2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

In conclusion, the increase in SDMA correlated with histopathologic findings in patients with neoplasia. Thus, SDMA is a more reliable estimate of kidney function in cats and dogs with cancer. his study investigated water intake and hydration in healthy cats and evaluated a nutrient-enriched water on hydration. Domestic shorthair cats (N = 18; mean age 9.8 yrsAESD 2.5; BCS 5-7 on 9point scale) received either tap-water (W; N = 9) or test-water containing whey protein and glycerol (TW; N = 9) for 56 days. Prior to treatment, a 7-d baseline established daily W and food consumption using a 2-bowl monitoring system with ad libitum water and dry food. Blood and urine samples were collected on days À1, 8, 15, 30, and 56 for urine specific gravity (USG), creatinine, and osmolality measurements. Endogenous creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated from sample collection on days 28-30 or 31-33. Baseline W and calorie intake were similar between groups. Although no difference was observed between groups during the treatment phase, TW group had a daily liquid increase of 52%, with a median intake across all days that ranged from 5% to 254% increase. Variance was controlled post hoc with cats characterized as responders (R:consumption >25%) and nonresponders (NR) (W: 2R/7NR versus TW: 7R/2NR; P = 0.02). Daily urine volume (mL/kg BW) was higher (P = 0.02) in TW (15.2 AE SE 1.8) versus the W treated cats (10.3 AE SE 0.7), but no difference (P = 0.60) between groups for GFR (1.8 AE SE 0.1 versus 1.9 AE SE 0.2, respectively). Baseline USG was similar between groups (1.052 g/mL), but declined (ANOVA P < 0.01) with TW (1.037 g/mL AESE 0.005) versus W (1.053 g/mL AESE 0.002). Serum osmolality was similar for both groups over the entire trial. This study suggests that specific nutrients added to a cat's water can improve liquid intake to significantly improve overall hydration, as determined by greater urine output and dilution, which may offer a health benefit to some cats in need of greater water consumption. Progressive interstitial nephritis (IN) is the primary cause of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) which affects as many as 50% of elderly cats and prevalence increases with age. Vaccination has been shown to be a risk factor for development of feline CKD. The Crandell Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cell line is commonly used to grow viruses for use in feline vaccine production. Repeated administration of a vaccine containing CRFK remnants as a model for interstitial nephritis was shown to induce strong antibody responses against CRFK lysates and against alpha-enolase, an immunodominant glycolytic pathway enzyme found in all mammalian cells that has been studied as a marker of inflammatory diseases in people. The primary objectives of this study were to further evaluate this potential model for IN by assessing samples from the cats for cell-mediated immune responses to alpha-enolase, by evaluating serum cytokine concentrations using a commercially available kit, and by describing changes in renal alpha-enolase staining patterns.