Experimental Verification of the Effects on Normal Domestic Cats by Feeding Prescription Diet for Decreasing Stress

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diet on the feline stress response by measuring plasma and urinary cortisol. A study diet was developed with a unique combination of nutrients that supports the management of stressful situations. The specific formulation of the diet included alpha-casozepine, which is believed to have an anxiolytic effect, and tryptophan supplementation. Tryptophan is the precursor for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Twenty-one indoor cats were fed with the study diet (n = 10) or a control diet (n = 11) for 8 weeks, after which physiological responses were evaluated. The study diet significantly increased the ratio of plasma tryptophan to large neutral amino acids and decreased urinary cortisol concentrations after being consumed daily for 8 weeks, but there was no effect on plasma cortisol levels following a stressful event (veterinary examination and blood draw). Further studies, such as behavioral analyses, are needed to clarify the effects of the study diet.     

Noninvasive monitoring of adrenocortical function in captive jaguars (Panthera onca)

Jaguars are threatened with extinction throughout their range. A sustainable captive population can serve as a hedge against extinction, but only if they are healthy and reproduce. Understanding how jaguars respond to stressors may help improve the captive environment and enhance their wellbeing. Thus, our objectives were to: (1) conduct an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) challenge to validate a cortisol radioimmunoassay (RIA) for noninvasive monitoring of adrenocortical function in jaguars; (2) investigate the relationship between fecal corticoid (FCM) and androgen metabolite (FAM) concentrations in males during the ACTH challenge; and (3) establish a range of physiological concentrations of FCMs for the proposed protocol. Seven jaguars (3 M, 4 F) received 500 IU/animal of ACTH. Pre‐ and post‐ACTH fecal samples were assayed for corticoid (M and F) and androgen metabolites (M) by RIA. Concentrations of FCMs increased (P80.01) after ACTH injection (pre‐ACTH: 0.90 ± 0.12 µg/g dry feces; post‐ACTH: 2.55 ± 0.25 µg/g). Considering pre‐ and post‐ACTH samples, FCM concentrations were higher (P80.01) in males (2.15 ± 0.20 µg/g) than in females (1.30 ± 0.20 µg/g), but the magnitude of the response to ACTH was comparable (P>0.05) between genders. After ACTH injection, FAMs increased in two (of 3) males; in one male, FCMs and FAMs were positively correlated (0.60; P80.01). Excretion of FCMs was assessed in 16 jaguars (7 M, 9 F) and found to be highly variable (range, 80.11–1.56 µg/g). In conclusion, this study presents a cortisol RIA for monitoring adrenocortical function in jaguars noninvasively. Zoo Biol 31:426–441, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Use of RNAlater® as a preservation method for parasitic coprology studies in wild-living chimpanzees

We evaluated the use of an RNA stabilisation buffer, RNAlater® (Ambion, Austin, Texas), as a preservation medium for parasitic coprology analysis of faecal samples collected from chimpanzees living in the wild (Pan troglodytes troglodytes). Thirty faecal samples collected in the forests of south-east Cameroon (Mambele area) from 2003 to 2011 were preserved in RNAlater® at −80 °C and analysed for their parasite content. We identified and counted parasitic elements and assessed their shape, size and morphology in relation to the storage time of the samples. We found that parasite elements were identifiable in RNAlater® preserved samples after as many as 7 years, showing that RNAlater® could be an effective and reliable preservation medium for coprology. Thus, its use could be an interesting way to optimise sample collection for several types of studies (parasitology and bacteriology/virology) at once, especially considering the logistically challenging and time-consuming field campaigns needed to obtain these faecal samples.     

Nasal Staphylococcus aureus and S. pseudintermedius carriage in healthy dogs and cats: a systematic review of their antibiotic resistance,virulence and genetic lineages of zoonotic relevance

