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PRESCOTT, AZ. - Imulan BioTherapeutics, LLC (IMULAN) announced they have initiated a multi-site clinical trial to further assess the effect of Lymphocyte T-Cell Immunomodulator (LTCI) in cats with feline leukemia virus, a prevalent retroviral infections in domestic cats. LTCI is the first and only approved treatment aid in the United States for cats infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and the associated symptoms of lymphopenia, opportunistic infection, anemia, granulocytopenia, or thrombocytopenia.
Lymphocytes and interleukin-2 play a pivotal role in eliciting an immune response against viruses.
Dr. Craig Woods, CEO of IMULAN, stated, "IMULAN has started the first in a series of studies to examine the effects of LTCI for feline leukemia virus. The first study will further characterize the clinical and immunological effects of this exciting new biologic for feline leukemia virus patients."
Dr. Woods went on to state, "Lymphocyte T-Cell Immune Modulator is a potent regulator of lymphocyte production and function and has been shown to increase lymphocyte numbers and interleukin-2 production in animals. Lymphocytes and interleukin-2 play a pivotal role in eliciting an immune response against viruses. IMULAN believes this immunological approach will be far more effective than metabolic drug approaches, none of which are approved for feline viral infections."
About Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): Feline leukemia virus, a retrovirus, is an infectious disease of cats that often results in immune dysfunction and can be associated with certain forms of feline cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma. All retroviruses, including FeLV, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), produce an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, which permits them to insert copies of their own genetic material into host cells.
About Imulan: Imulan develops unique, precision immune regulating compounds for veterinary medicine. Imulan's primary focus is on biological strategies that combine peptide pharmacology with immunology to treat infectious, autoimmune, and immune mediated diseases in small and large animal medicine. IMULAN recently commercialized Lymphocyte T-Cell Immunomodulator as a conditionally licensed treatment aid for cats infected with feline leukemia and immunodeficiency virus. For more information about Imulan, please visit www.imulan.com.
When an elephant accidentally mistakes a gallon of paint for a bucket of water, or a cat decides to try a taste of that new lily you brought home, it's time to call the experts at the national ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Ill. With a staff of over 30 veterinarians and 13 board certified toxicologists, they run the only animal-dedicated non-profit poison control hotline in North America. Whether a dog decides to try a Sago palm nut or a poisonous box of raisins, there is a veterinarian at the center 24-hours-a-day, waiting to answer a call from a frantic pet owner. In 2007 the hotline received over 130,000 calls.
"The best thing pet owners can do is use preventative measures to protect their pet."
Dr. Steven Hansen, the ASPCA senior vice president who runs the center and an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, gives the analogy that "dogs are like toddlers that can open anything." He explains that when someone has a young child around the house, they use preventative measures to make sure there are no mishaps. But childproof pill containers are no match for the jaws of most dogs--one good bite and the pills are theirs. If only it were that easy for humans as well.
The most common reason a dog or cat owner will call the hotline is due to accidental ingestion of human or veterinary drugs. The 2007 Animal Poison Control Center statistics show that 68 percent of all calls dealt with human or veterinary pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, sometimes problems are owner-caused. Such as someone mistakenly giving their old, arthritic cat Tylenol (acetaminophen), which is extremely toxic to our feline friends.
According to Dr. Hansen, one of the newer developments that toxicologists have picked up on is the poisonous nature of xylitol, an artificial sweetener in many sugar-free chewing gums. "Just a few sticks of gum ingested by a small dog can cause severe problems," mentions Dr. Hansen. And speaking of man's best friend, this species was responsible for 85 percent of the calls to the poison hotline. Perhaps the saying "curious as a cat" needs to be changed since they were only responsible for 13 percent of calls.
With national poison prevention week held March 16-22, 2008, it is great to know that there are experts in Urbana that can help pet owners all over the country if their beloved pet has ingested something dangerous. But Dr. Hansen explains that, "the best thing pet owners can do is use preventative measures to protect their pet." He recommends storing any toxic chemicals in high cabinets your pet cannot reach. It's also important to read the label on any medications. The number one deadly reason for a cat owner to call the poison center is from using dog flea and tick products on their cat. Despite the "dogs only" warning on the label, this easily prevented problem happens much too often.
