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Udell M, Delgado M, Ekenstedt K, Shoveller AK, Croney C. CATastrophic myths part 2: Common misconceptions about the environmental, nutritional, and genetic management of domestic cats and their welfare implications. Vet J 2023; 300-302:106029. [PMID: 37683762 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.106029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Despite the cat's popularity as a companion species, many owners and practitioners lack high quality information about important aspects of their behavior and management. Myths, anecdotes, and narratives of cats as 'low maintenance, self-sufficient' animals are pervasive, and the degree to which these may underlie complacency about fully meeting cats' needs is unknown. Several studies suggest that cat welfare and the human-cat bond may benefit from improved education about how to optimize the domestic cat's management and husbandry needs in homes and elsewhere. This paper is the second of a two-part series addressing common myths about cats. The purpose of this paper is to review and debunk common misconceptions about optimal cat care, feeding behavior, genetics, and training. Replacing these misconceptions with scientifically generated information could have a significant impact on the behavioral management of cats, positively influencing their physical health, mental stimulation, and well-being, and reducing stress for both cats and the people caring for them. Areas where further research is required to address ambiguities, and to better meet cats' needs in homes and other environments, are also identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Udell
- Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, 2921 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | | | - Kari Ekenstedt
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Anna Kate Shoveller
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Candace Croney
- Center for Animal Welfare Science, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
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2
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Tyson GB, Jones S, Montreuil-Spencer C, Logan N, Scott S, Sasvari H, McDonald M, Marshall L, Murcia PR, Willett BJ, Weir W, Hosie MJ. Increase in SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in UK Domestic Felids Despite Weak Immunogenicity of Post-Omicron Variants. Viruses 2023; 15:1661. [PMID: 37632004 PMCID: PMC10458763 DOI: 10.3390/v15081661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infections in domestic cats have caused concern for both animal health and the potential for inter-species transmission. Cats are known to be susceptible to the Omicron variant and its descendants, however, the feline immune response to these variants is not well defined. We aimed to estimate the current seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in UK pet cats, as well as characterise the neutralising antibody response to the Omicron (BA.1) variant. A neutralising seroprevalence of 4.4% and an overall seroprevalence of 13.9% was observed. Both purebred and male cats were found to have the highest levels of seroprevalence, as well as cats aged between two and five years. The Omicron variant was found to have a lower immunogenicity in cats than the B.1, Alpha and Delta variants, which reflects previous reports of immune and vaccine evasion in humans. These results further underline the importance of surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in UK cats as the virus continues to evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace B. Tyson
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Sarah Jones
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Chloe Montreuil-Spencer
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Nicola Logan
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Sam Scott
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Hagar Sasvari
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Michael McDonald
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Leigh Marshall
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Pablo R. Murcia
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Brian J. Willett
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - William Weir
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Margaret J. Hosie
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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3
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Rowland T, Pike TW, Reaney-Wood S, Mills DS, Burman OHP. Using network analysis to detect associations between suspected painful health conditions and behaviour in dogs. Vet J 2023; 293:105954. [PMID: 36781017 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.105954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Pain associated with chronic health conditions in non-human animals is an important animal welfare issue. To identify animals in pain and develop an understanding of the mechanisms by which pain affects behaviour, it is therefore important to establish the direct behavioural effects of painful health conditions. We reanalyse data from a cross-sectional survey that considered the presence or absence of a painful condition in dogs and quantified their affective predispositions using the Positive and Negative Activation Scale (PANAS). By applying ideas from network theory, we conceptualise pain as a stressor that exerts direct effects on a network of interacting behavioural variables, and subsequently estimated a network model of conditional dependence relations. Painful health conditions were positively conditionally associated with age (posterior mean partial correlation, ρ = 0.34; standard deviation [SD]=0.05), and negatively conditionally associated with the item 'your dog is full of energy' (ρ = -0.14; SD=0.06). In turn, the energy item was conditionally associated with other PANAS items which were marginally associated with pain, such as items representing ease of excitability and persistence in play. This suggests these marginal effects might be indirectly mediated via the energy item. Further, utilising the posterior predictive distribution we estimated that the median conditional probability (95% credible interval) of a painful health condition given an answer of 'strongly agree' on the energy item was 0.08 (0.05, 0.11), which increased to 0.32 (0.09, 0.58), given a response of 'strongly disagree'. This provides a potentially clinically useful interpretation of the conditional dependencies detected in the network.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Rowland
- Animal Behaviour, Cognition, and Welfare Research Group, Department of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK.
