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Biomedical subjects

V R Barrs

Publications and source records attributed to V R Barrs.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Lower respiratory tract infections in cats: 21 cases (1995-2000).

Twenty-one lower respiratory tract infections diagnosed in cats at University of Sydney Veterinary Centre between 1995 and 2000 were identified retrospectively. Patient records were analysed to determine historical, clinical, clinicopathologic and radiographic features of lower respiratory tract infections. Response to therapy was also assessed. Infectious agents identified were Mycoplasma spp., Pasteurella spp., Bordetella bronchiseptica, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas sp., Mycobacterium thermoresistible, Cryptococcus neoformans, Toxoplasma gondii, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Eucoleus aerophilus. The study provides a detailed retrospective analysis of infectious lower respiratory tract disease in this population of cats.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Pemphigus foliaceus.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

Spontaneous hepatic rupture in six cats with systemic amyloidosis.

Spontaneous hepatic rupture, secondary to the accumulation of hepatic amyloid, was diagnosed in six cats over a two-year period. Previous reports of feline hepatic amyloidosis have documented clusters of cases from breeding catteries. Most affected cats have been Siamese or a related breed and the disease is generally regarded as familial. In contrast, the cases presented here were sporadic, with relatives and other cats in the household not clinically affected. They included a Devon rex, a breed not previously reported with this condition, and a domestic shorthair. Clinical signs in three of these cases had, prior to referral, been misinterpreted as resulting from blunt trauma, immune-mediated haemolysis or a coagulopathy. Antemortem diagnostic features, including new data on the value of hepatic ultrasonography and fine-needle aspirate cytology, are reported. These cases illustrate how the course of this disease can vary between individuals and that, despite the dramatic underlying pathology, hepatic amyloidosis can present a diagnostic challenge and should be suspected in any young adult cat with consistent clinical signs, irrespective of breed or environment.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed2002

Hypereosinophilic paraneoplastic syndrome in a cat with intestinal T cell lymphosarcoma.

A 10-year-old, neutered female, domestic shorthair cat was presented with a recent history of weight loss, polydipsia, diarrhoea and vomiting. On physical examination, intestinal thickening and mesenteric lymph node enlargement were apparent. Clinical investigations revealed peripheral blood eosinophilia, eosinophilic abdominal effusion and eosinophilic mesenteric lymphadenitis. There was a temporary response to treatment with glucocorticoids but signs progressed and the cat was euthanased. On histology, there was eosinophilic infiltration and fibroplasia of intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes. Large aggregates of neoplastic round cells in the intestine and lymph nodes were identified as T lymphocytes using immunohistochemistry. A diagnosis of intestinal T cell lymphosarcoma was made. This case demonstrates that hypereosinophilic paraneoplastic syndrome may occur in cats with lymphosarcoma. Eosinophil chemotaxis may be a response to the production of interleukin-5 by neoplastic lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats and related-breeds in Sydney and Brisbane.

OBJECTIVE: A form of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease has been identified in Persian cats and related breeds. Two features make elimination of this disease from future generations an achievable goal: the autosomal dominant mode of inheritance and the availability of a noninvasive technique, renal ultrasonography, to identify affected cats. The aims of this study were; to determine the prevalence of the disease in Persian cats and related breeds in Sydney and Brisbane, to determine any effect of domicile and breed on disease prevalence, to alert veterinary practitioners to the prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and to propose methods of eliminating the disease from future generations of cattery-bred cats. DESIGN: To be included in this scheme, cats had to be of Persian or related breed and be older than 10 months-of-age. Younger cats were excluded because of the increased likelihood of a false negative result. Renal ultrasonography was performed using either a Medison 600 with a 7.5 MHz mechanical sector scanner (n = 228, Brisbane) or using an ATL UltraMark-9 with a 5 to 10 MHz linear array transducer (n = 92, Sydney). The effects of domicile (Sydney versus Brisbane) and breed on the prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease were tested using two-tailed Fisher's Exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 320 cats were tested comprising 230 Persians, 48 Himalayans, 17 Exotics, 14 Burmillas, 6 Ragdolls and 5 Chinchillas. The prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Sydney (45%) and Brisbane (42%) was comparable and no sex predilection was identified. The disease was not detected in Ragdolls, although only a small number was tested. Two of 14 Burmilla cats were positive (14%), demonstrating that long hair coat and brachycephalic features do not segregate with the polycystic kidney disease trait. CONCLUSION: These results show that the prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease amongst purebred, long-haired cats in Australia is currently very high. Ultrasound detection schemes are easy to establish and breeder participation can be encouraged through subsidisation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Peripheral vestibular disease associated with cryptococcosis in three cats.

