Thoracic spinal epidural empyema in a cat

A 2-month-old male domestic shorthair cat was referred to a private veterinary clinic with a history of dyspnea and inappetence. At the clinical examination, the cat was in poor body condition, with hyperthermia and abdominal distension. No major abnormalities were observed in the thoracic radiographs or abdominal ultrasound. A complete blood count revealed leukocytosis with neutrophilia. Although no clinical diagnosis was made, the cat received support therapy, but went into cardiac arrest and died. The cat was submitted for necropsy and the main gross finding was two white nodules on the ventral surface of the thoracic vertebrae (from T1 to T4). At the cut surface, the nodules were friable and filled with yellow exudate. The epidural space of the thoracic region was filled with yellowish viscous material. Histologically, the vertebrae were partially replaced by abscess formation characterized by a necrotic center with degenerate neutrophils, surrounded by fibrous connective tissue. The epidural space was filled with degenerate neutrophils, necrotic debris, fibrin, and intralesional colonies of gram-negative short rod-shaped to coccobacillary bacteria. Bacteriologic culture yielded Pasteurella multocida. This paper describes the gross, histological, and bacteriological features of a rare case of spinal epidural empyema caused by Pasteurella multocida in a cat.(AU)

Cholesteatoma and hydrocephalus associated to a third ventricle meningioma in a cat / Colesteatoma e hidrocefalia associados a meningioma em terceiro ventrículo em um gato

Meningiomas are neoplasms that commonly involve the central nervous system of cats, while cholesteatomas are nodular granulomatous chronic lesions within the choroid plexus that are rarely reported in cats. This study described a case of cholesteatoma and non-communicating hydrocephalus associated to a third ventricle meningioma in a cat. Clinically, the cat had a 2-year history of behavioral changes, photophobia and motor incoordination. At the necropsy, a tan-brown mass totally occluded the third ventricle, causing a severe dilation of the lateral ventricles (non-communicating hydrocephalus). Microscopically, the mass was composed by a neoplastic proliferation of spindle cells arranged in bundles, containing in the center psammomatous bodies (meningioma), while in the adjacent areas a cholesteatoma was observed, which was characterized by multiple cholesterol cleft formation, hemosiderosis and associated granulomatous inflammation. At immunohistochemistry (IHC), neoplastic cells had a marked immunostaining for vimentin, while were negative for cytokeratin and S100. The diagnosis of transitional meningioma occurring in association to cholesteatoma and non-communicating hydrocephalus in a cat was obtained mainly by the histological and IHC features. These are important methods to distinguish this condition from other neurological disorders in cats.(AU)

Meningiomas são neoplasias que comumente envolvem o sistema nervoso central de gatos, enquanto colesteatomas são formações nodulares granulomatosas raramente descritas nessa espécie e que resultam de lesões crônicas em plexo coroide. O objetivo desse trabalho é descrever um caso de meningioma em terceiro ventrículo culminando com a formação de colesteatoma e hidrocefalia não comunicante em um gato. Clinicamente, o gato apresentava alteração de comportamento, fotofobia e incoordenação motora durante dois anos. À necropsia apresentava uma massa acastanhada no terceiro ventrículo que provocava oclusão total do mesmo e acentuada dilatação de ventrículos laterais (hidrocefalia não comunicante). Microscopicamente, havia proliferação neoplásica de células fusiformes arranjadas em feixes com a formação de corpos psamomatosos (meningioma), e em área adjacente havia múltiplas fendas de colesterol e hemossiderose com infiltrado granulomatoso (colesteatoma). À imuno-histoquímica (IHQ), foi observada marcação positiva para vimentina e negativa para citoqueratina e S100 nas células neoplásicas. Os exames histológicos e de IHQ contribuíram para a confirmação do diagnóstico de meningioma transicional associado à formação de colesteatoma e hidrocefalia não comunicante, e são métodos importantes para diferenciar de outras afecções que cursam com quadro clínico neurológico em felinos.(AU)

Lily poisoning in domestic cats

Background: Cases of plant intoxication in small animals are observed frequently in the domestic environment, mainlybecause most dogs and cats live in households and occasionally have access to streets and rural areas. Among such toxicagents, ornamental plants of the genus Lilium and Hemerocallis, which are potentially nephrotoxic to the feline species,are highlighted. Affected cats start presenting clinical signs 1-6 h after plant ingestion. Renal failure takes place in 12-72h, and death may occur in an interval ranging from three to seven days. The objective of this article is to describe theepidemiological, clinical and pathological findings of lily (Lilium sp.) poisoning in two cats.Case: The aspects of lily poisoning in two cats are described (cat #1 and cat #2). Cat #1 was a 3-year-old, mixed breedfemale cat, which presented a clinical history of anorexia, apathy, drooling, vomiting and polydipsia. Serum biochemicalanalysis revealed creatinine elevation (21.2 mg/dL), as well as hyperphosphatemia (19 mg/dL). Seventy-two h after theonset of clinical signs, renal failure progressed to anuria, followed by death. The second animal of this report (cat #2) wasa 2-year-old, mixed-breed male cat. The animal was found dead by the owner without displaying any previous clinicalsigns. Cats #1 and #2 ingested leaves of lily, which were present in their households as ornamental plants. At necropsy, thekidneys of both cats presented mild enlargement. Moderate perirenal edema was also noted. Cat #1 showed morphologicextrarenal uremic lesions, characterized by ulcers in the oral mucosa and in the margin of the tongue ventral surface. Microscopic lesions observed in both cases were similar and compatible with acute toxic nephropathy. Histologically, severeepithelial cell degeneration and necrosis of proximal and distal convoluted tubules were noted. Other renal microscopicfindings included hyaline...

