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The present study aimed to estimate the proportion of bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) in dogs and cats, assess risks associated with bacterial UTI, and to determine bacterial isolates' antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance pattern from the urinary tract of dogs and cats with urologic problems. The medical records from animals visiting Chiang Mai University Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016 were reviewed. In total, 203 dogs and 49 cats with urinary tract diseases that had samples submitted for bacterial culture were identified;198 and 24 bacterial isolates were recovered from dogs' and cats' submitted samples, respectively. At least one episode of bacterial UTI was detected in 75.4% (95% CI: 69.4-81.3) of dogs and in 40.8% (95% CI: 26.6-55.1) of cats with UTI and submitted urine cultures. Of 242 submitted urinary samples from dogs and 60 urinary samples from cats, bacteria were identified in 74.0% (95% CI: 68.4-79.5) and 38.3% (95% CI: 26.0-50.6), respectively. The most common pathogen of bacteria positive cultured from dogs was Staphylococcus spp. (30.3%), followed by Escherichia coli (16.7%), and Proteus spp. (13.6%). For cats, the most common pathogen was Pseudomonas spp. (25.0%), followed by E. coli (20.8%) and Proteus spp. (16.7%). Staphylococcus spp. isolates from dogs and Proteus spp. isolates from cats were highly susceptible to Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC) at 88% and 75%, respectively. Of all isolated bacteria, 67.1% of the bacteria from dogs and 83.3% from cats were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The proportion of MDR-bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats with urologic problems in this study was high. This observation raises concerns regarding the potential of zoonotic transmission of MDR-bacteria from these companion animals. The results suggested that AMC remains a good empirical drug for treating UTIs in dogs in this region.

Cats are a reservoir forWe collected blood samples from 161 client-owned cats at veterinary clinics and hospitals throughout the Bangkok Metropolitan area from 2017 to 2020. The samples underwent hematological biochemical tests, feline retroviral status evaluation,The prevalence ofIn endemic countries or areas, cat owners must be made aware of the risk of exposure to

In Thailand, leptospirosis is considered an emerging disease in humans and animals. Many species can shed pathogenic Leptospira, including domestic cats (felis catus), which might be able to pose a risk to humans. There are no studies on Leptospira infections in cats in Thailand, but in other countries, it was demonstrated that cats can shed pathogenic Leptospira with high prevalences. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether outdoor cats in Thailand shed pathogenic Leptospira in their urine, and to determine antibody prevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospira infection. Two hundred and sixty outdoor cats were prospectively recruited. Urine samples were tested by real-time PCR targeting the lipL32 gene of pathogenic Leptospira. Urine was additionally cultured for 6 months in Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson- Harris medium to grow Leptospira. Antibodies against 24 serovars (Australis, Bratislava, Autumnalis, Rachmati, Ballum, Bataviae, Paidjan, Broomi, Canicola, Anhoa, Celledoni, Cynopteri, Djasiman, Grippotyphosa, Copenhageni, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Coxi, Khorat, Pomona, Pyrogenes, Haemolytica, Saxkoebing, Sejroe, Patoc) belonging to 16 serogroups were determined using microscopic agglutination tests. Risk factors were analysed by Fisher's exact test. Urine samples of 2/260 cats (0.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1%-2.8%) were PCRpositive, but none of the 260 urine samples was culture-positive. Leptospira antibodies were detected in 14/260 cats (5.4%; 95% CI: 3.0%-8.6%) with titers ranging from 1:20 to 1:160 (serovars: Autumnalis, Anhoa, Celledoni, Djasiman, Copenhageni, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Patoc). Cats aged ≥ 4 years were significantly more often infected with Leptospira than younger cats. No other significant risk factors were found. In conclusion, outdoor cats in Thailand can shed DNA and, possibly, viable, pathogenic Leptospira in their urine, although at a much lower prevalence than expected when compared to countries with similar climate. Thus, cats can be a potential source of infection for people. Further studies are needed to determine the role of cats in transmitting this zoonotic disease in Thailand.

Additional file 2 : Table S2. Risk factor analysis for dogs with urinary shedding of Leptospira determined by PCR. Univariate and multivariate analysis for risk factors associated with positive urine PCR results in 12/273 dogs. For multivariate analysis, backward stepwise selection based on Wald was performed for the following categories: age, breed, sex, neutering status, origin, and environment.

