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Oliveira J, Dias MJ, Fontes AP, Englar RE, Vicente G, Ferreira RL, Galac S, Leal RO. Ultrasonographic Detected Adrenomegaly in Clinically Ill Cats: A Retrospective Study. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9080420. [PMID: 36006335 PMCID: PMC9413254 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9080420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This retrospective study aimed to assess the prevalence of ultrasonographic detected adrenomegaly in clinically ill cats, evaluating the final established diagnosis, describe adrenal ultrasound findings and if the adrenomegaly was suspected or incidental. Abdominal ultrasonography reports of cats presenting to a veterinary teaching hospital between October 2018 and February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Cats showing adrenomegaly (one or both glands having a dorsoventral axis >4.8 mm) were selected and medical records respectively evaluated. Nine-hundred and eighty-three ultrasonographical reports were selected, of which, 68 (7%) disclosed adrenomegaly. European/Domestic Short-Hair (62/68; 91%) male (44/68; 65%) castrated (35/44; 80%) cats were overrepresented. Adrenomegaly was an incidental finding in 62/68 (91%) cats while in 6/68 (9%) it was identified in the context of investigating a potential adrenal disease. Concerning established diagnosis, chronic kidney disease was overrepresented (25/68; 37%), followed by endocrinopathies (20/68; 29%). Adrenomegaly was bilateral in 53% (36/68) of cases. In unilateral cases (32/68; 47%), it was more prevalent on the left side (23/32; 72%), with a normal-sized contralateral adrenal gland. Left adrenal demonstrated a larger size and a tendency to oval shape. This study assesses the prevalence of adrenomegaly in clinically ill cats, reinforcing it can be an incidental ultrasound finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Oliveira
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Joana Dias
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- CIISA—Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Fontes
- School of Healthcare, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Ryane E. Englar
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, 1580 E Hanley Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ 85737, USA
| | - Gonçalo Vicente
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rui Lemos Ferreira
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Galac
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rodolfo Oliveira Leal
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- CIISA—Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Griffin S. Feline abdominal ultrasonography: What's normal? What's abnormal? The spleen. J Feline Med Surg 2021; 23:241-255. [PMID: 33627002 PMCID: PMC10812128 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x21993658] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE Abdominal ultrasound plays a vital role in the diagnostic work-up of many cats presenting to general and specialist practitioners. Ultrasound examination of the spleen provides important information to aid the investigation of several conditions and is particularly relevant when an enlarged or irregular spleen is identified during abdominal palpation. CLINICAL CHALLENGES Despite ultrasonography being a commonly used modality, many practitioners are not comfortable performing an ultrasound examination or interpreting the resulting images. Even for the experienced ultrasonographer, differentiating between incidental findings and pathological changes can be challenging. AIM This review, part of an occasional series on feline abdominal ultrasonography, discusses the ultrasound examination of the normal and diseased spleen. Aimed at general practitioners who wish to improve their knowledge of and confidence in feline abdominal ultrasound, this review is accompanied by high-resolution images and videos available online as supplementary material. EQUIPMENT Ultrasound facilities are readily available to most practitioners, although the use of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool is highly dependent on operator experience. EVIDENCE BASE Information provided in this article is drawn from the published literature and the author's own clinical experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Griffin
- BVSc, CertAVP, DipECVDI, Radiology Department, Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, Highlands Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 4NH, UK
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Griffin S. Feline abdominal ultrasonography: What's normal? What's abnormal? Renal pelvis, ureters and urinary bladder. J Feline Med Surg 2020; 22:847-865. [PMID: 32845227 PMCID: PMC11135665 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x20941786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE Abdominal ultrasound plays a vital role in the diagnostic work-up of many cats presenting to general and specialist practitioners. Ultrasound examination of the urinary tract provides important information useful in the investigation of several conditions including ureteral obstruction and cystitis. CLINICAL CHALLENGES Despite ultrasonography being a commonly used modality, many practitioners are not comfortable performing an ultrasound examination or interpreting the resulting images. Even for the experienced ultrasonographer, differentiating between incidental findings, such as lipid droplets in the bladder, and pathological changes can be challenging. AIM This review, part of an occasional series on feline abdominal ultrasonography, discusses the ultrasonographic examination of the normal and diseased renal pelvis, ureters and urinary bladder. Aimed at general practitioners who wish to improve their knowledge of and confidence in feline abdominal ultrasound, this review is accompanied by high-resolution images and videos available online as supplementary material. Ultrasound examination of the kidneys and perinephric space was discussed in an article published in May 2020. EQUIPMENT Ultrasound facilities are readily available to most practitioners, although the use of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool is highly dependent on operator experience. EVIDENCE BASE Information provided in this article is drawn from the published literature and the author's own clinical experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Griffin