Lily poisoning in domestic cats

Background: Cases of plant intoxication in small animals are observed frequently in the domestic environment, mainlybecause most dogs and cats live in households and occasionally have access to streets and rural areas. Among such toxicagents, ornamental plants of the genus Lilium and Hemerocallis, which are potentially nephrotoxic to the feline species,are highlighted. Affected cats start presenting clinical signs 1-6 h after plant ingestion. Renal failure takes place in 12-72h, and death may occur in an interval ranging from three to seven days. The objective of this article is to describe theepidemiological, clinical and pathological findings of lily (Lilium sp.) poisoning in two cats.Case: The aspects of lily poisoning in two cats are described (cat #1 and cat #2). Cat #1 was a 3-year-old, mixed breedfemale cat, which presented a clinical history of anorexia, apathy, drooling, vomiting and polydipsia. Serum biochemicalanalysis revealed creatinine elevation (21.2 mg/dL), as well as hyperphosphatemia (19 mg/dL). Seventy-two h after theonset of clinical signs, renal failure progressed to anuria, followed by death. The second animal of this report (cat #2) wasa 2-year-old, mixed-breed male cat. The animal was found dead by the owner without displaying any previous clinicalsigns. Cats #1 and #2 ingested leaves of lily, which were present in their households as ornamental plants. At necropsy, thekidneys of both cats presented mild enlargement. Moderate perirenal edema was also noted. Cat #1 showed morphologicextrarenal uremic lesions, characterized by ulcers in the oral mucosa and in the margin of the tongue ventral surface. Microscopic lesions observed in both cases were similar and compatible with acute toxic nephropathy. Histologically, severeepithelial cell degeneration and necrosis of proximal and distal convoluted tubules were noted. Other renal microscopicfindings included hyaline... (AU)

Myasthenia gravis in an exotic shorthair cat

Background: Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission disorder resulting from the deficiency or functional disturbance of the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction with consequent impairment of action potential transmission from nerve to muscle and it can be either congenital or acquired. Acquired myasthenia gravis has been described less frenquently in cats. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case of acquired myasthenia gravis in a 6-month-old male Exotic Shorthair cat. Case: A 6-month-old male Exotic Shorthair cat was referred to the Veterinary Clinic with a 2-day history of flaccid paralysis of the four limbs. The cat was feeding well and defecating normally. Physical examination was unremarkable. On neurological examination the patient was bright, alert and responsive. Flaccid paralysis of the four limbs was evident with loss of muscular tonus and presence of superficial and deep nociception. All spinal reflexes were absent. Hematologic analysis was within normal parameters. Thoracic radiographs were taken and showed no abnormalities. Creatine kinase activity was elevated. Myasthenia gravis was suspected and the cat was submitted to an neostigmine methylsulfate injection and further pyridostigmine bromide administration. Within 15 days there was clinical improvement with muscular tonus and spinal reflexes recovery. The treatment was continued...(AU)

Myasthenia gravis in an exotic shorthair cat

Background: Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission disorder resulting from the deficiency or functional disturbance of the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction with consequent impairment of action potential transmission from nerve to muscle and it can be either congenital or acquired. Acquired myasthenia gravis has been described less frenquently in cats. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case of acquired myasthenia gravis in a 6-month-old male Exotic Shorthair cat. Case: A 6-month-old male Exotic Shorthair cat was referred to the Veterinary Clinic with a 2-day history of flaccid paralysis of the four limbs. The cat was feeding well and defecating normally. Physical examination was unremarkable. On neurological examination the patient was bright, alert and responsive. Flaccid paralysis of the four limbs was evident with loss of muscular tonus and presence of superficial and deep nociception. All spinal reflexes were absent. Hematologic analysis was within normal parameters. Thoracic radiographs were taken and showed no abnormalities. Creatine kinase activity was elevated. Myasthenia gravis was suspected and the cat was submitted to an neostigmine methylsulfate injection and further pyridostigmine bromide administration. Within 15 days there was clinical improvement with muscular tonus and spinal reflexes recovery. The treatment was continued...