| | - T W Pike
- Animal Behaviour, Cognition, and Welfare Research Group, Department of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - S Reaney-Wood
- Sheffield Institute of Education, College of Social Sciences and Arts, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield S1 2NH, UK
| | - D S Mills
- Animal Behaviour, Cognition, and Welfare Research Group, Department of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - O H P Burman
- Animal Behaviour, Cognition, and Welfare Research Group, Department of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
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4
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Examination of Shape Variation of the Skull in British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, and Van Cats. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040614. [PMID: 36830403 PMCID: PMC9951682 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A variety of skull shapes are frequently used for discrimination between animal species, breeds, and sexes. In this study, skulls of three different breeds of cats were examined by the geometric morphometric method, with the aim of revealing skull shape differences. For this purpose, 27 cats (6 British Shorthair, 7 Scottish Fold, and 14 Van cats) were used. The skulls of cats were modeled by computed tomography. Geometric morphometrics was applied using dorsal (8 landmarks, 63 semilandmarks) and lateral (8 landmarks, 63 semilandmarks) skull projections on these models. Centroid size differences between the breeds were statistically insignificant. However, the differences in shape were statistically significant for both the dorsal view and lateral view. Shape variation was less in the British Shorthair than in other breeds. Shape differences generally occurred around the orbit. In the skull of Scottish Folds, the orbit was situated more caudally than in other breeds. The British Shorthair had the largest orbital ring. In dorsal view, the Scottish Fold had the largest orbital diameter. The orbital ring of Van cats was smallest in both dorsal and lateral views. In the canonical variate analysis, it was seen that the breeds were separated from each other. The shape difference in the skull between different cat breeds could be revealed by geometric morphometrics. The results of this study provide useful information for taxonomy.
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5
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Flat-Faced or Non-Flat-Faced Cats? That Is the Question. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13020206. [PMID: 36670746 PMCID: PMC9854927 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Persian and exotic shorthair cats are the most-popular brachycephalic breeds worldwide. This study aimed to explore differences in human-cat bonding, behavioural traits, perception of clinical breed-related problems, and the motivation for purchasing between brachycephalic cat owners (BCOs) and non-brachycephalic cat owners (NBCOs). Using an online questionnaire, human-cat bonding and cats' behavioural traits were explored using the CORS and Fe-BARQ scales, respectively. Breed-related problems and motivations for purchasing were explored only in BCOs. There were 278 BCOs and 250 NBCOs who completed the survey. Respiratory diseases resulted in being the main health problem of these breeds. Most BCOs were not aware of the incidence of these disorders in brachycephalic cats. Character and appearance were the main motivations for purchasing these breeds. Perceived emotional closeness (EC), cat-owner interaction (COI), and perceived cost (PC) mean scores were significantly higher in BCOs. Playfulness and affection-/attention-seeking scores were significantly higher in NBCOs. BCOs reported a significantly higher score for separation-related behaviours. The higher scores in separation-anxiety-related behaviours and in the EC and COI scales could be related mainly to the high level of care these breeds require. The motivation for acquiring brachycephalic breeds for good companionship seems in contrast with the lower scores obtained from BCOs for playfulness and affection-/attention-seeking.
