Karra D. PhD Student, Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
Moraiti K. PhD Student, Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
Lidbury J. Associate Professor, Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Steiner J. Regents Professor and University Distinguished Professor, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
Xenoulis P. Associate Professor, Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
Introduction
Chronic enteropathies (CE) are common in cats and are often seen in conjunction with pancreatitis whereas the prevalence of concurrent CE and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in cats is unknown. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of pancreatitis and EPI in cats with CE.
Materials and methods
A total of 40 cats with CE (24 with inflammatory bowel disease and 16 with gastrointestinal lymphoma) were enrolled. Serum samples were available from the initial presentation as well as from reexaminations. Serum fPLI and fTLI concentrations were measured to screen for pancreatitis and EPI, respectively.
Results
Serum fPLI was indicative of pancreatitis (≥ 5.4 μg/L) in 8/40 (20%) cats and fTLI was indicative of EPI (< 8 μg/L) in 2/40 (5%) cats. Serum fPLI and fTLI were within the grey zone in 10/40 (25%; 3.8 - 5.3 μg/L) and in 1/40 (2.5%; 8 – 12 μg/L) cats with CE, respectively.
Conclusions
The prevalence of pancreatitis in cats with CE is high, while it seems that a smaller percentage of cats develop EPI. This is the first study that reports the coexistence of EPI and CE, further studies are needed to evaluate EPI in cats with CE.
References
- Marsilio S (2021) Feline chronic enteropathy. J Small Anim Pract 62(6),409–19.
- Xenoulis PG, Steiner JM (2012) Canine and feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity. Vet Clin Pathol 1(3),312–24.
- Xenoulis PG (2015) Diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs and cats. J Small Anim Pract 56(1),13–26.
