Shedding of DNA of pathogenic Leptospira spp. has been documented in naturally infected cats in several countries, but urinary shedding of infectious Leptospira spp. has only recently been proven. The climate in Southern Chile is... more
Shedding of DNA of pathogenic Leptospira spp. has been documented in naturally infected cats in several countries, but urinary shedding of infectious Leptospira spp. has only recently been proven. The climate in Southern Chile is temperate rainy with high annual precipita-tions which represents ideal preconditions for survival of Leptospira spp., especially during spring and summer. The aims of this study were to investigate shedding of pathogenic Lep-tospira spp. in outdoor cats in Southern Chile, to perform molecular characterization of isolates growing in culture, and to assess potential risk factors associated with shedding. Urine samples of 231 outdoor cats from rural and urban areas in southern Chile were collected. Urine samples were investigated for pathogenic Leptospira spp. by 4 techniques: qPCR targeting the lipL32 gene, immunomagnetic separation (IMS)-coupled qPCR (IMS-qPCR), direct culture and IMS-coupled culture. Positive urine cultures were additionally confirmed by PCR. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to molecularly characterize isolates obtained from positive cultures. Overall, 36 urine samples (15.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 11.4-20.9) showed positive results. Eighteen (7.8%, 95% CI 4.9-12.1), 30 (13%, 95% CI 9.2-18), 3 (1.3%, 0.3-3.9) and 4 cats (1.7%; 95% CI 0.5-4.5) were positive in qPCR, IMS-qPCR, conventional culture, and IMS-coupled culture, respectively. MLST results of 7 culture-positive cats revealed sequences that could be assigned to sequence type 17 (6 cats) and sequence type 27 (1 cat) corresponding to L. interrogans (Pathogenic Leptospira Subgroup 1). Shedding of pathogenic Leptospira spp. by cats might be an underestimated source of infection for other species including humans. The present study is the first one reporting growth of leptospires from feline urine in culture in naturally infected cats in South-America and characterisation of culture-derived isolates. So far, very few cases of successful attempts to culture leptospires from naturally infected cats are described worldwide.
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A better understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension in cats may lead to more specific diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and the prevention of target organ damage. The ACVIM consensus guidelines have been widely adopted and... more
A better understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension in cats may lead to more specific diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and the prevention of target organ damage. The ACVIM consensus guidelines have been widely adopted and classify systemic hypertension according to the relative risk of developing target organ damage. Systemic hypertension is a common problem in geriatric cats and is often secondary to other diseases, mainly impaired renal function. Systemic hypertension is less prevalent in hyperthyroid cats as it has been in previous years. However, approximately 20% of cats treated for hyperthyroidism may subsequently develop hypertension but not all will have an associated azotaemia. The role of idiopathic hypertension (where no causative disease can be identified) remains controversial in cats. If hypertension is not recognised and treated, target organ damage can result. Target organ damage is mainly diagnosed in the eyes as it causes sudden-onset blindness, for example, due to hyphaema or retinal detachment. The primary aim in the treatment of systemic hypertension is the prevention of target organ damage that does not only occur in the eye, but also manifests itself in the kidneys, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Recent studies have also begun to explore the relationship that systemic hypertension may have with proteinuria and the progression of chronic kidney disease in feline patients.
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Objective: To investigate epidemiologic data, clinical signs, results of urinalysis and causes of lower urinary tract disease in a German veterinary hospital population of cats and to determine if the demographic data, history, clinical... more
Objective: To investigate epidemiologic data, clinical signs, results of urinalysis and causes of lower urinary tract disease in a German veterinary hospital population of cats and to determine if the demographic data, history, clinical signs and urinalysis results correlate with a particular etiology. Materials and methods: Cats presented with signs of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) with a documented history and physical examination, a complete urinalysis (urine specific gravity, urine dipstick and sediment, urine culture) of urine obtained by cystocentesis or catheterization, and diagnostic imaging of the urinary tract were included into the study. Cats that had received a previous treatment during the same episode of FLUTD were excluded. Results: A total of 302 cats were included into the study. Cats with FLUTD presented throughout the seasons with similar frequency. The most common diagnosis was feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) (55.0%), followed by bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) (18.9%), urethral plug (10.3%) and urolithiasis (7.0%). Urethral obstruction was significantly more frequent in cats with FIC than in cats with UTI. Cats with FIC and urethral plugs were significantly younger and had significantly higher body weights than cats with UTI and neoplasia. FIC and urethral plugs were significantly more common causes of FLUTD in cats younger than 10 years compared to cats that were 10 years or older (65.2% versus [vs.] 35.8% and 13.3% vs. 3.0%), while the incidences of UTI and neoplasia increased with age (12.9% vs. 41.8% and 1.0% vs. 13.4%). Conclusion and clinical relevance: FIC and UTI are the most common diagnoses in cats with FLUTD, with a significant age-related difference in incidence.
