Van Cat Research Articles

Measurement of Tear Production in Van Cats with The Phenol Red Thread Test

The aim of this study is to determine normal tear secretion levels in healthy Van cats by PRT test and to investigate the relationship between tear level and gender and age. Twenty adult Van cats, who were brought to the clinic and found to be healthy after examination, were included in the study. These cats were tested without the use of any medicine. The cats who took part in the experiment ranged in age from two to five years, with a mean age of 3.25± 1.07. There were 12 female cats and 8 male cats in the group. Commercial kits were utilized for the testing. The mean PRT value for the Van cat was determined as 12.3±1.895 (9-18) mm/15 sec. Males had a mean of 11.875±1.246 (10-13) mm/15 sec. and females had a mean of 12.583±2.234 (9-18) mm/15 sec. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean of males and females in the group and no difference as age increased (p>0.05). In conclusion, the PRT test findings in this study can be used as reference values in the diagnosis of eye diseases affecting the tear production ability of Van cats.

Radiographic analysis of skull in Van Cats, British Shorthairs and Scottish Folds.

The most significant bone used in taxonomic research is the skull. This study attempted to identify differences between the three cat species by measuring the skulls of each using computed tomography sections. The study used a total of 32 cat skulls, including 16 Van Cats, eight British Shorthairs and eight Scottish Folds. Van Cat had the highest values for cranial and skull length, whereas British Shorthair had the lowest values. The difference between the British Shorthair and Scottish Fold skull length and cranial length measures was not statistically significant. However, the Van Cat skull length result was statistically different from other species (p < 0.05). Scottish Fold had the broadest head (cranial width: 41.02 ± 0.79 mm). These results demonstrated that the scull of the Van Cat was longer but thinner than that of other species. In comparison to other species, the form of the Scottish Fold skull was more rounded. Internal height of cranium measurements for Van Cat and British Shorthair were statistically significant. In Van Cats, this measurement was 27.81 ± 1.58 mm, while in British Shorthairs, it was 30.23 ± 1.89 mm. Measurements of the foremen magnum were not statistically significant for any species. Van Cat's measures for the foramen magnum were the highest (Foramen magnum height: 11.59 ± 0.93 mm; Foramen magnum width: 14.18 ± 0.70 mm). Scottish Fold had the highest cranial index (Cranial index: 55.50 ± 4.02). Van Cat had the lowest value for this (Cranial index: 50.19 ± 2.16). Van Cat's cranial index value differed statistically from that of other species (p < 0.05). Between species, the foramen magnum index was not significant. None of the index values were statistically significant for Scottish Fold and British Shorthair. Foramen magnum width had the highest age-to-measurement value correlation (r=0.310), although it was statistically insignificant. Skull length had the highest weight-to-measurement value correlations (R=0.809), and it proved to be statistically significant. Skull length was the measuring value that distinguished male and female the most clearly (p=0.000).

W locus alleles of the KIT Gene in Turkish Van Cats and Their Association with Certain Phenotypes

Objective: Turkish Van cat is special cat breed in the world. The most important characteristics of the Turkish Van cats are the white and silky fur, and different eyes color. W locus of KIT gene was found to be an important gene for the white fur. However, there is not enough information about W locus of Turkish Van cats. The aim of this study was to determine the genotypic distribution of W locus alleles in Turkish Van cats and association between alelles and certain phenotypes.&#x0D; Material and Method: 48 Turkish Van cats bred in Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Van Cat Research and Application Center were selected for this study. DNA isolations were carried out from oral swaps and W locus genotyping of these cats was done by PCR. The Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the alleles and certain phenotypes.&#x0D; Results: It was shown that 41.67%, 22.92%, 18.75% and 16.67% of cats carried W/W, W/w+, w+/w+and W/ws, respectively. Frequencies of W locus alleles were found to be 61.45%, 30.21%, 8.33% for W, w+, ws, respectively. An association between detected genotypes and the phenotypic characters including eye color, head spotting, and hair length, could not be established.&#x0D; Conclusion: Turkish Van cats can carry white (W), white spotting (ws), and wild-type (w+) alleles in the W locus. No association between W locus alleles and eye color, head spotting, and fur length indicates other genetic variations should be addressed to understand genetical backround of the cats.

