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The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of quantitative ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs, as well as to examine the correlation between the results of ultrasound examination and the Vcheck cPL rapid test in dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis. A total of 37 dogs were included to the study – 15 healthy dogs and 22 dogs with gastrointestinal clinical signs which had at least 1 out of 3 criteria (vomiting, cranial abdominal pain and jaundice). Serum was collected to evaluate cPL level by Vcheck cPL rapid test. A score 0 implied the Vcheck cPL Rapid test result was less than 200 ng/ml. A score 1 implied Vcheck cPL Rapid test result between 200 and 400 ng/ml, and a score 2 more than 400 ng/ml. Ultrasound was performed in all dogs in order to investigate the pancreatic lesions within 48 hours and evaluate the level of pancreatitis by score from 0 to 2. The criteria for pancreatitis on ultrasonograms included enlargement or irregularity of the pancreas, hypoechoic areas of the pancreas and hyperechoic mesentery surrounding the pancreas. An ultrasound assessment of pancreatitis implied: score 0 when none of the criteria was present. Score 1 when 1–2 from 3 criteria were present, and score 2 when all of the 3 criteria were present. Correlation between Vcheck cPL Rapid test and pancreatic ultrasonography was examined. The results indicate that agreement of Vcheck cPL Rapid test and pancreatic ultrasonography had kappa values of 0.71 which are in the “moderate” agreement range. This means that both Vcheck cPL Rapid test and ultrasonography should be used in the diagnostics of acute pancreatitis in daily clinical practice. Additionally, quantitative ultrasound assessment can be helpful in distinguishing acute pancreatitis from normal pancreas.

Epidemiological data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in companion animals have been thoroughly investigated in many countries. However, information on the neutralizing cross-reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 variants in companion animals is still limited. Here, we explored the neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs between May 2020 and December 2021 during the first wave (a Wuhan-Hu-1-dominant period) and the fourth wave (a Delta-dominant period) of the Thailand COVID-19 outbreak. Archival plasma samples of 1,304 cats and 1,795 dogs (total = 3,099) submitted for diagnosis and health checks were collected at the Prasu-Arthorn Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom. A microneutralization test was used to detect neutralizing antibodies against the ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 and the Delta variants. A plasma sample with neutralizing titers ≥10 was considered positive. Our results showed relatively low seroprevalence with seropositive samples detected in 8 out of 3,099 individuals (0.26, 95% CI 0.11-0.51%). Among these cases, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies from both the ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 and the Delta variants were found in three out of eight cases in two cats ( n  = 2) and one dog ( n  = 1). Furthermore, neutralizing antibodies specific to only the ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 variant were exclusively found in one cat ( n  = 1), while antibodies against only the Delta variant were detected in four dogs ( n  = 4). Additionally, the neutralizing cross-activities against SARS-CoV-2 variants (Alpha, Beta, and Omicron BA.2) were observed in the seropositive cats with limited capacity to neutralize the Omicron BA.2 variant. In summary, the seropositivity among cats and dogs in households with an unknown COVID-19 status was relatively low in Thailand. Moreover, the neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 found in the seropositive cats and dogs had limited or no ability to neutralize the Omicron BA.2 variant. Thus, monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection and sero-surveillance, particularly in cats, is imperative for tracking virus susceptibility to the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Suwanpakdee, Ketchim, Thongdee, Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan, Tangsudjai, Wiriyarat, Julapanthong, Trakoolchaisri, Buamas, Sakcamduang, Okada, Puthavathana and Paungpin.)