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Research Interests: Medicine and Gynecology
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Research Interests: Medicine and Gynecology
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Objective: To investigate the prevalence of comorbidities (CM) in cats with urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as the prevalence of bacterial species in cats with different CM and their antimicrobial susceptibility to the commonly... more
Objective: To investigate the prevalence of comorbidities (CM) in cats with urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as the prevalence of bacterial species in cats with different CM and their antimicrobial susceptibility to the commonly used antibacterial agents doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMC), cephalothin, and enrofloxacin. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of cats with positive urine cultures in the years 2003 to 2009 was performed. Cats were assigned to one of four groups: cats with systemic comorbidities (sCM), cats with indwelling urinary catheters (iUC), cats with local comorbidities (ICM), or cats without CM. To evaluate the potential effectivity of the antibiotics the antibacterial impact factors were calculated. Results: A total of 194 cats with 219 isolates were included in the study. In 78.4% (152/194) of cats, a CM was identified;49.5% had a sCM and 28.9% (56/194) had an iUC or a ICM. Cats with sCM were significantly older than cats in all other groups, and the proportion of female animals was higher in cats with sCM than in cats with iUC or ICM. More than half of the cats with sCM did not show clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease. The most commonly isolated bacteria species were Escherichia (E.) coli, Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Enterococcus spp. with a significantly higher proportion of E. coli isolates in cats with sCM and significantly higher proportions of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus spp. isolates in cats with iUC and other ICM. According to the antimicrobial impact factors bacterial isolates in cats with any CM were most likely susceptible to AMC and TMS. Isolates from cats with iUC and ICM had a lower likelihood to be susceptible to the tested antimicrobials than cats with sCM and cats without CM. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Relevant comorbidities for bacterial urinary tract infection were identified in the majority of cats in the present study. Cats with sCM often do not show clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease. AMC and TMS were the antimicrobial agents with the highest antimicrobial impact factor in this population of cats.
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ZusammenfassungNierenerkrankungen sind häufige Erkrankungen und Todesursachen beim Hund. Insbesondere für Glomerulopathien und akute Nierenschädigungen können Infektionserreger ursächlich verantwortlich sein. Zu den Infektionen, die in... more
ZusammenfassungNierenerkrankungen sind häufige Erkrankungen und Todesursachen beim Hund. Insbesondere für Glomerulopathien und akute Nierenschädigungen können Infektionserreger ursächlich verantwortlich sein. Zu den Infektionen, die in Mittel- und Südeuropa häufig mit der Entstehung von Immunkomplex-Glomerulonephritiden assoziiert und in Deutschland als Reisekrankheiten von Bedeutung sind, gehören Leishmaniose, Dirofilariose und Ehrlichiose. Selten verursachen in Deutschland Anaplasmose, Hepatozoonose, Borreliose und eine durch kleine Babesien versursachte Babesiose Immunkomplex-Glomerulonephritiden. Leptospirose, canine infektiöse Hepatitis und eine durch große Babesien verursachte Babesiose können für akute Nierenschädigungen durch tubulointerstitielle Nephritiden verantwortlich sein. Eine weiterführende Diagnostik zur Identifikation potenziell auslösender Infektionen bei Nierenerkrankungen des Hundes ist daher wichtig für die Prognose und Therapie der Patienten.
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Objectives Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a common disease in cats caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV), is usually fatal once clinical signs appear. Successful treatment of FIP with oral GS-441524 for 84 days was demonstrated... more
Objectives Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a common disease in cats caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV), is usually fatal once clinical signs appear. Successful treatment of FIP with oral GS-441524 for 84 days was demonstrated recently by this research group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome in these cats. Methods A total of 18 successfully treated cats were followed for up to 1 year after treatment initiation (9 months after completion of the antiviral treatment). Follow-up examinations were performed at 12-week intervals, including physical examination, haematology, serum biochemistry, abdominal and thoracic ultrasound, FCoV ribonucleic acid (RNA) loads in blood and faeces by reverse transciptase-quantitative PCR and anti-FCoV antibody titres by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Results Follow-up data were available from 18 cats in week 24, from 15 cats in week 36 and from 14 cats in week 48 (after the start of treatment), respectively. Laboratory ...