Origin and Distribution of the Lumbosacral Plexus Anatomy in Van Cats

The innervation of the pelvic limbs of the Van cat is investigated in this research. The origins of the nerves, the innervated muscles and nerve diameters were shown in a table. Five cat cadavers were used in the study. The pudendal nerve originated from the S1-S2 spinal nerves. The femoral nerve consisted of the ventral branches of the 5th and 6th lumbar nerves in 4 cats The ischiatic nerve was composed of the 6th and 7th lumbar (L6-L7) and S1 spinal nerves in all cadavers. The ischiatic nerve was the thickest branch of sacral plexus (the average diameter on the right side was 3.31 ± 0.27 mm and the average diameter on the left side was 3.28 ± 0.29 mm). The lumbosacral plexus was formed by the ventral branches of the L4-S3 spinal nerves. N.genitofemoralis consisted of only the ventral branches of L4 in all cadavers. N. femoralis did not give rise to a branch to the m. iliopsoas. N.plantaris lateralis was found to give a branch to the 3th finger. The quadriceps femoris muscles did not take any branches from either the ischiadicus nerve or the pudendal nerve. The obturator nerve did not receive any branches from the L4 spinal nerves. There was no branch to the skin from the caudal gluteal nerve. The thinnest nerve was the pudendal nerve. Due to the scarcity of studies on the lumbosacral plexus of cats, it is thought that this study will complete a gap in the field of veterinary anatomy.

Determination of Cryptosporidium spp. in Van cats by nested PCR

The present study was conducted to investigate the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. agents in cats from the Turkish Van Cat Shelter at YüzüncüYıl University by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method and nested PCR. Individual stool samples were obtained from 30 adult females, 30 adult males and 40 kittens – a total of 100 Van cats were analyzed in the study. A simplified formol-ether concentration method was applied to all samples. The samples were then examined microscopically by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. As a result of the staining, Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were identified in stool samples of 3 kittens in the microscopic examination. After that, PCR and nested-PCR were conducted with suitable primers. Nested PCR identified 5 kittens (5%) as positive. As a result, it was concluded that nested PCR was a superior diagnostic method for Cryptosporidium diagnosis compared with staining methods and that infected cats could be a health hazard for other cats and individuals, since Cryptosporidium spp. agents infect via the faecal-oral route. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to raise the awareness of people in contact with cats..

Turkish Van Cat and Turkish Angora Cat: A Review

Turkish Van Cat and Turkish Angora Cat: A Review

A retrospective examination of reproduction and survival rates of van cats

Van cats are animals that often become the centre of attention due to their white hair, colourful eyes, and affectionate attitudes. However, it is nearly impossible to find research studies on the reproductive behaviours of Van cats. We conducted this study with the purpose of revealing the breeding efficiency properties and survival rates of Van cats. The study materials consisted of Van cats in the Van Cat Home of Yüzüncü Yıl University’s Van Cats Research Center. We determined the breeding efficiency properties using records obtained from 56 female cats over the course of four years. As a result of the study, we determined that the durations of oestrus, pregnancy, and lactation in Van cats were, respectively, 2.41±0.09, 63.75±0.27, and 98.45±1.18 days. We also determined the average number of kittens per delivery and the mating per pregnancy as, respectively, 3.30±0.19 and 13.71±0.74. In this study, we recorded the presence of 56 delivering cats, with a total of 185 kittens, 22 of which were dead (11.89%), and an 88.11% survival rate (%). The most common delivery type was twin deliveries (30%), and the highest rate of stillbirths was 4.86% in quadruplet deliveries.

Postpartum uterus involution observed by real-time ultrasound scanning and vaginal cytology in Van cats.

The objective was to investigate postpartum uterus involution by real-time ultrasonography and vaginal cytology in Van cats. This study included 15 healthy Van cats belonging to the Van Cat Research Centre (Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey). Starting 24 h postpartum, ultrasonographic measurements were performed on the placental and interplacental uterine horn regions every day. Decreases in the diameters and uterine content were considered as criteria for uterine involution. Vaginal discharge samples were collected every day for 4 weeks postpartum. The smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain. The average diameters of placental and interplacental regions (IPRs) in the uterine horns were 3.12 ± 0.29 cm and 2.36 ± 0.43 cm, respectively, at 24 h postpartum. Placental regions (PRs) shrank faster than IPRs. At 48 h postpartum, it became difficult to distinguish PRs from IPRs in the uterine horns. The uterine horns could be seen in the abdominal cavity up to 5.60 ± 0.99 days postpartum. The mean of the last assessable diameter of the uterine horns from days 4 to 7 in all cats was 0.49 ± 0.07 cm. The vaginal epithelial cells appeared to be under the effect of oestrogen for 4 weeks postpartum. The morphological involution of the uterus completes, to a large extent, within the first 48 h postpartum in Van cats. A more detailed hormonal analysis would contribute greatly to the understanding of the physiological processes involved in this period. Although postpartum involution appeared complete by 5.60 ± 0.99 days after parturition in Van cats, histological verification of this finding is needed.