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6
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Bernardes-Engemann AR, Almeida MDA, Bison I, Rabello VBDS, Ramos MLM, Pereira SA, Almeida-Paes R, de Lima Brasil AW, Zancopé-Oliveira RM. Anti-Sporothrix Antibody Detection in Domestic Cats as an Indicator of a Possible New Occurrence Area for Sporotrichosis in North Brazil. Mycopathologia 2022; 187:375-384. [PMID: 35778635 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-022-00644-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Feline sporotrichosis has emerged as an important public health issue in some countries, especially Brazil. Currently, zoonotic transmission of Sporothrix brasiliensis by domestic cats is the major sporotrichosis spread form throughout this country. Sporotrichosis in Brazil is a good model for the One Health concept application, which connects the environment, human and animal health. Under this thinking, the aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of sporotrichosis in cats from Rolim de Moura, Rondônia, Brazil, using antibody detection by an ELISA test previously validated for human diagnosis. For the standardization of this test, 30 serum samples from cats with proven sporotrichosis and 11 sera from healthy cats were used. The assay showed 87% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis. After the standardization, 202 serum samples from distinct cats from Rolim de Moura were evaluated. The test was positive in 63 (31.19%) cats from the studied area. A multivariate analysis revealed that living far from forest or agricultural areas as well as pure breed animals had higher odds ratios (3.157 and 2.281, respectively) for the presence of detectable levels of anti-Sporothrix antibodies. These results show the applicability of this assay in the detection of anti-Sporothrix antibodies in feline serum samples and point to a putative new occurrence area of urban sporotrichosis dispersing to the North region of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréa Reis Bernardes-Engemann
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Marcos de Abreu Almeida
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ividy Bison
- Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Brito de Souza Rabello
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Lucy Mesquita Ramos
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sandro Antonio Pereira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatozoonoses em Animais Domésticos, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas,, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Arthur Willian de Lima Brasil
- Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil.,Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Rosely Maria Zancopé-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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7
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Schmidt MJ, Farke D, Staszyk C, Lang A, Büttner K, Plendl J, Kampschulte M. Closure times of neurocranial sutures and synchondroses in Persian compared to Domestic Shorthair cats. Sci Rep 2022; 12:573. [PMID: 35022503 PMCID: PMC8755779 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04783-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-directed selective breeding has modified the phenotype of the modern Persian cat towards an extreme brachycephalic phenotype ('peke-face' Persian), which originates from a spontaneous mutation that first appeared in the 1950s in traditional Persian types. It was suggested that the peke-face phenotype results from pathologic skull development and might represent a craniosynostosis of the coronal sutures. We followed this hypothesis and investigated the time dependent status of the neurocranial sutures and synchondroses in an ontogenetic series of doll-faced and peke-faced Persian cats compared to Domestic Shorthair cats (DSHs). Cranial suture closure was assessed by examining an ontogenetic series of formalin-fixed head specimens (n = 55) and dry skulls (n = 32) using micro-computed tomography. Sagittal, metopic, coronal and lambdoid sutures as well as intersphenoidal, spheno-occipital and spheno-ethmoid synchondroses were examined. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the global effect of age on suture closure within a group of peke-face Persians, doll-face Persians and DSHs and the 50% probability of having a closed suture was calculated and compared between groups. Age was a perfect predictor for the condition of the coronal sutures in peke-face Persians. Coronal sutures were found to be closed at 0-0.3 months. In doll-face and DSHs, coronal sutures were open throughout the lifetime with the exception of a few very old cats. Results of this study confirmed a coronal craniosynostosis that likely causes the extreme brachycephalic skull morphology in the peke-face Persian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Schmidt
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic-Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Str. 108, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Daniela Farke
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic-Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Str. 108, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Carsten Staszyk
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Strasse 98, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Antonia Lang
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic-Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Str. 108, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Büttner
- Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig-University-Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Johanna Plendl
