Page 992 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine
P. 992

984   PART 11  CAT WITH AN ABNORMAL GAIT


          ● The effusive form of feline infectious peritonitis
                                                        TOXOPLASMOSIS
            (FIP) virus occasionally causes lameness, with leak-
            age of fluid into joint spaces.
                                                         Classical signs
          ● The granulomatous form of FIP may cause paresis
            or paralysis as a result of spinal cord inflammation.  ● More commonly causes CNS signs such as
                                                           ataxia and paresis.
          Mycoplasma:
                                                         ● Can cause a stiff gait, shifting leg
          ● M. gatae is linked to arthritis and tenosynovitis in
                                                           lameness, hyperaesthesia on muscle
            older cats.
                                                           palpation and joint pain.
          ● Mycoplasmal infection may incite an antigenic
            response resulting in the formation of immune-
                                                        See main references on page 705 for details (The Cat
            mediated disease such as rheumatoid-like (deform-
                                                        With Signs of Acute Small Bowel Diarrhea) and page
            ing) arthritis.
                                                        958 (The Cat With Generalized Weakness).
          Clinical signs                                Clinical signs
          Acute onset of lameness in one or several limbs.  CNS signs seen most frequently, see The Paretic Cat

          Usually associated with  systemic signs such as  (page 911).
          pyrexia, lethargy.                            May cause shifting limb lameness.
          May appear weak rather than lame if all four limbs  Can cause arthritis and myositis.
          involved.
          Usually demonstrate joint pain on manipulation of  Diagnosis
          limbs.
                                                        High IgM titers suggest recent infection, but do not
                                                        confirm that  T. gondii is responsible for the clinical
          Diagnosis                                     signs in a given cat.

          Radiographic signs may demonstrate changes of ero-  The organism can sometimes be seen in a muscle
          sion and periosteal proliferation in advanced cases, but  biopsy or very rarely in CSF.
          may show no abnormalities initially.
                                                        FUNGAL INFECTIONS
          Arthrocentesis generally required for cytology and cul-
          ture and sensitivity.
                                                         Classical signs

          Differential diagnosis                         ● Cats less commonly affected than dogs.
                                                         ● Lameness due to fungal osteomyelitis.
          Weak or paretic cat can appear similarly. See The Weak  ● Can be a single bone involved, or more
          and Ataxic or Paralyzed Cat (page 908).          commonly multiple sites affected.
                                                         ● Spores usually inhaled from the soil.
          Immune-mediated polyarthritis.
                                                        See main references on page 368 for details (The Pyrexic
          Treatment                                     Cat) and page 401 (The Cat With Enlarged Lymph
          Antibiotics for bacterial infection depending on results  Nodes).
          of culture and sensitivity.
          L form infections respond well to 10–14-day course of  Clinical signs
          tetracycline or doxycycline.
                                                        Occurrence tends to be location dependent:
          Calicivirus is often self-limiting, and cats recover  ● Coccidioides: south-western USA, Mexico, Central
          well.                                            and South America.
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