1.

N Z Vet J. 2014 Nov;62(6):356-60. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2014.933905. Epub 2014 Sep 18.

A case of feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia mimicking metastatic

neoplasia.
Munday JS1, Martinez AW, Soo M.

Abstract

CASE HISTORY:

A 7-year-old cat developed sporadic vomiting, reduced appetite, and weight loss over the previous
3 months.

CLINICAL FINDINGS:

Palpation revealed a large mid-abdominal mass and the cat had marked eosinophilia. The cat
progressively lost weight over the next 7 weeks when euthanasia was performed.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS:

Necropsy revealed a 3 cm diameter firm white intramural mass in the colon and another in the
pylorus. Mesenteric and cranial mediastinal lymph nodes were firm, pale, and enlarged.
Histopathological examination revealed foci of necrosis surrounded by thick dense collagen
trabeculae and predominantly eosinophilic inflammation within the intestine and lymph nodes.
Marked eosinophilic infiltration of the liver was also present.

DIAGNOSIS:

The lesions were consistent with gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

This is the first report of FGESF in a New Zealand cat and the first time lesions of FGESF have been
observed in extra-abdominal tissues. Intestinal neoplasia can be clinically identical to FGESF and
histopathology is required for differentiation. Evidence suggests that FGESF has a more favourable
prognosis than intestinal neoplasia.

KEYWORDS:

Cat; gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia; intestinal tumour; tumour

2.

Published online 2014 Nov 28

Microbiota alterations in acute and chronic gastrointestinal inflammation of cats and dogs

Julia B Honneffer, Yasushi Minamoto, and Jan S Suchodolski

Abstract

The intestinal microbiota is the collection of the living microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa,
and viruses) inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract. Novel bacterial identification approaches have
revealed that the gastrointestinal microbiota of dogs and cats is, similarly to humans, a highly
complex ecosystem. Studies in dogs and cats have demonstrated that acute and chronic
gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are associated with
alterations in the small intestinal and fecal microbial communities. Of interest is that these
alterations are generally similar to the dysbiosis observed in humans with IBD or animal models of
intestinal inflammation, suggesting that microbial responses to inflammatory conditions of the gut
are conserved across mammalian host types. Studies have also revealed possible underlying
susceptibilities in the innate immune system of dogs and cats with IBD, which further demonstrate
the intricate relationship between gut microbiota and host health. Commonly identified
microbiome changes in IBD are decreases in bacterial groups within the
phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, and increases within Proteobacteia. Furthermore, a reduction
in the diversity of Clostridiumclusters XIVa and IV (i.e., Lachnospiraceae and Clostridium
coccoides subgroups) are associated with IBD, suggesting that these bacterial groups may play an
important role in maintenance of gastrointestinal health. Future studies are warranted to evaluate
the functional changes associated with intestinal dysbiosis in dogs and cats.

Keywords: Microbiome, 16S rRNA, Inflammatory bowel disease, Probiotic, Dog, Cat

3.

2015 JanPancreatitis and triaditis in cats: causes and treatment.

Simpson KW

Abstract

Pancreatitis in cats is frequently accompanied by concurrent disease in other organ systems. Co-
morbidities include hepatic lipidosis, inflammatory liver disease, bile duct obstruction, diabetes
mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, vitamin deficiency (B12/cobalamin, folate or K), intestinal
lymphoma, nephritis, pulmonary thromboembolism and pleural and peritoneal effusions.
"Triaditis" is the term used to describe concurrent inflammation of the pancreas, liver and small
intestines. Triaditis has been reported in 50 to 56% of cats diagnosed with pancreatitis and 32 to
50% of those with cholangitis/inflammatory liver disease. A definitive diagnosis of triaditis is based
on the histopathological evaluation of each organ. However, the specific conditions of each organ
that constitute a diagnosis of triaditis remains to be defined. While the aetiopathogenesis of
pancreatitis and its relationship to inflammation in other organ systems is unclear, preliminary
studies point to a heterogeneous group of conditions with differential involvement of
host inflammatory and immune responses and enteric bacteria. Comprehensive, prospective
studies that simultaneously evaluate the presence of predefined clinical, clinicopathological and
histopathological abnormalities, coupled with high-resolution evaluation of pancreaticobiliary
morphology, immunological profiling and screening for bacterial colonisation are required to
advance diagnosis and therapy.