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, Koserstr. 20, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marian Kampschulte
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Gießen, Giessen, Germany
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8
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Geiger M, Schoenebeck JJ, Schneider RA, Schmidt MJ, Fischer MS, Sánchez-Villagra MR. Exceptional Changes in Skeletal Anatomy under Domestication: The Case of Brachycephaly. Integr Org Biol 2021; 3:obab023. [PMID: 34409262 PMCID: PMC8366567 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obab023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
"Brachycephaly" is generally considered a phenotype in which the facial part of the head is pronouncedly shortened. While brachycephaly is characteristic for some domestic varieties and breeds (e.g., Bulldog, Persian cat, Niata cattle, Anglo-Nubian goat, Middle White pig), this phenotype can also be considered pathological. Despite the superficially similar appearance of "brachycephaly" in such varieties and breeds, closer examination reveals that "brachycephaly" includes a variety of different cranial modifications with likely different genetic and developmental underpinnings and related with specific breed histories. We review the various definitions and characteristics associated with brachycephaly in different domesticated species. We discern different types of brachycephaly ("bulldog-type," "katantognathic," and "allometric" brachycephaly) and discuss morphological conditions related to brachycephaly, including diseases (e.g., brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome). Further, we examine the complex underlying genetic and developmental processes and the culturally and developmentally related reasons why brachycephalic varieties may or may not be prevalent in certain domesticated species. Knowledge on patterns and mechanisms associated with brachycephaly is relevant for domestication research, veterinary and human medicine, as well as evolutionary biology, and highlights the profound influence of artificial selection by humans on animal morphology, evolution, and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Geiger
- Paleontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich,
Karl-Schmid-Str. 4, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J J Schoenebeck
- Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University
of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25
9RG, UK
| | - R A Schneider
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California at San
Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, S-1164, San Francisco, CA
94143-0514, USA
| | - M J Schmidt
- Clinic for Small Animals—Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical
Neurology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str.
114, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - M S Fischer
- Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich-Schiller
University Jena, Erbertstr. 1, 07743 Jena,
Germany
| | - M R Sánchez-Villagra
- Paleontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich,
Karl-Schmid-Str. 4, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
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9
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Mitchell JL, Stanley P, McDonald K, Burr P, Rhodes SG, Gunn-Moore DA, Hope JC. Diagnostic accuracy of the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) for cases of feline mycobacteriosis. Prev Vet Med 2021; 193:105409. [PMID: 34126470 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) for diagnosing infections with members of the Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis-complex (MTBC) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in domestic cats, and to generate defined feline-specific cut-off values using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to improve test performance. Records of 594 cats that had been tested by IGRA were explored to identify individuals that had a culture and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed case of mycobacterial disease, and those that had a final diagnosis of non-mycobacterial disease. A total of 117 cats - 80 with mycobacterial disease and 37 diagnosed with a condition other than mycobacteriosis - were identified for further detailed analysis. This population was used to estimate test sensitivity and specificity, as well as likelihood ratios for the IGRA to correctly identify a cat with or without mycobacterial disease. Agreement between IGRA results and culture/PCR using current and proposed new cut-off values was also determined. ROC analysis of defined confirmed infected and non-mycobacterial disease control cats allowed an adjustment of current test cut-offs that increased the overall test sensitivity for MTBC infections from 83.1 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 71.5-90.5 %) to 90.2 % (95 % CI: 80.2-95.4%), and M. bovis infection from 43 % (95 % CI: 28.2-60.7%) to 68 % (95 % CI: 51.4-82.1%) while maintaining high test specificity (100 % in both cases). Overall agreement between IGRA results and culture/PCR, while recognising that neither culture nor PCR tests have perfect sensitivity, improved from weak (κ = 0.57) to moderate (κ = 0.71) using new proposed IGRA test cut-off values. Application of these results, based upon the statistical analysis of accumulated test data, can improve the diagnostic performance of the feline IGRA, particularly for identifying infections with M. bovis, without compromising specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan L Mitchell
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom.
