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Background: Rabies is a zoonosis usually transmitted to mammals via contact between the saliva of infected animals and either the skin or mucosa of the attacked individual, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the only way to avoid the disease. This study aimed to perform a descriptive analysis of PEP after attacks by dogs and cats in the state of São Paulo., Methods: We analyzed the disease compulsory notification forms Human Anti-Rabies Care (CID10: W64), available in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), from 2013 to 2017. Treatment adequacy was analyzed according to the parameters established by the Brazilian Health Ministry., Results: A total of 572,889 notifications were reported during the study period, 94.1% (538,975) of which corresponded to dog or cat attacks, with an occurrence of 26.9 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. Among the recommended procedures, the most frequent was the observation of the animals for 10 days (44.4%), which was adopted inappropriately at a lower frequency. Prophylactic conduct was adequate in 68.8% of the cases, but only 55.5% of the individuals received adequate treatment. More than 112 thousand individuals (31,4%) received a correct recommendation for PEP but did not receive adequate treatment, leading to 246,787 doses of the vaccine and 8,888 doses of rabies immunoglobulin administered without following the recommendations of the Ministry of Health., Conclusions: The use of immunobiologicals is excessive, indicating the need for investment in training health professionals to follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.

Background: Vaccination of dogs and cats is considered a mainstay of preventive health, providing benefit to individual animals and the population. This study aimed to assess temporal trends in vaccination and factors associated with vaccination uptake in a large veterinary visiting population of UK cats and dogs., Methods: The electronic health records (EHRs) of 712,266 dogs and 306,888 cats (voluntarily contributed by 201 veterinary practices) were used to determine the proportion that had record of any type of veterinary vaccination either within one-year or within three-years of attending a participating veterinary practice. Socioeconomic and animal factors were also assessed for association with vaccination uptake using multivariable mixed effects logistic regression models., Results: The percentage of animals vaccinated within one-year of consultation declined across the years 2016 to 2022, from 76.58% (95% CI 74.82-78.33) to 69.04% (95% CI 68.02-70.07) in dogs, and 69.54% (95% CI 67.89-71.19) to 66.12% (95% CI 64.83-67.41) in cats. The proportion of animals that had a vaccination recorded within a three-year window of a consultation for dogs ranged from 81.36% (95% CI 79.74-82.99)to 84.42% (95% CI 83.31-85.54) in the period from 2016 to 2022; for cats, this measure increased from 73.90% (95% CI 72.24-75.56) in 2016 to 77.85% (95% CI 76.46-79.25) in 2022. Aging was associated with reduced odds of animals having a vaccination recorded within one-year and three-years. In both species the odds of vaccination reduced as the level of socioeconomic deprivation assigned to the animal's area of residence increased., Conclusion: The results provide a baseline that can be used as a reference to continue to track vaccination uptake in the cat and dog population. Temporal trends suggest time between vaccinations has increased in recent years. Strategies to encourage owners to vaccinate their animals should consider targeting areas of high deprivation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Shona Bloodworth's PhD project was funded by BSAVA PetSavers and the University of Liverpool. The studies were entirely investigator-led with no influence from the external funder., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

As the most prevalent companion animal, cats are threatened by numerous infectious diseases and carry zoonotic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella henselae , which are the primary causes of human toxoplasmosis and cat-scratch disease. Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing and controlling the spread of diseases in both humans and animals. Currently, there are only three core vaccines available to prevent feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus, and feline calicivirus infections, with few vaccines available for other significant feline infectious and zoonotic diseases. Feline herpesvirus, a major component of the core vaccine, offers several advantages and a stable genetic manipulation platform, making it an ideal model for vaccine vector development to prevent and control feline infectious diseases. This paper reviews the technologies involved in the research and development of the feline herpesvirus vaccine vector, including homologous recombination, CRISPR/Cas9, and bacterial artificial chromosomes. It also examines the design and effectiveness of expressing antigens of other pathogens using the feline herpesvirus as a vaccine vector. Additionally, the paper analyzes existing technical bottlenecks and challenges, providing an outlook on its application prospects. The aim of this review is to provide a scientific basis for the research and development of feline herpesvirus as a vaccine vector and to offer new ideas for the prevention and control of significant feline infectious and zoonotic diseases., 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 Luo, Liang, Liang, Tang, Hou, Ding, Li and Tang.)

Chemoprophylactic prevention of veterinary heartworm disease in companion animals, caused by the vector-borne nematode parasite Dirofilaria immitis, is a multi-billion-dollar global market. Experimental use of cats and dogs in preclinical heartworm drug testing is increasing due to evolving drug-resistance to frontline macrocyclic lactones and renewed investment in alternative preventative drug research. We and others recently published data demonstrating proof-of-concept of utilising lymphopenic severe-combined immunodeficient (SCID) or Recombination Activating Gene (RAG)2 deficient mice with additional knockout of the IL-2/7 receptor gamma chain (γc) as alternative preventative drug screening research models of dirofilariasis. Here we summarise the current knowledge of candidate immunodeficient mouse models tested, including a comparison of susceptibility using different background strains of mice, different D. immitis isolates, following use of anti-inflammatory treatments to further suppress residual innate immunity, and efficacies achieved against different reference anthelmintics. We supplement this precis with new data on treatment response to the veterinary anthelmintic, oxfendazole, and initial evaluation of D. immitis susceptibility in CB.17 SCID and C57BL/6 RAG2 -/- γc -/- mice. We conclude that in addition to NSG and NXG mice, RAG2 -/- γc -/- mice on either a BALB/c or C57BL/6 background offer an alternative screening model option, widening access to academic and commercial laboratories wishing to pursue initial rapid in vivo drug screening whilst avoiding potentially unnecessary cat or dog testing., Competing Interests: Competing interests: CF, UD, AM, SM, and JM are employed by TRS Laboratories Inc. The remaining 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 Dagley JL et al.)