Detection of seasonal asymptomatic dermatophytes in Van cats.

The Van cat is a domestic landrace found in the Van province of eastern Turkey. In this study, we aimed to determine the seasonal carriage of dermatophytes in Van cats without clinical lesions. A total of 264 hair specimens were collected from clinically healthy cats in and around the Van Province. Of these samples, 30.3% were obtained in spring, 30.6% in summer, 16.6% in autumn, and 22.3% in winter; 45.1% of samples were from male cats and the rest from female ones. Of the studied cats, 118 were younger than 1 year, 78 were 1–3 years old, and 68 were older than 3 years. The specimens were subjected to direct microscopic examination with 15% potassium hydroxide and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar and dermatophyte test medium supplemented with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Dermatophyte identification was carried out based on macroscopic and microscopic colony morphology, urease activities, in vitro hair perforation test, growth at 37 °C, and pigmentation on corn meal agar. Dermatophytes were isolated from 19 (7.1%) of the 264 specimens examined. The most frequently isolated fungi were Trichophyton terrestre (4.1%), followed by Microsporum gypseum (1.1%), M. nanum (1.1%), and T. mentagrophytes (0.7%), and these fungi may represent a health risk for humans in contact with clinically healthy Van cats. M. canis was not isolated from any of the specimens. Our results show no significant (p > 0.05) association between carriage of dermatophytes and the gender of cats. The carriage rate of dermatophytes was high in spring and winter, and the only possible risk factor for infection was age of the animal.

The Domestic Livestock Resources of Turkey: Social Aspects, Genetic Resources and Conservation of Companion Animal Cats (Felis Catus)

Located at the boundaries of Europe and Asia, Turkey is home to an extraordinary variety of domestic animal species and breeds that include bees, camels, cats, cattle, dogs, domestic fowl, donkeys, ducks, goats, geese, horses, mules, pigs, rabbits, sheep, silkworms, water buffalo and several species of domestic birds (partridge, pheasant, pigeon and ostrich). In addition to the clearly distinct Angora and Van cat breeds a short-haired nondescript cat breed is found throughout Turkey. As well as private household ownership, Angora cats have been raised at Ankara Zoo which has belonged to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock since 1939. The Van cat is raised at the Van Cat Research Centre at Yuzuncu Yil University in Van Province which also has a small clinic for the cats. There is a risk of extinction for the Angora and Van breeds but none for the short-haired nondescript type. This paper reviews social aspects, the genetic resources and conservation status of the native cat breeds of Turkey.

Microbiological Analysis of Acute Mastitis in a Van Cat

In this case report, a 7-year-old female Van cat of 2.3 kg weight, bred and given birth in the Van Cat Research Center, is presented. There was a two day history of inappetence and fatigue, along with lying without movement for long. Our physical examination showed an acute inflammation accompanied by swelling, severe pain and hardness in the left caudal thoracic mamma, in addition to a bruise starting from the nipple and extending to the rest of the tissue. The cat was diagnosed with mastitis. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus simulans were identified after the microbiological analysis of the milk from the affected breast.

Topical Selamectin Treatment of Otodectes cynotis in Van Cats

The aim of this study was evaluate the efficacy of the use of selamectine in the treatment of O. cynotis in Van Cats. The material of this study comprised of 30 Van Cat which were infected. In the clinical examination; restlessness, head shaking, scratching at the ears and wax in both ears with brown-black colored cerumens were found. In the otoscopic examination and analysing the samples, O. cynotis was determined. For treatment, single dose selamectin was given. At the 15th and 30th day after treatment, otoscopic and microscopic examinations were repeated. In the 15th day after the treatment, it was found that clinical symptoms seen in the animals were significantly reduced, only the cerumens in 4 cats remained. Besides, at the 30th day, it is found that all the clinical symptoms disappeared in all animals, and with the otoscopic and microscopic examination it was found that there were no agents of O. cynotis. As a result, due to the ease of usage in cats housed in a crowd and the reason the efficiency for the treatment used as a single dose, selamectine is efficient for treating O. cynotis in Van Cats and it can be used safely.