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Background and Aim: Humans and dogs with azotemia can develop coagulation disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the coagulation profiles and thromboelastographic parameters in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic... more
Background and Aim: Humans and dogs with azotemia can develop coagulation disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the coagulation profiles and thromboelastographic parameters in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 31 client-owned dogs with renal azotemia (creatinine >220 µmol/L) were enrolled. Clinical signs of hemostatic disorders, complete blood count, coagulation profile, D-dimers, thromboelastography, and 28-day survival data were obtained and analyzed using the t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Seventeen dogs with AKI, 10 with CKD, and four with acute-on-chronic kidney injury (AoC) were enrolled. Ten dogs (AKI, 8/17; CKD, 2/10) had thrombocytopenia. Prothrombin time was prolonged in four dogs with AKI and longer in dogs with AKI than in dogs with CKD (p = 0.004). The activated partial thromboplastin time was ...
Rezidivierende Episoden mit Urinabsatzbeschwerden können den Krankheitsverlauf von Katzen mit Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) verkomplizieren. Hauptziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, den Langzeitverlauf von Katzen mit FLUTD... more
Rezidivierende Episoden mit Urinabsatzbeschwerden können den Krankheitsverlauf von Katzen mit Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) verkomplizieren. Hauptziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, den Langzeitverlauf von Katzen mit FLUTD anhand der Rezidivhäufigkeit und der Mortalität zu evaluieren. Darüber hinaus wurden die Ursachen der FLUTD während verschiedener Episoden und die Rolle prophylaktischer Maßnahmen bei der Vermeidung von Rezidiven analysiert. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte mittels Fragebogen durch Telefoninterviews mit Besitzern, deren Katzen in den Jahren 2010–2013 wegen Harnabsatzbeschwerden in der Medizinischen Kleintierklinik der LMU München vorgestellt wurden. Details zum Signalement, zur Haltung, Fütterung und zum Toilettenmanagement wurden erfragt. Informationen zum Krankheitsverlauf inklusive Symptomen, Rezidivhäufigkeit und Mortalität sowie zum Auftreten von Begleiterkrankungen und zur Umsetzung prophylaktischer Maßnahmen wurden ebenfalls gesammelt. Der Beobachtu...
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Objectives Ultrasonography of the caudal vena cava (CVC) has been previously established to assess fluid status in dogs but not in cats. The aim of this study was to determine CVC diameter changes during feline blood donation. Methods... more
Objectives Ultrasonography of the caudal vena cava (CVC) has been previously established to assess fluid status in dogs but not in cats. The aim of this study was to determine CVC diameter changes during feline blood donation. Methods Inter- and intra-observer variability were assessed in 11 client-owned cats. Minimal and maximal CVC diameters were assessed longitudinally in the subxiphoid view (SV) and right paralumbar view (PV), and transversely in the right hepatic intercostal view (HV). Eighteen client-owned, healthy, anaesthetised cats were evaluated during 21 blood donation procedures of 10 ml/kg in the same anatomical locations before (T0) and after (T1) blood donation, and after volume resuscitation with 30 ml/kg lactated Ringer’s solution (T2). The CVC index was calculated. Results Intra-observer variability was acceptable for all probe positions, except for the HV, whereas inter-observer variability was considered unacceptable for all probe positions. Complete measurements...
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Two female intact Labrador Retriever dogs (6 and 3 months of age, respectively) presented with a history of urinary incontinence. In both dogs, abdominal ultrasound revealed evidence of a unilateral ectopic ureterocele. Diagnosis of... more
Two female intact Labrador Retriever dogs (6 and 3 months of age, respectively) presented with a history of urinary incontinence. In both dogs, abdominal ultrasound revealed evidence of a unilateral ectopic ureterocele. Diagnosis of ureteral ectopia was established urethrocystoscopically by visualization of the ureteral orifice in the urethra, and an intramural course was confirmed via retrograde contrast fluoroscopy. Ectopic ureteral orifices were stenotic in both dogs. Cystoscopic- and fluoroscopic-guided laser ablation of the ectopic ureter were performed with a Hol:YAG laser. Following the procedure, both dogs were fully continent without any medical treatment. Cystoscopic- guided laser ablation of ureteroceles was effective and safe in these 2 dogs. Thus, this minimally invasive technique for the treatment of ectopic ureteroceles provides an alternative to surgical intervention.
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A 7-year-old male castrated mixed breed dog was presented because of acute haemorrhagic vomiting and watery haemorrhagic diarrhoea. According to clinical signs, nonspecific clinicopathological abnormalities, normal electrolytes and a... more
A 7-year-old male castrated mixed breed dog was presented because of acute haemorrhagic vomiting and watery haemorrhagic diarrhoea. According to clinical signs, nonspecific clinicopathological abnormalities, normal electrolytes and a rapid improvement with fluid therapy, haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) was suspected. One month later the dog was represented with weakness and electrolyte changes characteristic for typical hypoadrenocorticism (hyperkalaemia and hyponatraemia) were found. The tentative diagnosis was confirmed using an ACTH stimulation test. This case report highlights that dogs with hypoadrenocorticism may be presented with acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea. Electrolyte changes characteristic for hypoadrenocorticism may not be present in case of gastrointestinal potassium loss because of vomiting and diarrhoea. To rule out hypoadrenocorticism, a basal cortisol measurement should be performed in every dog with acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea of unknown cause.
