[Ototoxicity caused by anti-epileptic drugs].

According to the literature, a number of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have an ototoxic effect. The mechanism of hearing dysfunction due to the use of AEDs is not well known. The main clinical manifestations of the cochleotoxic effect of the drugs are: tinnitus, sensorineural hearing loss, impaired pitch perception, hyperacusis.

Relationship between acoustic traits of protesting cries of domestic kittens (Felis catus) and their individual chances for survival.

Domestic cat (Felis catus) mothers may rely on offspring cries to allocate resources in use of individuals with greater chances for survival and sacrifice the weak ones in case of impossibility to raise the entire large litter. Potential victims of this maternal strategy can enhance their chances of survival, by producing vocalizations with traits mimicking those of higher-quality offspring. We compared acoustic traits of 4990 cries produced during blood sampling by 57 two-week-old captive feral kittens (28 males, 29 females); 47 of them survived to 90 days of age and 10 died by reasons not related to traumas or aggression.

Changes in Serum Amyloid A Level in Domestic Cats during Pregnancy.

Reproduction of endangered species in captivity is an urgent problem for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity. For mammals, including felids, assessing and monitoring of pregnancy progression is fundamental for successful breeding. For the first time, changes in the concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), the main protein of the acute phase of inflammation in felines, were assessed during pregnancy in a domestic cat.

Application of Felid Hair for Non-Invasive Tracking of Animal Reproductive Status and Adrenal Activity.

Hair can be a useful matrix to examine the hormonal status of an animal, although it is difficult to correlate the results to a specific time point. The aim of this study was to evaluate seasonal changes in cortisol and testosterone levels in the hair of four feline species (lynx, , = 8; Amur wildcat, , = 8; caracal, , = 6 and domestic cat, Felis catus, = 17) with different breeding strategies. Animals of both sexes were sampled over the year, once per season (every three months), and the concentrations of hair testosterone and cortisol were measured by EIA.

The First Case of spp. in Russia: The Parasite Conquers Eurasia.

Over the last two decades, spp. has been conquering Eurasia, although this fact has only been brought to light through recent more intensive research after the discovery of in Pallas' cat. In Europe, was detected mainly in southern countries and later in central Europe.