2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Ten pet cats of different breeds and ages with a diagnosis of chronic constipation, non-responsive to medical management were selected on the basis of recurrence of clinical signs and absence of any antibiotic treatment for a month. Three of these 10 cats suffered from IMC and full thickness biopsies were sampled for histology. In all animals enrolled in the study, the colon was found to be dilated and impacted with faeces, with the most severe dilatation occurring in the transverse and descending colon, as observed via imaging. CC (n = 7) and IMC (n = 3) cats received orally 200 billion lyophilized bacteria daily for 90 days. Cats were assessed clinically, endoscopically, and histologically at baseline (T0) and after the end of treatment (T1). Histological samples were scored, then evaluated for the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of CD117 + ICC, enteric neurons, glial cells, and gangliar cell apoptosis (these three latter parameters were evaluated only in the full thickness biopsy obtained at T0 from cats with IMC). Concerning CD117 IHC for ICC evaluation, mast cells, which are known to express the same antigen, were differentiated by staining with Alcian blue, and numbered. Data from constipated cats were compared before and after therapy, and with those obtained from healthy control tissues (archived material from five healthy cats) using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon matched pairs tests, where appropriate. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.