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Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a common dis-ease in cats, fatal if untreated, and no effective treatment is currently legally available. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and... more
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a common dis-ease in cats, fatal if untreated, and no effective treatment is currently legally available. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of the multi-component drug Xraphconn® in vitro and as oral treatment in cats with spontaneous FIP by examining survival rate, development of clinical and laboratory parameters, viral loads, anti-FCoV antibodies, and adverse effects. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance identified GS-441524 as an active component of Xraphconn®. Eighteen cats with FIP were prospectively followed up while being treated orally for 84 days. Values of key parameters on each examination day were compared to values before treatment initiation using linear mixed-effect models. Xraphconn® displayed high virucidal activity in cell culture. All cats recovered with dramatic improvement of clinical and laboratory parameters and massive reduction in viral loads wit...
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ZusammenfassungBakterielle Harnwegsinfektionen (HWI) treten bei Hunden häufig auf und stellen eine häufige Indikation für den Einsatz von Antibiotika in der tierärztlichen Praxis dar. Bei HWI kommt es zum Anhaften, zur Vermehrung und... more
ZusammenfassungBakterielle Harnwegsinfektionen (HWI) treten bei Hunden häufig auf und stellen eine häufige Indikation für den Einsatz von Antibiotika in der tierärztlichen Praxis dar. Bei HWI kommt es zum Anhaften, zur Vermehrung und Persistenz von Infektionserregern im Harntrakt. Durch die Gewebsinvasion wird eine Entzündungsreaktion ausgelöst, die mit klinischen Symptomen einhergeht. Je nach Lokalisation der Infektion erfolgt eine Einteilung in bakterielle Zystitis, Prostatitis oder Pyelonephritis. Davon abzugrenzen ist die subklinische Bakteriurie (SB). Diese liegt vor, wenn aus einer adäquat gewonnenen Urinprobe eine signifikante Anzahl an Bakterien isoliert werden kann, das Tier jedoch keine klinischen Symptome einer Harnwegserkrankung zeigt. HWI entstehen in aller Regel durch aufsteigende Infektion mit Bakterien aus der wirtseigenen fäkalen oder distalen urogenitalen Flora. Escherichia coli ist dabei sowohl bei Hunden mit HWI als auch bei Hunden mit SB das häufigste Isolat. Di...
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ZusammenfassungBei Harnwegsinfektionen (HWI) handelt es sich um die Anheftung und Multiplikation von Erregern im Harntrakt. Acht bis 19 % der Katzen mit klinischen Symptomen einer Erkrankung der unteren Harnwege leiden an einer HWI. Bei... more
ZusammenfassungBei Harnwegsinfektionen (HWI) handelt es sich um die Anheftung und Multiplikation von Erregern im Harntrakt. Acht bis 19 % der Katzen mit klinischen Symptomen einer Erkrankung der unteren Harnwege leiden an einer HWI. Bei Katzen mit einer subklinischen Bakteriurie kann eine signifikante Anzahl an Bakterien im Urin nachgewiesen werden, obwohl keine entsprechenden Symptome vorliegen. Die Prävalenz der subklinischen Bakteriurie in der Katzenpopulation beträgt 1–29 %. Neben dem am häufigsten isolierten Uropathogen Escherichia coli werden oft Streptokokken, Enterokokken und Staphylokokken nachgewiesen. Harnwegsinfektionen sind ein häufiger Grund für den Einsatz von Antibiotika. Um der zunehmenden Resistenzentstehung vorzubeugen, sollte ein Antibiotikum mit möglichst engem Wirkspektrum basierend auf den Ergebnissen der Kultur und des Antibiogramms gewählt werden. Aktuell ist die Studienlage zur Behandlung der subklinischen Bakteriurie unzureichend. Die meisten Experten empf...
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Urine specific gravity (USG), which is usually measured by refractometry, is an important indicator of renal concentrating ability. Few studies have evaluated refractometers with separate scales for canine and feline urine. Variables such... more
Urine specific gravity (USG), which is usually measured by refractometry, is an important indicator of renal concentrating ability. Few studies have evaluated refractometers with separate scales for canine and feline urine. Variables such as protein content or storage time may influence the USG. We compared the effects of measuring USG with a refractometer with single or separate scales for canine and feline urine, investigated inter- and intra-observer variability, and measured agreement between whole urine and supernatant. We evaluated the correlation between USG and osmolality, the influence of urinary protein on USG and osmolality, and the impact of storage time up to 6 mo. We examined 252 canine and 126 feline samples. Bland–Altman analysis revealed higher USG values of the single-scale refractometer than the dual-scale refractometer, with a mean difference (bias) of < 0.001 for canine and 0.003 for feline specimens. Inter- and intra-observer variability were acceptable. Goo...
