Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with stunted growth and suspected ornithine transcarbamylase
By Washizu, Tsukimi et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2004·Department of Clinical Pathology, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A suspected case of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 18-month-old female American Shorthair cat was brought to the vet because she was not growing properly and seemed lethargic after eating. Tests showed high levels of ammonia and bile acids in her blood, which can indicate liver problems. After ruling out a liver shunt, the vet suspected a genetic issue with her urea cycle, which is responsible for removing ammonia from the body. Further testing confirmed she likely has ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, a condition that affects how her body processes proteins.
People also search for: cat stunted growth · cat high ammonia levels · American Shorthair urea cycle disorder
Abstract
An 18 month-old, intact female American Shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of stunted growth and postprandial depression. Fasting serum ammonia and serum bile acid concentrations were above reference ranges at 396 microg/dl and 6.5 micromol/ l and their postprandial concentrations were 785 microg/dl and 9.5 micromol/l, respectively. The initial tentative diagnosis of a portosystemic shunt was excluded by mesenteric portography and histopathology of the liver. The cat was then suspected of a urea cycle enzyme deficiency and its urine was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A presumptive diagnosis of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency was made on the basis of the detection of orotic acid and uracil.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15240946/