| | - Paul Stanley
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Kieran McDonald
- Biobest Laboratories Ltd, 6 Charles Darwin House, Edinburgh Technopole, Milton Bridge, Near Penicuik, EH26 0PY, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Burr
- Biobest Laboratories Ltd, 6 Charles Darwin House, Edinburgh Technopole, Milton Bridge, Near Penicuik, EH26 0PY, United Kingdom
| | - Shelley G Rhodes
- Animal & Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Danièlle A Gunn-Moore
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Jayne C Hope
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
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10
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Sieslack J, Farke D, Failing K, Kramer M, Schmidt MJ. Correlation of brachycephaly grade with level of exophthalmos, reduced airway passages and degree of dental malalignment' in Persian cats. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254420. [PMID: 34288937 PMCID: PMC8294563 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
For many years, there has been a trend to breed cats with an increasing degree of brachycephalic head features, which are known to have a severe impact on the animals' health and welfare. The direct relation between different grades of brachycephaly and their negative implications have not been researched in this species. The aim of this study was therefore to establish correlations between the different grades of brachycephaly and reduced upper respiratory airways, exophthalmos of the eye globes and malalignment of the teeth in Persian cats. Sixty-nine Persian cats of various skull dimensions and ten Domestic shorthair cats were recruited for the study. The cats' skulls were examined using three-dimensional reconstructions created from Computed Tomography datasets. Brachycephaly was graded using established craniometric measurements (facial index, cranial index, skull index, craniofacial angle). The flow area of the nasal passageways at different locations, the amount of the eye globe not supported by the bony orbit and the axial deviation of the teeth were quantified and evaluated for a correlation with the grade of brachycephaly. The results of this study clearly show that increased grades of brachycephaly in Persian cats resulted in larger extra-orbital parts of the ocular bulbs. The brachycephalic skull dimension also resulted in a lower height of the naso-osseal aperture, while other areas of the nasal airways were not correlated with the severity of brachycephaly. Persian cats showed a significantly increased occurrence of premolar tooth displacement in the upper jaw with increasing brachycephaly grades. It was interesting to note that the measured values had a broad range and values of some individual Persian cats showed an overlap with those of Domestic shorthair cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Sieslack
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinic for Small Animals, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig University-Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Daniela Farke
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinic for Small Animals, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig University-Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Klaus Failing
- Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Kramer
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinic for Small Animals, Surgery, Justus-Liebig University-Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin J. Schmidt
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinic for Small Animals, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig University-Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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11
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Plitman L, Černá P, Farnworth MJ, Packer RMA, Gunn-Moore DA. Motivation of Owners to Purchase Pedigree Cats, with Specific Focus on the Acquisition of Brachycephalic Cats. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E394. [PMID: 31252697 PMCID: PMC6680495 DOI: 10.3390/ani9070394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cats are globally popular pets and pedigree cats are increasingly prevalent, with brachycephalic breeds being the most registered breeds. How owners decide upon and acquire their cats is poorly understood. Moreover, there are growing concerns about the health and welfare of brachycephalic (BC) dogs and recent studies are raising the awareness of health and welfare problems in BC cats. Methods: An online survey investigated owners' motivations, perceptions and behaviours prior to, during and following acquisition of non-pedigree (NP), extreme brachycephalic pedigree (BC; i.e., Persian and Exotic Shorthair) and mild to non-BC pedigree (P) cats. Results: The survey received 1367 valid responses (NP n = 882, P n = 400, BC n = 85 (6.2%)). There were marked differences between NP, P and BC owners' perception of their cats' health and welfare, reason(s) for acquisition and its process. Owners of NP were less influenced by appearance, behaviour and other features than P or BC owners. In contrast, P and BC owners were highly influenced by appearance, with P owners also placing greater importance on good breed health than BC owners. BC owners were less likely to recommend their breeds to prospective cat owners, apparently concerned by high maintenance requirements. Conclusion: Further research is needed to determine how decision-making is constructed and how it may be improved, especially in respect of welfare outcomes for extreme BC cats given the increased weighting given to appearance over health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liran Plitman
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK.