The molecular ecology of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and their methicillin-resistant strains in healthy dogs and cats could serve as good models to understand the concept of bacterial zoonosis due to animal companionship. This study aims to provide insights into pooled prevalence, genetic lineages, virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among healthy dogs and cats. Original research and brief communication articles published from 2001 to 2021 that reported the nasal detection of S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius in healthy dogs and cats in the community, homes and outside veterinary clinics were examined and analysed. Forty-nine studies were eligible and included in this systematic review. The pooled prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus/methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in healthy dogs and cats were 10.9% (95% CI: 10.1–11.9)/2.8% (95% CI: 2.4–3.2) and 3.2% (95% CI: 1.9–4.8)/0.5% (95% CI: 0.0–1.1), respectively. Conversely, the pooled prevalence of S. pseudintermedius/methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) in healthy dogs and cats were 18.3% (95% CI: 17.1–19.7)/3.1% (95% CI: 2.5–3.7) and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.6–2.4)/1.2% (95% CI: 0.6–2.3), respectively. Although highly diverse genetic lineages of S. aureus were detected in healthy dogs and cats, MSSA-CC1/CC5/CC22/CC45/CC121/CC398 and MRSA-CC5/CC93/CC22/CC30 were mostly reported in dogs; and MSSA-CC5/CC8/CC15/CC48 and MRSA-CC22/CC30/CC80 in cats. Of note, MSSA-CC398 isolates (spa-types t034 and t5883) were detected in dogs. Genetic lineages often associated with MSSP/MRSP were ST20/ST71, highlighting the frequent detection of the epidemic European MRSP-ST71 clone in dogs. S. aureus isolates carrying the luk-S/F-PV, tst, eta, etb and etd genes were seldomly detected in dogs, and luk-S/F-PV was the unique virulence factor reported in isolates of cats. S. pseudintermedius isolates harbouring the luk-S/F-I, seint and expA genes were frequently found, especially in dogs. High and diverse rates of AMR were noted, especially among MRSA/MRSP isolates. There is a need for additional studies on the molecular characterization of isolates from countries with under-studied nasal staphylococci isolates.     

A Novel Approach to Identify and Map Kitten Clusters Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS): A Case Study From Tompkins County,NY

A retrospective study using a geographic information system (GIS) was conducted to capture, map, and analyze intake data of caregiver (owner)-surrendered kittens (aged 0–6 months) to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Tompkins County, NY, from 2009 to 2011. Addresses of caregiver-surrendered kittens during the study period were mapped (n = 1,017). Mapping and analysis of the resultant data set revealed that the distribution of kittens was nonrandom. Seventeen statistically significant (p = .001) clusters were identified, 1 of which was the SPCA of Tompkins County (due to anonymously surrendered nonhuman animals). The remaining 16 clusters were composed of 52 homes; 27.5% (280/1,017) of the kittens in the data set originated from these 52 homes. The majority of kittens within clusters were surrendered from high-density residential and manufactured residential home parks. Analyzing such clusters using GIS is a novel approach for targeting spay/neuter and educational programs to areas contributing disproportionately to shelter populations. This method may prove useful to help shelters more effectively allocate their limited resources, but further evaluation of this and other targeted approaches is needed to assess the long-term efficacy of such programs.     

A global review of the impacts of invasive cats on island endangered vertebrates

Cats are generalist predators that have been widely introduced to the world's ~179 000 islands. Once introduced to islands, cats prey on a variety of native species many of which lack evolved defenses against mammalian predators and can suffer severe population declines and even extinction. As islands house a disproportionate share of terrestrial biodiversity, the impacts of invasive cats on islands may have significant biodiversity impacts. Much of this threatened biodiversity can be protected by eradicating cats from islands. Information on the relative impacts of cats on different native species in different types of island ecosystems can increase the efficiency of this conservation tool. We reviewed feral cat impacts on native island vertebrates. Impacts of feral cats on vertebrates have been reported from at least 120 different islands on at least 175 vertebrates (25 reptiles, 123 birds, and 27 mammals), many of which are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. A meta‐analysis suggests that cat impacts were greatest on endemic species, particularly mammals and greater when non‐native prey species were also introduced. Feral cats on islands are responsible for at least 14% global bird, mammal, and reptile extinctions and are the principal threat to almost 8% of critically endangered birds, mammals, and reptiles.     

Effect of Immunization of Cats with Isospora felis and BCG on Immunity to Reexcretion of Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts*

SYNOPSIS. The effect of pretreatment with Isospora felis and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) on the reexcretion of Toxoplasma gondii occysts was studied in 16 coccidia-free cats. The following conclusions were drawn: (A) Chronically T. gondii-infected cats reexcreted T. gondii oocysts after superinfection with I. felis, and this reexcretion was prevented in cats infected with I. felis before T. gondii infection. (B) Administration of BCG before Toxoplasma infection had no apparent effect on the outcome of the infection.