If you are concerned that your pet has ingested a poisonous substance call your local veterinarian immediately or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 where you can talk to an expert for a $60 fee that includes as many follow up calls as necessary. You may also visit www.ASPCA.org for extensive poison prevention information including toxic and non-toxic poisonous plants and peer-reviewed veterinary articles.
With summer right around the corner and warm weather already beckoning us off our couches and into the great outdoors it is time to start planning how to spend all those sunny summer days. For most pet owners and animal lovers those plans will probably include your furry, four-legged friends. As the temperatures rise it is important to take some precautions to keep our pets healthy and safe from the hazards that accompany summer.
The sun and warm weather make summer the perfect season for camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, and otherwise enjoying the outdoors. Our pets also enjoy the perks that summer brings, such as long walks, trips to the dog park, chasing after squirrels, and lazing about in the sun.
"It takes our pets awhile to acclimate themselves to hot weather."
According to Dr. Maureen McMichael, a veterinary specialist in small animal emergency medicine and critical care at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, summer carries with it a variety of hazards for cats and dogs. Dr. McMichael explains that during the warm weather months our pets may be more likely to encounter problems such as heat stroke, outdoor traumas, and toxicity from rodenticide ingestion.
Heat stroke is unfortunately a common occurrence during the summer months and results when your pet's body temperature rises above normal range. Common situations that can predispose our pets to overheating include being exercised or left in a car during warm weather, confined without shade or access to water, a bracycephalic (short nose) breed like a bulldog or Himalayan, very young, old, or ill.
According to Dr. McMichael exercise-induced heat stroke is by far the most dangerous and difficult to treat. Unfortunately, a large number of animals that present with this form of heat stroke will not survive, which makes prevention even more essential.
"Surprisingly, the most dangerous time of year for heat strokes is during late spring and early summer," explains Dr. McMichael. "It takes our pets awhile to acclimate themselves to hot weather and when a non-conditioned, unacclimated dog is taken out for a long run on the first 85 degree day of the year, that animal is predisposed to developing heat stroke."
Dr. McMichael urges owners to remember that their pets wear winter coats all year round and are unable to cool themselves efficiently by sweating since they can only sweat through their foot pads.
In order to help your pet stay cool during the summer it is important to follow some very simple rules. One of the easiest ways to prevent heat stress is to make sure that pets have free access to water and shade when kept outside.
Next, owners should never leave a pet in the car on warm, sunny days. Even with the windows open temperatures in a car can rise to deadly levels within minutes.
To prevent exercise-induced heat stroke Dr. McMichael recommends that owners introduce their pets to warm weather exercise slowly. Also, owners should try to exercise their pets in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are lower and the sun is not as strong. Lastly, be sure to provide your pet with plenty of breaks for water and time for cool downs in the shade.
Signs of heat stress and stroke include rapid, frantic, heavy breathing that may not lessen with time, a body temperature that is well above the normal range of 100-102 degrees Fahrenheit, depression, weakness, and vomiting. If you suspect that your pet is experiencing heat stroke Dr. McMichael explains that owners should first remove the animal from the hot area and start lowering the animal's body temperature with cool water.
"Owners can either place the pet in a tub of cool water or soak the pet with water from a hose," says Dr. McMichael. "When using a hose it is essential for the owner to make sure the water is actually cool before using it. Owners should also refrain from using ice to cool the pet."
After this initial cool down it is essential that the pet is taken to a clinic where a veterinarian can continue to cool the animal to a safe body temperature and assess any damage that the heat stroke has caused.
As temperatures rise, the time our pets spend outdoors also increases. When we include our pets in our outdoor activities it is important to ensure their safety since the risk of outdoor traumas and accidents increases dramatically during the summer months.
Unsupervised pools can be extremely dangerous for pets and children who can easily fall in and drown once they become exhausted from swimming. Families with young children and pets should install a safety fence around the pool in order to prevent an accidental drowning.
Cat owners should also be on the lookout for abscesses and other fighting-induced injuries if their cats are allowed outdoors. Cats that are neutered or spayed may be at a lower risk of such injuries as they are unlikely to be involved in mating-induced aggression. Whether your animal is altered or not, outdoor cats should be examined for bite wounds, abscesses, broken limbs, and other injuries on a regular basis.
