Abstract:

The study aims to improve the diagnostic criteria of cat acute stress (CAS). The criteria were then applied to collect cats in the efficacy and safety trial of gabapentin tablets for CAS prevention. CAS was diagnosed by cat stress score (CSS). Fifteen healthy cats and fifteen acute stress cats were collected and divided into the healthy group and the acute stress group, respectively. Through the comparison of clinical data, CSS assessment, and the results of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and epinephrine (EPI) detection, so as to evaluate the diagnostic value for CAS of three kinds of hormone and improve the CAS diagnostic criteria. Then, using the improved diagnostic criteria for CAS in this study, 106 acute stress cats were collected and randomly divided into the placebo group and the gabapentin group. A total of three visits were scheduled, and 1.5 h before the second visit, the cats in the two groups received the recommended dose of placebo tablets and gabapentin tablets orally. The efficacy and safety of gabapentin tablets were evaluated by comparison of clinical data, basic physiological indexes examination, behavioral evaluation, blood routine examination, blood biochemical examination, hormone examination, and adverse reaction monitoring. The results showed that the clinical data of the healthy group and the acute stress group were homogeneous. When CRH, ACTH, and EPI were combined in the diagnosis of CAS, the best critical value was 0.212, the area under the curve was 0.973, the sensitivity was 100.00%, and the specificity was 86.67%. The results of the clinical trial of gabapentin tablets showed that the clinical data of the placebo group and the gabapentin group were homogeneous. Compared with the placebo group, the gabapentin group had significantly higher ΔCSS, Δtemperature, Δrespiratory rate, Δheart rate, ΔACTH, ΔEPI, and incidence of adverse effects (weakness, ataxia, and lethargy), while the Δglobal sedation score was significantly lower. The above adverse reactions occurred about 2-3 h after the drug administration and lasted about 1.5-3.0 h. Gabapentin tablets did not cause changes in blood routine and blood biochemical indicators. In conclusion, this study suggests that the diagnostic criteria of CAS can be improved as follows: when the cat is stimulated by a stressor within a few hours before the test, the predictive probability value of the combination of serum CRH (pg·mL^-1), ACTH (pg·mL^-1) and EPI (ng·mL^-1) concentrations during the test is greater than 0.212 and the CSS score is greater than 3. A single oral administration of gabapentin tablets at the recommended dose 1.5 h before a stressful event has a certain preventive effect on CAS, but adverse reaction such as atony, ataxia and somnolence may occur.

Key words: cat, acute stress, stress score, gabapentin tablets, clinical trials