title: Diagnosis of pancreatic disease in feline platynosomosis.
abstract: Objectives Platynosomum species are cat-specific parasitic trematodes that parasitize the biliary ducts and gall bladder. Due to the common connection to the major duodenal papilla of the pancreas and common bile ducts in addition to the periductal proximity of the pancreas, it is possible that platynosomosis could cause pancreatitis. The objective of this study was to determine whether platynosomosis, a commonly diagnosed parasitic disease in cats on St Kitts, has any association with pancreatic disease. Methods To investigate this possibility, the pancreas of free-roaming cats with naturally acquired platynosomosis were evaluated via ultrasound, serum concentrations of feline pancreatic lipase (fPL), cobalamin, folate and feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI) and histopathology. Twenty free-roaming, young adult, feral cats, positive for feline immunodeficiency virus, and diagnosed with Platynosomum species infection via fecal analysis were recruited. The liver, biliary system and pancreas were evaluated via ultrasonography during a short duration anesthesia. Serum concentrations of fPL, fTLI, folate and cobalamin were measured. Sections of the right limb, left limb and body of the pancreas were evaluated histopathologically using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Results None of the cats had sufficient criteria to fulfill the ultrasonographic diagnosis of pancreatitis. One cat had an elevated fPL concentration in the range consistent with pancreatitis. Four cats had cobalamin deficiencies and 11 had abnormal folate concentration. The fTLI concentration was equivocal for the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in one cat. With a single exception, histopathology changes, when present (n = 12), were mild, non-specific and predominantly characterized by lymphocytic infiltrates and fibrosis. The exception was a cat that presented a chronic interstitial and eosinophilic pancreatitis of slightly increased severity, likely the result of platynosomosis. Conclusions and relevance The results of this study suggest that platynosomosis rarely induces pancreatic damage in cats. With only one exception, chronic pancreatitis diagnosed in cats with fluke-induced cholangitis and cholangiohepatitis was subtle and interpreted as an incidental background lesion unrelated to platynosomosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies.|Current address: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Liza S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Köster
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shell
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ketzis
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies.
authors.forename: Sreekumari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajeev
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Illanes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002415:Cats; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D005260:Female; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019437:Saint Kitts and Nevis; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D008049:Lipase