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This study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of enterococci isolated from dogs and cats with urinary tract infections in northwestern Croatia. During this study, the laboratory received 787 urine samples, 651 from dogs and 136 from cats. A total of 260 urine samples (211 from dogs and 49 from cats) were bacteriologically positive. Of these, 29 isolates belonged to Enterococcus spp. ; 22 from dogs and seven from cats. Enterococci isolates were identified by PCR method, 12 of which were Enterococcus faecium and 17 were Enterococcus faecalis species. In dogs, 16 E. faecalis and six E. faecium strains were identified, whereas in cats, six E. faecium and only one E. faecalis strain were identified. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method for nine antimicrobials: penicillin, ampicillin, vancomycin, nitrofurantoin, rifampicin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin. The isolates were tested for high-level resistance to streptomycin and gentamicin. The highest resistance of Enterococcus spp. was observed to rifampicin (86%) and enrofloxacin (83%), followed by tetracycline and ciprofloxacin (69%). Resistance to vancomycin was 28%, and the lowest resistance was to chloramphenicol (17%). Multidrug resistance was found in 76% of enterococci isolates. High-level streptomycin resistance was detected in 17% and high-level gentamicin resistance in 10% of the isolated enterococci. When comparing species susceptibility, E. faecium isolates were significantly more resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, nitrofurantoin, and ciprofloxacin (p < 0.05). Eleven E. faecium isolates (92%) and 12 E. faecalis isolates (76%) were multidrug resistant.

In this study, the presence and types of urine crystals in cats and dogs with urolithiasis/crystaluria and the effects of some demographic factors (such as type, breed, age, sex, sterilization status) on them were evaluated. In the study, physical, chemical and sediment examinations of urine samples of 67 cats and dogs were performed. It was determined that 83.58% of the animals with crystals in their urine were male. It was determined that 63.64% of the female animals and 44.64% of the male animals with crystals detected in the urinary tract were sterilized. It was determined that urinary crystals were more common in cats between 1-3 years of age (AO) and in dogs older than 3 AO. It was determined that calcium oxalate crystal (64.41%) in cats and struvite crystal (50%) in dogs were the most common crystals. It was determined that urine crystals were found mostly in cross breeds in cats and dogs. It was determined that most of the cats and dogs with urine crystals were fed with home meals and non-branded foods. It was determined that urinary tract infections had an effect on the formation of urine crystals. As a result, it was concluded that it is important in terms of Veterinary Medicine that such studies should be routinely performed, especially in the United States of North America (such as the Minnesota Urolith Center), since urine crystals cause significant lower urinary system diseases. En este estudio se evaluó la presencia y tipos de cristales de orina en gatos y perros con urolitiasis/cristaluria y los efectos de algunos factores demográficos (como tipo, raza, edad, sexo, estado de esterilización) sobre ellos. En el estudio se realizaron exámenes físicos, químicos y de sedimentos de muestras de orina de 67 gatos y perros. Se determinó que el 83,58 % de los animales con cristales en la orina eran machos. Se determinó que el 63,64 % de las hembras y el 44,64 % de los machos con cristales detectados en vías urinarias fueron esterilizados. Los cristales urinarios eran más comunes en gatos entre 1-3 años (a) y en perros mayores de 3 a. Se determinó que el cristal de oxalato de calcio (64,41 %) en gatos y el cristal de estruvita (50 %) en perros fueron los cristales más comunes. Los cristales de orina se encontraron principalmente en razas cruzadas en gatos y perros. La mayoría de los gatos y perros con cristales en la orina se alimentaban con comidas caseras y alimentos sin marca. Se determinó que las infecciones del tracto urinario tenían efecto en la formación de cristales en la orina. Como resultado se concluyó que, es importante en términos de Medicina Veterinaria que dichos estudios se realicen de forma rutinaria, especialmente en los Estados Unidos de NorteAmerica (como el Minnesota Urolith Center), ya que los cristales de orina causan enfermedades importantes del sistema urinario inferior. erenpolat@firat.edu.tr

A 12-year and 3-month spayed female mixed cat was presented with severe lumbar pain. Magnetic resonance imaging and postmortem examination revealed a swollen lesion in the spinal cord at L3 level. Histologic examination identified extensive neoplastic cell proliferation with massive necrosis in the tumor tissue. Two types of neoplastic cells were recognized. One type of neoplastic cells were large cells characterized by round to polygonal shape and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm (referred to as "large cells"). The other neoplastic cells were small, densely proliferated, and had round to irregular shape and scant eosinophilic cytoplasm (referred to as "small cells"). Both types of cells were positive for oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 and SRY-box transcription factor 10. Glial fibrillary acidic protein was positive in large cells but negative in most small cells. Digital analysis for Ki-67-stained tumor tissues found that total 21.1% ± 6.5% of tumor cells were positive for Ki-67. Based on these findings, we diagnosed malignant oligoastrocytoma in the spinal cord.

Sacroiliac luxations constitute an important part of hip fractures. In the treatment phase, a choice should be made between surgical and conservative treatment. Which treatment option will yield more effective results depends on many variable factors. In the present study, some of these factors were mentioned and their effects on treatment and outcomes were evaluated. A total of 61 cats, 26 female and 35 male, of various breeds and ages, were included in the study. The mean age of the cats included in the study was 16 months. The mean weight of the cats was 2.87 kg. Cases were categorized as ages, ≤6, 7-12, and ≥13 months of age. In addition, the success criteria of etiological causes, luxation type, and concomitant traumas on decision and outcomes were evaluated. Conservative treatment was preferred more in all age groups and success rates were higher than those of surgery. Conservative treatment was preferred in both genders, and the recovery rate was higher in males than that in females. Regardless of the cause of the trauma, more conservative treatment was preferred, and the rate of good recovery was higher in high-rise falls. Even if there was traumatic injury in addition to sacroiliac luxation, conservative treatment was preferred and the rate of good recovery was higher in cases without concomitant traumatic injury. As a result; age, gender, luxation type and concomitant traumatic injury were not statistically significant on treatment choice. However, good recovery was statistically significant in cases without concomitant traumatic injury. Las luxaciones sacroilíacas constituyen una parte importante de las fracturas de cadera. En la fase de tratamiento, se debe elegir entre tratamiento quirúrgico y conservador. La opción de tratamiento que producirá resultados más efectivos depende de muchos factores variables. En el presente estudio se mencionaron algunos de estos factores y se evaluaron sus efectos sobre el tratamiento y los resultados. Se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 61 gatos, 26 hembras y 35 machos, de varias razas y edades. La edad media de los gatos incluidos en el estudio fue de 16 meses. El peso medio de los gatos fue de 2,87 kg. Los casos se categorizaron en edades de ≤6; 7-12 y ≥13 meses de edad. Además, se evaluaron los criterios de éxito de las causas etiológicas, el tipo de luxación y los traumas concomitantes en la decisión y los resultados. El tratamiento conservador se prefirió más en todos los grupos de edad y las tasas de éxito fueron superiores a las de la cirugía. Se prefirió el tratamiento conservador en ambos sexos, y la tasa de recuperación fue mayor en los machos que en las hembras. Independientemente de la causa del trauma, se prefirió un tratamiento más conservador y la tasa de buena recuperación fue mayor en las caídas desde gran altura. Incluso si existía lesión traumática además de la luxación sacroilíaca, se prefirió el tratamiento conservador y la tasa de buena recuperación fue mayor en los casos sin lesión traumática concomitante. Como resultado a la edad, el sexo, el tipo de luxación y la lesión traumática concomitante, no fueron estadísticamente significativos en la elección del tratamiento. Sin embargo, la buena recuperación fue estadísticamente significativa en los casos sin lesión traumática concomitante. ziyayurtal@gmail.com

There are over 5 million pet cats in Australia managed on a spectrum from fully indoors to completely outdoor free roaming. Roaming cats threaten biodiversity, can create a nuisance and are at risk of accidents and injury. Hence, there is substantial interest in behaviour change interventions to increase cat containment. An online questionnaire collected information on cat owner demographics, the number of cats owned, current containment behaviours and an agreement with 15 capability, opportunity and motivation (COM) items. Responses were received from 4482 cat owners. More than half (65%) indicated that they currently keep their cat(s) fully contained. Another 24% practiced a night curfew. Owners’ psychological capability had the greatest influence on containment behaviour. Motivation (community- and cat welfare-framed), living in an apartment and renting were also associated with a greater likelihood of containment. Cat owners not currently containing their cats could be divided into six profiles who differed on agreement with COM themes, age, future intentions, current behaviour, location and gender. Understanding differences between cat owner segments can assist with designing behaviour change interventions. Increasing cat owners’ psychological capability to contain their cats and encouraging the adoption of a night curfew as a first step towards 24 h containment are recommended.

