A Large-Scale Serological Survey in Pets From October 2020 Through June 2021 in France Shows Significantly Higher Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Cats Compared to Dogs.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential to infect various animals, including domestic pets like dogs and cats. Many studies have documented infection in companion animals by molecular and serological methods. However, only a few have compared seroprevalence in cats and dogs from the general population, and these studies were limited by small sample sizes and collections over short periods.

First Evidence of Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Domestic Rabbits.

We tested 144 pet rabbits sampled in France between November 2020 and June 2021 for antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by microsphere immunoassay. We reported the first evidence of a natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in rabbits with a low observed seroprevalence between 0.7% and 1.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in two cats during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in France.

Although there are several reports in the literature of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats, few SARS-CoV-2 sequences from infected cats have been published. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 infection was evaluated in two cats by clinical observation, molecular biology (qPCR and NGS), and serology (microsphere immunoassay and seroneutralization). Following the observation of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in two cats, infection status was confirmed by RT-qPCR and, in one cat, serological analysis for antibodies against N-protein and S-protein, as well as neutralizing antibodies.

Comparison of STA-NeoPTimal (Stago) and STA-Neoplastine CI Plus (Stago) thromboplastin reagents using a STA Satellite Max analyzer to measure prothrombin times in dogs.

Background: Different thromboplastins are available to measure prothrombin time (PT). Stago coagulation analyzers and reagents are currently used in veterinary laboratories and enable PT measurements to explore the coagulation cascade (extrinsic pathway).

Objectives: The main objective was to compare PT measurements obtained with the STA-NeoPTimal reagent with the commonly used STA-Neoplastine CI Plus reagent.

European multicenter study on antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from companion animal urinary tract infections.

Background: There is a growing concern regarding the increase of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in companion animals. Yet, there are no studies comparing the resistance levels of these organisms in European countries. The aim of this study was to investigate geographical and temporal trends of antimicrobial resistant bacteria causing urinary tract infection (UTI) in companion animals in Europe.

Lymphocytic leukemia in a captive dhole (Cuon alpinus).

A captive 3-yr-old male dhole (Cuon alpinus) was presented for poor body condition. Pancytopenia concurrent with bone marrow aspiration that revealed severe medullary infiltration by a population of initially small lymphocytes was diagnostic of an aleukemic chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chemotherapy was initiated, but euthanasia was elected after the animal's rapid deteriorating condition and sudden lymphoid organs hypertrophy several days after initial presentation.

Is it possible to use expired tubes for routine biochemical analysis in dogs?

Background: Expired collection tubes may be used inadvertently and resampling is not always possible. To date, studies have not been conducted in veterinary medicine to determine whether or not biochemical measurements obtained from specimens collected into expired tubes are accurate enough for clinical decision-making.

Objectives: The aims of this preliminary study were to assess the impact of measuring routine plasma biochemical analytes in canine specimens collected in expired tubes and to investigate the relationship between post-expiration time and the magnitude of errors.

Anaplasmosis in two dogs in France and molecular and phylogenetic characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

Two dogs in France were diagnosed with Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection by real-time PCR. The most remarkable hematologic and biochemical findings were severe thrombocytopenia, mild neutrophilia, morulae in neutrophils, and increased serum concentration of the α2-globulin fraction detected by agarose gel electrophoresis of serum proteins. Using sequencing of the partial 16S rRNA and ankA genes, molecular characterization of the A.

Identification of JAK2 mutations in canine primary polycythemia.

Objective: Primary polycythemia in dogs is classified as a myeloproliferative syndrome with a chronic progressive course and unspecific symptoms. Diagnosis is based on exclusion criteria. In humans, the presence of an acquired recurrent mutation within the JAK2 gene has recently been identified in 90% of the patients with polycythemia vera.