Characterization of ectoparasites in an urban cat (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) population of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ectoparasites are capable of transmitting infectious diseases and, therefore, are of zoonotic concern. Cats submitted to a spay/neuter program in the city of Rio de Janeiro were examined to determine the distribution of ectoparasites in cats from a city with a tropical climate. Independent of gender, breed, or age, 292 cats were combed and subjected to otoscopic examination. Ectoparasites were collected, and blood samples were taken to determine packed cell volume. The majority of the 292 cats were female (71%), and most of them were categorized as domestic short hair cats (92%). Different species of ectoparasites that produced both single agent and multi-agent infestations were detected in these cats. Most cats were infested by Ctenocephalides felis (60%); however, other ectoparasites were found to a lesser degree in the sampled population (Felicola subrostratus (5.4%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1.4%), Lynxacarus radovskyi (1%), and Otodectes cynotis (6.2%)). Within the infested cats, 16.3% were also anemic, and there was a significant association between the occurrence of anemia and flea infestation. Of all sampled cats, 65% were infested by at least one species of ectoparasites, which suggests both a heavy infestation of the environment and owner negligence. Ectoparasites are not only nuisances to both cats and owners, but they are also significant carriers of disease. Therefore, the implementation of rigorous, safe preventive measures is of great importance.

Escore de condição corporal como indicador do prognóstico de gatos com doença renal crônica / Body condition score as an indicator of prognosis for cats with chronic renal disease

A caquexia tem sido relacionada à maior mortalidade de pacientes com doença renal crônica, tanto em humanos, como em animais. O escore de condição corporal (ECC) pode ser utilizado em conjunto com o peso para melhor avaliação da composição corporal desses animais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi de correlacionar o escore de condição corporal com o prognóstico de felinos com doença renal crônica. Avaliaram-se 110 felinos idosos, dos quais 70 apresentavam-se hígidos (Grupo I) e 40 apresentavam doença renal crônica (Grupo II). No grupo I, apenas 5,7 por cento dos gatos apresentaram ECC abaixo do ideal e destes nenhum foi classificado como caquético. No grupo II, 70 por cento dos gatos apresentaram ECC abaixo do ideal, dos quais 32,5 por cento eram caquéticos. A taxa de mortalidade no grupo II foi significantemente maior naqueles caquéticos. O ECC abaixo do considerado ideal indica um prognóstico desfavorável nos pacientes com doença renal crônica.

Cachexia has been associated with higher mortality in patients with chronic renal disease both in human and veterinary medicine. Body condition score (BCS) can be used along with body weight for a better evaluation of a patient's body composition. The objective of this study was to associate body condition score with prognosis of cats with chronic renal disease. One hundred and ten elderly cats were evaluated; of which 70 were healthy (Group I) and 40 had been diagnosed with chronic renal disease (Group II). In Group I, only 5.7 percent of the cats presented a BCS below ideal, though none were found to be cachectic. In Group II, 70 percent of the cats presented a BCS below ideal, where 32.5 percent were cachectic. Mortality was significantly higher within the cachectic patients of Group II. BCS below ideal indicates a poor prognosis for patients with chronic renal disease.