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Practical relevance: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an important cause of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), particularly in female cats older than 10 years of age. In addition to cats with typical clinical signs of FLUTD or... more
Practical relevance: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an important cause of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), particularly in female cats older than 10 years of age. In addition to cats with typical clinical signs of FLUTD or upper UTI, many cats have subclinical bacteriuria, but the clinical relevance of this is currently uncertain. UTIs are one of the most important indications for antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine and contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Adherence to treatment guidelines and confinement to a few first-line antimicrobial agents is imperative to avoid further deterioration of the antimicrobial resistance situation. The decision to treat with antimicrobials should be based on the presence of clinical signs, and/or concurrent diseases, and the results of urine culture and susceptibility testing. Clinical challenges: Distinguishing between cats with bacterial cystitis, and those with idiopathic cystitis and concurrent clinical or...
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Objectives Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) causes clinical signs such as stranguria, pollakiuria, haematuria, vocalisation and periuria, and is often associated with recurring episodes. The primary objective of this study was... more
Objectives Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) causes clinical signs such as stranguria, pollakiuria, haematuria, vocalisation and periuria, and is often associated with recurring episodes. The primary objective of this study was to survey the long-term course of cats presenting with FLUTD in terms of recurrence rate and mortality. Methods Data from cats that were presented with lower urinary tract signs from 2010 to 2013 were collected by telephone interview with cat owners, using a questionnaire. The observation period ranged from the first presentation due to FLUTD to the telephone interview or the cat’s death. Data on diagnoses, recurrence of clinical signs and disease-free intervals, as well as implementation and impact of prophylactic measures (PMs), were collected and compared between groups with different aetiologies. Results The study included 101 cats. Fifty-two cats were diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis, 21 with urolithiasis and 13 with bacterial urinary t...
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Summary Objective: To investigate epidemiologic data, clinical signs, results of urinalysis and causes of lower urinary tract disease in a German veterinary hospital population of cats and to determine if the demographic data, history,... more
Summary Objective: To investigate epidemiologic data, clinical signs, results of urinalysis and causes of lower urinary tract disease in a German veterinary hospital population of cats and to determine if the demographic data, history, clinical signs and urinalysis results correlate with a particular etiology. Materials and methods: Cats presented with signs of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) with a documented history and physical examination, a complete urinalysis (urine specific gravity, urine dipstick and sediment, urine culture) of urine obtained by cystocentesis or catheterization, and diagnostic imaging of the urinary tract were included into the study. Cats that had received a previous treatment during the same episode of FLUTD were excluded. Results: A total of 302 cats were included into the study. Cats with FLUTD presented throughout the seasons with similar frequency. The most common diagnosis was feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) (55.0%), followed by bacterial ...
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There is a growing concern regarding the increase of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in companion animals. Yet, there are no studies comparing the resistance levels of these organisms in European countries. The aim of this study was to... more
There is a growing concern regarding the increase of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in companion animals. Yet, there are no studies comparing the resistance levels of these organisms in European countries. The aim of this study was to investigate geographical and temporal trends of antimicrobial resistant bacteria causing urinary tract infection (UTI) in companion animals in Europe. The antimicrobial susceptibility of 22 256 bacteria isolated from dogs and cats with UTI was determined. Samples were collected between 2008 and 2013 from 16 laboratories of 14 European countries. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance of the most common bacteria was determined for each country individually in the years 2012-2013 and temporal trends of bacteria resistance were established by logistic regression. The aetiology of uropathogenic bacteria differed between dogs and cats. For all bacterial species, Southern countries generally presented higher levels of antimicrobial resistance compared ...
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To investigate the prevalence of comorbidities (CM) in cats with urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as the prevalence of bacterial species in cats with different CM and their antimicrobial susceptibility to the commonly used... more
To investigate the prevalence of comorbidities (CM) in cats with urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as the prevalence of bacterial species in cats with different CM and their antimicrobial susceptibility to the commonly used antibacterial agents doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMC), cephalothin, and enrofloxacin. A retrospective analysis of cats with positive urine cultures in the years 2003 to 2009 was performed. Cats were assigned to one of four groups: cats with systemic comorbidities (sCM), cats with indwelling urinary catheters (iUC), cats with local comorbidities (lCM), or cats without CM. To evaluate the potential effectivity of the antibiotics the antibacterial impact factors were calculated. A total of 194 cats with 219 isolates were included in the study. In 78.4% (152/194) of cats, a CM was identified; 49.5% had a sCM and 28.9% (56/194) had an iUC or a lCM. Cats with sCM were significantly older than cats in all other g...