Limited data exist on the factors affecting feline rabies vaccination outcomes during primary immunization. This study aimed to assess if specific factors (signalment, vaccination count, vaccine brand, and time since last vaccination) correlated with meeting global antibody titer standards and absolute titers in young cats given monovalent inactivated rabies vaccines. Analyzing a dataset from cats tested before their first annual booster using the FAVN test, logistic and linear regression models were applied. Among 379 cats, 94.2 % achieved titers meeting or exceeding the standard threshold (≥0.5 IU/ml). Time since last vaccination proved to be the primary predictor of vaccination success. Cats receiving two vaccinations tended toward higher titers. Age, sex, breed, and vaccine type showed no impact on outcomes. The present study indicates that vaccination failure in young cats is uncommon, and that the time interval from the latest vaccination is the single most important predictor of successful rabies vaccination., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All of the authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this study. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The costs related to the FAVN tests were covered by the pets’ owners and authors have no competing financial benefit., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection is a leading cause of death in cats. In this study, we produced FCoV-I virus-like particles (VLPs) containing E, M, N, and S proteins using a baculovirus expression system and mixed VLPs with the adjuvants MF59 and CpG 55.2 to prepare an VLP/MF59/CpG vaccine. After immunization of mice with the vaccine, IgG specific antibodies titers against S and N proteins increased to 1:12,800, and IFN-γ + and IL-4 + splenocytes were significantly increased. Following immunization of FCoV-negative cats, the S protein antibodies in immunized cats (5/5) increased significantly, with a peak of 1:12,800. Notably, after booster vaccination in FCoV-positive cats, a significant reduction in viral load was observed in the feces of partial cats (4/5), and the FCoV-I negative conversion was found in two immunized cats (2/5). Therefore, the VLP/MF59/CpG vaccine is a promising candidate vaccine to prevent the FCoV infection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Veterinary and human medicine are focused on the issue of emerging and re-emerging diseases, which are especially represented by zoonosis that could be a threat for public health. Zoonotic risk may come from pets: some canine and/or feline viral, bacterial, parasitic, protozoal or mycotic diseases can be transmitted directly to humans. There are several strategies to prevent the transmission of such zoonosis, and among them vaccination plays an important role. Through a survey carried out in Northern Italy aimed to collect information regarding owners' knowledge and perception of the zoonotic risks associated with three zoonoses (rabies, leptospirosis, and dermatophytosis), it was demonstrated that dog owners tend to adhere more consistently to their pets' vaccination schedules and are more receptive to changes in vaccination scheduling compared to cat owners. This study also suggests that cat owners predominantly visit veterinarians for vaccination purposes, whereas dog owners seek veterinary services for a variety of reasons. The survey highlighted the ongoing need to enhance owners' understanding of zoonoses affecting their pets and also the protective role of vaccines. Veterinarians should undertake the responsibility of educating, reassuring, and informing pet owners about the significance of vaccines for their pets and for public health., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We have no financial or personal relationships with individuals or organizations that could inappropriately influence my work or the interpretation of the research presented in the manuscript. Additionally, we have no competing interests, including but not limited to employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership, equity interests, or patent-licensing arrangements, that could be perceived as having influenced the conduct or reporting of the research described in the manuscript. Furthermore, I confirm that we have provided full disclosure of any relationships or circumstances that could be construed as constituting a potential conflict of interest, as required by the policies and guidelines of Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Vaccinations should only be given to healthy cats, and deworming before vaccination is generally recommended; however, so far, no study has investigated the influence of intestinal parasitic infection on the immune response in kittens. The aim of this prospective study was to compare the antibody response to feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) vaccination in kittens with and without intestinal parasites., Methods: Overall, 74 healthy kittens were included. Of these, 17 had intestinal parasites (12/17 Toxocara cati , 6/17 Cystoisospora felis , 1/17 Capillaria species). Both kittens with and without (n = 57) parasites received two primary kitten vaccinations with modified live FPV vaccines in a 4-week interval starting at the age of 8-12 weeks. Anti-FPV antibodies were determined at the beginning of the study (week 0) and at week 8 (4 weeks after the second vaccination) by haemagglutination inhibition. A ⩾four-fold titre increase (week 8 vs week 0) was defined as a response to vaccination. Comparison of the immune response in the kittens with and without intestinal parasites was performed using Pearson's χ 2 test., Results: Pre-vaccination antibodies were present in 4/17 (23.5%) kittens with intestinal parasites and in 24/57 (42.1%) without parasites. A ⩾four-fold titre increase was seen in 13/17 (76.5%) kittens with parasites compared with 32/57 (56.1%) kittens without parasites. There was neither a significant difference in pre-vaccination antibodies ( P  = 0.17), nor in vaccination response ( P  = 0.13) between kittens with and without parasites., Conclusions and Relevance: The results indicate that asymptomatic intestinal infections with endoparasites do not interfere with the immune response to kitten vaccination series. Parasitic infection (at least with T cati , C felis and Capillaria species) is therefore not a reason to postpone important vaccinations., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestParts of this research were funded by Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim Rhine, Germany. Boehringer played no role in the collection and interpretation of data or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. There is no commercial conflict of interest of the authors as the information generated here is solely for scientific dissemination.

Objective: To cohouse cats experimentally infected with Bartonella clarridgeiae (Bc) with naive cats in a flea-free environment or with Ctenocephalides felis, Bartonella henselae (Bh), Mycoplasma haemofelis, and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum to determine which flea could be a vector and to assess whether transmission of the infectious agents could be blocked by fipronil and (S)-methoprene., Animals: Specific pathogen-free cats (n = 34)., Methods: In experiment 1, Bc was inoculated in 1 cat that was housed with 9 naive cats without C felis. In experiment 2, the 2 cats inoculated with Bc were housed with 6 other cats (2 inoculated with Bh, 2 inoculated with M haemofelis, and 2 inoculated with Candidatus M haemominutum) in the center (enclosure 2) of 3 housing enclosures separated by mesh walls that allow passage of fleas but precludes fighting. C felis were placed only on cats in enclosure 2 (5 times). Cats in enclosures 1 (n = 8) and 2 (8) were untreated, and cats in enclosure 3 (8) were administered fipronil and (S)-methoprene. Blood was collected from all cats for PCR assays for the pathogens., Results: None of the cats housed with the cat inoculated with Bc became PCR positive in the absence of C felis. All cats in enclosure 2 became Bc DNA positive. While 2 of 8 cats in enclosure 1 became Bc PCR positive, none of the treated cats in enclosure 3 became infected., Clinical Relevance: The study demonstrated that C felis can be a vector for Bc. The results support the recommendation that flea control products can reduce the risk of transmission of flea-borne pathogens.

Social tension or conflict between household cats is common but, because it often manifests as subtle behavioral changes, it can go unnoticed; it is precisely because most signs are subtle and unrecognized that the term 'tension' is used. Where associated tension-related chronic fear-anxiety leads to more overt behavioral concerns and stress-associated disease, cats may face relinquishment by caregivers or even euthanasia if the tension is not relieved. The '2024 AAFP intercat tension guidelines: recognition, prevention and management' have been authored by a Task Force of board-certified veterinary and applied behaviorists and clinical experts in feline medicine and behavior convened by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. The aim is to support veterinary professionals in understanding social behavior between cats and, more specifically, in recognizing intercat tension, preventing or minimizing its occurrence and managing the stressors. In developing the Guidelines, the Task Force has modified the five pillars of a healthy feline environment to provide a framework to assist the prevention or management of intercat tension in households with two or more cats. Because feline social behavior is often misunderstood, the Guidelines debunk 10 common myths that have the potential to negatively impact the wellbeing of companion cats. Extensively illustrated with visual examples of intercat tension and an Appendix detailing a number of case studies, the Guidelines also include a comprehensive table of psychotherapeutic medications, and a detailed algorithm that outlines a systematic approach to preventing, recognizing and resolving intercat tension. A step-by-step approach to introducing a new cat into a household with one or more resident cats is included to further support veterinarians, and a range of management tools to promote client education accompany the Guidelines., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestMembers of the Task Force have received financial remuneration for providing educational material, speaking at conferences and/or consultancy work; however, none of these activities cause any direct conflict of interest in relation to these Guidelines. Specifically, Daniel Mills has received grants in the past from Ceva Animal Health, and Daniela Ramos and Theresa DePorter have received speaking fees or consultancies from Ceva Sante Animale.