This case report describes a case of granulomatous colitis (GC) associated with adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) with extension to cecum and ileum and dissemination to multiple lymph nodes, the spleen, and brain in a 10-year-old, male Sphynx cat. The cat had an episode of diarrhea 4 months prior to consultation due to sudden blindness. Signs rapidly progressed to ataxia, seizures, and death. Gross and histologic findings were consistent with granulomatous inflammation in all affected organs. In situ hybridization confirmed the presence of intracellular E. coli within enterocytes and infiltrating macrophages, and whole genome sequencing identified virulence traits commonly linked to AIEC strain. This is the first characterization of GC in a cat associated to AIEC resembling the metastatic form of Crohn’s disease in humans and GC of dogs. Extraintestinal involvement might provide evidence of the ability of AIEC to promote granulomatous inflammation beyond the gut.

Cryptosporidium spp. are one of the most common intestinal protozoan parasites in cats. This parasite can infect a wide range of hosts including humans and domestic animals. This aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in stray cats of Mardin province, located in the Southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey, using microscopic and molecular methods. The result of the microscopic examination and Nested PCR, 2.5% (1/40) were positive. Sequence analysis revealed that the positive sample showed 100% similarity with Cryptosporidium felis. The result of this study indicated that Cryptosporidium spp. was detected for the first time in cats in Mardin province. Further studies are needfull to investigate in details the epidemiological status of cryptosporidiosis in domestic and stray cat populations in Mardin province of Turkey.

El dolor es la sensación desagradable producida como respuesta ante un estímulo ocasionado por diversos escenarios como pueden ser procesos traumáticos o patológicos, los cuales no permiten una adecuada recuperación del paciente. Se presentó una población de diez gatos con varios cuadros clínicos, los cuales fueron medidos con escala de mueca felina y obtuvieron un puntaje de dolor de entre 0 a 5 sobre 10 del nivel de dolor, una vez evaluado su puntaje se administró analgesia. Cada paciente fue medido una segunda vez, y como resultado se observó una disminución significativa del dolor entre un 12 a un 40 % en su escala de medición, lo cual permitió deducir que el tratamiento aplicado fue el adecuado. El uso de esta escala permite ofrecer una mejor atención al paciente en cuanto al reconocimiento del dolor, mediante, una cuantificación objetiva a fin de tener una idea más clara de su padecimiento y así poder tratarlo conforme a sus necesidades. Con la muestra poblacional estudiada (n=10) se obtuvo una escala de medición entre 0 a 5 sobre 10 puntos de estimación del dolor en total de la muestra de la población de gatos incluida en el estudio, siendo más frecuentes las puntuaciones de 4 a 5 previo a la administración de analgesia. En la presente investigación se pudo determinar, que el dolor agudo está asociado a traumatismo múltiple, en tanto que el dolor intenso se asocia a problemas neurológicos, obstrucción por cuerpo extraño, parasitosis y procesos quirúrgicos programados. Pain is an unpleasant sensation produced in response to a stimulus caused by various scenarios such as traumatic or pathological processes, which do not allow an adequate recovery of the patient. A population of ten felines with various clinical pictures was presented, which were measured with the Feline Grimace Scale and obtained a score between 0 to 5 out of 10 for the level of pain, once their score was evaluated, analgesia was administered. Each patient was measured a second time and as a result a significant decrease in pain between 12 to 40 % in their measurement scale, which allows to deduce that the treatment applied was adequate. The use of this scale allows tooffer better patient care in terms of pain recognition through objective quantification in order to have a clearer idea of their condition and thus be able to treat it according to their needs. With the population sample studied (n=10), a measurement scale between 0 to 5 was obtained out of 10 points of estimation of pain in the total of the sample of the population of cats included in the study, with scores from 4 to 10 being more frequent. 5 prior to administration of analgesia. In the present investigation it was possible to determine that acute pain is associated with multiple trauma, while intense pain is associated with neurological problems, foreign body obstruction, parasitosis and scheduled surgical procedures. edison.paredes.02@est.ucacue.edu.ec

1 table., Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in humans. To date, little is known about the persistence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in animals under natural conditions, in particular susceptible pets such as cat. This study reports the detection and monitoring of the humoral response against SARS-CoV-2 including the detection of immunoglobulins G specific for receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and neutralizing antibodies by virus neutralization assay. Results showed that these antibodies last longer than 16 months in two naturally apparently healthy infected cats with the absence of clinicopathological findings during the follow-up. Moreover, re-infection is also possible with an important increase in virus neutralization test titers in both animals with no evident systemic signs found during each physical examination and with values of hematologic and biochemical parameters inside the normal reference intervals. Our results confirm a slow but progressive decrease of the kinetics and immunity of neutralizing antibodies in cats after the infection. Furthermore, similar to humans SARS-CoV-2 reinfection can stimulate an increase of the neutralizing antibodies determined by these two serological techniques in domestic cats., RH is supported by ARAID Foundation. Work in the RH laboratory is funded by MCNU (CTQ2013-44367-C2-2-P, BFU2016-75633-P and PID2019-105451GB-I00) and Gobierno de Aragón (E34_R17 and LMP58_18) with FEDER (2014–2020) funds for ‘Building Europe from Aragón’ for financial support. Work in the JP lab is funded by FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, Gobierno de Aragón, Group B29_17R), Health National Institute Carlos III (COV20-00308), Aragón Government (Fondo COVID-19), Fundación Santander-Universidad de Zaragoza (Programa COVID-19), grant PID2020-113963RB-I00 by MICIN/AEI and CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas. MA and LS have a postdoctoral Juan de la Cierva contract.

Wound management is a fundamental task in standard clinical practice. Automated solutions already exist for humans, but there is a lack of applications regarding wound management for pets. Precise and efficient wound assessment is helpful to improve diagnosis and to increase the effectiveness of treatment plans for chronic wounds. In this work, we introduced a novel pipeline for the segmentation of pet wound images. Starting from a model pre-trained on human-based wound images, we applied a combination of transfer learning (TL) and active semi-supervised learning (ASSL) to automatically label a large dataset. Additionally, we provided a guideline for future applications of TL+ASSL training strategy on image datasets. We compared the effectiveness of the proposed training strategy, monitoring the performance of an EfficientNet-b3 U-Net model against the lighter solution provided by a MobileNet-v2 U-Net model. We obtained 80% of correctly segmented images after five rounds of ASSL training. The EfficientNet-b3 U-Net model significantly outperformed the MobileNet-v2 one. We proved that the number of available samples is a key factor for the correct usage of ASSL training. The proposed approach is a viable solution to reduce the time required for the generation of a segmentation dataset.

Immunolabeling on Romanowsky-stained cytology (RSC) slides can be used, although there is limited evidence of its suitability for phenotyping canine and feline lymphomas. A comparison with matched cell blocks (CB) is missing. Immunolabeling on RSC and CB was compared for lymphoid markers (CD3 and PAX5) in 53 lymphomas and 4 chylous effusions from dogs and cats. The influence of pre-analytical variables (species, time of archive, type of specimens and coverslipping) and the interobserver agreement among the 2 observers was assessed. Fewer CD3+ lymphocytes were identified in RSC, while the PAX5 positivity by RSC and CB had a substantial agreement. Immunodetection of CD3 and the diagnosis of a T-cell population on RSC was more difficult. Lower intensity and higher background were noted in RSC. Immunophenotyping was inconclusive in 54% RSC and 19% CB. The interobserver reproducibility of immunophenotyping on CB was substantial, being higher than in RSC. The immunolabeling performance on the RSC of effusion and feline samples was unsatisfactory. The detection of lymphoid markers, especially membranous antigens in retrospective RSC, is affected by the pre-analytical variables: species, time of the archive, and type of specimens. CB are a more consistent type of sample for immunophenotyping purposes.

