As veterinarians, we are very aware of the health dangers posed by leptospirosis to our patients. First identified in 1886 by Adolf Weil, who described severe cases of jaundice, kidney failure, and fever in humans, it was subsequently named Weil’s disease and was often associated with outdoor occupations in which people encountered water, such as sewer workers, rice-field workers, and coal miners. The World Health Organization estimates there to be more than 1 million human leptospirosis cases annually, with mortality rates reaching 20% in untreated individuals. Leptospirosis disproportionately affects disadvantaged socioeconomic communities that are most vulnerable to outbreaks of zoonotic diseases, primarily due to contact with infected animals and contaminated soil and water. Urbanization, climate change, and extreme weather events have heightened exposure to polluted waters, making it likely to remain a frontline concern for us, our patients, and our clients. In this issue, Dr. Jane E. Sykes presents an up-to-date review on leptospirosis in our companion animal patients.
What We’re Reading
In each issue, a member of our Editorial Advisory Board will share a recent open access publication of interest.
Dietary Magnesium Supplementation in Cats With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Tang PK, van den Broek DHN, Jepson RE, et al.
doi:10.1111/jvim.17134
What Was Investigated? This study evaluated the effects of a short-term (4-month), magnesium-enriched, phosphate-restricted diet (PRD) in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose was to determine whether dietary magnesium supplementation could influence plasma total magnesium (tMg), ionized calcium (iCa), and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) concentrations since increased iCa and FGF23 concentrations are associated with progression of CKD in cats, and increased tMg has been shown to lower these concentrations.
What Was Found? The study enrolled 60 cats with CKD and divided them into 2 groups: 27 in the magnesium-enriched PRD group and 33 in the control PRD group. Cats on the magnesium-enriched diet showed a significant increase in tMg levels over time. The magnesium-enriched diet group was less likely to have an increase in iCa while its FGF23 concentrations remained stable.
Take-Home Points
- Dietary magnesium plays an important role in FGF23 and calcium concentrations, both of which are associated with CKD progression in cats.
- While cats in this study tolerated magnesium supplementation, cats with advanced IRIS stage 4 kidney disease can develop hypermagnesemia due to decreased clearance; therefore, it is important to evaluate each patient on an individual basis before considering feeding a diet that is higher in magnesium.
— Camille Torres-Henderson, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), DACVIM (Nutrition)
More from the NAVC
New: A Guide to Poultry in Your Practice
In the United States, small flocks of poultry have become increasingly popular and the trend is unlikely to slow down. General practice veterinarians may see an increase in “backyard chickens” or other poultry species presenting to their clinic and need a guide on how to approach the most common diseases and conditions. The NAVC’s new ebook, Poultry in General Practice: Veterinary Medicine for Chickens in Small Flocks, was developed to serve as a practical companion for these professionals. Learn more and purchase the e-book at go.navc.com/40qSbsP.