Page 454 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

446 PART 7 SICK CAT WITH SPECIFIC SIGNS

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● Steatitis (p 472)
Inflammation of abdominal fat may cause peritoneal effusion with high protein content and mature
neutrophils (exudate).

● Granulomatous urethritis and urethral stricture (p 474)
Chronic narrowing of the urethra leads to massive enlargement of the bladder and urine dribbling
from paradoxical incontinence.
● Glomerulonephritis (p 473)
Glomerulonephritis may cause nephrotic syndrome and ascites, which is a transudate.

● Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (p 479)
The abdominal mesothelial lining becomes replaced by fibrous tissue. Ascites may occur.
INFECTIOUS:

Viral:
● Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)*** (p 456)
Immune-complex vasculitis results in a marked peritoneal exudate. Fluid is typically straw-
colored, viscous like egg white and highly proteinaceous (exudate) with mature neutrophils.
Hepatic infection may also cause ascites due to portal hypertension.

Bacterial:
● Septic peritonitis* (p 467)
Bacterial infection results in a septic suppurative exudate.

● Intestinal tuberculosis* (p 469)
Effusion may occur secondary to mesenteric lymphadenopathy. The fluid may be a transudate,
modified transudate, exudate or chylous effusion and may contain macrophages containing acid-
fast bacteria.
● Leptospirosis (p 478)
Leptospirosis has been associated with liver disease and ascites in cats.
● Hepatic abscess (p 476)
Hepatic abscesses may be associated with septic and non-septic effusions.
Protozoal:
● Toxoplasmosis* (p 469)
Toxoplasmosis may cause peritoneal effusion secondary to liver and mesenteric lymph node infec-
tion. Fluid is a transudate or modified transudate and may contain tachyzooites.
Parasitic:

● Abdominal fluke infection (p 479)
Metorchis spp. are bile duct parasites that may cause hepatic cysts and ascites.
Iatrogenic:

● Fluid overload* (p 471)
Excessive fluid therapy tends to cause pulmonary edema leading to dyspnea or subcutaneous edema.