Immunohistochemical distribution of glucagon -, insulin -, somatostatin -, gastrin-, and serotonin-containing cells in the pancreas of the Van cat

The regional distribution, relative frequency, and appearance of glucagon (A-cell)-, insulin (B-cell)-, somatostatin (D-cell)-, gastrin (G-cell)-, and serotonin (EC-cell)-secreting cells in the endocrine and exocrine pancreas of Van cats were examined using the immunohistochemistry method. Glucagon immunopositive A-cells were principally found in the central region of the islets of Langerhans, while insulin immunopositive B-cells were located in the periphery of the pancreatic islets. Moreover, several A- and B-cells were observed as only single cells or clusters of 2 to 3 immunopositive cells in the exocrine parenchyma and the pancreatic duct epithelium. Somatostatin and gastrin immunopositive reactivities were negligible in the peripheral regions of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans and in the exocrine parenchyma. However, serotonin-immunopositive EC-cells were observed in neither the endocrine islets nor any other sites of the tissue. The existence, regional distribution, and relative frequency of A-, B-, D-, G- and EC-cells in the pancreas of Van cats have been analyzed in this study for the first time. The immunopositivity and distribution of endocrine cells in the Van cat pancreas were determined to be partially different from those of other carnivorous species such as dogs and other cats.

A macroanatomic study on the facial vein and its branches in the Van cat

In this study, five adult Van cats of both sexes, which were obtained from the Van Cat Research Centre, were used as materials. After the washing of the veins of the cats with saline via an external jugular vein, latex was injected via the same vessel into the vein system. Then, materials were fixed and after solidification of the latex, the veins were dissected, identified and presented in images. The majority of the venous drainage of the face is done by the facial vein, which is the direct continuation of the linguofacial vein in the intermandibular region, and its branches. In the Van cat, the facial vein gives off the inferior labial vein, the deep facial vein, the angular vein of the mouth and the masseteric branch on the lateral surface of the face. The facial vein then gives off the medial inferior palpebral vein, the superior labial vein and the lateral nasal vein at the level of the levatory nasolabial muscle and the angular vein of the eye and the dorsal nasal vein at the level of medial angle of the eye. The presence of a masseteric branch which is given by the facial vein and the ramifying of the deep facial vein into the descending palatine vein, the anastomotic branch of the superficial temporal vein and the external ophthalmic vein which is given by the deep facial vein in the Van cat demonstrates that there are differences in the presence, ramification and distribution either of the facial vein or of its branches as compared to domestic cats.

Selected Blood Serum Elements in Van (Turkey) Cats

The Turkish Van cat originates from eastern Turkey. One of the characteristic features of Van cats is the colour of their eyes, which can be both eyes blue, both eyes amber or one eye blue and the other amber. Serum essential trace, macro and industrial element concentrations of Van cats (n = 47) according to sex, age, hair length and eye colour differences were investigated. Serum aluminium, arsenic, boron, barium, cobalt, chromium, copper, gallium, indium, iron, lead, lithium, manganese, nickel, selenium, silver, sulphur, strontium, vanadium and zinc were measured with ICP-OES plasma optical atomic emission spectrometer. In result, serum aluminium, barium, copper, manganese and strontium levels in male cats were found higher (p &lt; 0.05) than in female cats. Serum aluminium, copper, manganese, strontium and zinc amounts of blue-blue eyed cats were found higher (p &lt; 0.05) than amber-amber, amber-blue and blue-amber eyed cats, and serum lithium of blue-amber eyed cats was higher (p &lt; 0.05) than blue-blue eyed cats. There were no statistically significant differences (p &amp;#x003E 0.05) found in the age and hair length groups. Our results indicate that several of the blood serum elements of Van cats may be related to their eye colours and sex differences.

A Macroscopic Investigation of the Nerves to the Eye and Ocular Annexes in the Van Cat

The orbital nerves were examined grossly in eight adult Van cats from either sex. The optic nerve, in a sigmoid curl, reached the eyeball after coursing between the retractor bulbi and medial rectus muscles. The oculomotor nerve gave off dorsal and ventral branches between the retractor bulbi and lateral rectus muscles. The ciliary ganglion was located on the lateral subbranch of the ventral branch of this nerve in all materials. There were short ciliary nerves originated from the ciliary ganglion in all the materials observed. The lacrimal nerve was a branch of the maxillary nerve.

