Feline leishmaniosis: diagnosis, treatment and outcome in 16 cats.

OBJECTIVES: Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease and in European countries is caused by Leishmania infantum. Cats are considered secondary reservoirs of the infection in endemic areas. The objective of this retrospective study is to describe the clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of feline leishmaniosis (FeL) in 16 cats in Spain. METHODS: Medical records of cats diagnosed with leishmaniosis were retrospectively reviewed for cases that met the following inclusion criteria: identification of Leishmania organisms and/or DNA on cytological and/or histological specimens and/or a high anti-Leishmania antibody titre, compatible clinical findings and pathological abnormalities. RESULTS: Sixteen cats met the inclusion criteria, all of which were living in areas endemic for canine leishmaniosis. Systemic signs were present in 11 cases (68.8%). The most common clinical signs on presentation included cutaneous lesions in 12 cats (75%), ocular disease in six cats (37.5%) and anorexia in six cats (37.5%). A polyclonal gammopathy was noted in 12 cats (85.7%). Non-regenerative anaemia and renal abnormalities were present in six (37.5%) and five patients (31.3%), respectively. In nine cats (56.3%), immunosuppressive conditions/comorbidities were identified. The diagnosis was made in eight of the cats (50%) by cytology, but a combination of diagnostic tests was needed for definitive diagnosis in the remaining patients. Twelve cats (75%) were treated specifically for leishmaniosis. Five of the 12 cats (41.7%) did not improve with treatment. The median survival time in the group of patients treated specifically for leishmaniosis was 17 months. Median survival of patients treated with concomitant diseases was 13 months vs 41 months in those without, although this was not statistically significant (P = 0.557). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Presentation of FeL appears to be similar to canine leishmaniosis but with some specific features: ulcerative and nodular skin lesions are the predominant cutaneous signs; cats with immunosuppressive conditions or coexisting diseases were more commonly present than typically seen in dogs (mainly feline immunodeficiency virus). A combination of diagnostic tests may be needed for definitive diagnosis.

Una matrona en el exilio republicano: Cinta Font Margalef / A midwife in the Republican exile: Cinta Font Margalef

Miles de personas tuvieron que exiliarse tras la Guerra Civil española (1936-1939) para no sufrir las consecuencias de haber luchado en el bando perdedor. Aunque se han escrito centenares de obras sobre el exilio científico (médicos, químicos, arquitectos, etc.), en muy pocas de ellas las mujeres son las protagonistas. Tampoco se conoce demasiado de la vida cotidiana de la población exiliada. Esta investigación está centrada en la biografía de Cinta Rafaela Font Margalef, una matrona catalana y su familia. Su marido, Artur Bladé i Desumvila fue un famoso escritor en lengua catalana que recogió en sus diarios toda su vida. La familia tuvo que exiliarse primero a Francia y luego a México. En 1961 decidieron volver a España. Estas páginas muestran las dificultades que tuvieron que sufrir durante la guerra, por la persecución de una casi desconocida organización, la «delegación para la información de Residentes en Territorio Liberado» que la calificaron como una mujer muy peligrosa. También, en las estrategias que encontraron para empezar una nueva vida, primero en Francia y luego en México (AU)

Thousands of people had to go into exile after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) to avoid the consequences of having fought for the losing side. Although thousands of articles have been written on the scientific exile (doctors, chemists, architects etc.), women are the protagonists in very few. This research is centred on the biography of Cinta Rafaela Font Magaluf, a Catalan midwife, and her family. Her husband, Artur Bladé i Desumvila, was a famous author in Catalan who captured his whole life in his diaries. The family had to go into exile first in France and then in Mexico. In 1961 they decided to return to Spain. These pages show the difficulties they went through during the war, persecuted by an almost unknown organisation, the delegation for information on Residents in Liberated Territories, which qualified her as a very dangerous woman and additionally, the strategies they used to start a new life, first in France and later, in Mexico (AU)

Treatment of 46 cats with porcine lente insulin--a prospective, multicentre study.

This prospective, multicentre, non-blinded, open study followed 46 cats with diabetes mellitus during treatment with porcine lente insulin (also known as porcine insulin zinc suspension, Caninsulin, Intervet) for 16+/-1 weeks (stabilization phase), with additional monitoring of some cats (n=23) for a variable period. At least three of the following were present at initial presentation: appropriate history of clinical signs consistent with diabetes mellitus, glucosuria, blood glucose greater than 15 mmol/l and fructosamine greater than 380 micromol/l. Insulin treatment was started at a dose rate of 0.25-0.5 IU/kg body weight twice daily, with a maximum starting dose of 2 IU/injection. Twenty-eight of the cats were classed as reaching clinical stability during the study, in 23 of these cats this was during the stabilization phase. Seven cats went into remission during the stabilization phase and one of the cats in week 56. Clinical signs of hypoglycaemia, significantly associated with a dose of 3 units or 0.5 IU/kg or more per cat (twice daily), were observed in nine of the 46 cats during the stabilization phase and concomitant biochemical hypoglycaemia was recorded in most cases. Biochemical hypoglycaemia, recorded in 6% of the blood glucose curves performed during the stabilization phase, was significantly associated with a dose rate of 0.75 IU/kg or more twice daily. This further highlights the need for cautious stepwise changes in insulin dose. The protocol used in the present study is suitable for and easy to use in practice. This study confirmed the efficacy and safety of porcine lente insulin (Caninsulin) in diabetic cats under field conditions.

Treatment with oral cyclosporin A of a case of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in a rough collie.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an immunosuppressive agent that can be used as alternative treatment to glucocorticoid therapy. This case report describes a case of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in a rough collie successfully controlled with oral CsA for more than 18 months.

Thymolipoma in a cat.

Thymolipomas are rare benign thymic neoplasms recognised in humans, composed of mature adipose tissue and thymic tissue. An 8-year-old male domestic shorthair cat presented with anorexia, lethargy and vomiting secondary to the development of a thoracic effusion and an anterior mediastinal tumoral mass with fatty appearance. Histologically, the mass consisted of adipose tissue containing numerous cords and nests of cortical and medullary thymic tissue. No signs of thymic epithelial or lymphoid neoplastic proliferation were detected. The findings in this case are remarkably similar to the macroscopic and histological features of thymolipoma in humans.