Cystitis
Cystitis is the inflammation of the urinary bladder, characterised by frequent painful micturition and the presence of inflammatory cells and bacteria.
Etiology
Introduction of infection due to repeated catheterization, stagnation of urine, ascending and descending invasion, and cystic caliculi are important causes of cystitis.
Corynebacterium renale in cattle and C. coli in dogs and pigs are common bacterial isolates from the casts of cystitis. Females have a high susceptibility to cystitis due to their shorter urethra.
Pathogenesis
Mucosal injury facilitates the invasion of bacteria; colonisation and setting up of infection; stagnation of urine; and change in pH act as predisposing factors. Inflammatory changes in the bladder epithelium result in the shedding of epithelial cells, RBCs, WBCs, and pus cells.
Clinical Findings
- Frequent pain full micturation with the voiding of a small quantity of urine, urine may be turbid with the presence of RBCs, pus cells, and transitional epithelial cells.
- Acute cases in cattle may show signs of abdominal pain, love sniffing of the tail, kicking at the belly, and treading of the hind limbs.
- A male dog showing squatting urination or posture urination is an indication of cystitis.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of cystitis is made based on the following:
- Clinical Signs
- Urinalysis for proteins and microscopic examination of urine for the presence of pus cells, RBCs, and epithelial cells.
- Isolation, quantitative bacterial culture, and an antibiogram provide guidelines for the choice of antimicrobials.
- Radiographic studies like cystograms or IV pyelography.
Treatment
This treatment is followed by cystitis in animals:
- Antimicrobials, preferably as antibiogram studies, form the first line of treatment.
- Sulfa-trimethoprim at 30 mg/kg, Ciprofloxacin at 3-5 mg, and Cefalexin at 11–17 mg/kg body weight can be given for 7–14 days.
- In alkaline urine, urinary acidifiers like ammonium chloride and sodium acid phosphate can be given. as acidic urine has a bacteriostatic effect, whereas in acidic urine, urinary alkalizers like NaHCO3.