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The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam on the clinical course of obstructive idiopathic cystitis in cats in a placebo-controlled clinical study. Thirty-seven cats with... more
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam on the clinical course of obstructive idiopathic cystitis in cats in a placebo-controlled clinical study. Thirty-seven cats with obstructive idiopathic cystitis were enrolled. Cats received supportive treatment and an indwelling transurethral catheter for 48 h. On days 0 and 1, all cats received buprenorphine 0.01 mg/kg subcutaneously every 8 h. On day 1, cats were randomly assigned to the meloxicam (n = 18) or placebo group (n = 19) and received meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg on day 1, 0.05 mg/kg on days 2-5) or placebo orally for five consecutive days. Cats were monitored by repeated physical examinations and urinalysis, and with a 5 day questionnaire filled in by the owners after discharge and a telephone interview 3 months after presentation. Parameters for evaluation of treatment success were the occurrence of recurrent urethral obstruction, results of physical examinations and questi...
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The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the actual incidence of postobstructive diuresis after relief of urethral obstruction in cats, as well as to identify changes in blood and urine parameters that might be... more
The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the actual incidence of postobstructive diuresis after relief of urethral obstruction in cats, as well as to identify changes in blood and urine parameters that might be associated with postobstructive diuresis (POD), and to assess the impact of fluid therapy. The medical records of 57 male cats with urethral obstruction that were treated with an indwelling urinary catheter were retrospectively analysed. Absolute urine output in ml/kg/h every 4 h and the incidence of cats with polyuria (urine volume >2 ml/kg/h) at any time point over a 48 h period after the re-establishment of urine flow were investigated. In addition, postobstructive diuresis in relation to fluid therapy (PODFR) was defined as urine output greater than the administered amount of intravenous fluids on at least two subsequent time points. Polyuria and PODFR were investigated for their association with blood and urine laboratory parameters. After 4 h, 74....
Research Interests: Urology, Medicine, Cats, Urine, Urinalysis, and 4 moreUrinary System, DDC, Veterinary Sciences, and Diuresis
Obstructive feline idiopathic cystitis is a common emergency in small animal practice. There is evidence for a defective glycosaminoglycan layer in the urinary bladder of affected cats. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect... more
Obstructive feline idiopathic cystitis is a common emergency in small animal practice. There is evidence for a defective glycosaminoglycan layer in the urinary bladder of affected cats. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intravesical pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) in cats with obstructive feline idiopathic cystitis in a randomised, placebo-controlled, blinded clinical study. Thirty-five cats with obstructive feline idiopathic cystitis were enrolled into the study. On day 0, cats were randomised to receive either 30 mg PPS in saline (18 cats) or saline alone as placebo (17 cats) at the time of indwelling urinary catheter placement and then after 24 and 48 h. The catheter was clamped for 30 mins after administration before connecting it to a sterile urine collection system. The procedure was repeated after 24 and 48 h, and then the indwelling catheter was removed. Treatment success was assessed via the incidence of recurrent urethral obstruction, results of a sc...
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) detecting feline coronavirus (FCoV) RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of cats... more
The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) detecting feline coronavirus (FCoV) RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of cats with and without neurological and/or ocular signs for the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This prospective case-control study included 34 cats. Nineteen cats had a definitive histopathological diagnosis of FIP (seven of these with neurological and/or ocular signs), and 15 cats had other diseases but similar clinical signs (three of these with neurological and/or ocular signs). Real-time RT-PCR was performed on the CSF of all cats, and sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were calculated. Real-time RT-PCR of CSF showed a specificity of 100% in diagnosing FIP, a sensitivity of 42.1%, a PPV of 100% and an NPV of 57.7%. The sensitivity of the real-time RT-PCR of CSF in cats with neurological an...
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The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify bacterial species in cats with bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) and to investigate their antimicrobial susceptibilities over a 10-year period. Three hundred and thirty... more
The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify bacterial species in cats with bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) and to investigate their antimicrobial susceptibilities over a 10-year period. Three hundred and thirty cultures from 280 cats were included in the study. The mean age of affected cats was 9.9 years; female cats with bacterial UTIs were significantly older than male cats with UTIs. The most common pathogen identified was Escherichia coli (42.3 per cent), followed by Streptococcus species (19.3 per cent), Staphylococcus species (15.6 per cent), Enterococcus species (6.6 per cent) and Micrococcaceae (5.8 per cent). Forty specimens (12.1 per cent) yielded growth of more than one isolate. Streptococcus and Enterococcus isolates were resistant to a significantly higher number of antimicrobial agents than E coli and Staphylococcus species isolates. Applying the formula to select rational antimicrobial therapy, bacterial isolates were most likely to be susceptible to nitrofurantoin, amoxicillin clavulanic acid, enrofloxacin and gentamicin. The antimicrobial impact factor for nitrofurantoin increased significantly over the 10-year period, whereas there was no significant change in antimicrobial impact factors for doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, cephalothin and amoxicillin clavulanic acid. The detected changes in in vitro antimicrobial efficacy could help to develop hospital-specific guidelines for antimicrobial use to prevent the further development of resistance in feline uropathogens.
