Pet Test : Cats & Dogs

http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Laboratory_test

FeLV/FIV Test for CatsEdit
The test for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) can be done in-house as an ELISA snap test. Any incoming cat should be tested for these two diseases before they have contact with your cats. Both of these viruses have been successful in getting into the cat population because cats may become infected and transmit the virus to others before ever appearing sick. Please note that you may get a false negative on these tests if the animal was exposed to the virus less than 3 months (some say 6 months) before the test. It takes a while for antibody for FIV and for FeLV antigen to show up in the bloodstream.

Reticulocyte CountEdit
This is a test that is done when anemia (low hematocrit value) is seen in the CBC. Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells. When there is acute anemia, the animal's body tries to maintain the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood by releasing immature blood cells. A high reticulocyte count means that the animal is trying to get back to a normal RBC count. A low/normal reticulocyte count means that the anemic state may be chronic; the body has adjusted to the presence of fewer RBCs and isn't in emergency mode.

TLI, B12, FolateEdit
This test is actually for three separate things but labs often group them together as part of an intestinal profile. These tests are recommended for animals with a history of intestinal disease. The trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) test gives info about the state of pancreatic function and the severity small intestine disease. An elevated TLI indicates (but is not diagnostic for) either or both pancreatitis and chronic small intestine disease. A decreased TLI indicates something called "Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency" (EPI) which is extremely rare in cats but sometimes seen in dogs, especially German Shepherds. See the further discussion of the TLI test at the Antech link below[16].

B12 and folate are both vitamins that must be adsorbed in the intestines. (Cobalamin is another name for B12.) In cases of chronic intestinal disease, the intestinal walls may not be able to adsorb these two vitamins properly. They are both essential vitamins and deficiencies in either one can cause problems. A low result of either one warrants supplementation. On its own, though, it is also not diagnostic for intestinal disease.

This test group is usually run in cases of suspected intestinal problems like irritable bowel disease (IBD) or small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and when pancreatitis is suspected. The pancreas is easily affected by inflammation in the gut and the liver and this may shed some light on the origin of the inflammation. Pancreatitis in cats is often found as a complex of inflammation from IBD in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, pancreas, and liver.

Antech has more information[17] about this test group.

PLIEdit
The pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) test is the definitive test for pancreatitis in cats and dogs. There are separate tests for canines (cPLI) and felines (fPLI). The test looks for lipase that is specifically from the pancreas; in normal chemistry panels the lipase recorded may be from organs other than the pancreas. Remember what pancreatitis means, though: inflammation of the pancreas. Because pancreatitis is so often idiopathic (who-knows-why) in cats, it's easy to forget that in some cases the cause may be found and other testing can provide clues. In dogs, there is a strong case between diet (especially dietary indiscretions) and acute pancreatitis.

See the futher discussion at the article on pancreatitis.

Serum FructosamineEdit
The serum fructosamine test measures a protein complex found in the blood that's a reflection of blood glucose (BG) levels of the past 2 weeks (or so). This is a useful diagnostic test in cats as they are extremely prone to "stress hyperglycemia"; many non-diabetic cats will show BGs up to and over 200 when their blood is taken at the vet. Because the lab keeps the serum for a few days after they run the tests, your vet can call in for a fructosamine test to rule out diabetes.

Whether or not fructosamine has any value in pets whose BG levels are tested at home is debatable. It does have a place if you are not doing or are unable to do curves. The fructosamine gives you an average: let's say your pet is a bit fractious and you struggle to get your pre-shot tests done twice a day. You're getting great numbers and you think all is well. You should have a nice, low-end fructosamine, right? You might, but if your pet is skyrocketing in between shots the fructosamine will show you that all is not well. That's why spot-checks at home are important, too.

See also the separate article on fructosamine.

FIPEdit
The test for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a general test in felines for a family of viruses known as coronaviruses. (Some labs may call it an FCV test.) It is not specific for FIP, nor is there total agreement on how FIP develops. (Read up on the current thinking at the Merck link below[18].) The only useful result is a negative one, meaning your cat has never been exposed to coronavirus. In cats with an obvious infection going on and you can't find any answers, you sometimes expand the search and test for everything you can. Some vets feel strongly that the FIP test is a waste of money and pretty worthless overall.

