Turkish Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Investigation of some infectious agents in cats with a history of infertility

Sebnem Mete, Taha Burak Elifoglu, Ibrahim Mert POLAT, İlknur Pir Yagci — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Infertility is defined as a reduction in the ability to reproduce. Pregnancy loss includes all causes leading to the termination of pregnancy, such as embryonic death, fetal resorption, abortion at any stage of gestation, and stillbirth. Viral pathogens are the most frequently reported infectious causes of abortion. Among these viruses are Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPLV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Coronavirus (FCoV), and Feline Herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1). Toxoplasma gondii is considered a potential cause of infertility due to its ability to act as an intermediate host in cats and to localize in the genital organs during pregnancy, leading to abortion. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of common infectious agents in queens with a history of infertility and to investigate their potential impact on infertility. A total of 80 female cats of different breeds were included in the presented study. Samples were primarily collected from females with a history of abortions, delayed estrus, silent estrus, or those from litters with a high rate of neonatal mortality. Blood samples obtained from each cat were serologically evaluated by ELISA for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, FCoV, FeLV, FIV, and Chlamydia felis. In kittens born to seropositive queens with infertility issues, various problems were also observed (neonatal death, congenital anomalies, ocular disorders, low birth weights, diarrhoea). Groups with multiple positive results had higher rates of abortion and early loss, and developmental problems were detected in kittens. In conclusion, infectious diseases in queens with infertility issues can lead to severe conditions and significant neonatal losses. Further studies are required to understand the importance of this issue and the long-term effects of the associated pathologies.

Evolution of the Effect of Canine Parvovirus (CPV) AB Value on Recovery Time and Survival Rate in Dogs Infected with CPV

Ahmet YURTSEVEN, Sibel Yasa Duru — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Parvoviral enteritis is a viral disease that commonly presents with clinical symptoms such as vomiting, hemorrhagic enteritis, and lethargy. Many studies have been conducted on the prevention and treatment of the disease. Prevention methods are more prominent than treatment methods, and vaccination is of utmost importance. If vaccination is not performed at a sufficient level or with appropriate procedures, the desired level of immunity is not achieved, and full protection cannot be provided. In our study, stool samples taken from patients with sterile swabs were immersed in dilution solution and waited, then dropped into the test kit with the help of a vacuum pipette, and individuals with double lines were considered parvoviral enteritis was accepted as positive. Blood was taken from patients with positive test results into a gel yellow capped blood collection tube and sera were obtained by centrifugation. 100 microliters of the mixture were taken and dropped into the relevant section of the CPV Ab test kit and evaluated with the V - check V200 automatic veterinary hormone analysis and immunity test device after 10 minutes. Serum parvovirus Ab levels of 40 patients (22 female, 18 male) who were vaccinated in various numbers were examined with the V-check V 200 automatic veterinary hormone analysis and immunity test device. Data were obtained showing that 80% of patients with high and medium level protection survived and 52.5% of all patients survived. It was observed that factors such as gender and number of vaccinations had no effect on survival. The possibility of 2 doses of vaccination with a large sample size was considered.

Investigation of Skin-Gut Axis Interaction in Demodex canis-Infected Dogs via Serum Zonulin Concentrations

Hande ÖZLER, Buğrahan Bekir Yağcı — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Demodicosis is a common dermatological condition in dogs, resulting from the uncontrolled proliferation of Demodex canis mites. Disruption of the intestinal barrier integrity can trigger not only infectious and inflammatory diseases but also extraintestinal disorders, including dermatological conditions. In this context, zonulin, the only known physiological regulator of tight junctions within the intestinal epithelium, holds particular significance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Demodex canisinfection on serum zonulin levels in dogs and to contribute to the understanding of the complex and bidirectional relationship between dermatological diseases and intestinal barrier integrity. The study included a total of 25 adult dogs of various ages and sexes: 15 dogs diagnosed as Demodex canis-positive by microscopic examination and 10 healthy control dogs with similar age and sex distribution. Dogs in the affected group were evaluated at two time points—before and after treatment—to assess therapeutic efficacy. Serum zonulin levels in all groups were measured using the ELISA method. The results revealed that pre-treatment serum zonulin levels in dogs with Demodex canis infection (mean 12.8 ± 3.735 ng/mL) were significantly higher than both post-treatment values (mean 4.096 ± 2.693 ng/mL) and those of the healthy control group (mean 2.177 ± 1.953 ng/mL). Statistical analysis demonstrated a highly significant mean difference of 8.704 ng/mL between pre- and post-treatment groups (p < 0.0001), and a mean difference of 10.623 ng/mL between the pre-treatment and control groups (p < 0.0001). Conversely, the difference in serum zonulin levels between the post-treatment and control groups (mean 1.919 ng/mL) was not statistically significant (p = 0.2706). These findings indicate that zonulin levels are significantly elevated in dogs with demodicosis, suggesting a disruption of intestinal barrier function during Demodex canis infection. The observed increase in zonulin may also reflect an associated systemic inflammatory response. The normalization of serum zonulin levels following treatment implies a restoration of intestinal barrier integrity. Overall, the results highlight the potential involvement of the gut-skin axis in the pathophysiology of Demodex canis infections.