2015 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

4.

2014 May

Pancreatitis in cats: is it acute, is it chronic, is it significant?

Bazelle J, Watson P.

Abstract

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE:

Pancreatitis is a frequent finding in cats, the chronic form being more common than the acute
form. Despite the large number of diseases or conditions that may be associated
with feline pancreatitis, in most cases no cause is diagnosed and the pancreatitis is said to be
idiopathic. The chronic form can be mild and asymptomatic, and has a high prevalence in
apparently healthy cats. This has generated debate concerning the clinical significance of
chronic feline pancreatitis. However, several reports have demonstrated the severity of clinical
signs in certain forms of acute feline pancreatitis, while other studies have reported a strong
association between chronic pancreatitis and the development of comorbidities such as hepatic
lipidosis, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This
suggests that feline pancreatitis should not be overlooked.

CLINICAL CHALLENGES:

Diagnosis of feline pancreatitis is complicated by the non-specific clinical signs and poor diagnostic
value of basic biochemistry and haematology or imaging techniques. Development of a feline-
specific pancreatic lipase immunoassay has improved our diagnostic ability in the past decade, but
may have more limited application for mild and chronic forms of pancreatitis. Moreover,
histopathology (the 'gold standard' diagnostic test) can be associated with false-negative results
due to multifocal distribution of lesions or mild forms of the disease. With respect to treatment, it
is important to take into account the idiosyncrasies of the feline species when considering medical
therapies.

EVIDENCE BASE:

This article reviews the literature on feline pancreatitis, focusing on the different forms and their
relative clinical significance, while explaining difficulties inherent in the diagnosis of this disease.
An overview of current recommendations for the management of cats with pancreatitis is also
provided.
5.

2012 Aug;27

Pancreatitis in cats.

Armstrong PJ, Williams DA.

Author information

Abstract

Pancreatitis was considered a rare disease in the cat until a couple of decades ago when several
retrospective studies of severe acute pancreatitis were published. It was apparent that few of the
diagnostic tests of value in the dog were helpful in cats. With increasing clinical suspicion,
availability of abdominal ultrasonography, and introduction of pancreas-specific blood tests of
increasing utility, it is now accepted that acute pancreatitis is probably almost as common in cats
as it is in dogs, although the etiology(s) remain more obscure. Pancreatitis in cats often co-exists
with inflammatory bowel disease, less commonly with cholangitis, and sometimes with both.
Additionally, pancreatitis may trigger hepatic lipidosis, while other diseases, such as diabetes
mellitus, may be complicated by pancreatitis. Therapy is similar to that used in dogs, with added
emphasis on early nutritional support to prevent hepatic lipidosis. Less is known about chronic
pancreatitis than the acute form, but chronic pancreatitis is more common in cats than it is in dogs
and may respond positively to treatment with corticosteroids.

6.

Published on Friday, March 09, 2012 04:20 PM

Feline Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Nature and Treatment

Written by Lyn Thomson, BVSc DipHom

The inflammatory bowel diseases are the most common cause of chronic vomiting and diarrhoea
in cats, and refer to a group of diseases. The term Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, is applied
to a group of poorly understood gut pathologies that are considered to be a consequence of
uncontrolled intestinal inflammation in response to a combination of elusive factors that may
involve the diet, the environment, the gut microflora and dysregulation of the immune system in
susceptible cats.

http://feline-nutrition.org/health/feline-inflammatory-bowel-disease-nature-and-treatment

7.