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Animal Welfare Unit, Beit Dagan 5025001, Israel.
| | - Petra Černá
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK.
- University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Mark J Farnworth
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0QF, UK.
| | - Rowena M A Packer
- Royal Veterinary College, Department of Clinical Science and Services (CSS), Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK.
| | - Danièlle A Gunn-Moore
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK.
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12
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Finka LR, Ward J, Farnworth MJ, Mills DS. Owner personality and the wellbeing of their cats share parallels with the parent-child relationship. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211862. [PMID: 30721257 PMCID: PMC6363285 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human personality may substantially affect the nature of care provided to dependants. This link has been well researched in parents and children, however, relatively little is known about this dynamic with regards to humans’ relationships with non-human animals. Owner interactions with companion animals may provide valuable insight into the wider phenomenon of familial interactions, as owners usually adopt the role of primary caregiver and potentially surrogate parent. This study, using cats as an exemplar, explored the relationship between owner personality and the lifestyles to which cats are exposed. In addition, it explored owner personality as it related to reported cat behaviour and wellbeing. Cat owners (n = 3331) responded to an online survey examining their personality and the health, behaviour and management of their cats. Owner personality was measured using the Big Five Inventory (BFI) to assess: Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Neuroticism and Openness. Owners also provided information concerning the physical health, breed type, management and behavioural styles of their cats. Generalised linear mixed models were used to identify relationships between owner personality and a range of factors that may have welfare implications for the wider companion animal population, and specifically, cats. Higher owner Neuroticism was associated with an increased likelihood of non-pedigree rather than pedigree cat ownership, a decreased likelihood of ad libitum access to the outdoors, cats being reported as having a ‘behavioural problem’, displaying more aggressive and anxious/fearful behavioural styles and more stress-related sickness behaviours, as well as having an ongoing medical condition and being overweight. Other owner personality traits were generally found to correlate more positively with various lifestyle, behaviour and welfare parameters. For example, higher owner Extroversion was associated with an increased likelihood that the cat would be provided ad libitum access to the outdoors; higher owner Agreeableness was associated with a higher level of owner reported satisfaction with their cat, and with a greater likelihood of owners reporting their cats as being of a normal weight. Finally higher owner Conscientiousness was associated with the cat displaying less anxious/fearful, aggressive, aloof/avoidant, but more gregarious behavioural styles. These findings demonstrate that the relationship between carer personality and the care received by a dependent, may extend beyond the human family to animal-owner relationships, with significant implications for the choice of management, behaviour and potentially the broader wellbeing of companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R. Finka
- College of Life Sciences, Joseph Bank Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
- Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Joanna Ward
- College of Life Sciences, Joseph Bank Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Farnworth
- Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel S. Mills
- College of Life Sciences, Joseph Bank Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
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13
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Flat Feline Faces: Is Brachycephaly Associated with Respiratory Abnormalities in the Domestic Cat (Felis catus)? PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161777. [PMID: 27574987 PMCID: PMC5004878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been little research into brachycephalism and associated disorders in cats. A questionnaire aimed at cat owners was used to determine the relationship between feline facial conformation and owner-reported cat management requirements and respiratory abnormalities. Owner-submitted photographs of cats were used to develop novel measures of skull conformation. One thousand valid questionnaires were received. Within these there were 373 valid photographs that allowed measurement of muzzle ratio (M%) and 494 that allowed nose position ratio (NP%). The data included 239 cats for which both measurements were available. Owners reported lifestyle factors (e.g. feeding type, grooming routine, activity level), physical characteristics (e.g. hair length) and other health characteristics of their cat (e.g. tear staining, body condition score). A composite respiratory score (RS) was calculated for each cat using their owner’s assessment of respiratory noise whilst their cat was asleep and then breathing difficulty following activity. Multivariate analyses were carried out using linear models to explore the relationship between RS and facial conformation, and lifestyle risk factors. The results showed that reductions in NP% and M% were significantly associated with RS (P < 0.001 and P = 0.026, respectively) and that the relationship was significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.56, P < 0.001 for both). Respiratory score was also significantly associated with increased presence of tear staining (P < 0.001) and a sedentary lifestyle (P = 0.01). This study improves current knowledge concerning cats with breeding-related alterations in skull confirmation and indicates that brachycephalism may have negative respiratory implications for cat health and welfare, as has been previously shown in dogs.
