Radiographic and CT features of metallosis in a lame dog after total hip replacement: the cloud sign.

A 2-year-old female American Akita was referred for CT of the pelvis and hindlimbs due to a left hindlimb lameness after a left total hip replacement. Referral radiographs and CT images demonstrated amorphous soft-tissue and mineral opacities surrounding the proximal femur and the prosthetic stem, consistent with the "cloud sign" reported as a characteristic of metallosis in humans. Dorsomedial displacement of the prosthetic head, multiple foci of geographic osteolysis alongside the "cloud sign", presumed pseudotumor lesions, and medial iliac lymphadenopathy were also identified with CT.

Chitinase-1 Activity in Serum of Cats with FIP.

Background: Chitotriosidase (chitinase 1 or CHIT1) is secreted by activated macrophages. Macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). No reports on CHIT1 activity in cats with FIP are available.

Fecal Carriage of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-/AmpC-Producing in Pet and Stray Cats.

Dogs have been reported as potential carriers of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, but the role of cats has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and the risk factors associated with the fecal carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase and AmpC (ESBL/AmpC)-producing () in pet and stray cats. Fecal samples were collected between 2020 and 2022 from healthy and unhealthy cats and screened for ESBL/AmpC-producing using selective media.

Detection and genetic characterization of domestic cat hepadnavirus in cats with cavitary effusions.

After the identification of the novel domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) in 2018, its potential pathogenetic role in feline hepatic diseases has been suggested. Following the detection of DCH in a cat's serum and peritoneal effusion, the aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the presence of DCH in cats with and without cavitary effusions along with DCH presence in effusions. Stored serum and effusion samples from cats with and without effusions admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Lodi (Italy) in 2020-2022 were included based on results of hematobiochemical parameters.

Comparison of diagnostic performances of different serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection in cats and dogs.

Serosurveillance among animals, including pets, plays an important role in the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, because severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in animal populations could result in the establishment of new virus reservoirs. Serological assays that offer the required sensitivity and specificity are essential. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of three different commercially available immunoassays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pets, namely two ELISA tests for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid [ID Screen SARS CoV-2 double antigen multispecies (Double antigen) and ID Screen® SARS-CoV-2-N IgG indirect ELISA (Indirect)] and one test for the detection of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding-domain [surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT)].

Molecular Detection of Feline Coronavirus in Captive Non-Domestic Felids from Zoological Facilities.

Cases of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a disease with a high mortality rate caused by the feline coronavirus (FCoV), have been reported in non-domestic felids, highlighting the need for surveys of FCoV in these endangered species. With the aim of adding information on FCoV prevalence in captive non-domestic felids, samples (feces or rectal swabs and, when available, oral swabs, blood, and abdominal effusion) collected between 2019 and 2021 from 38 non-domestic felids from three different zoological facilities of Northern Italy were tested for evidence of FCoV infection via RT-qPCR. Three animals were found to be FCoV positive, showing an overall 7.

Evaluating the presence of domestic cat hepadnavirus viraemia in cats with biochemical alterations suggestive of liver disease.

Background: The association between domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) infection and feline chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma has been suggested. However, studies focused on the association between DCH infection and clinicopathological changes consistent with liver disease in cats are not available.

Methods: This retrospective investigation included sera obtained from 96 cats that had the serum activity of at least alanine aminotransferase or alkaline phosphatase measured during initial diagnostic work-up.

Do Dogs and Cats Passively Carry SARS-CoV-2 on Hair and Pads?

The epidemiological role of domestic animals in the spread and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans has been investigated in recent reports, but some aspects need to be further clarified. To date, only in rare cases have dogs and cats living with COVID-19 patients been found to harbour SARS-CoV-2, with no evidence of pet-to-human transmission. The aim of the present study was to verify whether dogs and cats act as passive mechanical carriers of SARS-CoV-2 when they live in close contact with COVID-19 patients.

Absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in stray cats.

SARS-CoV-2 positive or seropositive owned cats have been reported worldwide. The detection of seropositive stray cats in the proximity of farms of infected minks, coupled with the demonstration of cat-to-cat transmission in experimental settings, raise the question whether stray cats may have an epidemiological role in the COVID-19 pandemic and may act as sentinel for the circulation of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in free roaming cats belonging to colonies located in an area highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and to correlate the results with the positivity rate in people sharing the same area.

Human-to-Cat SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: Case Report and Full-Genome Sequencing from an Infected Pet and Its Owner in Northern Italy.

There have been previous reports of the human-to-cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2, but there are only a few molecular studies that have compared the whole genome of the virus in cats and their owners. We here describe a case of domestic SARS-CoV-2 transmission from a healthcare worker to his cat for which nasopharyngeal swabs of both the cat and its owner were used for full-genome analysis. The results indicate that quarantine measures should be extended to pets living in SARS-CoV-2-infected households.

Chylopericardium Effusion in a Lac Alaotra Bamboo Lemur ().

An 11-year-old female was evaluated following a history of dyspnea of 15 days' duration. Thoracic radiography performed by the referring veterinarian revealed a large cardiac silhouette and dorsal deviation of the trachea. Heart sounds were muffled.

Factors affecting the urinary aldosterone-to-creatinine ratio in healthy dogs and dogs with naturally occurring myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Background: Chronic renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation in course of heart diseases contributes to cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is characterized by different stages of severity and trend of RAAS activity during the course of the disease is still uncertain. The urinary aldosterone-to-creatinine ratio (UAldo:C) has been proven to reflect RAAS activation in dogs and might be a useful marker in monitoring therapy and disease progression, but data about this parameter need to be expanded.