Little research is available on acquired immunity to rabies in dogs and cats from Central Africa, particularly regarding the legal movements of pets. Movement of domestic animals from rabies-endemic countries like Cameroon to rabies free areas poses one of the main risks for rabies introduction into rabies-free areas. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of various risk factors on rabies vaccine efficacy in Cameroonian. Since the dependent variable, rabies neutralizing titres, were censored from above (right-censoring), Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) was used in the analysis. Overall, 85.7% of dogs and 100% of cats had titres greater than or equal to 0.5 IU/mL, which is considered protective. Additionally, compared to cats, the value of the rabies-neutralizing serum titres in dogs was on average smaller by 2.3 IU/mL. For each additional year of age, the value of the rabies-neutralizing serum titre, on average, increased by approximately 0.14 IU/mL. Finally, for each 30 additional days between the date of the last rabies vaccination and the date of the sampling, the value the rabies neutralizing titre, on average, decreased by approximately 0.10 IU/mL, given the species and age at sampling were equivalent. These results are useful for assessing risk and improving surveillance to prevent the introduction of rabies into a country via the international movement of animals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those personal of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE/WOAH)., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have a risk of developing aortic thromboembolism (ATE). Clopidogrel reduces the risk of redeveloping ATE and delays recurrence of ATE in cats that have experienced an ATE episode. Consequently, cardiologists have recommended administering clopidogrel to cats as a primary preventative, suggesting that all cats with severe HCM be administered clopidogrel. However, clopidogrel is unpalatable in its manufactured format, making such administration problematic for many clients. Therefore, estimating the potential benefit of administration might help clinicians determine on a case-by-case basis the need to treat cats with clopidogrel. Relatively simple statistical analyses of currently available data, along with certain assumptions and extrapolations, allow such an estimation of benefit in terms of relative and absolute risk reduction conferred by clopidogrel. Using this approach, and provided certain assumptions are true, clopidogrel likely confers a reduction in risk of ATE in cats with moderate to severe HCM of approximately 3% to 4%. Given the difficulty of administering clopidogrel to cats, clinicians should weigh these relatively small potential benefits against the potential harms (difficulty of administration) and not necessarily insist that clients administer clopidogrel.

Egyptians are becoming more interested in owning and raising pets; however, most of them lack essential awareness about the risk of zoonotic parasites that could be transmitted. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the degree of awareness Egyptian pet owners possess concerning zoonotic parasitic diseases, the risk of transmission, and preventative measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an e-survey. Among 246 pet owners, 64.2% (158) were females, and 67.9% (167) belonged to the 20-30 age group. The majority, 78.9% (194), were raising cats. Only 13.8% (34) visited the veterinarian regularly, with significantly higher results among dog owners (p < 0.05). Only 31.3% (77) participants were regularly deworming their pets, and 19.9% (49) were giving their pets prophylaxis against ectoparasites, with significantly higher results among those who visited the veterinarian regularly (p < 0.0001) and among dog owners (p < 0.05). Only 54.1% (133) had heard about the term "zoonoses" before, and about 8.9% (22) of participants showed a history of zoonotic parasitic diseases, with significantly higher results among those who allowed their animals to play with other animals of neighbors and friends (p < 0.05). The obtained results concluded that the surveyed group had a relatively good degree of knowledge regarding pets as a source of zoonotic illness; raising pet owners' awareness regarding the importance of routine medical examinations and minimizing the contact of pets with other stray animals is essential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sporotrichosis is a widespread fungal infection that affects skin and subcutaneous tissues in humans and animals. In cats, it is displayed as nodules, ulcers and lesions on the nasal and respiratory mucosa. Antifungal treatment of cats is crucial but many cases are difficult, thus resulting in discontinue of the treatment, with disastrous consequences for the animal, encouraging contamination of the environment, other animals and people. The effects of responsible ownership education and health education for owners of cats with feline sporotrichosis as well as the interval between veterinary consultations on treatment outcomes for three groups of owners and their pet cats were evaluated in this study. The responsible ownership education and health education strategies consisted in videos in easy and accessible language for people with any level of education and were presented during consultations for two of the three groups included. The time between appointments was two weeks for two of the groups, and four weeks for one of the groups. The median of treatment time for the group without educational activities was 138 days, while for the other two groups it was 77.5 days and 86 days. It was found a significative reduction in the treatment time in the groups exposed to Responsible ownership education videos. There was no contamination of those responsible for home treatment, and the interval between monthly appointments did not impact on cure or death rates compared to the interval between fortnightly appointments. All these results can be applied to feline sporotrichoses treatment protocols increasing the owners treatment adherence and reducing either, the treatment discontinuation and the treatment costs and helps to control zoonotic sporotrichosis. The importance of attractive and comprehensible educational strategies as part of the feline sporotrichosis treatment protocol for the promotion of one health was highlighted., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) is the pesticidal active ingredient found in some flea and tick collars for dogs and cats. Recent studies sponsored by The Hartz Mountain Corporation, confirm the safety of TCVP as an active ingredient in pet collars. Based upon data from these new studies and results previously relied upon by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the following conclusions have been made: Torsion study data clearly indicate that approximately 93% of released formulation from TCVP containing pet collars is in a liquid phase immediately following activation.Further, even more relevant to human health risk analysis associated with post-application exposures, in vivo data from dogs wearing TCVP pet collars definitively document that TCVP dust released from the collar is rapidly absorbed into the sebum. The maximum ratio of dust to liquid was 0.023% dust to 99.977% liquid.In vivo fur data provide scientific evidence confirming that the mechanism of dissemination of TCVP from pet collars is as a liquid suspended or dissolved in the animal's sebum, even though it may be released from the collar as a solid. Thus, potential post-application exposure to TCVP, including immediately following collar placement, is almost entirely to a liquid phase.Based upon EPA's refined and conservative "untrimmed" collar risk assessment, post-application incidental oral hand-to-mouth activity by children aged 1 to <2 years of age results in margins of exposure significantly greater than the level of concern of 1000, and therefore do not present unreasonable health risk.

