Longevity and mortality in cats: A single institution necropsy study of 3108 cases (1989-2019).

Client-owned cats who underwent a post-mortem examination (n = 3,108) at a veterinary medical teaching hospital between 1989 and 2019 were studied to determine longevity and factors affecting mortality. Demographic factors, environmental factors, age, and causes of death were assessed. Sexes included 5.66% intact females, 39.86% spayed females, 6.95% intact males and 47.49% neutered males. 84.2% were mixed breed cats. Age at death was known for 2,974 cases with a median of 9.07 years. Cancer was the most common pathophysiologic cause of death (35.81%) and was identified in 41.3% of cats. When categorized by organ system, mortality was most attributed to multiorgan/systemic (21.72%). Renal histologic abnormalities were noted in 62.84% of cats but was considered the primary cause of death in only 13.06% of cats. Intact female and male cats had significantly shorter lifespans than their spayed or neutered counterparts. FeLV positive status was associated with decreased longevity (P<0.0001) while FIV status was not. This study reports on risk factors associated with mortality and highlights areas of research that may contribute to improved lifespan in cats.

Inflammatory cytokines directly disrupt the bovine intestinal epithelial barrier.

The small intestinal mucosa constitutes a physical barrier separating the gut lumen from sterile internal tissues. Junctional complexes between cells regulate transport across the barrier, preventing water loss and the entry of noxious molecules or pathogens. Inflammatory diseases in cattle disrupt this barrier; nonetheless, mechanisms of barrier disruption in cattle are poorly understood. We investigated the direct effects of three inflammatory cytokines, TNFα, IFNγ, and IL-18, on the bovine intestinal barrier utilizing intestinal organoids. Flux of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran was used to investigate barrier permeability. Immunocytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate junctional morphology, specifically tortuosity and length/width, respectively. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry was used to investigate cellular turnover via proliferation and apoptosis. Our study shows that 24-h cytokine treatment with TNFα or IFNγ significantly increased dextran permeability and tight junctional tortuosity, and reduced cellular proliferation. TNFα reduced the percentage of G2/M phase cells, and IFNγ treatment increased cell apoptotic rate. IL-18 did not directly induce significant changes to barrier permeability or cellular turnover. Our study concludes that the inflammatory cytokines, TNFα and IFNγ, directly induce intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction and alter the tight junctional morphology and rate of cellular turnover in bovine intestinal epithelial cells.