Peripheral vestibular disease referable to otitis media/interna was the main reason for presentation in three cats with cryptococcosis. In two cats, Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans was isolated from the tympanic bulla. In the remaining cat, otitis media/interna was considered to be secondary to occlusion of the auditory tube by a nasopharyngeal granuloma associated with a C neoformans var gattii infection. This report emphasises the importance of maintaining an index of suspicion for a fungal aetiology in cats with signs of otitis media/interna, particularly in countries with a high prevalence of cryptococcosis. The presence of C neoformans may be overlooked with potentially fatal consequences where only standard methods for bacterial isolation are used to examine samples obtained from the middle ear.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Pulmonary cryptococcosis and Capillaria aerophila infection in an FIV-positive cat.

A 12-year-old, FIV-positive, domestic longhair cat was presented with a history of sneezing and coughing during the previous seven months. On thoracic radiographs, a prominent bronchial pattern and three focal, opacified nodules were seen. Cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid demonstrated spherical, capsulate, narrow-necked, budding yeasts within macrophages. Culture of the fluid yielded a heavy growth of Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans. The serum latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination test titre was 158. The cat was treated with itraconazole and the cough resolved over a 5-month period but then recurred. Repeat thoracic radiographs showed resolution of the pulmonary nodules but a persistent bronchial pattern. Adult nematodes and ova with morphology characteristic of Capillaria aerophila were seen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and no yeasts were cultured from the fluid. The cryptococcal titre was zero. The lungworm infection was treated successfully with abamectin and the cough resolved. Immunosuppression related to FIV infection may have predisposed this cat to sequential respiratory tract infections.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Use of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to distinguish clinically important strains of Staphylococcus intermedius from the skin of dogs.

AIMS: To use multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to determine the genetic structure of Staphylococcus intermedius from normal skin of dogs and those isolated from a variety of disease conditions and to distinguish clinically important strains in dogs. METHODOLOGY: The diversity amongst 129 isolates of S intermedius from the skin and mucosa of 32 healthy dogs and 120 isolates from diseased sites in 120 individual dogs was examined using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Associations among ETs were examined to determine the diversity of isolates. RESULTS: Twenty two ETs were distinguished comprising 21 containing isolates from diseased sites and 11 containing isolates from normal dogs. The majority of isolates (171 of 249; 69% were located in two ETs (ET1 and ET 4), that were not distinguishable phenotypically. ET 1 contained 94 isolates (54 isolates from healthy dogs and 40 isolates from diseased sites) and ET 4 contained 77 isolates (46 from healthy dogs and 31 isolates from diseased sites). Further, 77.5% of isolates from healthy dogs were present in ET 1 and ET 4 and 59% of isolates from diseased dogs belonged to the same two ETs. There was only a small difference in genetic diversity among isolates taken from healthy dogs (11 ETs; H = 0.182) and those isolates taken from clinical specimens from diseased dogs (21 ETs; H = 0.218). Of the 21 ETs from diseased sites, ET 16 contained all six isolates from Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in racing Greyhounds. CONCLUSIONS: The small difference in genetic diversity between isolates from the skin and mucosa of healthy dogs and isolates from various diseases, as well as the presence of the majority of isolates in two ETs, is consistent with the role of S intermedius as an opportunistic pathogen. The confinement of all Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome isolates within one ET is confirmation of this entity as a distinct disease of dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Vegetative endocarditis in six cats.

Between 1990 and 1997 vegetative endocarditis was diagnosed in six neutered cats (three males, three females) aged between 3 and 9 years. Two cats were purebred (one Persian and one Tonkinese), the remaining four being domestic short haired cats. The diagnosis was made using echocardiography (five cases) or at necropsy (one case). Concurrent involvement of the aortic and mitral valve was noted in four cats, the aortic valve alone was affected in one case, and the tricuspid valve in another. A likely microbiological diagnosis was obtained in three cats: a Bartonella species in two cats based on positive blood culture and a Streptococcus species in one cat based on Gram stain of valve lesions at necropsy. In another cat, Gram-positive cocci were demonstrated histologically in tricuspid vegetations. Invariably, cats had signs of congestive heart failure (left-sided in five cats, right-sided in one), and this was the major factor contributing to mortality in four cases. Signs referable to sepsis were prominent in only two patients. Appropriate medical therapy, consisting of antimicrobials and drugs to treat congestive heart failure, resulted in survival for 5 and 11 months, respectively, in two cases. The other cats died within 2 weeks of diagnosis, including two which received aggressive treatment in hospital.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Intestinal obstruction by trichobezoars in five cats.

Between 1997 and 1999, five domestic crossbred cats (four long haired, one short haired) presented with a palpable abdominal mass and were shown to have small intestinal trichobezoars at laparotomy or necropsy. Hair balls were associated with partial or complete intestinal obstruction and were situated in the proximal jejunum to distal ileum. In four cats obstructions were simple, while the remaining cat had a strangulating obstruction. Three of the cats were 10 years or older, and two were less than 4 years. In the three older cats abdominal neoplasia was suspected and investigations were delayed or declined in two of these cats because of a perceived poor prognosis. Predisposing factors identified in this series of cats included a long-hair coat, flea allergy dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and ingestion of non-digestible plant material. This report shows that the ingestion of hair is not always innocuous and that intestinal trichobezoars should be considered in the differential diagnoses of intestinal obstruction and intra-abdominal mass lesions, particularly in long-haired cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Concurrent Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection and salmonellosis in a kitten.

