervention is very important. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial species that can be isolated from blood cultures in dogs and cats with bacteremia. Retrospective data from 39 cats (and 140 dogs) with positive blood cultures presented to the University of Munich were evaluated. Sepsis was diagnosed in 59.5% of the cats with bacteremia. The most commonly isolated organism was E. coli, accounting for 30% of the isolates in cats. Cats in this study had a higher mortality rate than dogs. The authors conclude that clinical and laboratory findings are not helpful in determining the type of bacteria involved and blood cultures need to be performed to guide therapy.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Greiner, M., G. Wolf, et al. (2007). "Bacteraemia in 66 cats and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates (1995-2004)." J Feline Med Surg 9(5): 404-10.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Corneal Graft in a Cat

Townsend, W. M., A. J. Rankin, et al. (2008). "Heterologous penetrating keratoplasty for treatment of a corneal sequestrum in a cat." Veterinary Ophthalmology 11(4): 273-278.

Penetrating keratoplasty is a full-thickness corneal graft technique used to replace central corneal tissue damaged by disease or injury with healthy corneal tissue from a donor. Corneal transplants are commonly done in human medicine, but are rare in veterinary medicine. Corneal sequestrum is a condition unique to the cat where necrosis of the corneal stroma occurs. The dead stroma becomes pigmented and may spontaneously slough, leaving a corneal ulcer. The condition has gone under many names over the years (e.g., corneal mummification, corneal nigrum, kertatitis nigrum, corneal necrosis). The cause is unknown and the condition is believed to be painful. Treatment approaches vary according to the severity of the lesion, and may include superficial keratectomy. In this case report, a corneal sequestrum was diagnosed in an 8-year-old neutered male Burmese cat. In order to restore vision, a penetrating keratoplasty was performed. The graft was performed with fresh canine corneal tissue (heterograft) in order to decrease the risk of viral transmission from using a feline donor. The graft was successful, with final follow up 16 months postoperatively.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Featherstone, H., V. Franklin, et al. (2004). "Feline corneal sequestrum: laboratory analysis of ocular samples from 12 cats." Vet Ophthalmol 7(4): 229-238.
>> PubMed Abstract

Featherstone, H. and J. Sansom (2004). "Feline corneal sequestra: a review of 64 cases (80 eyes) from 1993 to 2000." Vet Ophthalmol 7(4): 213-227.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Townsend, W. M., A. J. Rankin, et al. (2008). "Heterologous penetrating keratoplasty for treatment of a corneal sequestrum in a cat." Veterinary Ophthalmology 11(4): 273-278.

Penetrating keratoplasty is a full-thickness corneal graft technique used to replace central corneal tissue damaged by disease or injury with healthy corneal tissue from a donor. Corneal transplants are commonly done in human medicine, but are rare in veterinary medicine. Corneal sequestrum is a condition unique to the cat where necrosis of the corneal stroma occurs. The dead stroma becomes pigmented and may spontaneously slough, leaving a corneal ulcer. The condition has gone under many names over the years (e.g., corneal mummification, corneal nigrum, kertatitis nigrum, corneal necrosis). The cause is unknown and the condition is believed to be painful. Treatment approaches vary according to the severity of the lesion, and may include superficial keratectomy. In this case report, a corneal sequestrum was diagnosed in an 8-year-old neutered male Burmese cat. In order to restore vision, a penetrating keratoplasty was performed. The graft was performed with fresh canine corneal tissue (heterograft) in order to decrease the risk of viral transmission from using a feline donor. The graft was successful, with final follow up 16 months postoperatively.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Featherstone, H., V. Franklin, et al. (2004). "Feline corneal sequestrum: laboratory analysis of ocular samples from 12 cats." Vet Ophthalmol 7(4): 229-238.
>> PubMed Abstract

Featherstone, H. and J. Sansom (2004). "Feline corneal sequestra: a review of 64 cases (80 eyes) from 1993 to 2000." Vet Ophthalmol 7(4): 213-227.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More