Diabetes in Burmese Cats

Lederer, R., J. S. Rand, et al. (2009). "Frequency of feline diabetes mellitus and breed predisposition in domestic cats in Australia." Vet J 179(2): 254-8.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined as a group of metabolic disorders characterized by yperglycemia as a result of defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. In the United States, the reported prevalence of feline DM has increased over the past 30 years from 1 in 1250 in 1970 to 1 in 81 cats affected by the disease in 1999. A number of studies have looked at potential risk factors for the development of DM, and increasing age, being a neutered male, and being obese have been identified. In North America, no particular breed of cat appears to be associated with an increased risk for the development of DM, but this does not appear to be true in other countries. The frequency of DM in two large feline-only clinics in Brisbane, Australia over a 5-year study period is described in this report. Frequency was estimated using period prevalences (the proportion of the population at risk that was affected by diabetes at any point during a specified time period). The 5-year period prevalence of DM was 7.4 per 1000 cats. Period prevalence was significantly higher in Burmese cats (22.4 cats per 1000) than in domestic longhair or shorthair cats. There appears to be a predisposition of Burmese cats to DM in some countries, and further investigations are warranted. [SL]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
McCann, T. M., K. E. Simpson, et al. (2007). "Feline diabetes mellitus in the UK: the prevalence within an insured cat population and a questionnaire-based putative risk factor analysis." J Feline Med Surg 9(4): 289-99.
>> PubMed Abstract

Rand, J. S., L. M. Fleeman, et al. (2004). "Canine and feline diabetes mellitus: nature or nurture?" J Nutr 134(8 Suppl): 2072S-2080S.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook

Lederer, R., J. S. Rand, et al. (2009). "Frequency of feline diabetes mellitus and breed predisposition in domestic cats in Australia." Vet J 179(2): 254-8.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined as a group of metabolic disorders characterized by yperglycemia as a result of defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. In the United States, the reported prevalence of feline DM has increased over the past 30 years from 1 in 1250 in 1970 to 1 in 81 cats affected by the disease in 1999. A number of studies have looked at potential risk factors for the development of DM, and increasing age, being a neutered male, and being obese have been identified. In North America, no particular breed of cat appears to be associated with an increased risk for the development of DM, but this does not appear to be true in other countries. The frequency of DM in two large feline-only clinics in Brisbane, Australia over a 5-year study period is described in this report. Frequency was estimated using period prevalences (the proportion of the population at risk that was affected by diabetes at any point during a specified time period). The 5-year period prevalence of DM was 7.4 per 1000 cats. Period prevalence was significantly higher in Burmese cats (22.4 cats per 1000) than in domestic longhair or shorthair cats. There appears to be a predisposition of Burmese cats to DM in some countries, and further investigations are warranted. [SL]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
McCann, T. M., K. E. Simpson, et al. (2007). "Feline diabetes mellitus in the UK: the prevalence within an insured cat population and a questionnaire-based putative risk factor analysis." J Feline Med Surg 9(4): 289-99.
>> PubMed Abstract

Rand, J. S., L. M. Fleeman, et al. (2004). "Canine and feline diabetes mellitus: nature or nurture?" J Nutr 134(8 Suppl): 2072S-2080S.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook

Read More

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Fujino, Y., et al., Prevalence of hematological abnormalities and detection of infected bone marrow cells in asymptomatic cats with feline immunodeficiency virus infection. Vet Microbiol, 2009. 136(3-4): p. 217-25.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important pathogen of cats that may lead to a lethal immunodeficient state. This may be preceded by a significant period of time, often years, without any evidence of disease. Decreases in the red and white blood cell lines as well as platelets are known to occur in infected cats. These researchers examined the prevalence of these changes in cats without obvious clinical signs of disease. They examined 50 cats whose only abnormality was the presence of FIV infection (as detected by the antibody assay for the virus). They found a significant portion of asymptomatic cats (48%) have detectable decline in the various blood cell lines, often affecting more than one cell line (e.g., anemia plus decreased white blood cells or platelets). The researchers also found that viral infection of bone marrow cells occurred, and likely led to the effects on blood cell production. Thus, FIV infection of bone marrow cells contributes to the production of the immunodeficient state as well as other blood abnormalities in infected cats. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Tanabe, T. and J.K. Yamamoto, Phenotypic and functional characteristics of FIV infection in the bone marrow stroma. Virology, 2001. 282(1): p. 113-22.
>> PubMed Abstract

Arjona, A., E. Escolar, et al. (2000). "Seroepidemiological survey of infection by feline leukemia virus and immunodeficiency virus in Madrid and correlation with some clinical aspects." J Clin Microbiol 38(9): 3448-9.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook

Fujino, Y., et al., Prevalence of hematological abnormalities and detection of infected bone marrow cells in asymptomatic cats with feline immunodeficiency virus infection. Vet Microbiol, 2009. 136(3-4): p. 217-25.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important pathogen of cats that may lead to a lethal immunodeficient state. This may be preceded by a significant period of time, often years, without any evidence of disease. Decreases in the red and white blood cell lines as well as platelets are known to occur in infected cats. These researchers examined the prevalence of these changes in cats without obvious clinical signs of disease. They examined 50 cats whose only abnormality was the presence of FIV infection (as detected by the antibody assay for the virus). They found a significant portion of asymptomatic cats (48%) have detectable decline in the various blood cell lines, often affecting more than one cell line (e.g., anemia plus decreased white blood cells or platelets). The researchers also found that viral infection of bone marrow cells occurred, and likely led to the effects on blood cell production. Thus, FIV infection of bone marrow cells contributes to the production of the immunodeficient state as well as other blood abnormalities in infected cats. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Tanabe, T. and J.K. Yamamoto, Phenotypic and functional characteristics of FIV infection in the bone marrow stroma. Virology, 2001. 282(1): p. 113-22.
>> PubMed Abstract

Arjona, A., E. Escolar, et al. (2000). "Seroepidemiological survey of infection by feline leukemia virus and immunodeficiency virus in Madrid and correlation with some clinical aspects." J Clin Microbiol 38(9): 3448-9.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook

Read More

Treatment of Idiopathic Cystitis

Wallius, B.M. and A.E. Tidholm, Use of pentosan polysulphate in cats with idiopathic, non-obstructive lower urinary tract disease: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. J Feline Med Surg, 2009. 11(6): p. 409-12.

One common clinical entity in cats is idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease (iFLUTD). Various treatments, including glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as pentosan polysulphate (PPS), have been advocated. However, few treatments have been investigated by well-controlled clinical trials. This study compared the use of PPS in iFLUTD compared to placebo. Eighteen cats were included in the study with 9 cats given PPS and 9 cats given placebo. Evaluations were performed at 5 and 10 days, 2 weeks, as well as at 2, 6, and 12 months. This study showed that in the majority of cats (89%) with iFLUTD, clinical signs resolved spontaneously and the frequency of recurrent clinical signs were low. There was no statistically significant difference between the group of cats treated with PPS and the placebo group in the short-term and long-term followup. Based on these results, the authors could not recommend PPS for use in iFLUTD. Also in this study, seven cats (39%) of the group were given NSAID therapy for 1 to 4 days after onset of signs. Again, the authors did not consider NSAID therapy beneficial in the short term in this population of cats. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related Articles:
Gunn-Moore, D. and C. Shenoy, Oral glucosamine and the management of feline idiopathic cystitis. J Fel Med Surg, 2004. 6(4): p. 219-226.
>> PubMed Abstract

Buffington, C.A., et al., Clinical evaluation of multimodal environmental modification (MEMO) in the management of cats with idiopathic cystitis. J Feline Med Surg, 2006. 8(4): p. 261-8.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook

Wallius, B.M. and A.E. Tidholm, Use of pentosan polysulphate in cats with idiopathic, non-obstructive lower urinary tract disease: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. J Feline Med Surg, 2009. 11(6): p. 409-12.

One common clinical entity in cats is idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease (iFLUTD). Various treatments, including glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as pentosan polysulphate (PPS), have been advocated. However, few treatments have been investigated by well-controlled clinical trials. This study compared the use of PPS in iFLUTD compared to placebo. Eighteen cats were included in the study with 9 cats given PPS and 9 cats given placebo. Evaluations were performed at 5 and 10 days, 2 weeks, as well as at 2, 6, and 12 months. This study showed that in the majority of cats (89%) with iFLUTD, clinical signs resolved spontaneously and the frequency of recurrent clinical signs were low. There was no statistically significant difference between the group of cats treated with PPS and the placebo group in the short-term and long-term followup. Based on these results, the authors could not recommend PPS for use in iFLUTD. Also in this study, seven cats (39%) of the group were given NSAID therapy for 1 to 4 days after onset of signs. Again, the authors did not consider NSAID therapy beneficial in the short term in this population of cats. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related Articles:
Gunn-Moore, D. and C. Shenoy, Oral glucosamine and the management of feline idiopathic cystitis. J Fel Med Surg, 2004. 6(4): p. 219-226.
>> PubMed Abstract

Buffington, C.A., et al., Clinical evaluation of multimodal environmental modification (MEMO) in the management of cats with idiopathic cystitis. J Feline Med Surg, 2006. 8(4): p. 261-8.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook

Read More