Gastrointestinal foreign bodies (GFB) in cats and dogs are among the life-threatening surgical diseases that require invasive surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the cases of GFB in 32 cats and dogs diagnosed and treated in Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Veterinary Health Practice and Research Hospital. Information regarding the type, breed, age, sex, clinical symptoms, characteristics of foreign bodies (FB) localization, prognosis, type of treatment administered, and conditions determined in postoperative controls was collected. The cases were aged between 1 and 7 years and adult animals were also included. The rate of FB incident was the same in male and female cats, whereas male dogs had a higher rate of FB incident. Strings/ ropes and metallic objects were the most common foreign objects found in animals. Early diagnosis and treatment were important in preventing complications in the cases, FB was usually found in the stomach, and vomiting was the most common clinical symptom. Further, surgical intervention (gastrostomy/enterotomy) was the most common treatment method with a rate of 53.13 % for treating FB in the gastrointestinal system that yielded successful results. Thus, to avoid complications and for a good prognosis, owners must be conscious and seek for diagnosis and treatment as soon as they notice the incidence of swallowing a FB, so as to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. Los cuerpos extraños gastrointestinales (CEG) en perros y gatos se encuentran entre las enfermedades quirúrgicas potencialmente mortales que requieren cirugía invasiva. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los casos de CEG en 32 gatos y perros diagnosticados y tratados en el Hospital de Investigación y Práctica de Salud Veterinaria de la Universidad Hatay Mustafa Kemal. Se recogió información sobre el tipo, raza, edad, sexo, clínica, características de los cuerpos extraños (CE), localización del CE, pronóstico, tipo de tratamiento administrado y condiciones determinadas en los controles postoperatorios. Los casos tenían edades comprendidas entre 1 y 7 años y también se incluyeron animales adultos. La tasa de incidentes con CE fue la misma en gatos machos y hembras, mientras que los perros machos tuvieron una mayor tasa de incidentes con CE. Las cuerdas / mecates y los objetos metálicos eran los objetos extraños más comunes que se encontraban en los animales. El diagnóstico y tratamiento precoces fueron importantes para prevenir complicaciones en estos casos, habitualmente se encontraban CE en el estómago y el vómito era el síntoma clínico más común. Además, la intervención quirúrgica (gastrostomía / enterotomía) fue el método de tratamiento más común con una tasa del 53,13 % para el tratamiento de CE en el sistema gastrointestinal que arrojó resultados exitosos. Así, para evitar complicaciones y para un buen pronóstico, los propietarios deben estar conscientes y buscar el diagnóstico y tratamiento tan pronto como se percaten de la incidencia de la ingestión de un CE, a fin de asegurar un diagnóstico y tratamiento precoces. 1-8 cafer.isler@gmail.com

Background and Aim: Although cats are not natural hosts for heartworm infections (Dirofilaria immitis), evidence suggests that feline heartworm disease can be detrimental because of a severe inflammatory response. Recent studies have found that infection with bacteria of the genus Wolbachia is the principal cause of acute inflammatory filaria disease; nonetheless, the prevalence of cats naturally infected with heartworms and Wolbachia remains unclear. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and current distribution of feline heartworm disease and its association with Wolbachia infection in pet and semi-domesticated cats in Bangkok, Thailand. Materials and Methods: A total of 260 cats (130 pet cats and 130 semi-domesticated cats) were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were placed into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tubes for hematological analysis and DNA extraction. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to analyze samples for the presence of D. immitis and Wolbachia infections. Results: The prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of D. immitis infection in pet, semi-domesticated, and all cats were 3.9% (1.3-8.8%), 27.7% (20.2-36.2%), and 19.6% (15.0-25.0%), respectively. The prevalence (95% CI) of Wolbachia infection in pet, semi-domesticated, and all cats were 18.5% (12.2-26.2%), 31.5% (23.7-40.3%), and 25.0% (19.9-30.7%), respectively. The prevalence of D. immitis and Wolbachia infections in semi-domesticated cats was significantly higher than in pet cats (p=0.002 and p=0.022, respectively). There was a significant association between D. immitis and Wolbachia infections (p

Over the past few decades, several pollutants classified as environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have become a matter of significant public health concern. Companion animals play a major role in human society, and pet ownership is substantially increasing worldwide. These intimate human–pet relationships imply sharing much of the same environment, thus including exposure to similar levels of EDCs in daily routine. Here, we review the current knowledge on the sources and routes of exposure to EDCs in domestic indoor and outdoor environments and discuss whether endocrine disruption is a health concern in pets. We summarize the phenomenon of endocrine disruption, providing examples of EDCs with a known impact on dog and cat health. Then, we propose an overview of the literature on the adverse effects of EDCs in domestic pets, with a special focus on the health of reproductive and thyroid systems. Finally, we explore the potential role of companion animals as unintentional sentinels of environmental exposure to EDCs and the implications for public health risk assessment in a “shared risk” scenario. Overall, this review supports the need for an integrated approach considering humans, animals, and the environment as a whole for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of EDCs on human and animal health.

Fluorescence imitating brightfield imaging (FIBI) is a novel microscopy method that allows for real-time, nondestructive, slide-free tissue imaging of fresh, formalin-fixed, or paraffin-embedded tissue. The nondestructive nature of the technology permits tissue preservation for downstream analyses. The objective of this observational study was to assess the utility of FIBI compared with conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained histology slides in feline gastrointestinal histopathology. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded full-thickness small intestinal tissue specimens from 50 cases of feline chronic enteropathy were evaluated. The ability of FIBI to evaluate predetermined morphological features (epithelium, villi, crypts, lacteals, fibrosis, submucosa, and muscularis propria) and inflammatory cells was assessed on a 3-point scale (0 = FIBI cannot identify the feature; 1 = FIBI can identify the feature; 2 = FIBI can identify the feature with more certainty than H&E). H&E and FIBI images were also scored according to World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Gastrointestinal Standardization Group guidelines. FIBI identified morphological features with similar or, in some cases, higher confidence compared with H&E images. The identification of inflammatory cells was less consistent. FIBI and H&E images showed an overall poor agreement with regard to the assigned WSAVA scores. While FIBI showed an equal or better ability to identify morphological features in intestinal biopsies, its ability to identify inflammatory cells is currently inferior compared with H&E-based imaging. Future studies on the utility of FIBI as a diagnostic tool for noninflammatory histopathologic lesions are warranted.

13 Pág., Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Monitoring the infection in pets is recommended for human disease surveillance, prevention, and control since the virus can spread from people to animals during close contact. Several diagnostic tests have been adapted from humans to animals, but limited data on the validation process are available., This study was funded by a M granCOV20/01471-Ct from the Community of Madrid and a REACT-European Union grant from the Community of Madrid to the ANTICIPA project of the Complutense University of Madrid through the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Union's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. CD-D was funded by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Enterprise (PTQ2019-010719). This study was also financially supported by the Zaragoza University through the PROGRAMA COVID19 SANTANDER UNIZAR: Proyectos de Innovación Tecnológica para el año 2020 de la Universidad de Zaragoza and by the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, through NIH contract HHSN272201700059C.

