ABSTRACT
A 1-year-old Miniature Horse filly was presented for chronic lethargy and hyporexia. Elevated liver enzymes, bile acids, and ammonia were noted on bloodwork. The primary differential diagnosis was a portosystemic shunt (PSS). Three-phase computed tomographic angiography findings were consistent with a transhepatic portosystemic shunt. Percutaneous liver biopsy confirmed severe diffuse hepatic changes, most likely due to chronic pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicosis, and medical management was elected. Based on an extensive literature review, this is the first report of a transhepatic portosystemic collateral vessel in a horse. Computed tomographic angiography is feasible and useful for the diagnosis of PSS in miniature horses.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Feline obesity is common, afflicting ~25-40% of domestic cats. Obese cats are predisposed to many metabolic dyscrasias, such as insulin resistance, altered blood lipids, and feline hepatic lipidosis. Fibroblast Growth Factor-21 (FGF21) is an endocrine hormone that mediates the fat-liver axis, and in humans and animals, FGF21 can ameliorate insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity. Activation of the FGF21 pathway may have therapeutic benefits for obese cats. Methods: In this preliminary cross-sectional study, ad libitum fed, purpose-bred, male-neutered, 6-year-old, obese and overweight cats were administered either 10 mg/kg/day of an FGF21 mimetic (FGF21; n = 4) or saline (control; n = 3) for 14 days. Body weight, food, and water intake were quantified daily during and 2 weeks following treatment. Changes in metabolic and liver parameters, intrahepatic triglyceride content, liver elasticity, and gut microbiota were evaluated. Results: Treatment with FGF21 resulted in significant weight loss (~5.93%) compared to control and a trend toward decreased intrahepatic triglyceride content. Cats treated with FGF21 had decreased serum alkaline phosphatase. No significant changes were noted in liver elasticity, serum, liver, or metabolic parameters, or gut microbiome composition. Discussion: In obese and overweight cats, activation of the FGF21 pathway can safely induce weight loss with trends to improve liver lipid content. This exploratory study is the first to evaluate the FGF21 pathway in cats. Manipulation of the FGF21 pathway has promising potential as a therapeutic for feline obesity. Further studies are needed to see if FGF21-pathway manipulation can be therapeutic for feline hepatic lipidosis.
ABSTRACT
In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.
Subject(s)
Pathology, Veterinary , Veterinarians , Animals , Humans , United StatesABSTRACT
A 25-y-old Percheron mare was admitted to the teaching hospital because of lethargy and intractable dyspnea. Thoracoabdominal ultrasound examination identified severe peritoneal effusion, mild bilateral pleural effusion, and a diffuse pulmonary nodular pattern. Cytology of peritoneal fluid revealed a hypercellular sample with clusters of neoplastic polygonal cells and admixed macrophages. Euthanasia was followed by postmortem examination; marked bi-cavitary effusion was present, and innumerable up to 4-cm diameter, round-to-floriform nodules were diffusely evident throughout serosal surfaces as well as the pulmonary and hepatic parenchyma. Disseminated adenocarcinoma, predominantly affecting lung and liver with widespread serosal implantation, was confirmed on light microscopy. Neoplastic cells had strong immunolabeling for pancytokeratin and lacked immunoreactivity to vimentin, napsin A, and Pax8. Cytokeratin 7 and thyroid transcription factor-1 were non-contributory given absent and inconsistent internal control reactivity, respectively. Such results, combined with the lack of a major mass that would indicate a primary site, were supportive of carcinoma of unknown primary site, which remains a conundrum in human oncology, and is poorly explored in veterinary medicine, mainly as a result of clinical and diagnostic limitations.
