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This article discusses a case of a 2-month-old domestic shorthair cat that presented with lethargy, hyporexia, and respiratory issues. The cat had tri-cavitary effusion and laboratory results showed abnormalities in blood count and serum biochemistry. Gross and microscopic findings revealed nodular pyogranulomatous inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, myocardium, and skeletal muscle. Further investigations confirmed the presence of Bartonella henselae infection in multiple organs. The article highlights the importance of considering Bartonella as a differential diagnosis in cases of pyogranulomatous inflammation and emphasizes the need for appropriate diagnostic testing. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Improved understanding of Bartonella spp. serology in dogs may aid clinical decision making. Objective: Describe demographic and geographic patterns of Bartonella spp. seroreactivity in dogs, and describe hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities in Bartonella spp. seroreactive and nonseroreactive dogs. Animals Serum samples from 5957 dogs in the United States, previously submitted to IDEXX Reference Laboratories. Methods: Serum was tested using 3 indirect ELISAs for B. henselae, B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, and B. koehlerae. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry panel results were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Overall, 6.1% of dogs were Bartonella spp. seroreactive. Toy breeds were less likely to be seroreactive (3.9%) than mixed breeds (7.5%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32‐0.72), and dogs <1 year old were less likely to be seroreactive (3.4%) than dogs 1 to 5.5 years of age (7.3%; aOR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.23‐0.72). Dogs in the West South Central (9.8%) and South Atlantic (8.8%) regions were more likely than dogs elsewhere in the United States to be seroreactive (aOR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.31‐3.87; aOR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.38‐4.36). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Demographic and geographic findings for Bartonella spp. exposure were broadly comparable to previously reported patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dynamics of infection by Bartonella and Rickettsia species, which are epidemiologically associated in dogs, have not been explored in a controlled setting. Objectives: Describe an outbreak investigation of occult Bartonella spp. infection among a group of dogs, discovered after experimentally induced Rickettsia rickettsii (Rr) infection. Animals: Six apparently healthy purpose‐bred Beagles obtained from a commercial vendor. Methods: Retrospective and prospective study. Dogs were serially tested for Bartonella spp. and Rr using serology, culture, and PCR, over 3 study phases: 3 months before inoculation with Rr (retrospective), 6 weeks after inoculation with Rr (retrospective), and 8 months of follow‐up (prospective). Results: Before Rr infection, 1 dog was Bartonella henselae (Bh) immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFA) seroreactive and 1 was Rickettsia spp. IFA seroreactive. After inoculation with Rr, all dogs developed mild Rocky Mountain spotted fever compatible with low‐dose Rr infection, seroconverted to Rickettsia spp. within 4‐11 days, and recovered within 1 week. When 1 dog developed ear tip vasculitis with intra‐lesional Bh, an investigation of Bartonella spp. infection was undertaken. All dogs had seroconverted to 1‐3 Bartonella spp. between 7 and 18 days after Rr inoculation. Between 4 and 8 months after Rr inoculation, Bh DNA was amplified from multiple tissues from 2 dogs, and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (Bvb) DNA was amplified from 4 of 5 dogs' oral swabs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Vector‐borne disease exposure was demonstrated in research dogs from a commercial vendor. Despite limitations, our results support the possibilities of recrudescence of chronic subclinical Bartonella spp. infection after Rr infection and horizontal direct‐contact transmission between dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because of poor sensitivity and questionable specificity of immunofluorescent antibody assays (IFAs), serological diagnosis of Bartonella species infections in dogs remains challenging. Despite limitations, IFA testing is the historical "gold standard" for Bartonella serodiagnosis in animals and humans. Because most diagnostic laboratories test against only 1 or 2 Bartonella spp., testing against a broader panel of Bartonella antigens may enhance diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Bartonella IFA using 8 cell culture‐grown Bartonella spp. isolates. Animals Archived serum samples from 34 Bartonella spp. naturally exposed, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐positive dogs and from 26 PCR‐negative and IFA‐negative dogs. Methods: Bartonella IFA sensitivity and specificity were assessed using cell culture‐grown whole cell antigens derived from 3 Bartonella henselae (Bh) strains (Bh Houston 1, Bh San Antonio Type 2, Bh California 1), 3 Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii genotypes (Bvb I, II, and III), Bartonella koehlerae (Bk), and Bartonella quintana (Bq). Results: Only 62% of 34 Bartonella spp. PCR‐positive dogs were seroreactive to any of the 8 Bartonella IFA antigens, indicating low IFA sensitivity. PCR‐positive dogs were most often IFA seroreactive to Bq (n = 15), to Bvb II (n = 13), or to both (n = 9) antigens. Of the 26 previously IFA‐negative/PCR‐negative dogs, 4 (15%) were seroreactive using the expanded antigen panel. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Despite IFA testing of dogs against 8 different Bartonella isolates, IFA sensitivity remained poor, and specificity was only 85%. Development of a reliable serological assay is needed to facilitate the diagnosis of Bartonella infection in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel pregnane glycoside, Ichnoside, was isolated from the chloroform extract of the areal parts of the plant Ichnocarpus frutiscens (family: Apocynaceae). The structure of the isolated glycoside, Ichnoside, was elucidated by the acid hydrolysis and chemical transformation / degradation and physicochemical techniques like 1H, 13C, 2D NMR, and FABMS techniques. The structure of the compound was deduced as 3β, 14β, 20β-trihydroxy-pregnane-3-O-α (6-O-methoxy phenyl) galactopyranoside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants of Asclepiadaceae and Apocynaceae families are rich sources of pregnane and cardiac glycosides, which are known to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, immunostimulant, cardiotonic and hypoglycemic activities. Ichnocarpus frutescens, a species of the Apocyanaceae family, has a large number of uses in the traditional medicine, including treatment for fever, bronchitis, rheumatism, asthma, cholera, and leucoderma. In search for more biologically active compounds, a novel compound, carpuside, was isolated from the chloroform extract of aerial part of the plant I. frutescens. The structure of the isolated glycoside, carpuside, was confirmed by the chemical transformation / degradation and physicochemical techniques like ¹H, 13C, 2D NMR, and FABMS techniques. The structure of the novel compound, carpuside, was deduced as calogenin-3-O-α-L-fucopyranosyl- (1->4)-α-L-digitoxopyranoside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, tofacitinib has been used in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) as a rescue therapy with encouraging success rates. We present details of four patients with steroid-refractory ASUC treated with tofacitinib. All the patients were biologics-naive. Tofacitinib was initiated in a dose of 10 mg three times daily in three patients and 10 mg twice daily in the remaining patient. Three of the four patients improved and were discharged in clinical remission. These patients continue to be in colectomy-free and steroid-free remission on follow-up. The remaining patient did not respond to tofacitinib and required a colectomy. No adverse event related to tofacitinib use was noted in any of these four patients., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Review Committee of Chitwan Medical College issued approval CMC-IRC/080/081-059. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Ranjan et al.)