RECURRENT, NONOBSTRUCTIVE, IDIOPATHIC FELINE LOWER URINARY-TRACT DISEASE - AN ILLUSTRATIVE CASE-REPORT

A three-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair was evaluated becau se of recurrent hematuria, dysuria, and pollakiuria of one year's dura tion. With the exception of hematuria and proteinuria, results of othe r physical, clinicopathological, radiographic, and microbiologic evalu ations were normal. Low concentrations of bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) antibodies (titer 1:40) were defected by an indirect fluorescent anti body test (IFAT). A diagnosis of nonobstructive, idiopathic feline low er urinary tract disease was established by exclusion of other known c auses of hematuria and dysuria. Clinical signs resolved in approximate ly seven days without symptomatic therapy. During the next 69 months, the owners observed five episodes of self-limiting, gross hematuria an d pollakiuria. Persistent low titers of BHV-4 antibodies were detected by the IFAT. This case typifies the clinicopathological, radiographic , and microbiologic findings and the natural course characteristics of many cases of nonobstructive, idiopathic feline lower urinary tract d isease.