Severe sepsis in cats: 29 cases (1986-1998)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Critical Care
• Pathology

Background:

• Severe sepsis is a life-threatening condition with significant morbidity and mortality in cats.
• Accurate antemortem diagnosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in cats is challenging.
• Understanding species-specific clinical and clinicopathologic findings is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document clinical, clinicopathologic, and pathologic findings in cats with severe sepsis.
• To identify abnormalities unique to feline sepsis.
• To establish diagnostic criteria for antemortem diagnosis of SIRS in cats.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 29 cats diagnosed with severe sepsis at necropsy.
• Extraction of historical data, physical examination findings, and laboratory results from medical records.
• Analysis of clinicopathologic data including hematology and biochemistry.

Main Results:

• Common clinical signs included lethargy, pale mucous membranes, tachypnea, hypothermia, abdominal pain, and bradycardia.
• Clinicopathologic abnormalities revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperbilirubinemia.
• Necropsy confirmed multi-organ necrosis or inflammation with intralesional bacteria.

Conclusions:

• Severe sepsis in cats is characterized by a distinct combination of clinical signs: lethargy, pale mucous membranes, abdominal pain, tachypnea, bradycardia, weak pulses, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypothermia, and icterus.
• Recognition of this clinical presentation can facilitate earlier antemortem diagnosis of severe sepsis and SIRS in cats.
• This study provides valuable insights for improving the diagnostic accuracy and management of sepsis in feline patients.