Mycobacterial infections in cats (and dogs) – focusing on tuberculosis (2020)

This talk will discuss the increasing recognition of these important potentially zoonotic and nosocomial infections in pet cats (and dogs) in the UK. Almost ~1% of all feline tissue biopsies sent for routine pathology in laboratories in the UK have histopathology changes consistent with mycobacterial infections; of these cases, ~35% have tuberculosis (TB); ~20% caused by Mycobacterium microti (the Vole bacillus) and ~15% caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Most cases of Tb and non-Tb mycobacterial infections are cutaneous and/or affect local lymph nodes, especially submandibular or popliteal. Making a diagnosis can be complex, typically involving Ziehl-Neelsen staining, specialist culture, PCR tests and/or IFNgamma release assay [IGRA]).

We will review management options. While treating a cat of TB may be contentious, >70% gain long-term remission following treatment with 3 drugs for 4-6 months. Before treatment consider potential risks: M. bovis is Notifiable in the UK; TB is potentially zoonotic, extent and severity of the cat’s clinical signs; exposed immunosuppressed people; expense and potential toxicity of treatment; and cat and owner compliance.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis – A new era in diagnosis and treatment (September 2021)

Until very recently, potential cases of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) made my heart sink. This heart-breaking disease is frustratingly difficult to diagnose, and when we get close to confirming a case pre-mortem, it is almost invariably fatal. That is still the case in most of the world, but in the UK (and Australia), we now have legal Remdesivir. This is a wonderful positive spin-out from the Covid pandemic. However, this new treatment is not without pain and cost, so making the correct diagnosis is essential.

This webinar will consider all of the current diagnostic options, plus their limitations, enabling participants to make pragmatic and realistic diagnostic plans. While discussing how best to use Remdesivir, the papers that support its use, unpublished findings, and legal considerations, we will also examine other treatment options, including interferon omega, polyprenyl immuno-stimulant, and 3C-like protease inhibitor (GC376), and their potential role in these cases.