Additional file 1 : Table S1. Risk factor analysis for dogs with MAT antibody titers (≥1:20) against Leptospira. Univariate and multivariate analysis for risk factors associated with MAT titers (cut-off: ≥1:20) in 33/273 dogs. For multivariate analysis, backward stepwise selection based on Wald was performed for the following categories: age, breed, sex, neutering status, origin, and environment.

Objectives Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant disease in cats. Identifying risk and protective factors may help to prevent this significant disease. Methods An age-matched case-control study was performed to determine the risk factors in cats with naturally occurring CKD. Twenty-nine clinically normal cats aged ⩾5 years and 101 cats with naturally occurring CKD were studied. Risk factors were determined by interviewing cat owners from the Small Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, and veterinary hospitals in the Bangkok Metropolitan area, through questionnaires completed between June 2004 and November 2014. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed using two independent proportional test methods and logistic regression analysis with backward elimination. Results Male sex (odd ratios [OR] 2.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–8.87; P = 0.02), tap water (OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.08–11.45; P = 0.03) and an outdoor lifestyle (OR 3.77, 95% CI 1.03–17.99; P = 0.04) were associated with an increased risk for CKD. Commercial dry cat food (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.02–0.17; P = 0.00), filtered water (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.03–0.52; P = 0.01) and an indoor lifestyle (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.07–0.98; P = 0.02) were associated with a decreased risk. Logistic regression analysis using backward elimination demonstrated that cats fed commercial dry cat food (OR 0.042, 95% CI 0.01–0.17; P = 0.00) had a decreased risk for CKD compared with cats on other types of diet. Conclusions and relevance Multivariable analysis found only feeding commercial dry cat food to be significant, suggesting that commercial dry cat food may be a potential protective factor for CKD in cats.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common diseases in geriatric cats. The objective of this study was to determine oxidative stress in CKD cats by measuring changes in reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio in cats with naturally occurring chronic kidney disease (CKD). Thirteen clinically normal client-owned aged-matched cats and 23 naturally occurring CKD cats were included. Completed blood count, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, GSH, GPx, GSSG, and GSH/GSSG ratio were measured on the first day of diagnosis. The results showed that CKD cats had significantly lower GSH, GPx, and GSH/GSSG ratio levels (2.77 ± 0.27 mM, 2.32 ± 0.40 nmol/min and 148.26 ± 34.19) than the clinically normal client-owned age-matched cats (4.23 ± 0.67 mM, 6.68 ± 0.79 nmol/min and 312.64 ± 76.80). The GSSG in the CKD cats (35.20 ± 4.37 μM) was significantly higher than in the clinically normal client-owned age-matched cats (19.66 ± 2.75 μM). The results indicated that cats with naturally occurring CKD experience oxidative stress.

A 5-year-old, female neutered Persian cat was admitted to the Small Animal Hospital (Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand) with clinical signs of dysuria, haematuria and partial urethral obstruction that had manifested over several months. The animal also had hyperkalaemia and severe azotaemia at the time of presentation. Urinalysis showed haematuria, pyuria and the presence of several transitional cells. In addition, ultrasonography demonstrated an extraluminal mass between the neck of urinary bladder and the colon. Fine-needle aspiration of the mass revealed a fungal form with branching and septate hyphae. Consequently, itraconazole treatment was prescribed and clinical signs of improvement were seen after 7 days. However, 1 month later, the cat died of acute anaemia. Necropsy revealed the presence of extraluminal multifocal fungal granuloma at the neck of the urinary bladder, and contracted kidneys. Histopathological analysis of the fungal granuloma was found to be composed of branching, septate hyphal fungi together with inflammatory cells. Subsequent fungal culture and identification revealed this to be a species of Penicillium.

Objectives The objective was to compare urine protein, urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) index between cats with idiopathic cystitis and clinically normal cats. Methods Urine and blood samples were collected from 19 clinically normal cats and 19 cats with idiopathic cystitis without azotaemia at the time of first presentation. Urine protein, urine creatinine and UPC were measured. Additionally, the urinary NAG concentration was measured using the colorimetric method, and the NAG index was calculated by dividing the urinary NAG concentration by the urine creatinine ratio. Results Urine protein concentration (mean ± SEM) was four times higher in cats with idiopathic cystitis (218.29 ± 58.95) than in clinically normal cats (56.13 ± 9.95) (P 2 = 0.512; P Conclusions and relevance Cats with idiopathic cystitis had increased amounts of urine protein and an increased UPC. Further study is needed to address the role of urinary NAG and its relationship with glycosaminoglycan levels in cats with idiopathic cystitis.