A 14-week-old kitten had a history of vomiting, diarrhoea and pyrexia, all of which resolved without treatment. Three weeks later the kitten developed a violent non-productive dry cough. Thoracic radiographs revealed pneumothorax and nodular alveolar disease. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae and intracellular Gram-negative bacilli were seen in bronchial wash fluid and pleural exudate, and Salmonella Typhimurium was cultured from both fluids but not from faeces. Therapy included unilateral closed-tube thoracostomy, enrofloxacin and fenbendazole. Historical signs were compatible with gastrointestinal salmonellosis and secondary broncho-pneumonia. Seeding of the lungs with salmonellae may have occurred as a result of migration of A abstrusus from a gastro-intestinal tract residually infected or colonised by S Typhimurium. Alternatively, the development of lungworm infection in the cat may have activated quiescent S Typhimurium pulmonary granulomata from bacteraemia secondary to gastro-intestinal salmonellosis. Two years after diagnosis the cat was reportedly in good health.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Pneumonia associated with Mycoplasma spp in three cats.

Mycoplasma spp were isolated in pure culture from bronchoalveolar lavage specimens from three cats with clinical, cytological and radiographic signs of bronchopneumonia or suppurative bronchitis. Predisposing factors were not identified in the first case, the second cat had oesophageal hypomotility, while the third cat had been exposed to cigarette smoke and had advanced periodontal disease. Respiratory signs resolved promptly and completely in all cases following antimicrobial therapy directed against mycoplasmas. Mycoplasma spp are possible causes of lower respiratory tract disease in cats and this should be considered when selecting empirical therapy for feline airway disease and pneumonia. In some situations mycoplasmas may behave as primary lower respiratory tract pathogens in cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Benign cranial mediastinal lesions in three cats.

Cranial mediastinal lesions were detected in three cats, associated with respiratory impairment (case one), spontaneous pneumothorax (case two) and myasthenia gravis (case three), respectively. On gross and histological examination, the first case was considered either a lymphangioma or a branchial cystic mass of the thymic region of the mediastinum; a cystic lesion was suggested by sonographic detection of multiple anechoic cavitations within a circumscribed mass, while fine needle aspiration cytology excluded lymphosarcoma. The second case was diagnosed histologically as a cystic thymoma, but the third case was not examined microscopically. The masses were amenable to surgical excision in the first two cats, while this proved unnecessary in the third case because of resolution following treatment with dexamethasone. Corticosteroid responsiveness was unhelpful in distinguishing between these benign lesions and lymphosarcoma, as in two cases there was a partial or complete response to dosing with prednisolone or dexamethasone. These cases are presented to emphasise that conditions other than lymphosarcoma can produce cranial mediastinal lesions in cats, and that the prognosis for surgical treatment of lymphangiomas, multilocular thymic cysts and cystic thymomas can be excellent.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Nasopharyngeal cryptococcosis.

Naturally occurring cryptococcosis in five cats, a dog and a koala is described. Involvement of the nasopharynx was documented in all patients, and nasopharyngeal mass lesions accounted for the major presenting complaints in four. Signs referable to nasopharyngeal disease included snoring, stertor, inspiratory dyspnoea and aerophagia. Diagnoses were made by caudal rhinoscopy using a retroverted flexible endoscope, vigorous orthograde flushing with saline, or at necropsy. Concurrent cryptococcal rhinitis was present in all cases, although involvement appeared limited to the caudal nasal cavity in most cases. Typical signs of nasal cavity disease, such as sneezing and nasal discharge, were often absent. Treatment of nasopharyngeal cryptococcosis should include physical dislodgement or debulking of lesion(s) to provide immediate alleviation of upper airway obstruction, followed by systemic antifungal therapy to eliminate residual infection from the nasal cavity. Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii accounted for a disproportionately large number of these cases.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antemortem diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis in two cats on cyclosporin therapy.

Clinical toxoplasmosis was diagnosed antemortem in two cats being treated with therapeutic doses of cyclosporin. The diagnosis was made by detecting tachyzoites on cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from one case and pleural effusion from the other. Despite early diagnosis and aggressive treatment in both cases, only one cat survived. Reactivation of latent Toxoplasma gondii infection secondary to cyclosporin-induced immunosuppression was considered likely in both cases. The presence of respiratory signs in cats treated with cyclosporin should alert clinicians to the possibility of clinical toxoplasmosis. Consideration should be given to determining the serostatus of cats to T gondii prior to use of drugs which are potent inhibitors of cell mediated immunity, such as cyclosporin. Two cases of feline toxoplasmosis are presented.

Animals↗