Toxoplasmosis IgG, IgMEdit
Toxoplasmosis is a protozoa most famous for being found in cat excrement. This is the reason that pregnant women are told not to clean the litterbox; toxoplasmosis can be transmitted to humans through the feces and cause birth defects. Note that you have to have direct (hand to mouth) contact with toxoplasmosis to contract it. Humans are much more likely to contract it from poorly cooked meat. Cats are great carriers of toxoplasmosis: they contract it easily and it's rare that they get clinically ill. Signs of toxoplasmosis infection in cats include lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, and may even cause some neurological problems. The test is usually done to screen cats for placement with people who are immunosuppressed (for example, with HIV) and also if a cat shows symptoms, especially neurological signs. It is a titer test--the IgG and IgM refer to the antibodies screened for in the titer.

Toxoplasmosis rarely affects dogs.

CryptococcusEdit
Cryptococcus is a fungus that may be shed in bird feces. When cats become infected with this fungus, it can manifest itself in various ways. Many cats develop nasal/respiratory symptoms like snorting, sneezing, and thick nasal discharge as well as have symptoms of general illness such as depression, poor appetite, and lethargy. The fungus may move on to infect the central nervous system (CNS) and cause neurological symptoms such as behavior changes, twitching, and anisocoria (when the pupils of the eyes aren't dilated evenly). In dogs, the symptoms are usually neurological and the prognosis may be guarded.

Though not seen very frequently on the east coast of the US, cryptococcus does appear throughout the country. If you have an animal exhibiting a cold that won't go away (and, if it’s a cat, have tested for FeLV and FIV), or a sudden onset of neurological symptoms, consider testing for cryptococcus. Many vets aren't used to hearing about it or testing for it so you may have to suggest this. It's thought that the fungus is more difficult to get rid of once it has moved onto the CNS so if you have reason to suspect it, go ahead and test. You needn’t do it as a general test on every stray you find with an upper respiratory infection (URI), but should would consider it if the URI was unresponsive to treatment or if there were other respiratory symptoms. See Merck[19] for an overview.

Please note that there is an intestinal protozoan parasite called cryptosporidium. This is related to coccidia, mentioned above. It is not related to cryptococcus.

HeartwormEdit
Heartworm[20] is transmitted by mosquitoes. Dogs seem to be the best host of heartworm and are the most-frequently affected animal. Many vets are now testing cats for heartworm, a traditional disease of dogs. Research has shown that cats are more resistant to infection due to an extremely vigorous immune response but many vets think that it may be more prevalent than previously thought. In dogs, the screening test is available as an ELISA snap test and can be done in house. Elisa kits are proven handy and efficient.

For cats, heartworm testing is more tricky. The heartworm Ag test looks for antibodies to heartworm; it is a titer test[21]. If the antibody test comes up positive, other testing is done to try to determine if the cat was exposed and beat the heartworm or if the infection remains[22]. Heartworm in cats carries a grave prognosis. The symptoms may mimic feline asthma which is another reason to do x-rays when asthma is suspected, especially for cats at high risk for exposure. Heartworm is much more prevalent in warmer climates where mosquitoes breed year-round.

適時賣樓套現的意義

文章日期：2011年5月4日

投資物業固然應從長線出發，但也不代表要「死」，如能掌握合適的買賣時機，一兩個回合，身家便可暴漲。不信？資深投資者張大朋近日與網友就買賣物業的討論，便頗有啟發意義﹕

張大朋的網友約於2007年買入一項物業，賺了300萬元，大約是樓價升了一倍，現在市值大約是600萬元，買入時是300萬元，付了30%首期，大約是100萬元。

假設1) 網友繼續持有物業，兼假定下一波的樓市調整30%，樓價會跌至420萬元，再下一次升浪，可能會升值至840萬，那是八年、十年以後的事。

假設2) 網友現在沽出，可以套回400萬元(首期100萬元＋利潤300萬元)，假定兩年後樓價跌30%，今天市值1500萬元的樓，屆時市值為1500萬元X70％＝1050萬元。網用套現了400萬元的資金可以買入了，再過五年樓價還是翻一倍，屆時網友的資產就是2100萬元！

張大朋的結論是，投資物業適當時候應套現，用更大的資金再去投資，增加回報。大家又同意否？

不過，筆者想提醒大家的是，如是只有一層自住物業，便不要隨便參與這個「低買高賣」的遊戲，皆因賣了樓後，便不是單純的等樓價跌了再入市，而是要轉為租樓住，期間的租金支出可能極為驚人。

撰文﹕陸振球 （明報地產版主管）