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Two siblings, a 6-month-old sexually intact male weighing 2.5 kg (cat 1) and a sexually intact female (cat 2) British Shorthair cat weighing 2.3 kg, were examined because of a 3-week history of polyuria, lethargy and laboured breathing.... more
Two siblings, a 6-month-old sexually intact male weighing 2.5 kg (cat 1) and a sexually intact female (cat 2) British Shorthair cat weighing 2.3 kg, were examined because of a 3-week history of polyuria, lethargy and laboured breathing. One year previously, another sibling (cat 3) had been presented because of similar, yet more severe, clinical signs at the age of 5 months. Physical examination revealed lethargy, dehydration and polypnoea with slightly increased inspiratory effort. Diagnostic investigation revealed severe hypercalcaemia (cats 1–3), renal azotaemia (cats 1 and 3) and a radiologically generalised miliary interstitial pattern of the lungs (cats 1–3) attributable to hypervitaminosis D caused by ingestion of commercial cat food. Cat 3 was euthanased. Cats 1 and 2 were treated with isotonic saline solution (180 ml/kg IV daily), sucralfate (30 mg/kg PO q12h), terbutaline (only cat 1: 0.1 mg/kg SC q4h), furosemide (1.5 mg/kg IV q8h) and tapering doses of prednisolone. Cat 2...
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Research Interests: Mass Spectrometry, Immunohistochemistry, Medicine, Western blotting, Cats, and 13 moreAnimals, Peptides, Etiology, Urine, Clinical Sciences, Biomarker, Western blot, Biological markers, Interstitial Cystitis, Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis, Two dimensional Gel Electrophoresis, Down-Regulation, and cystitis
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Objective: To investigate epidemiologic data, clinical signs, results of urinalysis and causes of lower urinary tract disease in a German veterinary hospital population of cats and to determine if the demographic data, history, clinical... more
Objective: To investigate epidemiologic data, clinical signs, results of urinalysis and causes of lower urinary tract disease in a German veterinary hospital population of cats and to determine if the demographic data, history, clinical signs and urinalysis results correlate with a particular etiology. Materials and methods: Cats presented with signs of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) with a documented history and physical examination, a complete urinalysis (urine specific gravity, urine dipstick and sediment, urine culture) of urine obtained by cystocentesis or catheterization, and diagnostic imaging of the urinary tract were included into the study. Cats that had received a previous treatment during the same episode of FLUTD were excluded. Results: A total of 302 cats were included into the study. Cats with FLUTD presented throughout the seasons with similar frequency. The most common diagnosis was feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) (55.0%), followed by bacterial urinary ...
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Research Interests: Physiology, Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry, Cancer, Cell Biology, and 4 moreUrine, Proteins, PLoS one, and Fibronectin
Systemic hypertension is a common medical condition in older cats, which is mostly caused by an underlying disease such as chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus (predominantly diastolic hypertension) or... more
Systemic hypertension is a common medical condition in older cats, which is mostly caused by an underlying disease such as chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus (predominantly diastolic hypertension) or hyperaldosteronism. Target organ damage can occur if the blood pressure is elevated. Affected organs are the eye, kidney, brain and heart. If the blood pressure exceeds 180/120 mmHg there is a high risk for the development of target organ damage. Whenever a disease with a high prevalence of hypertension is diagnosed or target organ damage is suspected, measurement of blood pressure should be performed. Indirect techniques to measure blood pressure are the Doppler sonography and the high definition oscillometry (HDO). A reliable assessment of the blood pressure can be achieved if a standardized protocol is followed. Especially the problem of ,,white coat hypertension" should be eliminated. If hypertension is diagnosed, further decisions will be made based on ...