Shear Wave Elastography as a Diagnostic Tool for Feline Hepatic Lipidosis: A Case Report

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Hepatik lipidoz (HL), ayda sık görülen bir hastalık hastalığıdır. Histopatoloji açısından altın standart olmaya devam etsin de, invaziv olmayan tanı araçlara olan ihtiyaç giderek artmaktadır. Bu vaka raporlarında, hepatik parankimal programlama Shear Wave Elastografisi (SWE) ve Bilgisayarlı Tomografi (BT) kullanılarak değerlendirildiği, HL tanısı konmuş yaşlı bir kedi sunulmaktadır. SWE ölçümleri, sol lobda 30,42 kPa ve sağ lobda 19,68 kPa kalp hızı ayrıntıları ortaya çıkıyor; bu değerler, sağlıklı bağlantılar için referans aralıklarından önemli ölçüde daha yüksektir. BT görüntülemesi, zekada azalmış zayıflama ve lipid infiltrasyonuyla uyumlu hipodens alanları gösteriliyor. Kontrast öncesi fazda, kalp ve dalak zayıflama değerleri sırasıyla 44,37 HU ve 55,84 HU olup, bu da kalp-dalak (L/S) başlangıçta 0,79 olma nedeni olmuştur; bu değer, insan literatüründe steatoz ile saklandığı gibi kayıtlı eşik mevcuttur. Kontrastlı portal venöz fazda da benzer bir L/S oranı olan 0,82 gözlemlendi. Histopatolojik inceleme, SWE ve BT ile uyumlu olarak Grade 3 hepatik lipidozu doğruladı. Bu, HL'li bir kedide SWE'nin tanıtım faydasını gösteren ilk vaka raporudur ve klinik olarak birleştirme invaziv olmayan ve nicel bir araç olarak potansiyelini ortaya koymaktadır.

A Review on Colostrum and Neonatal Canine Health

Melek Aydemir, Hidayet Metin ERDOĞAN — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Köpekler en evcil ve dost canlısı hayvan türlerinden biri olarak kabul edilir ve insan hayatındaki en popüler evcil hayvanlardır. Irklarının devamlılığı ve ırk özelliklerinin korunarak günümüze aktarılması, bu canlıların yaşamları boyunca sağlıklarının sağlanmasında büyük önem taşır. Özellikle ilk haftalardaki yaşam mücadelesi çok önemlidir, çünkü yavru köpeklerde ölümler genellikle yenidoğan döneminin ilk haftasında meydana gelir. Bu nedenle yavruların hayatta kalabilmeleri ve gelişebilmeleri için yenidoğan döneminde yeterli kolostrum alımı hayati önem taşır. Memelilerin doğuma yakın dönemde ürettikleri eşsiz bir besin olan kolostrum, belirgin bir bileşime sahiptir ve bağışıklık uyarıcıları ile zenginleştirilmiştir.

Systemic Inflammation and Vitamin D

Kerem URAL, Hasan ERDOĞAN, Serdar PAŞA, Songül ERDOGAN — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Systemic inflammation is a fundamental component of many pathological processes, including autoimmune diseases, infections, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular diseases, and is characterized by excessive and uncontrolled production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although vitamin D has traditionally been associated with calcium–phosphorus homeostasis and bone metabolism, the demonstration of vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in numerous immune cells has led to its recognition as an important hormone involved in the regulation of the immune system and inflammatory responses. Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations have been reported to be associated with increased inflammatory cytokines, acute phase proteins, and systemic inflammatory indices in both humans and animals. In particular, studies in dogs and ruminants indicate that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to infection-related systemic inflammation, coagulation disturbances, and intestinal barrier dysfunction. Moreover, it has been suggested that vitamin D may behave as a negative acute phase protein, with its circulating levels decreasing as the severity of inflammation increases. In this context, vitamin D emerges as a potential biomarker that not only contributes to the pathogenesis of systemic inflammation but may also be useful in the assessment of disease severity and prognosis.

Alaptide Could Have Hasten Clinical Recovery Among Dogs with Atopic Dermatitis

Kerem Ural, Hasan ERDOĞAN, Songul ERDOĞAN, Tahir ÖZALP, Serdar PAŞA — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in dogs, characterized by intense pruritus and increased IgE production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a topical cream containing alaptide on skin pH and hydration levels, which are important indicators of skin health, in dogs with atopic dermatitis. A total of 24 dogs were included in the study, and the inclusion criteria were determined based on the Favrot criteria, clinical scoring, and allergic evaluations. Epidermal pH and hydration measurements were analyzed in lesional and non- lesional skin areas using a non-invasive device designed to assess skin health. Analyses were performed before treatment and at the end of the second week following the initiation of treatment with 1% alaptide. The obtained data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. After treatment, a statistically significant increase was detected in epidermal pH values (from 5.91±1.34 to 7.16±0.42; p=0.02), along with a marked increase in skin hydration levels (from 31.7±8.35 to 56.7±9.35; p=0.01). Evaluation of the findings indicated that alaptide significantly improved epidermal biophysical parameters and contributed to the regeneration of the skin barrier. In conclusion, topical application containing 1% alaptide may be considered a regenerative and supportive therapeutic option in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs.