ASSESSMENT OF INTESTINAL FUNCTION IN CATS WITH CHRONIC DIARRHEA AFTERINFECTION WITH FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS

Objective-To identify consistent relevant mechanisms of small intestin al dysfunction in cats with experimentally induced feline immunodefici ency virus infection (FIV) that developed chronic diarrhea during the time they were being used in studies of pathogenicity and transmission of FIV. Animals-10 cats. Procedure-The following investigative tests and techniques were performed on each of the cats: routine hematologic and serum biochemical analyses; urinalysis; fecal parasitologic and m icrobiologic examinations; breath hydrogen lactulose (BH2LT) and xylos e (BH2XT) tests, intestinal permeability test; endoscopic examination of the intestinal mucosa; bacteriologic culture of endoscopically coll ected small intestinal juice; and histologic examination of endoscopic ally obtained intestinal biopsy specimens. Results-Neutrophilia was ev ident in 3 cats, and lymphopenia was detected in 2 cats. Serum biochem ical abnormalities were not observed. Urinalysis results were unremark able. Fecal bacteriologic and parasitologic results were normal, excep t for isolation of Campylobacter sp from 1 cat. Abnormal BH2XT values suggestive of D-xylose malabsorption were identified in 2 cats, and BH ,LT values indicated evidence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in 1 cat. Finally, permeability test results, quantitation of bacteri al flora from the proximal part of the small intestine and histologic examination of biopsy specimens did not reveal any abnormalities. Conc lusions-Enteric pathogens did not account for the development of diarr hea in cats with experimentally induced FIV infection, and consistent relevant mechanisms of small intestinal dysfunction were not identifie d.