- Radiology Department, Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, Highlands Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 4NH, UK
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Mediastinal histoplasmosis with cardiac involvement in a cat. J Vet Cardiol 2020; 31:15-22. [PMID: 32861029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvc.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Histoplasmosis is the second most common fungal infection reported among domestic felines in the United States. Dissemination of the organism after inoculation is common and affected organ systems include the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, reticuloendothelial organs, skeletal system, integument, and ocular system. However, histoplasmosis presenting as a discrete granulomatous mass identified on echocardiogram has never been reported in the veterinary literature. Here, we describe the first case of feline histoplasmosis presenting as a granuloma with cardiac involvement. The patient, a 6-year-old male neutered domestic longhair feline, was referred for tachypnea and dyspnea. A mass in the cranial mediastinum abutting the heart was diagnosed via two-dimensional echocardiography. Cytology of fine needle aspirates from the mass revealed round yeast structures consistent with Histoplasma spp. The patient was treated with oral fluconazole therapy, and subsequent rechecks have shown marked improvement in clinical parameters, lesion size, and antigen concentrations.
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Clothier KA, Villanueva M, Torain A, Reinl S, Barr B. Disseminated histoplasmosis in two juvenile raccoons (Procyon lotor) from a nonendemic region of the United States. J Vet Diagn Invest 2014; 26:297-301. [DOI: 10.1177/1040638714521207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Two 6-month-old raccoon kits, which had been rescued and fostered in preparation for return to the wild, became acutely ill and died 3 weeks before scheduled release. At necropsy, the kits had grossly enlarged livers and spleens, diffusely consolidated lungs, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Histologically, extensive infiltrates of macrophages containing yeast organisms were identified in lung, liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes, intestinal tissues, brain, adrenal gland, bone marrow, and thymus of both animals. Histiocytic inflammation with accompanying fibrosis was widespread, with necrotic foci evident in lungs, spleen, and intestinal sections. Fungal organisms were observed on sheep blood agar plates; however, repeated subcultures to fungal media designed to induce conidial structures for fungal identification were unsuccessful. Partial DNA sequencing of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene of the blood agar isolate identified 100% homology with Ajellomyces capsulatus (anamorphic name Histoplasma capsulatum). The kits were rescued and fostered in the San Francisco Bay area and it is likely that the exposure to H. capsulatum occurred in this area. Histoplasma sp. infection in wild mammal species is often used as an indication of spore contamination of a geographic region. Northern California is not known to be an endemic region for H. capsulatum, which is not a reportable disease in this state. The presence of severe, disseminated disease and the need for molecular identification associated with the isolate from a nonendemic region identified in the present report may indicate genetic adaptation and altered characteristics of this agent and may warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin A. Clothier
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (Clothier, Villanueva, Torain, Reinl, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology (Clothier, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
| | - Michelle Villanueva
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (Clothier, Villanueva, Torain, Reinl, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology (Clothier, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
| | - Andrea Torain
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (Clothier, Villanueva, Torain, Reinl, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology (Clothier, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
| | - Steve Reinl
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (Clothier, Villanueva, Torain, Reinl, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology (Clothier, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
| | - Bradd Barr
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (Clothier, Villanueva, Torain, Reinl, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology (Clothier, Barr), University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
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