Illusions—visual fields that distort perception—can inform the understanding of visual perception and its evolution. An example of one such illusion, the Rotating Snakes illusion, causes the perception of motion in a series of static concentric circles. The current study investigated pet dogs’ and cats’ perception of the Rotating Snakes illusion in a community science paradigm. The results reveal that neither species spent significantly more time at the illusion than at either of the controls, failing to indicate susceptibility to the illusion. Specific behavioral data at each stimulus reveal that the most common behaviors of both species were Inactive and Stationary, while Locomotion and Pawing were the least common, supporting the finding that susceptibility may not be present. This study is the first to examine susceptibility to the Rotating Snakes illusion in dogs, as well as to directly compare the phenomenon between dogs and cats. We suggest future studies might consider exploring alternative methods in testing susceptibility to motion illusions in non-human animals.

The malignant adenomyoepithelioma is a rare mammary tumor in women and uncommon in cats with only one report in this species. In this case report, the histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of six cases of malignant adenomyopithelioma in the feline mammary gland are described. Microscopic evaluation of tumors showed dense cellular neoplastic proliferation, composed of malignant myoepithelial and epithelial cells, formed by varied arrangements and presenting papillary, tubular and solid nest proliferation. Immunohistochemistry was performed for markers Ki67, Cox-2, RE, RP, p63 and HER-2. All cases were positive for p63, confirming the myoepithelial nature of neoplastic cells. The diagnosis of malignant adenomyopithelioma was made possible through the association between histopathological characteristics and immunohistochemical results. RESUMO O adenomioepitelioma maligno é uma neoplasia mamária rara em mulheres e incomum em gatas, possuindo apenas uma descrição nessa espécie. Neste relato de caso, são descritas as características histopatológicas e imuno-histoquímicas de seis casos de adenomioepitelioma maligno na glândula mamária felina. A avaliação microscópica dos tumores demonstrou proliferação neoplásica densamente celular, composta por células mioepiteliais e epiteliais malignas dispostas em padrão papilar, tubular e ninhos sólidos. Foi realizada técnica de imuno-histoquímica para os marcadores Ki67, Cox-2, RE, RP, p63 e HER-2. Todos os casos foram positivos para p63, confirmando a natureza mioepitelial das células neoplásicas. O diagnóstico de adenomioepitelioma maligno foi possível por meio da associação entre as características histopatológicas e os resultados de imuno-histoquímica.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of pretreatment with medetomidine (Me), midazolam (Mi), and ketamine (Ke) on stress-related neurohormonal and metabolic responses in isoflurane-anesthetized cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy and castration. Materials and Methods: We prospectively recruited 112 client-owned healthy mixed-breed cats. In both surgeries, we divided the cats into seven groups (eight cats per group): non-treatment (control), Me (50 μg/kg), Mi (0.5 mg/kg), Ke (5 mg/kg), Me + Mi, Me + Ke and Me + Mi + Ke administered intramuscularly. After pretreatments, we maintained anesthesia with isoflurane and oxygen. Venous blood was taken before pretreatment, pre- and post-operatively during anesthesia, and at early- and complete-recovery. Results: Both plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline were reduced during anesthesia in all groups. Plasma cortisol increased during anesthesia and at early recovery in non-Me-treated groups, whereas it decreased in Me-treated groups in both surgeries. Plasma insulin and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) decreased, and glucose increased during anesthesia in all groups, but hyperglycemia and decrease in NEFA were greater in Me-treated groups. Conclusions: In isoflurane-anesthetized cats undergoing surgeries, premedication with Me alone and in combination is useful for reducing the perioperative stress-related increase in cortisol and catecholamines except for hyperglycemia. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(4.000): 563-575]

The analgesic efficacy of the gabapentin-tramadol combination was compared with meloxicam-tramadol and tramadol perioperative analgesic regimens in cats brought to the clinic for ovariohysterectomy. Thirty adult cats belonging to comparable demographics (age, body weight), were enrolled into a randomized, blinded study after due consent from their owners into four treatment groups. A Gabapentin-Tramadol group (GT-group, n = 10), Meloxicam-Tramadol group (MT-group, n = 10), and a Tramadol group (T-group, n = 10) were formed. Gabapentin capsules at 50 mg were administered orally 2 hours before surgery while the rest received a placebo dose. Tramadol (2 mg/kg, IM) and meloxicam at (0.2 mg/kg, SC) were injected immediately prior to anesthetic premedication. Anesthetic protocol involved premedication with ketamine and xylazine, while anesthesia was induced using propofol. Inhalant isoflurane anesthesia was used to maintain a surgical plane. GT group scored lower on IVAS as well as CPS than MT group, and T group for up to 8 hours after surgery. The mechanical nociceptive threshold remained higher (98±0) for up to 12 hours postoperatively a nd serum cortisol concentrations remained significantly lower during the 24hr period. The addition of gabapentin to the tramadol regimen significantly improved analgesia and mechanical nociceptive threshold than when used on its own.

Renal cortical anisotropy backscattering artifact (CABA) is a focal hyperechoic region where the tubules are parallel to the incident ultrasound beam, reflecting most of the beams to the transducer. To investigate the association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the absence of renal CABA in cats. Ultrasonographic renal images of 40 cats with CKD (stage II-IV) and 36 clinically healthy cats were blindly evaluated by two observers to determine the visibility of renal CABA. Inter- and intraobserver agreements were evaluated using McNemar’s test. The association between the absence of renal CABA and CKD was assessed using Fisher’s exact test. Excellent intraobserver and substantial interobserver agreements were demonstrated. A significant association (P < .0001) between absent renal CABA and CKD stage was revealed in all cats. Cats with CKD had an increased risk of the absence of renal CABA (Odds ratio, 56.0; 95% CI, 13.8–227.0) compared with the clinically healthy cats. The absence of renal CABA revealed 87.5% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity to detect CKD in all cats, and 91.7% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity in aged cats. Our study demonstrated a correlation between feline CKD and the absence of renal CABA, providing a feasible and alternative method for feline CKD evaluation.

Background: Fibroadenomatous changes (FAC) of the mammary gland in cats represents a benign, progesterone-associated fibroglandular proliferation of one or more mammary glands that may occur in intact female cats at the time of puberty, during pregnancy or pseudopregnancy, or in female and male cats of any age under progestin treatment. Nowadays, the elective treatment of FAC is based on the progesterone antagonist aglepristone. This study aimed to report the treatment of FAC with a combination of drugs designed to preserve mammary gland integrity, even in pregnant cats. Case Description: Eight sexually intact female cats with fibroadenomatous changes showed mammary glands that were symmetrically enlarged and inflamed in all cases, and the skin was ulcerated in six cats. Four cats were on days 25-32 of pregnancy at presentation. Non-pregnant cats were treated with aglepristone and with a dietary supplement containing maltodextrin and bromelain. The mammary glands were massaged daily with an Aloe vera emollient gel. If the gland was inflamed or ulcerated, broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory treatments were given, and the ulcers were treated topically with a hypericum and neem-based cream. Two of the four pregnant cats were treated with the same therapeutic schedule plus cloprostenol to facilitate uterine emptying. Two pregnant cats underwent the same protocol except for aglepristone, which was not administered to safeguard the litter and see if the adjuvant therapy worked independently. At term, they delivered four and three kittens respectively, that were normally nursed and weaned after 40 days. In all the studied cases, the mammary gland reduced in size 2-3 weeks after the start of the treatment and completely remitted after 4-5 weeks. Conclusion: This case series encourages adjuvant therapy in the course of FAC to preserve mammary gland integrity and functionality. Exploiting the natural decline of progesterone at the end of pregnancy (or pseudopregnancy), the therapy may also be used without aglepristone, when its use has other limitations.

Background: Third-degree atrioventricular block is usually permanent, with transient cases being rare. Cats with transient third-degree atrioventricular block. It had been not reported in detail. Case Description: A 9.3-year-old, male shorthair cat was evaluated for possible nervous disease resulting from otitis interna. Under propofol and isoflurane anaesthesia, this cat developed a third-degree atrioventricular block. Isoproterenol was administered by continuous infusion to increase its heart rate. During recovery, heart rate returned to sinus bradycardia together with first-degree atrioventricular block without medical treatment. The cause of transient atrioventricular block was not observed at the examination. Conclusion: The case of this cat suggests that anaesthesia can result in a transient third-degree atrioventricular block.