Concordance between Histology, Immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR in the Diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis.

Histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) have been used to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), but no information regarding the comparison of their diagnostic performances on the same organ is available. The aims of this study were to determine the concordance among these tests and to evaluate which combination of tests and organs can be used in vivo. Histology, IHC, and nested RT-PCR (RT-nPCR) for feline coronavirus (FCoV) were performed on spleen, liver, mesenteric lymph node, kidney, large and small intestine, and lung from 14 FIP and 12 non-FIP cats.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19): Are they similar?

SARS-CoV-2 has radically changed our lives causing hundreds of thousands of victims worldwide and influencing our lifestyle and habits. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a disease of felids caused by the feline coronaviruses (FCoV). FIP has been considered irremediably deadly until the last few years.

Origin and transmission of Feline coronavirus type I in domestic cats from Northern Italy: a phylogeographic approach.

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is responsible, along with an inadequate immune response of the host, for Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), one of the most frequent and deadly infectious feline disease worldwide. This study analyzed the genetic characteristics of the spike (S) gene of 33 FCoVs circulating in Northern Italy between 2011 and 2015 in cats with or without FIP. In order to reconstruct the most probable places of origin and dispersion of FCoV among Italian cats, a phylogeographic approach was performed based on 106 FCoV S gene partial sequences from cats, including the 33 novel Italian sequences and 73 retrieved from public databases.

Feline gut microbiota composition in association with feline coronavirus infection: A pilot study.

Feline coronaviruses (FCoV) colonize the intestinal tract, however, due to not fully understood mutations, they can spread systemically and cause feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Recent studies on human medicine report that gut microbiota is involved in the development of systemic disorders and could influence the immune response to viral diseases. The aim of this study was to provide preliminary data on the fecal microbiota composition in healthy cats compared to FCoV-infected cats, with and without FIP.

Feline morbillivirus in Northern Italy: prevalence in urine and kidneys with and without renal disease.

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is an emerging virus that was first described in Hong Kong in 2012. Several reports suggested the epidemiological association of FeMV infection with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and the genetic diversity of FeMV as well as the relationship between FeMV infection and CKD in cats from Northern Italy.

Preliminary investigation on feline coronavirus presence in the reproductive tract of the tom cat as a potential route of viral transmission.

Objectives: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an immune-mediated disease initiated by feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection. To date, the only proven route of transmission is the faecal-oral route, but a possible localisation of FCoV in the reproductive tract of tom cats is of concern, owing to the involvement of the male reproductive tract during FIP and to the presence of reproduction disorders in FCoV-endemic feline catteries. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence and localisation of FCoV in semen and/or in the reproductive tract of tom cats, and its possible association with seroconversion and viraemic phase.

Comparison of the performance of laboratory tests in the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis.

We compared the performance of clinicopathologic and molecular tests used in the antemortem diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). From 16 FIP and 14 non-FIP cats, we evaluated retrospectively the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios (LRs) of serum protein electrophoresis, α-acid glycoprotein (AGP) on peripheral blood, screening reverse-transcription nested PCR (RT-nPCR) on the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR), and spike (S) gene sequencing on peripheral blood, body cavity effusions, and tissue, as well as body cavity cytology and delta total nucleated cell count (ΔTNC). Any of these tests on blood, and especially the molecular tests, may support or confirm a clinical diagnosis of FIP.

Limitations of using feline coronavirus spike protein gene mutations to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease of cats, and a sequela of systemic feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection. Mutations in the viral spike (S) gene have been associated with FCoVs found in tissues from cats with FIP, but not FCoVs found in faeces from healthy cats, and are implicated in monocyte/macrophage tropism and systemic spread. This study was designed to determine whether S gene mutation analysis can reliably diagnose FIP.

Diagnosing feline infectious peritonitis using the Sysmex XT-2000iV based on frozen supernatants from cavitary effusions.

The delta total nucleated cells (ΔTNC) measurement with the Sysmex XT-2000iV (Sysmex Europe, Norderstedt, Germany) has high diagnostic accuracy on effusions in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) cases, but the test can be performed only on fresh samples. We evaluated whether supernatants from effusions retain the ability to induce cell clumping and assessed the diagnostic accuracy of this modified ΔTNC method. Effusions were collected from FIP cats ( n = 19) and from cats with other diseases ( n = 15).

Reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification for the detection of feline coronavirus.

The Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is the etiological agent of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a lethal disease of felids. The role of molecular methods is controversial for the diagnosis of FIP, while essential for the identification of the shedders. Thus, a fast and inexpensive method for the detection of FCoV could be beneficial, especially in multicat environments.

Frequency of electrophoretic changes consistent with feline infectious peritonitis in two different time periods (2004-2009 vs 2013-2014).

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the frequency of electrophoretic changes in serum of cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) changed in recent years vs past years. Methods Agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) from cats with FIP and healthy cats recorded in the periods 2004-2009 and 2013-2014 were retrospectively analysed. Relative and absolute values of each electrophoretic fraction were recorded and the number of cats showing single or combined electrophoretic changes consistent with FIP (hypoalbuminaemia, inverted albumin to globulin [A:G] ratio, increased total protein, total globulin, alpha [α]-globulin and gamma [γ]-globulin concentration) were counted.

Sysmex XT-2000iV scattergram analysis in a cat with basophilia.

A 13-year-old female Domestic Shorthair cat was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Milan for an interscapular mass suspected to be a mesenchymal malignant tumor. A preoperative CBC performed with Sysmex XT-2000iV showed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and eosinophilia. The Sysmex WBC/DIFF scattergram showed an additional, well-separated cluster of events between the neutrophil, eosinophil, and lymphocyte clusters.