fibrin and Cat-Diseases

The objective of this study was to evaluate critically the nature and prevalence of histological pulmonary lesions in dogs and cats that had died or were euthanized because of tick paralysis. A retrospective and prospective case study of 11 cats and 23 dogs was carried out. Retrospective cases were gathered from the Veterinary Laboratory Services database at The University of Queensland (UQ). Prospective cases were provided by Veterinary Specialist Services and UQ VETs Small Animal Hospital. Lung and other tissue samples were collected for histopathological analysis. All tick intoxicated animals demonstrated evidence of pulmonary parenchymal changes: alveolar oedema, interstitial and alveolar congestion and alveolar fibrin exudation. Eleven of 23 (48%) dogs exhibited mild to severe bronchopneumonia. A lower rate (18%) of bronchopneumonia was found in cats, with one case of aspiration pneumonia. A novel pulmonary histological grading scheme was developed to evaluate the correlation between clinical presentation and histopathological changes. Novel extrapulmonary lesions in cats included hepatic necrosis and acute renal tubular necrosis attributed to hypoxia. We concluded that both dogs and cats with high clinical grade tick paralysis are extremely likely to have pulmonary pathology. High-protein oedema and fibrin exudation are predicted to be present in most cases of canine and feline tick paralysis.

Topics: Animals; Bronchopneumonia; Cat Diseases; Cats; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Fibrin; Lung; Necrosis; Retrospective Studies; Tick Paralysis

A three-year-old spayed domestic short-haired cat presented for evaluation of weight loss, cardiomegaly and pleural effusion. Echocardiographic examination demonstrated a thickened pericardium with mild pericardial effusion and a large volume of pleural effusion characterized by exudate. Although the cat was treated with antibiotics, the clinical symptoms did not improve. The cat developed dyspnea and died on day 7. Necropsy revealed a large amount of modified transudates ascites, pleural effusion and markedly dilated pericardium. Histopathological examination revealed severe exudation of fibrin and granulation tissue in a thick layer of the epicardium. The cat was diagnosed with fibrinous pericarditis secondary to bacterial infection.

Topics: Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Echocardiography; Female; Fibrin; Moraxella; Moraxellaceae Infections; Pericarditis; Radiography

Obesity predisposes to a prothrombotic state in humans, but whether a similar state occurs in obese animals is unknown. The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of body fat percentage (BF) on haemostatic parameters including thromboelastography with tissue factor as activator (TF-TEG) in client owned indoor-confined physically inactive cats. Seventy-two cats were included following an initial thorough health examination, and a complete blood count, biochemistry panel, conventional coagulation panel and a TF-TEG analysis were performed with tissue factor (1:50,000) as activator. The cats were anaesthetized, and BF was measured using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Significant difference between lean (BF < 35%, n = 26), overweight (35% < BF < 45%, n = 28) and obese (BF > 45%, n = 18) cats was identified using ANOVA. The correlation between BF, serum leptin and total adiponectin, respectively, with individual TEG and conventional coagulation parameters was evaluated. Obese cats showed a faster rate of fibrin formation (TF-TEG(R), p < 0.05), and TF-TEG(R) was positively correlated with plasma leptin levels. Increasing BF did not affect other conventional coagulation or TF-TEG parameters. In conclusion, this study indicates a connection between body fat content and altered haemostasis, also in cats. Whether feline obesity causes a hypercoagulable state of clinical relevance should be further investigated.

Topics: Animals; Blood Coagulation; Cat Diseases; Cats; Female; Fibrin; Male; Obesity; Thrombelastography

Topics: Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Chronic Disease; Feline Infectious Peritonitis; Fibrin; Male; Necrosis; Orchitis; Testis