Dr. McMichael has also noticed that as spring progresses into summer the number of animals presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with rodenticide poisoning increases. Rodenticide is a pesticide used widely to rid houses of pests like rats and mice. One common form of rodenticide is an anti-coagulation agent that, when ingested and left untreated, can cause irreversible damage to internal organs that ultimately results in death.
According to Dr. McMichael, "if rodenticide ingestion is caught early it is easily treated. Interestingly the treatment for this type of pesticide relies on the use of a specialized form of Vitamin K, which is an essential clotting factor in the body. Rodenticide poisoning is one of the few problems that we can cure, as long as the animal is presented in time, and to be able to cure it with a vitamin is absolutely amazing!"
For information on how to protect your pet from these and other summer hazards contact your local veterinarian.
Source: Dr. Maureen McMichael
The colors and patterns of cats are fascinating. How they are achieved, and what makes them that way, can be confusing. Simply, it's genetics. But the intricacies of genetics can be very confusing. Our latest feature is answers to your questions about common genetics issues that will help you to unravel and understand the complexities of genetics.
Hilary Helmrich, former President of the Winn Feline Foundation and CFA Allbreed judge, will answer your questions on basic genetics issues.
Question: What do you mean, white is not a color?
Answer: In cat genetics, white is a "masking agent". Iif you have a cat with white, then the white part is "masking" the colors underneath. If your cat is all white, sometimes white kittens will have a spot of another color on the top of their head, which indicates which color the cat is "masking". The colored spot often goes away as the cat matures.
There are also white spotting factors in some of our breeds which can be restricted to the feet, as in the Birman, or can be random, as in the Bicolor Persian. Some breeds do not allow white spots, for example the AByssinian; others do allow them, like the Cornish Rex and Manx.
To submit your genetics question, please email CFA. Ms. Helmrich is unable to answer questions privately, however selected questions and their answers will appear here on a regular basis.
Prescott, AZ -- IMULAN BioTherapeutics, LLC (IMULAN) announced one of their lead Immune Selective Anti-Inflammatory Derivatives (ImSAIDs) has demonstrated promise for preventing and treating pancreatitis. The ImSAIDs are a new generation of anti-inflammatory and appear to block inflammation regardless of the cause, making them useful for all types of inflammation. The independent study's findings were recently published in the April 2008 issue of the AJP-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.
"This is a very encouraging study which may translate into a new approach for the prevention and treatment of pancreatitis."
Dr. Craig Woods, CEO of IMULAN, stated, "This is a very encouraging study which may translate into a new approach for the prevention and treatment of pancreatitis in people and animals. The study supports the versatility of the ImSAIDs, which have also been examined in models of asthma, sepsis, anaphylaxis, and neurological trauma with very promising results."
Dr. Woods went on to state, "IMULAN is considering this particular ImSAID for the treatment of canine and feline pancreatitis, which often have catastrophic consequences. This same ImSAID is also under development for feline asthma, a comparative model to human asthma. We hope the work done on the ImSAIDs will eventually translate into benefits for children and adults which suffer from pancreatitis, asthma and other diseases."
About Canine and Feline Pancreatitis: Canine pancreatitis is often a severe, life threatening emergency with no approved veterinary therapy for this condition. It affects a numerous dogs each year, with certain breeds being predisposed such as miniature schnauzers. Pancreatitis is now becoming a more recognized problem in feline patients, but the underlying causes are often not known.
About the Immune Selective Anti-Inflammatory Derivatives (ImSAIDs): The ImSAIDs are potent biological derivatives of a larger protein identified from the salivary gland. Studies to date show the ImSAIDs modulate cellular activation and chemotaxis, two important events in triggering and perpetuating inflammation. To date, the ImSAIDs have demonstrated significant effects in animal models of asthma, spinal trauma, endotoxemia, allergic reactions, and anaphylaxis.
About IMULAN BioTherapeutics: IMULAN develops unique, precision immune regulating compounds for veterinary medicine. IMULAN's primary focus is on biological strategies that combine peptide pharmacology with immunology to treat infectious, autoimmune, and immune mediated diseases in small and large animal medicine. IMULAN recently commercialized Lymphocyte T-Cell Immunomodulator as a conditionally licensed treatment aid for cats infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS or FIV).
For additional information on ImSAIDs or IMULAN, please call 877-892-9595 or visit www.IMULAN.com.