Obesity remains a significant concern for dogs and cats, and reducing or eliminating treats is commonly recommended as a strategy for weight management. Caregivers can struggle with adherence to such dietary recommendations. Previous research suggests caregivers are reluctant to reduce treats but there is limited understanding of the underlying factors contributing to these behaviours and decisions. The objective of this study was to explore caregivers' motivations and barriers to reducing treat feeding, and their reported capability to do so. An online questionnaire including multiple choice and Likert scale questions was disseminated to dog and cat caregivers (n=1053) primarily from Canada and the USA from September to November 2021. Caregivers commonly expressed a wide range of motivations to reduce treat feeding with their pet, though barriers to reducing treat feeding were less defined. Changing their pet's routine was a reported barrier by more than 30% of respondents and was predictive of caregivers finding reducing treat giving to be difficult (OR=1.67, p=0.017). Results from multivariable logistic regression also revealed that caregivers who consider their companion animal to be obese as more likely to perceive reducing treats to be difficult. The results highlight the role of treats in the relationship and routine of caregivers' and their pets, and the importance of considering the individualised needs and circumstance of the caregiver and pet in veterinary discussions surrounding reducing treat feeding. Identifying these perspectives can improve self-efficacy with veterinary nutrition recommendations surrounding treats., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The work described has not been published previously, is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, its publication is approved by all authors, and if accepted, will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, including electronically without the written consent of the copyright-holder., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The close relationship between human and companion animals like cats and dogs raises public health concerns regarding the potential transmission of zoonotic diseases in Bangladesh. The study aimed to evaluate the cat and dog owners' knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception concerning zoonotic diseases for designing effective interventions and reducing disease transmission. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 480 pet owners in various region of Bangladesh. For data collection, a structured, closed-ended questions were implemented. The data collection was anonymous and individuals were chosen through a random selection method. Responses were classified to evaluate comprehensive knowledge, using a threshold value of ≥65%. Quantitative score was created to measure Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices, and these scores were divided into categories of good and poor knowledge, positive and negative attitudes, as well as correct and incorrect practices. The analysis included the application of both descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The findings showed that females made up more than half of the survey participants (55.2%), with the predominant pet owned being cats (73.1%). Overall, only a small portion (21.25%) of the survey respondents demonstrated good knowledge about the topic as measured by a dichotomous outcome. A larger proportion of participants (84.58%) exhibited a positive attitude towards zoonotic diseases. However, when it came to correct practices, about one-third (29.79%) of performed satisfactorily. It is noteworthy that 90.4% of the participants exhibited a high level of understanding regarding the transmission of rabies through dog bites. The knowledge and practices of owners were markedly impacted by their education, occupation, and geographic location. Furthermore, 48.1% identified 'social media' as their primary source of information, and 80.0% regarded vaccination as a preventive measure. The study reveals gaps in knowledge and practices of risks regarding zoonotic diseases among pet owners in Bangladesh. It is crucial to implement focused educational initiatives and preventative measures to effectively tackle gaps in knowledge concerning zoonotic diseases and to avert potential infections., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is one of the most important respiratory nematodes of felines. Infections may lead to respiratory clinical signs with varying severity or even death, emphasizing the need for preventive treatment of cats with outdoor access to circumvent patent infections., Methods: Therefore, the preventive efficacy of a spot-on formulation of 280 mg/ml fluralaner and 14 mg/ml moxidectin (Bravecto ® Plus spot-on solution for cats, MSD) against A. abstrusus was evaluated in a negative controlled, randomized and partially blinded efficacy study with 28 purpose-bred cats in a non-terminal design. In three different treatment regimes, the minimum recommended dose of 40 mg fluralaner and 2.0 mg moxidectin/kg bodyweight (BW) was administered once at 12, 8 or 4 weeks (study group G1, G2 and G3, respectively) prior to experimental infection with 300 third-stage A. abstrusus larvae, while G4 served as placebo-treated control., Results: From 30 to 46 days post infection (dpi; SD 114 to 130), faeces were sampled to monitor first-stage larvae (L1) excretion for efficacy determination. Secondary efficacy criteria, including respiratory parameters, serological antibody levels and computed tomography (CT) findings, were assessed once before enrolment (SD -7 to -1) and before infection (SD 75 to 83). After infection, CT evaluation was performed once at 47-50 dpi (SD 131 to 134), and respiratory parameters and antibody levels were regularly assessed twice or once a week, respectively (1 up to 78 dpi, SD 85 up to 162). All animals in the control group excreted L1 by 33-37 dpi and remained positive throughout the study period from 41 to 46 dpi (SD 125 to 130). In the treatment groups, only one animal each of G1 and G2 excreted L1 at two consecutive days, and four cats of G1, two of G2 and three of G3 were positive on single occasions. While the geometric mean (GM) of the maximum number of excreted L1 per 5 g of faeces was 7380.89 in the control group (G4), GMs were significantly lower in the treatment groups with 1.63 in G1, 1.37 in G2 and 0.79 in G3. Thus, based on GMs, the reduction in excreted L1 exceeded 99.9% in all three treatment groups. Based on CT severity scores, all lungs of the animals of the control group showed severe pulmonary changes post infection, whereas lungs of the cats of the treatment groups were either unaltered (4 animals), mildly (11 animals), or moderately altered (5 animals). Moreover, seroconversion was observed in all cats of the control group, but not in those of the treatment groups., Conclusions: The combination of diagnostic methods used in this non-terminal study yielded coherent and reliable results. A single administration of Bravecto ® Plus spot-on solution for cats was well tolerated and effective in the prevention of aelurostrongylosis for at least 12 weeks., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is caused by the feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), which commonly results in upper respiratory symptoms, and can result in death in the kittens and weak cats. Rabies is an infectious disease with zoonotic characteristics highly relevant to public health and also poses a serious threat to cats. Vaccines are the most effective method to control the spread of both FHV-1 and RABV and have the advantage that they produce long-term specific immune responses. In this study, we constructed a bivalent vaccine against FHV-1 and rabies virus (RABV) simultaneously. The vaccine was constructed by cloning FHV-1 gB into a RABV based vector, and the recombinant RABV (SRV9-FHV-gB) expressing the FHV-1 gB protein was rescued. The growth characteristics of SRV9-FHV-gB were analyzed on NA and BSR cells. To assess the immunogenicity of the vaccine, mice and cats were immunized with SRV9-FHV-gB supplemented with Gel02 adjuvant. The SRV9-FHV-gB exhibited the same growth characteristics as the parent virus SRV9 in both BSR cells and NA cells. The safety of SRV9-FHV-gB was evaluated using 5-day-old and 14-day-old suckling mice. The results showed that mice infected with the SRV9-FHV-gB survived for longer than those in the SRV9 group. Mice immunized with inactivated SRV9-FHV-gB produced high titers of specific antibodies against FHV-1 and neutralizing antibodies against RABV. Cats that received three immunizations with SRV9-FHV-gB also produced neutralizing antibodies against both FHV-1 and RABV. This study represents the first time that a bivalent vaccine targeting FHV-1 and RABV has been constructed, laying the foundations and providing inspiration for the development of other multivalent vaccines., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is the most important respiratory nematode of domestic cats. Effective control options are crucial to protect health and welfare of cats and to reduce the spread of aelurostrongylosis in both enzootic and free regions. The present study evaluated the efficacy of a spot-on formulation containing 280 mg/ml fluralaner and 14 mg/ml moxidectin (Bravecto® Plus, MSD) in the prevention of aelurostrongylosis in cats under field conditions. One hundred and fifty-two cats from Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria, were randomly divided in two groups, one treated with Bravecto® Plus on Study Days (SDs) 0 and 84 (74 cats, IVP Group) and one left untreated (78 cats, control group). Faecal samples were collected from all animals on SDs 42 ± 4, 84, 126 ± 4 and 168 ± 4 and subjected to the Baermann's technique and species-specific PCR for A. abstrusus. Each cat was subjected to a clinical examination on SDs 0, 84 and 168 ± 4 to check health condition and possible adverse events. The results of the faecal analysis were statistically analyzed for treatment group differences in the percentage of cats negative to the Baermann's test and PCR and percentage of reduction of fecal larvae counts as the primary and secondary efficacy criteria, respectively. The percentage of negative cats was higher in the IVP group compared to the control group and the percentage of reduction of fecal larvae counts in the IVP group compared to the control group was 100%. These results show that two administrations of Bravecto Plus® spot-on 12 weeks apart were safe and effective in the prevention of aelurostrongylosis for a period of almost 6 months., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Donato Traversa reports financial support was provided by Merck Sharp & Dohme Animal Health. Donato Traversa reports a relationship with Merck Sharp & Dohme Animal Health that includes: consulting or advisory and funding grants. Nadja Rohdich and Eva Zschiesche are MSD employees., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Raw meat-based diets for pet nutrition are becoming increasingly popular. The percentage of meat content, composition of nutrients, and amount of additives started to play an important role in the recipe of a given food. However, the use of healthier and unprocessed food must also be balanced with the animal's specific needs based on its anatomy, physiology, and behavior. There are many potential advantages and disadvantages of a biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) diet, and all of them should be considered before switching to this approach. Raw meat is considered a diet closest to nature and least processed. However, raw diets threaten pet health because of the potential for nutrient imbalances. The choice of raw meat in pets' everyday diet should be supported by the veterinarian's medical decision and preferably also with nutritionist help. Growing animals require a specific Ca:P ratio in their diet, which may be improper in raw meat. For cats, taurine levels must be carefully checked. In addition, an imbalanced raw-meat diet can be the cause of poor semen quality in males. Females are prone to inhibition of the estrus cycle, especially due to hyperthyroidism. Exogenous thyroid hormone intake is a real concern when feeding a neck/head meat with thyroid glands. There is also a possibility of bacterial or parasitic presence in raw meat. The present paper aims to summarize the current state of knowledge about the benefits and threats of eating a raw meat diet for the health concerns of companion animals., (© 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.)