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14
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O'Neill DG, Church DB, McGreevy PD, Thomson PC, Brodbelt DC. Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England. J Feline Med Surg 2015; 17:125-33. [PMID: 24925771 PMCID: PMC10816413 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x14536176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Enhanced knowledge on longevity and mortality in cats should support improved breeding, husbandry, clinical care and disease prevention strategies. The VetCompass research database of primary care veterinary practice data offers an extensive resource of clinical health information on companion animals in the UK. This study aimed to characterise longevity and mortality in cats, and to identify important demographic risk factors for compromised longevity. Crossbred cats were hypothesised to live longer than purebred cats. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise the deceased cats. Multivariable linear regression methods investigated risk factor association with longevity in cats that died at or after 5 years of age. From 118,016 cats attending 90 practices in England, 4009 cats with confirmed deaths were randomly selected for detailed study. Demographic characterisation showed that 3660 (91.7%) were crossbred, 2009 (50.7%) were female and 2599 (64.8%) were neutered. The most frequently attributed causes of mortality in cats of all ages were trauma (12.2%), renal disorder (12.1%), non-specific illness (11.2%), neoplasia (10.8%) and mass lesion disorders (10.2%). Overall, the median longevity was 14.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 9.0-17.0; range 0.0-26.7). Crossbred cats had a higher median longevity than purebred cats (median [IQR] 14.0 years [9.1-17.0] vs 12.5 years [6.1-16.4]; P <0.001), but individual purebred cat breeds varied substantially in longevity. In cats dying at or after 5 years (n = 3360), being crossbred, having a lower bodyweight, and being neutered and non-insured were associated with increased longevity. This study described longevity in cats and identified important causes of mortality and breed-related associations with compromised longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan G O'Neill
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK
| | - David B Church
- Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK
| | - Paul D McGreevy
- RMC Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter C Thomson
- RMC Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David C Brodbelt
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK
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15
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O'Neill D, Church D, McGreevy P, Thomson P, Brodbelt D. Prevalence of disorders recorded in cats attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Vet J 2014; 202:286-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Revised: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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16
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Mucha S, Wolc A, Gradowska A, Szwaczkowski T. Inbreeding rate and genetic structure of cat populations in Poland. J Appl Genet 2010; 52:101-10. [DOI: 10.1007/s13353-010-0018-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2010] [Revised: 11/15/2010] [Accepted: 11/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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17
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Egenvall A, Bonnett BN, Häggström J, Ström Holst B, Möller L, Nødtvedt A. Morbidity of insured Swedish cats during 1999-2006 by age, breed, sex, and diagnosis. J Feline Med Surg 2010; 12:948-59. [PMID: 21055987 PMCID: PMC11135553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2010.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2010] [Revised: 08/14/2010] [Accepted: 08/20/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to describe patterns of morbidity, as reflected by reimbursed claims for veterinary care among cats covered by a Swedish insurance company during 1999-2006. The annual incidence rates of having at least one veterinary care event were calculated overall and stratified by sex, age, breed, diagnosis and urban/other location. The total rate was 875 (95% CI 858-892) cats with claims per 10,000 cat-years at risk. The Siamese, Burmese, and the Abyssinians had high rates of claims, compared to the Norwegian Forest cat, the Maine Coon, the European Shorthair and domestic cats. The most common causes for insurance claims were trauma, gastrointestinal and lower urinary tract problems and there was substantial breed, sex and age variation for certain problems. For example, among cats under 9 years of age, the rate for lower urinary tract problems was 2-3 times higher in males than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agneta Egenvall
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Box 7054, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
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