(1) Background: This study aimed to detect feline coronavirus (FCoV) and characterize spike (S) gene mutation profiles in cats suffering from diseases other than feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) ...using commercial real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and reevaluating results by sequencing. (2) Methods: In 87 cats in which FIP was excluded by histopathology and immunohistochemistry, FCoV 7b gene and S gene mutation RT-qPCR was performed prospectively on incisional biopsies and fine-needle aspirates of different organs, body fluids, and feces. Samples positive for S gene mutations or mixed FCoV underwent sequencing. (3) Results: In 21/87 cats, FCoV RNA was detectable. S gene mutations were detected by commercial RT-qPCR (and a diagnostic algorithm that was used at the time of sample submission) in at least one sample in 14/21 cats (66.7%), with only mutated FCoV in 2/21, only mixed in 1/21, and different results in 11/21 cats; in the remaining 7/21 cats, RNA load was too low to differentiate. However, sequencing of 8 tissue samples and 8 fecal samples of 9 cats did not confirm mutated FCoV in any of the FCoV RNA-positive cats without FIP. (4) Conclusions: Sequencing results did not confirm results of the commercial S gene mutation RT-qPCR.
Prevalence of progressive feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection is known to still be high in cats in Europe, especially in Southern Europe, but the prevalence of other outcomes of FeLV infection ...has not been determined in most countries. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of progressive, regressive, abortive, and focal infection in four European countries, two with a high (Italy, Portugal) and two with a low expected prevalence (Germany, France). Blood samples of 934 cats (Italy: 269; Portugal: 240; France: 107; Germany: 318) were evaluated for the p27 antigen, as well as anti-whole virus, anti-SU, and anti-p15E antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum and for proviral DNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in whole blood. Positive p27 antigen ELISA results were confirmed by reverse transcriptase-qPCR (RT-qPCR) detecting viral RNA in saliva swabs and/or blood. The outcome of FeLV infection was categorised as progressive (antigen-positive, provirus-positive), regressive (antigen-negative, provirus-positive), abortive (antigen- and provirus-negative, antibody-positive), and focal (antigen-positive, provirus-negative) infection. Overall FeLV prevalence was 21.2% in Italy, 20.4% in Portugal, 9.5% in Germany, and 9.3% in France. Prevalence of progressive, regressive, abortive, and focal infection in Italy was 7.8%, 4.5%, 6.3%, and 2.6%; in Portugal 3.8%, 8.3%, 6.7%, and 1.7%; in Germany 1.9%, 1.3%, 3.5%, and 2.8%; in France 1.9%, 3.7%, 2.8%, and 0.9%, respectively. In conclusion, overall FeLV prevalence is still very high, especially in Southern European countries. Therefore, testing, separation of infected cats, and vaccination are still important measures to reduce the risk of FeLV infection.
Case summary
A 7-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented for periuria, apathy, fever, inappetence, diarrhoea and vomiting. A complete blood count and biochemistry analysis revealed severe ...thrombocytopenia, severe azotaemia, moderate panhypoproteinemia, mildly elevated DGGR lipase activity and mildly elevated liver enzyme activity. Abdominal ultrasound showed a hypoechoic pancreas with surrounding hyperechoic fat demonstrating dirty shadowing and ascites (protein-poor transudate). The cat was treated medically for pancreatitis with fluid therapy, antiemetics and pain medication. During the hospitalisation period, the cat developed severe anaemia and received multiple whole blood transfusions yet showed no signs of clinical improvement. A repeat ultrasound examination performed after 8 days showed progressive pancreatic lesions and ongoing ascites. Analysis of the free abdominal fluid revealed neutrophilic inflammation despite low protein and cell concentration, with the presence of numerous very small, coccoid, basophilic inclusions within neutrophils, raising the concern for a septic peritonitis due to Mycoplasma species. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) confirmed the presence of Mycoplasma felis. After 10 days of hospitalisation, the cat developed refractory septic shock and was euthanased. Necropsy revealed severe necrotising pancreatitis with systemic changes consistent with sepsis and microthrombi. qPCR testing for M felis in pancreatic tissue also yielded a positive result.
Relevance and novel information
Although pancreatitis is a common disease in cats, this case report presents the first documented occurrence of M felis as the suspected primary pathogen causing pancreatitis in a cat.
In a group of pedigree cats (n = 17) in poor health condition housed in an animal shelter in Vienna, Austria, with a history of persistent diarrhea, Tritrichomonas foetus infection was detected by ...PCR. Despite pre-existing clinical conditions all cats were treated with ronidazole (30 mg/kg PO q24h for 14 days) under close observation. After treatment, 11 of 14 initially positive animals remained negative for T. foetus during the observation period (six to eight weeks post treatment) and no diarrhea was observed. During treatment, nine cats showed mild to moderate neurological disorders (incoordination, mild tremor) at least once; six of these had already shown similar signs before treatment. Ronidazole treatment of multimorbid animals is acceptable if the benefit (here: clinical resolution and release from quarantine for adoption) is high. It is hypothesized that a high degree of inbreeding is a significant risk factor for the development of tritrichomonosis in cats.
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•Group of multimorbid cats infected with Tritrichomonas foetus.•Treatment with a 10% powder formulation of ronidazole.•78.5% parasite elimination after first treatment cycle.•Inbreeding in pedigree cats could be a risk factor for T. foetus infection.
Case summary A 7-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented for periuria, apathy, fever, inappetence, diarrhoea and vomiting. A complete blood count and biochemistry analysis revealed severe ...thrombocytopenia, severe azotaemia, moderate panhypoproteinemia, mildly elevated DGGR lipase activity and mildly elevated liver enzyme activity. Abdominal ultrasound showed a hypoechoic pancreas with surrounding hyperechoic fat demonstrating dirty shadowing and ascites (protein-poor transudate). The cat was treated medically for pancreatitis with fluid therapy, antiemetics and pain medication. During the hospitalisation period, the cat developed severe anaemia and received multiple whole blood transfusions yet showed no signs of clinical improvement. A repeat ultrasound examination performed after 8 days showed progressive pancreatic lesions and ongoing ascites. Analysis of the free abdominal fluid revealed neutrophilic inflammation despite low protein and cell concentration, with the presence of numerous very small, coccoid, basophilic inclusions within neutrophils, raising the concern for a septic peritonitis due to Mycoplasma species. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) confirmed the presence of Mycoplasma felis . After 10 days of hospitalisation, the cat developed refractory septic shock and was euthanased. Necropsy revealed severe necrotising pancreatitis with systemic changes consistent with sepsis and microthrombi. qPCR testing for M felis in pancreatic tissue also yielded a positive result. Relevance and novel information Although pancreatitis is a common disease in cats, this case report presents the first documented occurrence of M felis as the suspected primary pathogen causing pancreatitis in a cat.