Objectives: Some expert groups recommend that cats should be vaccinated with non-adjuvanted feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and rabies vector vaccines, which, in the European Union, are currently not licensed for concurrent use and have to be administered at least 14 days apart (different from the USA) and thus at separate visits, which is associated with more stress for cats and owners. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-rabies antibody response in cats after vaccination against rabies and FeLV at concurrent vs separate (4 weeks apart) visits using two canarypox-vectored vaccines (Purevax Rabies and Purevax FeLV; Boehringer Ingelheim) and to evaluate the occurrence of vaccine-associated adverse events (VAAEs)., Methods: Healthy FeLV antigen-negative client-owned kittens (n = 106) were prospectively included in this randomised study. All kittens received primary vaccinations against rabies (week 0) and FeLV (weeks 4 and 8). After 1 year, the study group (n = 52) received booster vaccinations against rabies and FeLV concurrently at the same visit (weeks 50-52). The control group (n = 54) received booster vaccinations against rabies (weeks 50-52) and FeLV (weeks 54-56) separately. Anti-rabies virus antibodies (anti-RAV Ab) were determined by fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation assay at weeks 4, 50-52 and 54-56, and compared between both groups using a Mann-Whitney U-test., Results: Four weeks after the first rabies vaccination, 87/106 (82.1%) kittens had a titre ⩾0.5 IU/ml and 19/106 (17.9%) had a titre <0.5 IU/ml. Four weeks after the 1-year rabies booster, all cats had adequate anti-RAV Ab according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (⩾0.5 IU/ml), and the titres of the study group (median = 14.30 IU/ml) and the control group (median = 21.39 IU/ml) did not differ significantly ( P  = 0.141). VAAEs were observed in 7/106 (6.6%) cats., Conclusions and Relevance: Concurrent administration of Purevax FeLV and Purevax Rabies vector vaccines at the 1-year booster does not interfere with the development of anti-RAV Ab or cause more adverse effects and thus represents a better option than separate vaccination visits for cats and owners., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThis research was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim Rhine, Germany. Boehringer played no role in the collection and interpretation of data or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. There is no commercial conflict of interest of the authors as the information generated here is solely for scientific dissemination.

Feline obesity continues to be a priority health and welfare issue. Most research surrounding obesity currently focuses on obesity treatment. However, treatment for feline obesity is slow, often unsuccessful and not without consequences. Identifying high-risk populations for obesity onset is crucial for developing and implementing preventive strategies. This review identifies post-gonadectomy kittens aged 5-12 months as the primary target population for obesity prevention in domestic cats and highlights dietary and feeding management strategies to be implemented for obesity prevention., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestHG declares that they have participated in paid internships and engagements with pet food companies within Canada. SKA holds the Nestle Purina Professorship in Companion Animal Nutrition at the Ontario Veterinary College and is the owner of Sit, Stay, Speak Nutrition and provides nutrition consultation to industry partners. AV is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Endowed Chair in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition and declares that they serve on the Health and Nutrition Advisory Board for Vetdiet. AV has also received honoraria and research funding from various pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers. The authors declare that these do not conflict with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Aging is often associated with chronic inflammation and declining health. Both veterinarians and owners of aging dogs and cats are interested in nutritional solutions and strategies to prevent signs of age-related disease, increase longevity, and improve quality of life. Physiological decreases in muscle mass, decreased immunity, and a decrease in sense acuity are some of the changes often seen in otherwise healthy senior pets; however, there may also be an increase in risk for pathologies such as renal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neoplastic diseases. Aging may also lead to cognitive decline and even cognitive dysfunction. Some nutritional strategies that may be helpful with the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases include supplementation with ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant nutrients that can help modulate inflammation and benefit osteoarthritis, renal disease, cancer, and more. Supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides shows promise in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction as these may be metabolized to ketone bodies that are utilized as an alternative energy source for the central nervous system. Additionally, a high intake of dietary phosphorus in soluble and bioavailable forms can lead to renal disease, which is of greater concern in senior pets. There are no published guidelines for nutritional requirements specific to senior pets and as a result, products marketed for senior dogs and cats are highly variable., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Objective: To compare how often owners identified concerns about their pets' behavior during routine examinations in 2 test conditions (voluntarily or when completing a questionnaire), and to test the efficacy of a simple behavior screening questionnaire to be used by practicing veterinarians., Animals: Privately owned dogs and cats presenting for routine examinations to 1 of 2 primary care clinics., Methods: The study was conducted in 2 sequential phases. In Phase 1, veterinary staff recorded whether pet owners or veterinarians inquired about behavior during routine examinations. In Phase 2, a different set of pet owners completed a short behavioral screening questionnaire as they waited for the veterinarian. We compared the 2 phases for how often behavior concerns were identified, the types of concerns, the pets' ages, and the owners' levels of satisfaction and desire for help., Results: Dog and cat owners were more likely to identify behavior concerns when prompted than they were to volunteer this information, especially for older patients in which behavior changes may be the first sign of disease. Most owners were satisfied with their pets' behavior, though owners were more likely to be unsatisfied with certain identified concerns. Owners who were dissatisfied were much more likely to want help., Clinical Relevance: A behavior screening questionnaire enhances detection of behavior problems that may have medical implications and impact the security of the pet in its home. A behavior screening questionnaire can elevate standard of care by enabling veterinarians to quickly assess behavior during every examination.

Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) is a highly transmissible virus that mainly causes ocular and upper respiratory infections in cats and seriously threatens the health of domestic cats and captive or wild cats (such as tigers, cheetahs, and lions). Vaccination is crucial to reduce the incidence rate and mortality of cats infected with FHV-1. In this study, three bacterium-like particles (BLPs) displaying the gB, gC, and gD proteins of FHV-1 were constructed based on a gram-positive enhancer matrix-protein anchor (GEM-PA) surface display system. Indirect immunofluorescence assay, western blot, and electron microscopy results showed that gB, gC or gD protein of FHV-1 was successfully displayed on the surface of GEM particles. Additionally, we designed one more BLPs, designated gB&gC&gD-GEM, which consisted of a mixture of gB-GEM, gC-GEM, and gD-GEM at a protein content ratio of 1:1:1. Mice were immunized with the four BLPs mixed with Gel02 adjuvant, and the results indicated that neutralizing antibody level in the gB&gC&gD-GEM group was superior than those in the other groups. Moreover, gB&gC&gD-GEM significantly increased the secretion of cytokines, as well as the activation and maturation of B cells. It also boosted the production of central memory T cells among CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. Moreover, gB&gC&gD-GEM mixed with Gel02 adjuvant provoked an antibody response in cats. In conclusion, the BLPs vaccine prepared from gB&gC&gD-GEM induced specific humoral and cellular immune responses to FHV-1 and be used as a potential vaccine candidate for the control of FHV-1 infection in cats., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All persons who have made substantial contributions to the work were reported in the manuscript, which was named in the “Author contributions” section of the manuscript. No conflict of interest exists in the submission of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To understand veterinarian and cat owner perspectives on antimicrobial use in cats, reasons for prescribing cefovecin, and barriers to improving antimicrobial stewardship, including veterinarian and cat owner perspectives of giving oral medication to cats., Sample: 21 New York veterinarians and 600 cat owners across the US., Methods: Cat owners were surveyed about their preferences for and experiences in giving oral medications to cats and their experiences with antimicrobials specifically. Veterinarians were interviewed about antimicrobial use decisions in cats, benefits and drawbacks of cefovecin, and their perspectives on antimicrobial resistance., Results: Many veterinarians reported feeling pressure to prescribe antimicrobials, while 41% of cat owners reported requesting antimicrobials. Although veterinarians are aware of the downsides of prescribing cefovecin, many prescribed cefovecin in situations where an antimicrobial was not needed or cefovecin may not have been the best choice. Veterinarians thought that 20% of cat owners could not give oral medications, but < 10% of cat owners had a cat that was impossible to medicate., Clinical Relevance: The disconnect between veterinarians' assessment of and cat owners' reported abilities in administering oral medication may contribute to cefovecin use. Demonstrating for cat owners how to give oral medication may help improve compliance and reduce the use of parenteral long-acting formulations. Structural and educational interventions are needed to address other contributors to inappropriate antimicrobial use. This research provides the specific considerations about barriers and motivations for cat owners and veterinarians that are required to guide strategic, tailored interventions for both audiences to advance stewardship.

