• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.413-418
• /
• 2003

This survey of endoparasite infections among stray cats in Korea has been carried out during November 1995 to October 1997. A total of 215 stray cats were collected from SeoulㆍGyeonggi (54), Gangwon (38), Chungchong (34), Jeonla (38), and Gyeoungsang (51) areas. The positive rate of endoparasites was 184 (85.6%) cats among 215. Of isolated parasites, nematodes were the most often detected parasites especially Toxocara cati (102 cats), Ancylostoma tubaeformae (9 cats). The next most often detected parasites were cestodes (60/215; 27.9%) sepecially Spirometra erinaecei (34 cats), Taenia taeniaformis (26 cats). Opisthorchis tenuicollis was found in bile duct (9 cats) and Isospora spp. were identified in 41 cats (19.1 %). In mixed parasite infection, the rate of infections of nematodes, trematodes and protozoas was 3.3%, nematodes and cestodes with 8.8%, nematodes and protozoa with 4.2%, cestodes and protozoa with 1.9%. In parasitic infection by a considering age category, age from 2 to 4 years had the highest infection (92.3%), 1-2 years were 87.6%, over 4 years was 80.0%. 79.6 percents of the stray cats in SeoulㆍKyounggi areas were ranked the 1st in parasite infection. The next was Kyoungsang 76.5%, Kangwon 65.8%, Cholla 63.2% and Chungchong 61.8% in order. Considering age categories from birth to greater than 4 years, parasite infections were most prevalent in cats 2 to 4 years old; other ages seemed to have no effect on prevalence of parasitism. Also sex seemed to have no effect on prevalence of parasitism. In endoparasite infection, nematode and cestode infections were most frequently found, trematode infections were low, coccidiosis was showed very often.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.311-323
• /
• 2005

This study tested the effect of a trivalent (feline panleukopenia; FPV, feline viral rhinotracheitis; FHV, feline calicivirus infection; FCV) inactivated vaccine in cats. The vaccine was tested for the safety in guinea pigs, mice and cats. Also, it was tested for the efficacy in cats. The vaccine was inoculated to cats at 7~9 and 10~12 weeks of age (conventional schedule) and the serological response to vaccination was assessed and was compared to the unvaccinated group. All cats were bled by jugular venipuncture for FPV, FHV and FCV specific serological test (virus neutralizing antibody, VN) at 7~9, 10~12 and 13~15 weeks. After last bleeding, all cats were inoculated with each virus (FPV : orally $2ml\;10^{7.5}\;TCID_{50}/ml$, FHV : nasally $1ml\;10^{7.0}\;TCID_{50}/ml$ and FCV : nasally $1ml\;10^{7.0}\;TCID_{50}/ml$). The Vaccine verified excellent protective effect in guinea pigs, mice and cats. The VN antibody titers of the unvaccinated group cats against FPV, FHV and FCV were <2~16, on the other hand the vaccinated group cats were $512{\sim}{\geq}4096$, 64~1024 and 64~1024, respectively. When all cats were challenged with virulent viruses, the survival rates of the vaccinated group cats were over 80%, while the survival rates of the unvaccinated group cats were less 20%. The typical clinical signs were not observed in the vaccinated group cats, but the typical clinical signs and histopathological lesions were observed in the unvaccinated group cats. As the result of tests, the VN values obtained in this study appeared to be high enough to protect cats from viral challenges. The trivalent (FPV, FHV, and FCV) inactivated vaccine seemed to be very effective, for prevention of feline viral diseases (FPV, FHV, and FCV).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate double-pigtail ureteral stent fixation in cats. Medical records of 19 cats (23 ureters) with complete ureteral obstruction that double-pigtail ureteral stent placement were carried out were retrospectively reviewed. The cats were randomly classified into two groups; 13 cats (16 ureters) with double-pigtail ureteral stent fixed to urinary bladder (SF group) and 6 cats (7 ureters) with not fixed to urinary bladder (SNF group). The average age and weight of the cats was 7.4 years and 3.73 kg, respectively. Postoperative complications included chronic renal failure (n = 11), lower urinary track diseases (cystitis, hematuria, pollakiuria) (n = 7), stent migration (n = 6), anemia (n = 5), ascites (n = 2), hyperthermia (n = 1), enteritis (n = 1), oliguria (n = 1), hypotension (n = 1), ureteritis (n = 1), and pyelonephritis (n = 1). Stent migration did not occur in the 16 ureters of the cats in SF group but did occur in 4 out of 7 ureters of the cats in SNF group. The prevention of stent migration by stent fixation was significant (P = 0.04). Among the 13 cats in SF group, only 2 cats developed lower urinary track diseases, while 4 of the 6 cats in SNF group showed symptoms of lower urinary track disease. Thus, the cats that underwent double-pigtail ureteral stent fixation to the urinary bladder developed significantly fewer lower urinary diseases (P = 0.046). In conclusion, double-pigtail ureteral stent fixation to the urinary bladder for treatment of complete ureteral obstruction in cats can effectively prevent stent migration, which is common complication of stent placement.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 2022