A macroscopical investigation of the portal veins of the Van cat

In this study veins that constituted the portal vein were investigated in eight adult Van cats. The portal vein of the Van cat was composed of five peripheral branches which supplied the abdominal organs and two intrahepatic branches at the hepatic porta. The peripheral branches were cranial mesenteric, splenic, gastroduodenal, right gastric and cystic veins. The cranial mesenteric vein was the largest vessel that joined to the portal vein, and was constituted by the caudal pancreaticoduodenal, ileal, ileocolic and jejunal veins. The splenic vein was formed by the left gastric, left gastroepiploic, pancreatic and short gastric veins. The gastroduodenal vein was formed by the cranial pancreaticoduodenal and right gastroepiploic veins. The right gastric vein separately joined to the portal vein. The caudal mesenteric vein joined to the portal vein either alone or by a common trunk receiving either the caudal pancreaticoduodenal vein or ileocolic vein. The caudal mesenteric vein also opened rarely into the splenic vein. Intrahepatic branches were the right branch which gave off the ramus caudatus and ramus dexter lateralis, and the left branch which gave off the ramus dexter medialis, ramus quadratus, ramus sinister lateralis and ramus sinister medialis.

Morphology of the venous system of the heart in the van cat.

Morphology of the veins draining the heart was studied in the Van cat. Veins draining the heart were the great cardiac vein, the middle cardiac vein, the right cardiac veins and the smallest cardiac veins. No anastomosis was observed between the terminal branches of the paraconal interventricular vein and the subsinuosal interventricular vein. The coronary sinus was formed by the great cardiac vein and the middle cardiac vein. The origins of the right cardiac veins had significant variations. The right semicircumflex vein was observed in three (50%) cats, and it terminated at the middle cardiac vein.

Veins of the thoracic limb of the Van cat.

The drainage of the thoracic limb of the Van cat was performed by the superficial and deep vein systems. The superficial system was constituted by the cephalic vein and its branches. The deep vein system was constituted by the axillary vein and its branches. The two vein systems anastomosed with each other at various points along their courses. The cephalic vein emerged from the external jugular vein together with the superficial cervical vein. The axillary vein continued the subclavian vein. It ran caudoventrally and gave off the subscapular vein, at the level of the shoulder joint, then gave off two independent branches, which were the external thoracic veins. Then the rest of the vessel continued as the brachial vein. The thoracodorsal vein was formed by the communicate ramus vein which arose between the subscapular vein and the brachial vein. The cranial circumflex humeral vein arose double from the subscapular vein. One of them anastomosed with the deep brachial vein and the other one drained the biceps and the deep pectoral muscles. The cranial interosseous vein from the caudal aspects of the brachial vein and passed the interosseous space of the antebrachium then ran to the lateral aspect of the forearm. The caudal interosseous vein arose from the ulnar vein (in two specimens) and the median vein together with the ulnar vein (in two specimens) or independently from the median vein (in one specimen). Although many similarities were found in the veins of the thoracic limb of the Van cat as compared with the domestic cat, some significant differences were noted in the origin, course, anastomosing and ramification of veins of the thoracic limb.

Collection of Azolla microphylla in Paraguay and Its Characterization by Allozymes and DNA-RAPDs

Azolla Lam. is a genus of freshwater aquatic ferns which lives symbiotically with a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium. There are seven designated species (Lumpkin & Plucknett, 1982), three of which grow natively in the neotropics and subtropics. A. microphylla Kaulf. (MI in this paper) is the only one whose range reportedly lies entirely within the tropics. From an arbitrary focal point at the Galapagos Islands, its distributlion extends north into the West Indies and Central America, and also across northern and central South America (Schofield & Colinvaux, 1969; Morton & Wiggins, 1971). Within South America, MI is purportedly centered in the lowlands of Brazil (Svenson, 1944). The MI species, or the MI X A. filiculoides (FI) hybrid (Van Cat et al., 1989), is also a superior Azolla for application as a biofertilizer with irrigated rice. Its rapid growth in hot, humid regions of South and Southeast Asia, combined with greater fungal resistance, makes MI more desirable than the indigenous A. pinnata (Maybbayad, 1987; Ventura et al., 1987; Choonluchanon et al., 1988; Liu & Zheng, 1989). The MI which have become field accessions are stored in the Azolla germplasm collection at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines. All of the MI accessions from which hybrids and F1 progeny have been made were collected in northwest Paraguay in 1979. MI 4017 and 4018, among the most heat-tolerant of the tested germplasm, are commonly grown in IRRI fields at Los Bafios and South Cobato (Ventura et al., 1987). A second survey was sponsored by IRRI in 1988 to gather additional agroecotypes of Azolla. This paper discusses the genetic results found from that survey. METHODS