Morphological analysis of intestinal tract pathologies in cats

Researches were performed at the LUHS VA Veterinary Pathobiology cathedral Pathology Center in 2018-2019. The data from the LUHS VA Pathology Center database was collected and causes of cat’s death or euthanasia associated with gastrointestinal pathologies were analysed. A post-mortem examination and histopathological analysis of 26 dead cats were performed for this Master’s thesis. After evaluation of results, calculations were made and statistical reliability was determined. During the retrospective 2015-2018 data of the Pathology Center analysis it was found that 60% of cats had intestinal pathologies, most of which (44%) were within 1-6 months old. The most frequently found lesions were inflammation (76% of cats) and helminthosis (30% of cats). It was found that intestinal inflammation was more likely to occur in male cats and that haemorrhagic inflammation was more likely to be found in 1-6 months old cats. There is a link between the age of the cat and the suspected feline panleukopenia, which was usually suspected in 1-6 months old animals. Hemorrhagic bowel inflammation has also been shown to be more common than other intestinal pathologies when this disease is suspected. There is also a link between the age of the cat and helminthosis, which was usually found in cats at 1-6 months old. The analysis of my own pathological anatomical results showed that 85% of cats had intestinal pathologies. Macroscopically, the most commonly found pathology was inflammation (91% of cats) and helminthosis (27% of cats). Pathological anatomical and histopathological examinations showed that the number of pathologies in small intestine was significantly higher than in the large intestine. Crypts hyperplasia (59% of cats), lymphocytic plasmocytic inflammation (27% of cats), hyperemia of mucosa (27% of cats) and edema of mucosa (27% of cats) were the most commonly found pathologies in histopathological examination of the small intestine. Crypt hyperplasia has been found coexisting with lymphocytic plasmocytic inflammation. In histopathological examination of the large intestine, the most frequently found pathologies were hyperemia of mucosa (23% of cats) and crypt hyperplasia (14% of cats)