Evaluation of fecal microRNA stability in healthy cats.

Vet Clin Pathol

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Published: September 2019

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer accounts for 14% of feline malignancies. There is a great need for reliable noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers to reach a timely diagnosis and initiate treatment. Fecal microRNAs (miRNAs) could be such a biomarker and have shown great potential in colorectal screening in people but have yet to be investigated in cats.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the presence and stability of feline fecal miRNA under different storage conditions (room temperature [RT], 4, and -20°C) and to evaluate the expression levels of specific fecal miRNAs collected on three separate days (days 1, 4, and 7) in healthy cats.

Methods: Healthy cats were prospectively recruited. Fecal samples were collected, aliquoted, and stored for 24 hours at RT and then transferred to -20°C, stored for 24 hours at 4°C and then transferred to -20°C, or were immediately placed at -20°C on day 1 or at -20°C on days 4 and 7 postcollection. Expression of 22 miRNAs was investigated using quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: Ten miRNA assays worked well, and one, let-7b, was used for normalization. No differences in miRNA expression were seen between the three storage temperatures for the nine miRNAs investigated. Only miR-26a showed a significant increase in expression between samples of days 1 and 7. The rest of the miRNAs levels were stable over time.

Conclusions: Fecal miRNA can be isolated from healthy cats. The expression was stable at different temperatures and for most of the miRNAs over time. Prospective studies evaluating fecal miRNA as biomarkers in cats with GI neoplasia are warranted.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6852515PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12757DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

healthy cats
12
fecal mirna
12
stored 24 hours
8
transferred -20°c
8
mirnas investigated
8
temperatures mirnas
8
fecal
6
mirnas
6
mirna
5
-20°c
5

Similar Publications

Few studies today address trans-operative analgesia provided by tramadol without local anesthetics for intra-abdominal procedures. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of trans-operative analgesia provided by epidurally administered tramadol in cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. For this purpose, 16 healthy queens were randomly assigned to participate in one of two groups: GC, control group, 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Serum galectin-3 (sGal-3) is a protein present in renal tubules and increases in experimental rodent models of acute kidney injury. The aim of this study was to compare sGal-3 concentrations in healthy cats and cats with ureteral obstruction (UO).

Methods: This was a retrospective study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Enhancing ventilatory effort during pulmonary function testing can help reveal flow limitations not evident in normal tidal breathing. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of using a CO2/O2 gas mixture to enhance tidal breathing with a barometric whole-body plethysmography system in both healthy cats and those with feline lower airway disease (FLAD).

Methods: This prospective study included healthy cats and those with FLAD, which underwent pulmonary function testing and were exposed to a 10% CO2/90% O2 gas mixture in a barometric whole-body plethysmography chamber, with CO2 concentrations maintained within the target range of 5% to 10%.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Different types of feline papillomaviruses (PVs) are associated with a variety of skin lesions and neoplasia, such as papillomas and cell carcinomas, but the virus can also be found in healthy skin. In this review, the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), a scientifically independent board of veterinary experts on feline infectious diseases from 11 European Countries, discusses the current knowledge of feline PV infections. Cats most likely become infected through lesions or abrasions of the skin.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Complex Probiotics Suppress Inflammation by Regulating Intestinal Metabolites in Kittens.

Animals (Basel)

January 2025

Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.

Cats are popular companions for humans, and their health is of importance to a growing number of pet owners. The juvenile period is a critical stage of cat growth; in particular, the metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiome of kittens is critical for processing nutrients and supporting overall health. In this study, the effect of complex probiotics on the intestinal health of kittens was explored through a metabolomics analysis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!