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A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology for the differentiation of canine testicular lesions, especially testicular neoplasms. Testicular fine needle aspiration (FNA) and... more
A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology for the differentiation of canine testicular lesions, especially testicular neoplasms. Testicular fine needle aspiration (FNA) and cytological evaluation of 18 clinically or sonographically abnormal testes and epididymis of 16 dogs was performed. After surgical removal of the testicles, histopathologic evaluation was conducted. Fourteen of the 18 samples were of good diagnostic quality, in four cases, a diagnosis could not be established. The cytological diagnosis was consistent with Leydig cell tumour in seven cases, seminoma in four cases and Sertoli cell tumour in two cases. FNA of the epididymis in one dog was consistent with an inflammatory process. The cytological diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology in 11 of 14 cases. In two cases, only one component of a mixed tumour was diagnosed cytologically, and in one case the cytological and histological diagnoses were inconsistent (Sertoli cell tumour and Leydig cell tumour, respectively). Based on the results, fine needle aspiration cytology is an easy and reliable technique for the identification of testicular neoplasm and accurate diagnosis of tumour.
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ZusammenfassungDie Übersicht soll eine Zusammenfassung und Erläuterung veterinärmedizinischer Studien zur Radiotherapie von Hypophysentumoren liefern. Die Bedeutung der Radiotherapie im Vergleich zu anderen Therapiemodalitäten und in... more
ZusammenfassungDie Übersicht soll eine Zusammenfassung und Erläuterung veterinärmedizinischer Studien zur Radiotherapie von Hypophysentumoren liefern. Die Bedeutung der Radiotherapie im Vergleich zu anderen Therapiemodalitäten und in Kombination mit anderen Therapieformen wird diskutiert. Die Radiotherapie ist indiziert bei Hunden mit Hypophysentumoren, die durch ihr Wachstum und ihre Größe neurologische Symptome verursachen. Dabei haben Patienten mit geringgradigen neurologischen Auffälligkeiten eine günstigere Prognose für eine Besserung des neurologischen Status. Mit einem Abklingen der klinischen Symptome des Hyperadrenokortizismus ist nur in Ausnahmefällen zu rechnen. Bei Katzen sind Hypophysentumoren deutlich seltener zu finden als bei Hunden. Diese können kortikotrop, somatotrop oder endokrin inaktiv sein. Eine Strahlentherapie erfolgt überwiegend bei Katzen mit Akromegalie und führt bei den meisten Tieren zu einer Verbesserung der klinischen Symptome. Eine Alternative zur Ra...
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Zusammenfassung: Gegenstand und Ziel: Untersuchung einer Schilddrüsenwerterhöhung in Zusammenhang mit einer entzündeten Dachsbissverletzung. Diskussion der klinischen Befunde. Material und Methode: Fallbericht einer acht Jahre alten... more
Zusammenfassung: Gegenstand und Ziel: Untersuchung einer Schilddrüsenwerterhöhung in Zusammenhang mit einer entzündeten Dachsbissverletzung. Diskussion der klinischen Befunde. Material und Methode: Fallbericht einer acht Jahre alten Dackelhündin, die nach einem Biss in den Hals veränderte Werte der Schilddrüsenparamter aufwies. Ergebnisse: Das Tier zeigte erhöhte Werte an Thyroxin (T4) und freiem Thyroxin (fT4) sowie eine erniedrigte cTSH-Konzentration, die mittels Sonographie und Szintigraphie hinsichtlich des hormonproduzierenden Gewebes abgeklärt wurden. Vorberichtlich war ein noch sichtbarer Dachsbiss mit Abszedierung im Kehlbereich bekannt. Sonographisch fiel eine schlechte Abgrenzbarkeit des Lobus dexter der Schilddrüse zum umgebenden Gewebe auf. Die Szintigraphie ließ eine normale Anreicherung im Bereich der Schilddrüse ohne versprengtes aktives Gewebe erkennen. Bei einer Kontrolle der Schilddrüsenwerte 14 Tage nach der ersten Untersuchung lagen diese wieder im Referenzbereic...
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Research Interests:
The aim of this retrospective study was to document the prevalence of bacterial species in cats with significant bacteriuria and to compare their antimicrobial susceptibilities over five years. One hundred sixty-nine positive urine... more
The aim of this retrospective study was to document the prevalence of bacterial species in cats with significant bacteriuria and to compare their antimicrobial susceptibilities over five years. One hundred sixty-nine positive urine cultures from 150 cats were included. Fifty-five per cent showed clinical signs, while 40 per cent had subclinical bacteriuria. , species, species, species and accounted for 50.5 per cent, 22.9 per cent, 15,1 per cent, 3.6 per cent and 2.6 per cent, respectively. species was significantly more common in cats with subclinical bacteriuria. species and isolates were resistant to a significantly higher number of antimicrobials than other isolates. Applying the formula to select rational antimicrobial therapy, bacterial isolates were most likely to be susceptible to imipenem, nitrofurantoin, gentamicin and amoxicillin clavulanic acid. Over the study period, only minor differences were noted for the antimicrobial impact factors (IFs) between years and between c...