This study was performed to investigate infectious gastrointestinal diseases in 115 Korean cats (83 indoors and 32 outdoors) with digestive signs such as diarrhea, anorexia or abdominal distention. Detection of infectious pathogens was analyzed using real-time PCR. As a result, 85 of 115 Korean cats were detected with feline corona virus (FCoV), feline parvo virus, Group A rotavirus, Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), Campylobacter coli (C. coli), Campylobacter jejuni, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Tritrichomonas foetus, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Giardia lamblia. The most frequently detected pathogen was C. perfringens (52 cats, 61.2%), followed by FCoV (43 cats, 50.6%) and C. coli (16 cats, 18.8%). Also, single infection was the most common (43 cats), followed by double infection in 31 cats, triple infection in 7 cats, and quadruple infection in 4 cats. There was no significant relationship between pathogen detection and age, gender, living environment, weather, and diarrhea. However, there was a significant difference between the age group under 1 year and the age group 1~7 (P value<0.05). In this study, cats with suspected gastrointestinal infection were randomly evaluated, and other factors that could affect pathogen detection were insufficiently considered. For this reason, additional epidemiological investigations with a larger number of cats and sufficient consideration of the causes that may affect the results are needed. Nevertheless, it is thought that this study can also provide valuable information on gastrointestinal pathogens in Korean cats.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.394-397
• /
• 1999

Thyroid imaging was performed in 53 hyperthyroid cats with technetium-99m as pertechnetate($^{99m}TcO_{4}$). Increased radionuclide accumulation was found in all cats. Thirty-four cats had bilateral enlargements of the thyroid glands and 14 cats had unilateral enlargements. Five cats had multi-focal accumulation of $^{99m}TcO_{4}$ in the ventral neck or mediastinum. Conclusively, nuclear thyroid image is useful method in diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.145-153
• /
• 2022

Pathogens such as feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Chlamydia felis, Mycoplasma felis and Pasteurella multocida usually cause feline upper respiratory tract disease (URTD). Real-time PCR was used to analyze the detection and prevalence of the most common respiratory pathogens in cats with (n=69) and without respiratory signs (n=31). Pathogens were detected in 53 cats, divided into 37 (69.8%) with a single pathogen, 15 (28.3%) with two pathogens, and 1 (1.9%) with three pathogens. M. felis had the highest detection rate in 29 (42.0%) cats, P. multocida was detected in 18 (26.1%), FHV in 10 (14.5%), FCV in 7 (10.1%), B. bronchiseptica in 3 (4.3%), and C. felis in 2 (2.9%). M. felis was the most frequently detected pathogen in cats living outdoors without vaccination. Of the 37 cats infected with single pathogen, nasal discharge was observed in 13 (35.1%), ocular signs in 6 (16.2%), drooling in 5 (13.5%), dyspnea in 3 (8.1%), and asymptomatic in 10 (27.0%). In 51 outdoor and 49 indoor cats, pathogens were detected in 35 (68.6%) and 18 (36.7%) cats, respectively. Of the 29 cats infected with M. felis, 22 (75.9%) showed respiratory signs, and 7 (24.1%) were healthy. In the age of the 53 positive cats, 10 (18.9%) were under the age of 1 year, 26 (49.1%) were aged 1~3 years, and 17 (32.1%) were aged 3 years or older. Although the number of cats in the study was small, the results can provide valuable data on the prevalence of URTD in Korean cats.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.333-338
• /
• 2013