The effect of metabolic acidosis on calcium–phosphorus homeostasis in cats with spontaneous chronic kidney disease (CKD) was studied. The cats were assigned into the clinically normal cats (n = 6), CKD (n = 9), and CKD with metabolic acidosis (12 cats). The CKD cats were cats with a blood urea nitrogen ≥50 mg/dl and creatinine level ≥2.1 mg/dl. A complete blood count, sodium, potassium, total calcium, adjusted calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D levels were measured. The cats with spontaneous CKD had a significantly lower hemoglobin and pack cell volume than the clinically normal cats. The CKD cats with metabolic acidosis had mean creatinine levels of 7.12 ± 0.76 mg/dl (severe azotemic stage) and significantly increased levels of parathyroid hormone and plasma phosphorus levels which indicated the presence of renal secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Feline chronic renal failure was recognized with increased frequency in Maine coon, Abyssinian, Siamese, Russian blue, and Burmese cats. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between parathyroid hormone (PTH) level, calcium, and phosphorus homeostasis and the development of various stages of the naturally occurring chronic renal failure (CRF) in cats. Thirty-two CRF cats without history of receiving special diet for renal diseases that were presented to the Small Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University were studied. Nineteen CRF cats were followed prospectively for 60 days and divided into two groups: uremic group (11 cats) and end-stage group (eight cats). The control group (13 cats) were normal cats, which were brought for vaccination at the same hospital within the same period. CRF cats with blood urea nitrogen concentrations of more than 50 mg/dl, serum creatinine level of more than 2.1 mg/dl, and urine specific gravity of between 1.008 and 1.014 were included into the study. Completed blood count, blood chemistry, electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, total calcium, and phosphorus, and PTH levels were measured on days 0, 14, 30, and 60 after the first diagnosis. The results showed that cats with CRF had significantly lower red blood cells, hemoglobin, and pack cell volume than control cats (p < 0.01) on days 0, 14, 30, and 60. PTH levels on first day of diagnosis were 50.51 ± 19.65, 79.41 ± 28.12, and 183.37 ± 50.12 pg/ml in controls, uremic, and end-stage groups, respectively. Cats in end-stage group had significantly increased levels of PTH when compared to control (p < 0.01) and uremic groups (p < 0.05) on days 0, 14, and 30. Serum phosphorus levels also increased significantly in end-stage group (p < 0.001), indicating the presence of renal secondary hyperparathyroidism. This study reveals that PTH level is significantly increased in end-stage CRF cats who did not received special diet for renal diseases. The development of renal secondary hyperparathyroidism in end-stage CRF cats significantly decreased its survival rate.

Objective—To test the hypothesis that breed, age, sex, body condition, and environment are risk factors for development of calcium oxalate uroliths in dogs. Design—Case-control study. Animals—1,074 dogs that formed calcium oxalate uroliths and 1,724 control dogs that did not have uroliths. Procedure—A validated multiple-choice questionnaire was designed to collect information from veterinarians and owners within 1 year of the date of urolith detection concerning signalment and environment of the dogs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios to assess whether breed, age, sex, body condition, and environment were risk factors for calcium oxalate urolith formation. Results—Middle-aged (8- to 12-year-old) castrated male dogs had increased risk for formation of calcium oxalate uroliths. Urolith formation was also associated with increasing age. Dogs of certain breeds, including Miniature and Standard Schnauzer, Lhasa Apso, Yorkshire Terrier, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, and Miniature and Toy Poodle, had increased risk for developing calcium oxalate uroliths. Overweight dogs also had increased risk. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Knowledge of patient and environmental risk factors for development of calcium oxalate uroliths may facilitate development of surveillance strategies that result in earlier detection of this disease. Modification of environmental factors and body weight may minimize calcium oxalate urolith formation and recurrence. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;217:515–519)

Objective—To determine the effects of once-daily oral administration of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) on plasma and urine glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentrations in cats with idiopathic cystitis (IC). Animals—19 cats with IC and 10 clinically normal cats. Procedures—Cats with IC were randomly assigned to receive 250 mg of NAG in capsule form orally once daily for 28 days (n = 12) or a placebo (capsule containing cellulose) orally once daily for the same period (7). In cats with IC, plasma and urine GAG concentrations and urine creatinine concentration were measured on days 0 (immediately before first dose), 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56. For purposes of comparison, those variables were measured in 10 clinically normal cats on day 0. Results—Mean ± SEM urine GAG-to-creatinine concentration ratios (day 0 data) for cats with IC and clinically normal cats differed significantly (3.11 ± 0.62 μg/mL and 14.23 ± 3.47 μg/mL, respectively). For cats with IC, mean plasma GAG concentration in NAG-treated cats (39.96 ± 5.34 μg/mL) was higher than that in placebo-treated cats (24.20 ± 3.35 μg/mL) on day 21. In the NAG-treated cats, plasma GAG concentration on days 21 (39.96 ± 5.34 μg/mL) and 28 (39.91 ± 6.74 μg/mL) differed significantly from the day 0 concentration (27.46 ± 3.90μg/mL). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Cats with IC have lower urinary GAG-to-creatinine concentration ratios than did clinically normal cats. Administration of NAG (250 mg, PO, q 24 h) significantly increased plasma GAG concentrations in cats with IC after 21 days of treatment.

Objective—To identify factors in dry diets associated with the occurrence of calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths in dogs. Animals—600 dogs with CaOx uroliths and 898 dogs without urinary tract diseases. Procedure—Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Results—Compared with diets with the highest concentrations of sodium, dry diets with the lowest concentrations of sodium, phosphorus, calcium, chloride, protein, magnesium, or potassium were linearly associated with increased risk of CaOx urolith formation. Significant nonlinear associations between increased occurrence of CaOx uroliths and urine acidifying potential and low moisture content were observed. Significant nonlinear associations between decreased occurrence of CaOx uroliths and carbohydrate and fiber contents were observed. A significant association between the occurrence of CaOx uroliths and dietary fat was not observed. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that dry diets formulated to contain high concentrations of protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride may minimize formation of CaOx uroliths. In addition, comparison of risk and protective factors of various diet ingredients fed to dogs with CaOx uroliths suggests that although similar findings were observed in canned and dry formulations, in general, greater risk is associated with dry formulations. However, before these hypotheses about dietary modifications are adopted by food manufacturers, they must be investigated by use of appropriately designed clinical studies of dogs with CaOx urolithiasis. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:330–337)

Objective—To identify dietary factors in commercially available canned foods associated with the development of calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths in dogs. Animals—117 dogs with CaOx uroliths and 174 dogs without urinary tract disease. Procedure—Case dogs were those that developed CaOx uroliths submitted to the Minnesota Urolith Center for quantitative analysis between 1990 and 1992 while fed a commercially available canned diet. Control dogs were those without urinary tract disease evaluated at the same veterinary hospital just prior to or immediately after each case dog. A content-validated multiple-choice questionnaire was mailed to each owner of case and control dogs with the permission of the primary care veterinarian. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions for each dietary component were performed to test the hypothesis that a given factor was associated with CaOx urolith formation. Results—Canned foods with the highest amount of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, or moisture were associated with a decreased risk of CaOx urolith formation, compared with diets with the lowest amounts. In contrast, canned diets with the highest amount of carbohydrate were associated with an increased risk of CaOx urolith formation. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Feeding canned diets formulated to contain high amounts of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and moisture and a low amount of carbohydrate may minimize the risk of CaOx urolith formation in dogs. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:163–169)

Objective—To identify dietary factors associated with the increase in occurrence of calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths and the decrease in occurrence of magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) uroliths in cats. Design—Case-control study. Animals—173 cats with CaOx uroliths, 290 cats with MAP uroliths, and 827 cats without any urinary tract diseases. Procedure—Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Results—Cats fed diets low in sodium or potassium or formulated to maximize urine acidity had an increased risk of developing CaOx uroliths but a decreased risk of developing MAP uroliths. Additionally, compared with the lowest contents, diets with the highest moisture or protein contents and with moderate magnesium, phosphorus, or calcium contents were associated with decreased risk of CaOx urolith formation. In contrast, diets with moderate fat or carbohydrate contents were associated with increased risk of CaOx urolith formation. Diets with the highest magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, chloride, or fiber contents and moderate protein content were associated with increased risk of MAP urolith formation. On the other hand, diets with the highest fat content were associated with decreased risk of MAP urolith formation. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that diets formulated to contain higher protein, sodium, potassium, moisture, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium contents and with decreased urine acidifying potential may minimize formation of CaOx uroliths in cats. Diets formulated to contain higher fat content and lower protein and potassium contents and with increased urine acidifying potential may minimize formation of MAP uroliths. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;219:1228–1237)