RESUMEN El objetivo del estudio fue describir las características demográficas de los animales de compañía (caninos y felinos) identificados con dispositivos electrónicos en los distritos de Lince y San Borja, Lima-Perú, en el periodo 2013- 2021. El estudio observacional descriptivo recabó información de distrito, especie, sexo, raza, tamaño, fecha de nacimiento, condición reproductiva, domicilio y programa de vacunación de los animales identificados con dispositivos electrónicos registrados en la base de datos del Registro Nacional de Identidad Animal (RENIAN). Se recuperó información de 782 animales. El 24% de los animales pertenecían al distrito de Lince y el 76% a San Borja. El 83.5% fueron canes y 16.5% felinos. La mayor proporción de canes se identificó y registró en 2019 (74.4%) y los felinos en 2021 (63.4%). La cantidad de animales registrados con relación a la población de canes y felinos estimada fue

Cases of feline tuberculosis (TB) can be challenging to diagnose. Currently, this is achieved through a combination of mycobacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA); however, these each have limitations. There is limited data regarding the use of humoral immunodiagnostics for TB in cats. Therefore, we sought to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to further facilitate the diagnosis of feline TB. A comparative PPD (purified protein derivative) antibody ELISA was optimised for use on serum and plasma, and was tested against samples from 14 cats with culture-confirmed TB and 24 uninfected controls. Selection of an appropriate positive cut-off value based on receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis gave test sensitivity of 64.3 % and specificity of 100 %. When tested on further samples from cats with strongly suspected mycobacteriosis, 32.9 % (23/70) were antibody positive. Notably, positive results were recorded in cats that failed to respond to the IGRA, and in one PCR and IGRA negative cat. No positive responses were identified in cats with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections, or with non-mycobacterial diseases (n = 12). Therefore, antibody-based diagnostics may be useful adjunctive tests for cases of TB missed by the IGRA, helping protect both feline and, in turn, human health.

Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is a malignant tumor characterized by an aggressive behavior and poor prognosis, for which no fully effective therapies are available. Studies of comparative oncology suggest that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may be a therapeutic target in FOSCC, similarly to human head and neck SCC (HNSCC), where the use of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody Cetuximab has entered the clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Cetuximab in three validated preclinical models of FOSCC (SCCF1, SCCF2, SCCF3). Sequencing of tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR in the cell lines revealed a wild-type genotype, excluding the presence of activating mutations. Western blotting experiments demonstrated that Cetuximab inhibited activation of EGFR and its downstream kinase Akt in SCCF1, SCCF2 and SCCF3 along with HNSCC cell line CAL 27 included as control. Importantly, CCK-8 and trypan blue exclusion assays revealed that treatment with Cetuximab caused a decrease in cell proliferation and cell viability in all cell lines, with a general dose- and time-dependent trend. Cell death induced by Cetuximab was associated with cleavage of PARP, indicating occurrence of apoptosis. Taken together, our data suggest that Cetuximab exerts potential anti-cancer activities in FOSCC, paving the way for future translational studies aimed at assessing its employment in the therapy of this lethal cancer of cats.

There is increasing evidence on the utility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) for the staging of dogs with various malignancies; however, comparable information is missing in cats. This multi-institutional study aims at reporting the feasibility and detection rate of SLNB guided by lymphoscintigraphy and the blue dye or near-infrared fluorescent lymphography (NIRF-L) in cats with solid tumors. In total, 12 cats presented with 14 solid malignancies that underwent curative-intent surgical excision of the primary tumor and SLNB were retrospectively enrolled. The mapping technique used, location and number of SLN, correspondence with the regional lymph node (RLN), and histological status of the SLN were retrieved. The detection rate and complications of SLNB were also recorded. NIRF-L was performed in 64.3% of tumors and lymphoscintigraphy in 35.7%. The detection rate was 100% for both techniques. The SLN did not correspond (fully or partially) to the RLN in 71.4% of cases, with multiple SLN being excised in 9/14 tumors. No complications related to SLNB were recorded. At histopathology, metastases were identified in 41.7% of cats, all with mast cell tumors (MCT). SLNB guided by NIRF-L or lymphoscintigraphy is feasible and safe in cats with solid tumors and should be suggested for correct tumor staging in cats, especially with MCT.

Background: A commonly described analgesic protocol for ovariohysterectomy (OHE) combines systemic opioids, sedatives, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, systemic analgesia does not fully prevent perioperative visceral and somatic pain triggered by the surgical stimulus. Objectives: To compare the analgesic effects and quality of recovery of systemic analgesia with those of a sacrococcygeal epidural injection of lidocaine and morphine in cats undergoing elective OHE. Methods: Twenty domestic female cats were premedicated with dexmedetomidine (0.01 mg kg−1 IM) and alfaxalone (1.5 mg kg−1 IM) and randomly assigned to one of two analgesic protocols: methadone (0.2 mg kg−1 IM) in the control group CTR (n = 10) and methadone (0.1 mg kg−1 IM) + epidural lidocaine 2% (0.3 mL kg−1) + morphine 1% (0.1 mg kg−1) diluted with NaCl 0.9% to a total volume of 1.5 mL in the SCC-E group (n = 10). General anaesthesia was induced with alfaxalone (1 mg kg−1 IV) and maintained with sevoflurane in 100% oxygen. Non-invasive blood arterial pressure and cardiorespiratory variables were recorded. The quality of recovery was assessed using a simple descriptive scale. Before surgery and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 h post-op pain was assessed using the UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite pain scale (MCPS) and mechanical nociception thresholds (MNT). The repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare groups over time. Comparison between groups was performed using independent samples t-test if the assumption of normality was verified, or the Mann–Whitney test. The chi-square test of independence and exact Fisher’s test were used to compare groups according to recovery quality. Results: Heart rate and systolic arterial pressure increased significantly from baseline values in the CTR group and did not change in the SCC-E group. In the CTR group, MNT and UNESP-Botucatu-MCPS scores increased significantly from baseline for all assessment points and the first 3 h, respectively, whereas this did not occur in the SCC-E group. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Based on our results, the SCC-E administration of lidocaine 2% with morphine 1% is a reasonable option to provide perioperative analgesia in cats submitted to OHE, compared to a systemic protocol alone.

Background: Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a plasma cell tumor that is very rarely reported in ocular and adnexal tissue and is usually solitary and benign. Methods: This study evaluated seven cases from different ophthalmology referrals submitted for histopathological analysis between 2013 and 2022. Results: EMPs were diagnosed in a 9-year-old domestic short-haired cat and in six dogs (median age, 10 years): three English Cocker Spaniels, a Golden Retriever, a Maltese, and a Pinscher. EMPs affected the third eyelid conjunctiva in five cases (5/7), followed by the superior bulbar (1/7) and palpebral conjunctivae (1/7), respectively, and were presented mostly as well-defined, salmon-colored nodules. Histopathologically, the masses were composed of sheets and packets of round cells morphologically consistent with mature plasma cells with mild anisocytosis and anisokaryosis; mitosis and binucleated giant cells were rarely observed. Follow up for 6/7 cases ranged from 6 months to 2 years. No signs of recurrence or systemic involvement (multiple myeloma) were observed. Conclusions: EMP should be included in the differential diagnoses of canine and feline conjunctival masses. Staging recommendations should include multiple myeloma diagnostic evaluation. Our results suggest that primary conjunctival EMP does not appear to be locally aggressive and has low systemic involvement behavior. The local surgical excision alone or combined with cryotherapy should be curative.

Neutrophil granulocytes are one of the most important defenders of the innate immune system in the host. Moreover, neutrophils are able to reach the inflammation area and kill the pathogens using various defense strategies including neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). However, there is still not enough information available regarding the innate immunity against Toxoplasma gondii in cats that are both definitive and intermediate hosts of this parasite. Therefore, we investigated the in vitro NETs formation which is induced by cat polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) against T. gondii tachyzoites. Firstly, PMNs were isolated from cat venous blood samples by using discontinues Percoll dilutions (72%, 63%, 54%, and 45%). Afterward, MN-tachyzoites cocultures were stained against histone (H3), neutrophil elastase (NE), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) by using monoclonal antibodies and were examined under a fluorescence microscope. The effect of different parasite doses (1:1, 1:3, and 1:5) and incubation times (30, 60, 90, and 120 min) on NETs formation was also evaluated. The presence of the extracellular DNA content was measured using a fluorometer. Confluent Vero cell cultures were used to assess the effect of NETs on the tachyzoites viability. The classical structures of NETs, such as extracellular DNA, NE, H3, and MPO were microscopically observed in the NETs formation released from cat PMNs. The amount of extracellular DNA increased in parallel with the incubation time (p < 0.001). The influence of the tachyzoites dose on the NETs formation was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Zymosan was used as a positive control in the experiments and it was shown to be an important inducer for the NETs formation. In conclusion, as mentioned previous studies and considering our results, the NETs may be a conserved strategy to control T. gondii infection in hosts because of the immobilization and lethal effects.

Feline arterial thromboembolism (ATE) is a condition with a high mortality rate. Acid-base abnormalities may be beneficial to the prognosis of cats with ATE. Venous blood gas and electrolytes data on the first day of ATE presentation of 47 cats with ATE were retrospectively reviewed and analysed. The Cox and logistic regression were analysed to evaluate the relationship between acid-base parameters and death. The most common venous acid-base disorder was simple metabolic acidosis. Age, body weight, and partial venous pressure of carbon dioxide (PvCO2) differed between the dead and alive groups within 7 days of the onset of ATE presentation (p < 0.05). Cox-regression showed that increasing age (HR=1.175 [95% CI: 1.027-1.343], p = 0.019), increasing PvCO2 (HR=1.066 [95% CI: 1.010-1.125], p = 0.021) and PvCO2 more than 34 mmHg (HR=7.878 [95% CI: 1.036- 59.915], p = 0.046) were associated with increased hazard of death. Multivariable logistic regression showed that age > 5 years (OR=9.030, 95% CI: 1.258- 64.823; p=0.029), and PvCO2 > 34 mmHg (OR=21.764, 95% CI: 1.747-271.141; p=0.017) were associated with an increased risk of death, while concomitant administration of enoxaparin with clopidogrel (OR=0.111, 95% CI: 0.015-0.795; p=0.029) were associated with a decreased risk of death within 7 days of the onset of ATE presentation. This study demonstrated the power of venous blood gas analysis which may be used as prognostic indicators for cats with ATE.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of intravenous injection of cysteamine (CS) on body weight (BW), growth hormone (GH), thyroid hormones (TH) secretion, and antioxidant status of growing lambs grazing on mountain pastures. Fifteen lambs (3–4 months of age) were randomly allocated into three experimental groups which received different dosages of CS: 0, 20, and 50 mg/kg BW−1. The CS was injected on the 1st, 10th, and 20th days of the experiment to the lambs through the jugular vein. Assessment of plasma concentration of GH and TH hormones was carried out at days 0 (a day before the start of CS injections), 15, and 30 of the experiment. The antioxidant enzymes were measured at the end of the experiment. Lambs were weighed at days 0, 10, 20, and 30 of the experiment. The results showed that treatment and time affected the BW, GH, triiodothyronine (T3), and tetraiodothyronine (T4) secretion. The intravenous injection of CS increased the BW of growing lambs (p, In this study, we studied the effect of cysteamine on body weight and secretions of GH and thyroid hormones and the antioxidant capacity of growing lambs in the extensive production system in growing lambs. Generally, we observed the positive effect of cysteamine on growth parameters and antioxidant capacity in growing lambs.

In this case, it was presented a case of complete uterine prolapse in a cat following a third parturition at the age of 18 months. Upon physical examination complete uterine prolapse was diagnosed due to a mass protruding from the vulva which included both uterine horns. After the invagination and eversion were corrected and the uterus was relocated to its anatomical position, ovariohysterectomy was performed. Sutures were removed ten days after the operation. Following shrinking of uterus by using the hypertonic fluid and repositioning, ovariohysterectomy is a suitable and reliable option for cats with complete uterine prolapse., Özet: Bu olguda, üçüncü doğumunu takiben tam uterus prolapsusu şekillenen 18 aylık bir kedi sunulmaktadır. Muayenede, her iki kornu uterinin vulvadan dışarı çıkması sebebiyle tam uterus prolapsusu tanısı konuldu. İnvaginasyon ve eversiyon düzeltilip uterus anatomik pozisyonuna getirildikten sonra ovaryohisterektomi yapıldı. Hastada postoperatif 1. saatte idrar çıkışı ve 24. saatte yeme ve içme olduğu görüldü. Operasyondan 10 gün sonra dikişler alınarak tedaviye son verildi. Operasyon öncesi uterusun hipertonik sıvıda tutularak kolayca yeniden konumlandırılmasından sonra ovaryohisterektomi yapılması, tam uterus prolapsusu olan kediler için uygun ve güvenilir bir seçenektir.

A 3-year-old male domestic shorthair cat presented with sudden ataxia. Neurologic examination showed complete loss of proprioception in the thoracic and pelvic limbs. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a non-metallic foreign body penetrating the spinal cord. The foreign body was removed by the ventral approach to the atlanto-occipital junction. Mild improvement of proprioception was observed the day after surgery. In a follow-up two months after surgery, the owner reported a complete recovery of the patient, showing a normal gait. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case report describing successful removal of an intramedullary foreign body penetrating cervical spinal cord by ventral approach in a cat.

Cryptorchidism is heritable in cats, and due to the pathological risk of testicular torsion, and the development of testicular neoplasia, cryptorchidectomy is the treatment of choice. For the intra-abdominal testes, a laparotomic approach is generally recommended; however, laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in cats has been documented in a few clinical case reports. The aim of the study was to report the short-term clinical outcomes for 19 cryptorchid cats with intra-abdominal testes that underwent cryptorchidectomy with laparoscopic techniques. Medical records of client-owned sexually intact male cats that underwent laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in different veterinary hospitals or ambulatory surgical services were reviewed. The procedure was performed in 19 cats. The average time (mean ± standard deviation, SD) for all procedures was 23 ± 6 min (range 15–35 min). The time for laparoscopic removal of a single abdominal testis was 22 ± 6 min, with 30 min for the bilateral abdominal testes. The time until hospital discharge varied depending on the surgeon’s criteria, with a mean of 6 h (range 3–24 hrs). None of the cases analyzed showed any surgical complications. The results of this study suggest that laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy is an appropriate surgical procedure to treat cryptorchid cats with intra-abdominal testes, all with benefits of minimal invasion surgery.

The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the zoonotic SARS-CoV-2. A variety of animals involved in human life worldwide have been investigated for infection. As the degree of infection increased, extensive monitoring in animals became necessary to determine the degree of infection in animals. The study was conducted on a sample of dogs and cats, which were randomly sampled according to the number of confirmed cases in the region. Animals from both COVID-19-confirmed households and generally disease-negative families and animal shelters were included. Tests included real-time qPCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 antigens, ELISA for antibodies, and plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT) for neutralizing antibodies. As a result, SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected in 2 cats out of 1018 pets (672 dogs and 346 cats). A total of 16 dogs (2.38%) and 18 cats (5.20%) tested positive using ELISA, and 14 dogs (2.08%) and 17 cats (4.91%) tested positive using PRNT. Antigens of- and/or antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in the animals regardless of whether the companion family was infected; this was the case even in animal shelters, which have been regarded as relatively safe from transmission. In conclusion, continuous viral circulation between humans and animals is inevitable; therefore, continuous monitoring in animals is required.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a situation globally where companion animals may be at increased risk of relinquishment and abandonment due to multiple interrelated factors. The aims of this study were to establish the prevalence of self-reported adoption and relinquishment of cats and dogs during the pandemic, and to identify characteristics associated with relinquishment. A survey was distributed to 4,000 participants across several countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain and France. N = 3,945 responses were available for analysis. Three groups of participants were identified; Those that never considered relinquishment (NCR), those that have considered relinquishment (CR) and those that have already relinquished a cat or dog (R). Two follow-up surveys were sent to CR and R participants. Considering data from the three surveys, 4.06% of participants considered giving up their pet, 0.74% relinquished their pet, and 0.2% considered and then later give up their pet. Compared to pets given as a gift, there was a 38.7% decreased likelihood of relinquishment in pets sourced from a shelter (P < 0.001), 31.2% decrease in those sourced from a breeder, and a 24.4% decrease in those acquired directly from someone that needed to find a new home for their cat or dog. Compared to owners who acquired their pet > 6 months before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, those acquired < 6 months before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic were three times more likely to be considered for, or be, given up (P < 0.001) and those acquired after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic were two times more likely to be considered for, or be, given up (P < 0.001). There was a trend for greater likelihood of CR or R of pets acquired online (P = 0.074). Of those that had already given up their pet, 14.3% relinquished to a shelter, 66.7% gave their pet to a new owner and 19% obtained temporary care from someone else. A total of 65.0% of CR participants were male, increasing to 72.2% of R participants. There was no effect of species (cat or dog) on risk of relinquishment. Financial constraints were the most mentioned reason for both giving up a pet and considering giving up a pet, followed by health concerns specific to COVID-19, and behavioral problems. The findings from this study should be used to inform interventions aimed at reducing companion animal relinquishment.

The incidence of diseases associated with feline ureteral obstruction is increasing; however, non-surgical treatment options are limited. This study evaluated the outcome of medical treatment in cats with obstructive ureteral stones treated with tamsulosin and identified potential factors predicting spontaneous stone passage. We retrospectively reviewed 70 client-owned cats treated at the Western Referral Animal Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from 2018 to 2022. All the cats had obstructive ureterolithiasis and were treated using tamsulosin. The baseline characteristics of the cats, stone diameter and location, and stone passage outcomes were analyzed. Stone passage occurred in 22 cats; the remaining 48 cats showed no change in stone locations. Sex, creatinine, and diameter and location of stones were potential risk factors associated with successful stone passage, but age, weight, and side of the stone were not. No serious adverse events related to tamsulosin treatment were observed. This is the first study to identify the risk factors predictive of the spontaneous stone passage of cats with obstructive ureterolithiasis after tamsulosin treatment. Tamsulosin could be an alternative treatment for ureteral obstruction in male cats with smaller distal ureteral stones and low baseline serum creatinine levels. These findings could help develop guidelines for treating feline ureterolithiasis.

The plastic nature of cat behaviour allows this “friendly symbiont” of humans to adapt to various housing conditions. Beyond daylight, one could wonder if other environmental factors affect its patterns. Yet, how its activity and feeding rhythms are impacted by its environment is rarely studied in standardised conditions between populations. We compared the behaviour of cats living in a 29 m2 indoor room and cats living in a 1145 m2 outdoor enclosure, tracking them simultaneously in summer for 21 days, with advanced technologies. Both populations received daylight but weather fluctuations only occurred outdoors. Bimodality was detected in the activity and feeding rhythms of both groups, while twilight triggered crepuscular peaks. Daily, the outdoor population covered more distance (4.29 ± 0.27 km; p < 0.001) and consumed more food (67.44 ± 2.65 g; p < 0.05) than the indoor population (2.33 ± 0.17 km, 57.75 ± 2.85 g, respectively), but displayed less rhythmic behaviours, assumedly because of rhythm disruptors met only in outdoor conditions. Finally, outdoor housing seemed to promote the exploratory behaviour of the cats at night, while indoor housing increased both meal frequency (p = 0.063) and the impact of human interactions on the feeding rhythms of the cats.

This study aimed to describe the specific localization and anatomical pattern of 24 feline lymphomas of the nervous system for which the immunophenotype was identified by immunohistochemistry investigations to support the potential specific correlation between subtypes and anatomical patterns. In total 10 tumors affected the spinal cord, eight the brain, four the peripheral nerves, one involved both the brain and the spinal cord, and one simultaneously the brain and the optic nerves. Twenty two tumors were primary lymphomas. The affected animals were 8 years of mean age. Tumors developed as an extra-axial mass (11 cases), intra-axial mass (six cases), leptomeningeal lymphomatosis (three cases), and neurolymphomatosis (five cases). One of them expressed both leptomeningeal lymphomatosis and neurolymphomatosis patterns. Two intra-axial brain lymphomas showed an angiotropic pattern. The optic chiasm was the most involved site for neurolymphomatosis. Immunolabeling was performed using anti-CD3, CD20, CD79a, PAX5, MUM-1, CD56, and anti-CD44 antibodies. In total, 12 tumors consisted of B cell lymphomas, and six of T cell lymphomas, two cases were double-reactive lymphomas while two cases consisted of non-B non-T lymphomas. B cell lymphoma affected animals of 6.4 years of mean age, while the T cell lymphoma affected older animals (mean age of 11.1 years). Extra-axial tumors mainly consisted of B cell lymphomas (8/11). Neurolymphomatosis expressed different immunophenotypes, and the B cell phenotype was the most prevalent in the optic chiasm. Two leptomeningeal lymphomatoses expressed T cell immunophenotype. For the first time, plasmacytoid differentiation was found for angiotropic lymphoma and neurolymphomatosis. All the cases, except one, were CD56-negative. CD44-expression confirmed a common malignant potential for all the anatomical patterns of the nervous system lymphoma in cats. Immunophenotype of feline lymphoma of the nervous system and its potential association with specific anatomical patterns should be strongly required in the diagnostic workup and clinical approach to this tumor especially when its primary origin is confirmed.

Background: Antiemetic maropitant is a widely used medication for treating acute and chronic vomiting in cats. It is available as tablets or injectable solution (Cerenia®). With the oral and injectable routes being especially difficult to pursue in cats experiencing vomiting and nausea, the transdermal administration might be an efficient alternative. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the antiemetic effect of maropitant administered via the transdermal route in cats. Case Description: There were 8 cats enrolled in this study, weighing between 2 and 7 kg, more than 6 months old, and experiencing at least 2 episodes of vomiting in the last 72 hours. Compounded transdermal maropitant was prepared using finely ground Cerenia® tablets, dissolved in propylene glycol and incorporated in the commercial liposomal base Pentravan® (Fagron®, Thiais, France). The uniformity of content was determined using the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The product was administered at a dosage of 4 mg/cat once a day (QD), applied on the inner pinna of the ear for five consecutive days. Monitoring and evaluation of vomiting frequency and nausea were performed. A significant decrease in vomiting frequency was observed in 6 of the 8 enrolled cats. A reduction in nausea, associated with an improvement of appetite, was observed in some cases. Conclusion: Transdermal application of maropitant to cats experiencing vomiting seems to be efficient and a good alternative to existing oral medication, taking into account the difficulty of oral administration in these cases. This work provides preliminary clinical results of the efficacy of transdermal maropitant in cats. Further studies are necessary to determine dosing and pharmacokinetics.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that the ratio between lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and total nucleated cell counts (TNCC) in effusions may be useful to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Methods: LDH/TNCC ratio was retrospectively evaluated in 648 effusions grouped based on cytology and physicochemical analysis (step 1), on the probability of FIP estimated by additional tests on fluids (step 2) or on other biological samples (step 3, n = 471). Results of different steps were statistically compared. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were designed to assess whether the ratio identify the samples with FIP “probable/almost confirmed”. The cut-offs with the highest positive likelihood ratio (LR+) or Youden Index (YI) or with equal sensitivity and specificity were determined. Results: A high median LDH/TNCC ratio was found in FIP effusions (step1: 2.01) and with probable or almost confirmed FIP (step 2: 1.99; 2.20 respectively; step 3: 1.26; 2.30 respectively). The optimal cut-offs were 7.54 (LR+ 6.58), 0.62 (IY 0.67, sensitivity: 89.1%; specificity 77.7%), 0.72 (sensitivity and specificity: 79.2%) in step 2 and 2.27 (LR+ 10.39), 0.62 (IY 0.65, sensitivity: 82.1%; specificity 83.0%), 0.54 (sensitivity: 82.1%; specificity 81.9%) in step 3. Conclusions: a high LDH/TNCC ratio support a FIP diagnosis.

Analysis of canine and feline tumor malignancy data can help clinicians identify high-risk patients and make more accurate decisions. Based on a sample of 16,272 cancer records, including 3266 cats and 13,006 dogs, collected from January 2019 to December 2021 in the Vet-OncoNet Network database, this study aimed to compare the tumor malignancy profile between cats and dogs, considering animal-related factors (sex, age, and breed), topography, and geographic location using a mixed-effects logistic regression model. Cats had a higher proportion of malignant tumors (78.7%) than dogs (46.2%), and the malignancy profile was very different regarding tumors’ topographies. The mean age of malignant tumors occurred eight months later than benign ones (9.1, SD = 3.4; 9.8, SD = 3.2), in general. Species (OR = 3.96, 95%CI 3.57: 4.39) and topography (MOR = 4.10) were the two most important determinants of malignancy risk. Female dogs had a higher risk than male dogs (OR = 1.19, 95%CI 1.08: 1.31), which does not appear to be the case in cats (OR = 0.98, 95%CI 0.77: 1.23). Breed contributed significantly to differences in malignancy risk in dogs (MOR = 1.56), particularly in pit bulls and boxers. District of residence was not so relevant in predicting malignancy risk (MOR = 1.14). In both species, the risk of malignancy increased by approximately 20% every three years. It could be hypothesized that species differences in genetic structure may contribute to tumor malignancy.

Despite scratching behavior in owned domestic cats being a self-motivated and natural behavior, it is commonly reported as a behavior problem by owners when it results in damage to household items. The objectives of this study were to use a cross-sectional survey targeting cat owners within the United States and Canada, to explore perspectives on cat scratching behavior and management strategies, as well as identify factors that influence the performance of inappropriate scratching behavior in the household. A total of 2465 cat owners participated in the survey and three mixed logistic regression models were generated to explore associations between (1) cat demographic factors, (2) provisions of enrichment, and (3) owner demographic and management factors with owner reports of problematic scratching. In this convenience sample, inappropriate scratching was reported by 58% of cat owners. Owner perspectives and management strategies aligned with current recommendations as they preferred to use appropriate surfaces (e.g., cat trees) and training to manage scratching as opposed to surrendering, euthanizing, or declawing. Logistic regression results found fewer reports of unwanted scratching behavior if owners provide enrichment (flat scratching surfaces (p = 0.037), sisal rope (p < 0.0001), and outdoor access (p = 0.01)), reward the use of appropriate scratching objects (p = 0.007), apply attractant to preferred items (p < 0.0001), restrict access to unwanted items (p < 0.0001), provide additional scratching posts (p < 0.0001), and if their cat is 7 years of age or older (p < 0.00001). Whereas if owners use verbal (p < 0.0001) or physical correction (p = 0.007) there were higher reports of unwanted scratching. Results suggest that damage to household items from scratching behavior is related to management strategies owners employ, and these findings can be used to support owner education in mitigation and prevention of inappropriate scratching.

Free-roaming cats pose a risk to their own health and welfare, as well as to the health and welfare of wildlife and humans. This study aimed to monitor and quantify area-specific free-roaming cat movement. Two local government areas (LGAs) in Greater Sydney were included, Campbelltown (CT) and the Blue Mountains (BM). Motion-capture cameras were installed on 100 volunteer properties (50 per LGA) to indirectly capture animal movements over two months. Transect drives were completed eight times (four per LGA) to directly observe roaming cats in residential areas. The cameras and transects both identified higher free-roaming cat numbers in CT (density of 0.31 cats per ha, resulting in an estimated abundance of 361 cats in the 1604 ha of residential area) than the BM (density of 0.21 cats per ha, resulting in an estimated abundance of 3365 cats in the 10,000 ha of residential area). More wildlife events were captured in the BM (total = 5580) than CT (total = 2697). However, there was no significant difference between CT and the BM for cat events (p = 0.11) or wildlife events (p = 0.32) observed via the cameras. Temporally, cats were observed via the cameras throughout the entire day with peaks at 9:30 am and 8:00 pm in the BM, and 7:00 am and 12:00 pm in CT. Overlaps in activity times were recorded for free-roaming cats with bandicoots (BM), possums (BM), and small mammals (BM and CT). This study demonstrates that camera monitoring on private property and transect drives are useful methods to quantify free-roaming cat abundance to inform cat management interventions.

Simple SummaryThis preliminary study aimed to assess the presence of bacteria in pregnancy tissues belonging to healthy canine and feline feto-maternal units at term. Specifically, it included bitches and queens undergoing elective cesarean sections and their first extracted fetus. The placental side of the endometrium, amniotic fluid, and meconium were sampled as tissue representative of the intra-uterine environment during pregnancy. Sampling and laboratory protocols were elaborated to contrast the possibility for contamination and included strict selection criteria (only elective cesarean sections, no recent treatments with antimicrobials), sterility during sample collection, and sampling and laboratory controls. Samples were processed using both culture and molecular techniques (16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing). When positive, culture revealed the presence of bacteria that are common contaminants and sequencing yielded a very low bacterial load. A difference was highlighted between canine and feline samples, suggesting a possible contamination from the skin of the dam, although the small sample size prevents any definitive conclusion. This study suggests that healthy canine and feline fetuses might develop in the presence of low amounts of bacterial components, although future research should include stricter protocols to check for contamination and provide information on bacterial viability.At present, there are no data on the presence of bacteria in healthy canine and feline pregnancies at term. Here, we investigated the uterine microbiome in bitches (n = 5) and queens (n = 3) undergoing elective cesarean section in two facilities. Samples included swabs from the endometrium, amniotic fluid, and meconium, and environmental swabs of the surgical tray as controls. Culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to investigate the presence of bacteria. Culture was positive for 34.3% of samples (uterus n = 3, amniotic fluid n = 2, meconium n = 4, controls n = 0), mostly with low growth of common contaminant bacteria. With sequencing techniques, the bacterial abundance was significantly lower than in environmental controls (p < 0.05). Sequencing results showed a species-specific pattern, and significant differences between canine and feline bacterial populations were found at order, family, and genus level. No differences were found in alpha and beta diversities between feto-maternal tissues and controls (p > 0.05). Dominant phyla were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria in different proportions based on tissue and species. Culture and sequencing results suggest that the bacterial biomass is very low in healthy canine and feline pregnancies at term, that bacteria likely originate from contamination from the dam's skin, and that the presence of viable bacteria could not be confirmed most of the time.

Background Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a noninvasive brain perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that has not been assessed in clinical veterinary medicine. Hypothesis/Objectives To test the feasibility of ASL using a 1.5 Tesla scanner and provide recommendations for optimal quantification of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in dogs and cats. Animals Three hundred fourteen prospectively selected client‐owned dogs and cats. Methods Each animal underwent brain MRI including morphological sequences and ≥1 ASL sequences using different sites of blood labeling and postlabeling delays (PLD). Calculated ASL success rates were compared. The CBF was quantified in animals that had morphologically normal brain MRI results and parameters of ASL optimization were investigated. Results Arterial spin labeling was easily implemented with an overall success rate of 95% in animals with normal brain MRI. Technical recommendations included (a) positioning of the imaging slab at the foramen magnum and (b) selected PLD of 1025 ms in cats and dogs 38 kg. In 37 dogs, median optimal CBF in the cortex and thalamic nuclei were 114 and 95 mL/100 g/min, respectively. In 28 cats, median CBF in the cortex and thalamic nuclei were 113 and 114 mL/100 g/min, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Our survey of brain perfusion ASL‐MRI demonstrated the feasibility of ASL at 1.5 Tesla, suggested technical recommendations and provided CBF values that should be helpful in the characterization of various brain diseases in dogs and cats.