We investigated the prevalence of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) in stray and household cats in different regions of Seoul, Republic of Korea. Blood samples were collected from a total of 200 cats (100 stray cats and 100 household cats) and examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The overall prevalence of FPV was 2%. Among test-positive cats, 3% (3/100) were stray cats and 1% (1/100) was a household cat. The incidence of FPV was higher in juvenile cats (< 1 year, 1.5%) than in adult cats (> 1-year-old, 0.5%). The FPV-positive rates of healthy infected cats and sick cats were 1.9% (3/156) and 2.2% (1/44), respectively. We found the positive rate of vaccinated and unvaccinated cats to be 1.3% (1/77) and 2.4% (3/123), respectively. Unlike antibody tests, FPV antigen tests detected current infections in stray and household cats. Therefore, these tests can help in disease diagnosis and treatment. To our knowledge, our study is the first to survey the prevalence of FPV in different cat populations across Seoul. We found a high prevalence of FPV infection in stray and juvenile cats. Therefore, proper vaccination and surveillance are important to prevent FPV outbreaks.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was 2-fold: 1) to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection in cats reared in Daegu, Republic of Korea and 2) to assess the efficacy and safety of a topical emodepside/praziquantel formulation for cats with parasitic infections. The gastrointestinal parasite infections were examined microscopically using the flotation method. Of 407 cats, 162 (39.8%) were infected by at least one gastrointestinal parasite, including Toxocara cati (63.0%), Toxascaris leonina (31.5%), Taenia taeniaeformis (3.7%), and Cystoisospora felis (1.9%). None of the infected animals had multiple infections. When the data were analyzed according to sex, age, and type of cat, stray cats showed statistically higher prevalence than companion cats (P<0.05). On the 5th day after treatment, no parasitic eggs were detected using microscopic examination. In addition, no adverse effects, such as abnormal behaviors and clinical symptoms, were observed in the cats treated with the drug. These results quantify the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cats in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and show that topical emodepside/praziquantel is a safe and effective choice for treating the parasitic infections in cats.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.414-422
• /
• 2023

Hearing assessment is critical in dogs and cats. Hearing loss in dogs and cats may be congenital or secondary to a central nervous system disorder or ear disease. The brainstem auditory-evoked response (BAER) test has been developed as an electrophysiological test for auditory function assessment. Modern BAER equipment is based on a computerized system. Thus, auditory function assessment can be performed using this objective, safe, and noninvasive method. No study has yet investigated the interspecies differences between BAER test results of dogs and cats. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the differences in BAER test results between dogs and cats. The test was conducted on four healthy adult dogs and four healthy adult cats. Regarding latency, lower values were obtained for all waveforms above 50 dB in cats compared to dogs. Regarding amplitude, cats showed higher values than dogs at intensities above 50 dB. Through a comparative analysis in this study, it was concluded that the two species had statistically significant differences. The BAER data of dogs cannot be applied to cats, and vice versa.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.357-361
• /
• 2013

Several epidemiological surveys have reported the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in stray cats in Korea, but little information is available on T. gondii infection in household cats. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection among household cats reared in Seoul, Korea. A total of 474 blood samples were collected from clinically healthy household cats. All samples were tested using ELISA and PCR. The risk factor analysis was based on a questionnaire filled out by the owners. The overall positive rate for ELISA and PCR assays was 2.2% (10/437) and 2.1% (10/474), respectively. With regard to the origin of cats, the positive rates among cats adopted from the animal shelter and veterinary clinic for stray cats were significantly different (P<0.05). Our study demonstrated that the positive rate of T. gondii infection in household cats was low and that this low prevalence was assumed to be associated with keeping the cats indoors and restriction of eating raw food and uncooked meat. Therefore, we suggest that the owners check the origin of the cats prior to adoption to prevent infection of other animals, including humans.