title: Prevalence of the polycystic kidney disease and renal and urinary bladder ultrasonographic abnormalities in Persian and Exotic Shorthair cats in Italy.
abstract: The ultrasonographic findings of kidneys, liver and urinary bladder of 288 Persian and 44 Exotic Shorthair clinically normal cats that underwent screening for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) between July 2003 and December 2005 were reviewed. Cats were divided into two groups, one including cats aged <9 months (group 1) and one cats aged >/=9 months (group 2). Cats were classified as PKD-positive when at least one renal cyst was found. One hundred and thirty-six cats (41.0%) had more than one cyst in at least one kidney. The prevalence of PKD was similar in both groups. Eight PKD-positive cats had cystic livers (5.9%). Other renal abnormalities included a pelvic calculus and a medullary rim sign (MRS). The difference in prevalence of an MRS in group 2 compared to group 1 and the difference between PKD-positive and -negative cats in group 2 were not significant. There was no difference in mean kidney length between PKD-positive and -negative cats in group 2. Urinary bladder anomalies were principally represented by urinary sediment, with prevalence significantly higher in group 2. No difference was detected in group 2 between PKD-positive and -negative cats. In conclusion feline PKD is common in Italy. The ultrasonographic findings of MRS and urinary bladder sediment did not correlate with feline PKD. Urinary bladder sediment is common in Persians and Exotic Shorthairs and more likely in adults.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Radiologia e Diagnostica per Immagini, Dipartimento di Salute Animale, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Parma, Via del Taglio, 8, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonazzi
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volta
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gnudi
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bottarelli
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gazzola
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000662:veterinary; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014730:Veterinary Medicine