Cardiogenic arterial thromboembolism (CATE) is a devastating complication in cats with cardiomyopathies with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of CATE, its recurrence and mortality remain high. This highlights the urgent need for a greater understanding of CATE pathophysiology so that novel diagnostic tests and therapeutics can be developed. This comprehensive review aims to summarize existing literature on pathophysiology, clinical diagnosis, and current recommendations on the prevention and treatment of CATE. It also identifies and describes knowledge gaps and research priorities in the roles of immunothrombosis and procoagulant platelets in the pathogenesis of CATE., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Home dental care is a key element of periodontal therapy in veterinary patients. Among many strategies of passive home dental care there is a supplementation of animal diet with seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum which have been shown to reduce both calculus and plaque accumulation after oral administration in both dogs and cats. Ascophyllum nodosum contains numerous biologically active ingredients, including micro-elements, vitamins, and several other compounds, however the exact mechanism of its beneficial action remains unclear. The very first metabolomic data suggest that it could change the composition of dog saliva. Several products containing Ascophyllum nodosum had been assessed clinically according to standards and requirements provided by the Veterinary Oral Health Council. The conducted clinical trials in dogs and cats revealed that Ascophyllum nodosum exerts the strongest preventive action as powder, followed by dental bites and dry pet food. The data concerning its curative action are limited to one study in cats in which no beneficial action has been observed. Based on available clinical data it is recommended to administer Ascophyllum nodosum to dogs and cats after oral cavity prophylactic procedure to reduce the recurrence of plaque and calculus formation., (Copyright© by the Polish Academy of Sciences.)

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the incidence of canine and feline tick paralysis cases presenting to two veterinary emergency hospitals before and after the introduction of new generation prophylactic acaricides., Methods: This was a retrospective study, investigating the number of tick paralysis cases presenting to two emergency and critical care veterinary hospitals in South-East Queensland, from 2008 to 2021. A total of 10,914 dogs and 3696 cats were included over the course of the study. To assess if the introduction of new generation prophylactics in 2015 has coincided with any variation in case numbers, data for each species were analysed graphically and numerically in the first instance, then interrupted time series analyses were performed for the dog and cat data independently., Results: Accounting for seasonal and climatic variation, we estimated a 54.8% reduction in dog (95% CI 45.3%-62.7%) and 44% reduction in cat (95% CI 19.5%-46%) tick paralysis cases presenting to these two clinics. This reduction corresponded with the timing of new generation prophylactic agents being introduced, including isoxazolines and imidacloprid/flumethrin impregnated collars., Conclusion: In the population studied, a significant reduction in the incidence of tick paralysis cases treated by veterinarians has occurred from 2015 onwards and was found to be associated with the timing of the release of new generation acaricidal products., (© 2023 The Authors. Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.)

Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) is the aetiological agent of feline viral rhinotracheitis, which accounts for approximately 50 % of all viral upper respiratory diseases in cats. Commercially available modified live vaccines containing FHV-1 are generally safe and effective, but these FHV-1 vaccines retain full virulence genes and can establish latency and reactivate to cause infectious rhinotracheitis in vaccine recipients, raising safety concerns. To address this shortcoming, we constructed a novel TK/gI/gE -gene-deleted recombinant FHV-1 (WH2020-ΔTK/gI/gE) through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination. The growth kinetics of WH2020-ΔTK/gI/gE were slightly delayed compared to those of the parent strain WH2020. Recombinant FHV-1 had severely impaired pathogenicity in cats. Felines immunized with WH2020-ΔTK/gI/gE produced high levels of gB-specific antibodies, neutralizing antibodies and IFN-β. Additionally, WH2020-ΔTK/gI/gE provided greater protection against challenge with FHV-1 field strain WH2020 than did the commercial modified live vaccine. After challenge, the cats vaccinated with WH2020-ΔTK/gI/gE showed significantly fewer clinical signs, pathological changes, viral shedding, and viral loads in the lung and trigeminal ganglia than those vaccinated with the commercial vaccine or unvaccinated. Our results suggest that WH2020-ΔTK/gI/gE is a promising candidate as a safer and more efficacious live FHV-1 vaccine, with a decreased risk of vaccine-related complications, and could inform the design of other herpesvirus vaccines., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Felid herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) is a major pathogenic agent of upper respiratory tract infections and eye damage in felines worldwide. Current FHV-1 vaccines offer limited protection of short duration, and therefore, do not reduce the development of clinical signs or the latency of FHV-1., Methods: To address these shortcomings, we constructed FHV ∆gIgE-eGFP, FHV ∆TK mCherry, and FHV ∆gIgE/TK eGFP-mCherry deletion mutants (ΔgI/gE, ΔTK, and ΔgIgE/TK, respectively) using the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISP-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system (CRISPR/Cas9), which showed safety and immunogenicity in vitro. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the deletion mutants administered with intranasal (IN) and IN + subcutaneous (SC) vaccination protocols. Cats in the vaccination group were vaccinated twice at a 4-week interval, and all cats were challenged with infection 3 weeks after the last vaccination. The cats were assessed for clinical signs, nasal shedding, and virus-neutralizing antibodies (VN), and with postmortem histological testing., Results: Vaccination with the gI/gE-deleted and gI/gE/TK-deleted mutants was safe and resulted in significantly lower clinical disease scores, fewer pathological changes, and less nasal virus shedding after infection. All three mutants induced virus-neutralizing antibodies after immunization., Conclusions: In conclusion, this study demonstrates the advantages of FHV-1 deletion mutants in preventing FHV-1 infection in cats., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

France has been rabies-free among nonflying mammals since 2001. Despite this status, the rabies virus has been introduced several times through noncommercial pet movements, posing a threat of infection by this 100%-lethal zoonosis among local animal and human populations. To quantify the risk of rabies being introduced through worldwide noncommercial dog and cat movements, we performed a quantitative risk assessment using stochastic scenario tree modeling. The mean annual probability of at least one rabies introduction incident was 0.35 (median: 0.24, 90% prediction interval (PI) [0.04; 0.98]) and the mean annual number of rabies-infected pets introduced through pet movements was 0.96 (median: 0.27, 90% PI [0.04; 3.88]). These results highlight a nonnegligible, even high risk due to the associated consequences of such events. In alternative scenario testing, preventive anti-rabies vaccination proved to be an effective measure since removing the vaccination requirement led to a > 15-fold increase in risk. The serological testing requirement had less of an effect (approximately two-fold increase when removed) and the posttest waiting period to ensure that antibodies were not linked to an infection had a negligible effect. Any change in pet owner compliance, especially regarding vaccination, could have a major impact on the risk. This study also shows that reinforced border control staff training could be more effective in reducing risk than more frequent checks. These results provide quantitative data for assessing the probability of the rabies virus entering France, and could help policymakers decrease this risk in rabies-free areas., (© 2022 Society for Risk Analysis.)

Global companion animal population has been increasing as well as the number of dogs and cats being considered as a family member. However, it is unclear whether this close relationship could be associated with higher preventive healthcare in companion animals. Using data from 7,048 questionnaires of dogs and 3,271 of cats from the First National Study on Responsible Companion Animal Ownership, we estimated the proportion of preventive healthcare in companion animals of Chile. We also conducted a general linear mixed-effect regression model to identify socioeconomic factors and indicators of the emotional owners-companion animal bond that could influence owners' practices related to vaccination, parasite control, and veterinary visits. Based on the owner's answers, Chile has a satisfactory overall rates of parasite control (71%) and annual veterinary visits (65%) but a low vaccination coverage of both dogs (39%) and cats (25%). 'Purebred', 'live in urban areas', 'acquired by monetary compensation', and 'dog species' were associated with a higher probability of preventive healthcare in companion animals. Conversely, this probability was lower among senior animals compared to adults, males, and those owned by the Silent Generation or Baby Boomers (i.e., owners born before 1964). 'Sleeping inside', 'acquired for an emotional reason' (e.g., companionship), and 'considered a family member' were positively associated with at least one of assessed preventive measures. Our findings suggest that emotional owner-companion animal bonds could positively impact the frequency and quality of preventive healthcare in dogs and cats. However, owners who totally disagreed that a companion animal is a "family member" were also associated with a higher likelihood of vaccination uptake and veterinary visits for their animals. This highlights that owner's compliance with veterinary preventive healthcare is multifactorial. Chile has a high prevalence of infectious diseases circulating among dogs and cats and increasingly close contacts between owners and companion animals due to emotional bonds. Thus, our study calls for One Health approaches to reduce the risks of cross-species disease transmission. Specifically, increasing vaccination coverage of companion animals in Chile is the most urgent preventive measure needed, especially among cats, males, and older animals. Expand preventive healthcare among dogs and cats will promote public and animal health, including local wildlife that is susceptible to infectious diseases circulating in companion animals., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest statement The authors of this paper have no conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Due to widespread vaccination programs against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), the disease associated with this virus infection, feline panleukopenia, is rarely seen in privately owned cats in Germany. In contrast, the situation in animal shelters differs due to the constant intake of new cats that are often unprotected. In such facilities, panleukopenia outbreaks are common and often accompanied by a high number of fatalities. Due to the high contagiosity of the virus, some shelters do not accept cats with clinical signs suspicious for panleukopenia, since these animals can pose a risk to the shelter population. However, not only cats with panleukopenia shed parvovirus, but also healthy, asymptomatic cats can and thus contribute to risk of infection. Nevertheless, the risk for panleukopenia outbreaks in animal shelters can be reduced by rigorous outbreak management. This includes hygiene measures using correctly applied cleaning and disinfection protocols, quarantine measures, separate isolation units, as well as specific prophylactic measures, such as identification of infected animals and immunization of susceptible groups., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis with a global distribution, also known as "rose gardener's disease". Brazil is experiencing a rapid spread of the zoonotic transmission of of Sporothrix brasiliensis, the main etiological agent of this disease in this country, affecting domestic felines. Cost-effective interventions need to be developed to control this emergent public health problem. To allow for the comparison of alternative control strategies, we propose in this paper, a mathematical model representing the transmission of S. brasiliensis among cats, stratified by age and sex. Analytical properties of the model are derived and simulations show possible strategies for reducing the endemic levels of the disease in the cat population, with a positive impact on human health. The scenarios included mass treatment of infected cats and mass implementation of contact reduction practices, such as neutering. The results indicate that mass treatment can reduce substantially the disease prevalence, and this effect is potentialized when combined with neutering or other contact-reduction interventions. On the other hand, contact-reduction methods alone are not sufficient to reduce prevalence., Competing Interests: NO authors have competing interests Enter: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Araújo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objectives: Lipids containing n-3 fatty acids have been reported to have protective effects on renal function, with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) expected to be particularly effective. However, no reports have demonstrated the renoprotective effects of DHA-enriched lipids in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to examine the renoprotective effects of DHA-enriched fish oil in cats., Methods: Five healthy cats and five cats with early non-azotaemic CKD due to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) were orally administered DHA-enriched fish oil in liquid form (250 or 500 mg/kg body weight [BW] and 250 mg/kg BW of DHA, respectively) for 28 days. Inappropriately dilute urine and markedly increased urinary N -acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) index were detected in cats with PKD before DHA-enriched fish oil administration. Changes in the fatty acid composition ratio in the blood of all 10 cats were assessed after orally administering 250 mg/kg of DHA., Results: Post-administration, no adverse clinical effects were observed, and blood and urine tests were within the reference intervals in healthy cats. Cats with PKD showed significantly decreased serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) and urinary NAG index at post-administration. Furthermore, oral administration of DHA-enriched fish oils significantly decreased the blood concentration ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) in cats with PKD post-administration. Furthermore, the concentration ratio of DHA in the blood significantly increased in both healthy cats and cats with PKD, and the DHA:AA ratio also increased., Conclusions and Relevance: Oral administration of DHA-enriched fish oils for 28 days significantly decreased blood AA levels and significantly increased DHA concentration and DHA:AA ratios in cats with PKD, and improved the SDMA, UPC and urinary NAG index, suggesting its potential for renoprotective effects in cats with early non-azotaemic CKD due to PKD.

Main objective of the present nationwide study was to assess the impact of the ESCCAP guideline for the control of worm infections in dogs and cats 8-10 years after its first publication in Germany. A secondary aim was to determine the prevalence of canine and feline cardiopulmonary nematodes and intestinal protozoa. Faecal samples of 53,693 dogs and 26,491 cats in 2004-2006 as well as of 129,578 dogs and 45,709 cats in 2015-2017 routinely submitted by veterinarians to a private veterinary laboratory were examined using appropriate parasitological methods. In dogs, the prevalence of Toxocara and taeniid egg shedding was significantly lower in 2015-2017 (3.8 % and 0.16 %, respectively) than in 2004-2006 (4.6 % and 0.27 %, respectively). The prevalence of hookworm and Capillaria eggs was higher in the second study period (2.3 % and 0.77 %, respectively) than in the first (1.3 % and 0.6 %, respectively). For Toxascaris leonina (0.55-0.6 %) and Trichuris (0.8-0.9 %), the difference was not significant between the study periods. Dogs shed more often Angiostrongylus vasorum larvae in the second study (3.1 %) than in the first (1.0 %), whereas the prevalence of Crenosoma vulpis did not change significantly (2.2-2.6 %). Cystoisospora canis and C. ohioensis-like infections were less detected in the second study period (1.0 % and 2.1 %, respectively) than in the first (1.8 % and 2.7 %, respectively). Neospora-like oocysts and Sarcocystis sporocysts were more prevalent in the second study period (0.19 % and 0.13 %, respectively) than in the first (0.13 % and 0.06 %, respectively). The percentage of Giardia or Cryptosporidium coproantigen-positive samples was lower in the second study period (18.9 % and 6.7 %, respectively) than in the first (22.8 % and 10.0 %, respectively). In cats, the prevalence of egg shedding of T. cati, Capillaria and taeniids was significantly lower in 2015-2017 (3.5 %, 0.25 % and 0.1 %, respectively) than in 2004-2006 (4.8 %, 0.54 % and 0.22 %, respectively). No difference was recorded for hookworms (0.12-0.13 %) and Ts. leonina (0.04-0.05 %). Aelurostrongylus-like larvae were detected more often in the second study period (6.5 %) than in the first (2.6 %). Infections with Cystoisospora felis, C. rivolta, Toxoplasma-like coccids and Sarcocystis were less prevalent in the second study period (1.9 %, 0.7 %, 0.24 % and 0.02 %, respectively) than in the first (2.7 %, 1.1 %, 0.36 % and 0.1 %, respectively). The percentage of Giardia or Cryptosporidium coproantigen-positive samples was significantly lower in the second study period (10.6 % and 4.8 %, respectively) than in the first (15.4 % and 8.3 %, respectively). Although these results indicate a decline of the occurrence of most canine and feline intestinal parasites in Germany over the years, a transmission risk of zoonotic parasites remains. Therefore, the control of helminth infections in domestic dogs and cats continues to be a challenge for veterinarians and pet owners., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Large populations of unowned cats constitute an animal welfare, ecological, societal and public health issue worldwide. Their relocation and homing are currently carried out in many parts of the world with the intention of relieving suffering and social problems, while contributing to ethical and humane population control in these cat populations. An understanding of an individual cat's lifestyle and disease status by veterinary team professionals and those working with cat charities can help to prevent severe cat stress and the spread of feline pathogens, especially vector-borne pathogens, which can be overlooked in cats. In this article, we discuss the issue of relocation and homing of unowned cats from a global perspective. We also review zoonotic and non-zoonotic infectious agents of cats and give a list of practical recommendations for veterinary team professionals dealing with homing cats. Finally, we present a consensus statement consolidated at the 15th Symposium of the Companion Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD) World Forum in 2020, ultimately to help veterinary team professionals understand the problem and the role they have in helping to prevent and manage vector-borne and other pathogens in relocated cats., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Practical Relevance: The '2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines' (hereafter the 'Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines') describe how the veterinary clinic environment can be manipulated to minimise feline patient distress. Many components of a veterinary clinic visit or stay may result in negative experiences for cats. However, much can be done to improve a cat's experience by making the veterinary clinic more cat friendly. Exposure to other cats and other species can be reduced, and adjustments made with consideration of the feline senses and species-specific behaviour. Caregivers can prepare cats for a clinic visit with appropriate advice. Waiting rooms, examination rooms, hospital wards and other clinic areas can be designed and altered to reduce stress and hence encourage positive emotions. Changes need not be structural or expensive in order to be effective and make a difference to the cats and, in turn, to cat caregivers and the veterinary team. Moreover, by improving the all-round experience at the veterinary clinic, there are positive effects on preventive healthcare, identification of and recovery from illness, and compliance with treatment., Clinical Challenges: Good feline healthcare necessitates visiting the veterinary clinic, which, simply by being outside of a cat's territory and familiar surroundings, may lead to negative experiences. Such experiences can trigger negative (protective) emotions and associated physiological stress, which can result in misleading clinical findings, patient distress, prolonged recovery from illness, further difficulties with handling at subsequent visits and potential veterinary personnel injury. There may be a mistaken belief that veterinary clinics must undergo significant renovation or building work to become cat friendly, and that, if species cannot be separated, then clinics cannot improve their care of cats. These Guidelines aim to dispel any such misconceptions and provide detailed practical advice., Evidence Base: These Guidelines have been created by a Task Force of experts convened by the International Society of Feline Medicine and American Association of Feline Practitioners, based on an extensive literature review and, where evidence is lacking, the authors' experience. Endorsements: These Guidelines have been endorsed by a number of groups and organisations, as detailed on page 1161 and at icatcare.org/cat-friendly-guidelines and catvets.com/environment.

A decade after publishing their first feline-friendly handling guidelines, International Cat Care and the International Society of Feline Medicine are poised to launch new guidance to help every veterinary professional to 'think cat'., (© 2022 British Veterinary Association.)

Of the numerous animal species affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, cats are one of the most susceptible, and cat-to-cat transmission has been described. Although cat-to-human infection has not, as yet, been demonstrated, preventive measures should be taken in order to avoid both viral infection in cats and transmission among them. In this respect, the application of an effective vaccine to at-risk populations would be a useful tool for controlling the disease in this species. Here, we test a new vaccine prototype based on the Spike protein of the virus in order to prevent infection and infectious virus shedding in cats. The vaccine employed in experimentation, and which is easily produced, triggered a strong neutralizing antibody response in vaccinated animals. In contrast to that which occurred with control animals, no infectious virus was detected in the oropharyngeal or rectal swabs of vaccinated cats submitted to a SARS-CoV-2 challenge. These results are of great interest as regards future considerations related to implementing vaccination programs in pets. The value of cats as vaccination trial models is also described herein., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Obesity is a growing concern for dogs and cats. Although veterinary input is critical to prevent and manage obesity, conversations addressing overweight pets are challenging and require training to perform effectively. This study assessed the impact of a nutrition curriculum developed for use in a veterinary outreach program on student confidence and ability to perform nutritional assessments, particularly on overweight pets. The curriculum was developed by students and a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist focusing on (1) performing nutritional assessments and (2) discussing the findings with owners. Initial implementation and evaluation occurred with 32 students. Pre-study and post-study surveys were conducted asking students to rank their confidence in 14 aspects related to nutritional assessments, determine opportunities for change from a case summary, and describe their experience using the materials. Five students in the outreach program performed an additional nutritional assessment and developed a plan for a hypothetical case. Results were analyzed for significance via the likelihood ratios Chi-square and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Students showed significant increase in confidence for 11 of the 14 questions and significant improvements at determining opportunities for change ( p < .05). Feedback was positive and supported the feasibility of using the materials with the outreach program. Overall, the findings support that the curriculum provides a positive learning experience and prepared veterinary students for performing nutritional assessments and creating management plans for obese pets. This article introduces the curriculum as a successful model for providing access to additional self-paced curricular units to veterinary students.

Despite the passage of over 30 years since its discovery, the importance of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) on the health and longevity of infected domestic cats is hotly debated amongst feline experts. Notwithstanding the absence of good quality information, Australian and New Zealand (NZ) veterinarians should aim to minimise the exposure of cats to FIV. The most reliable way to achieve this goal is to recommend that all pet cats are kept exclusively indoors, or with secure outdoor access (e.g., cat enclosures, secure gardens), with FIV testing of any in-contact cats. All animal holding facilities should aim to individually house adult cats to limit the spread of FIV infection in groups of animals that are stressed and do not have established social hierarchies. Point-of-care (PoC) FIV antibody tests are available in Australia and NZ that can distinguish FIV-infected and uninfected FIV-vaccinated cats (Witness™ and Anigen Rapid™). Although testing of whole blood, serum or plasma remains the gold standard for FIV diagnosis, PoC testing using saliva may offer a welfare-friendly alternative in the future. PCR testing to detect FIV infection is not recommended as a screening procedure since a negative PCR result does not rule out FIV infection and is only recommended in specific scenarios. Australia and NZ are two of three countries where a dual subtype FIV vaccine (Fel-O-Vax® FIV) is available and offers a further avenue for disease prevention. Since FIV vaccination only has a reported field effectiveness of 56% in Australia, and possibly lower in NZ, FIV-vaccinated cats should undergo annual FIV testing prior to annual FIV re-vaccination using a suitable PoC kit to check infection has not occurred in the preceding year. With FIV-infected cats, clinicians should strive to be even more thorough than usual at detecting early signs of disease. The most effective way to enhance the quality of life and life expectancy of FIV-infected cats is to optimise basic husbandry and to treat any concurrent conditions early in the disease course. Currently, no available drugs are registered for the treatment of FIV infection. Critically, the euthanasia of healthy FIV-infected cats, and sick FIV-infected cats without appropriate clinical investigations, should not occur., (© 2022 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia Pty Ltd. Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.)