Immunopathology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dirofilaria immitis</Emphasis> Infection

Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis affects canine and feline hosts, with infections occasionally being reported in humans. Studies have shown that both dirofilarial antigens and those derived from its bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia, interact with the host organism during canine, feline and human infections and participate in the development of the pathology and in the regulation of the host’s immune response. Both innate and acquired immune responses are observed and the development of the acquired response may depend on the host and, or on its parasitological status. This review aims at illustrating current research on the role of both D. immitis and Wolbachia, in the immunology and immunopathology of dirofilariosis.     

Intracranial meningioma causing partial amaurosis in a cat

Objective To describe a case of intracranial meningioma causing visual impairment in a cat, successfully treated by surgery. Procedures An adult neutered male domestic cat was referred with a 10‐month history of progressive visual impairment and altered behavior. Investigations included physical, ophthalmologic and neurological examinations as well as hematology, serum biochemistry and CT scan of the head. Results The menace response was absent in the left eye and decreased in the right eye. Electroretinograms were normal on both eyes, as was ophthalmic examination, ruling out an ocular cause and allowing a presumptive diagnosis of partial amaurosis due to a post‐retinal lesion. CT scan demonstrated a large sessile extra axial mass along the right parietal bone and thickening of the adjacent bone. Cerebrospinal fluid was not collected because high intracranial pressure represented a risk for brain herniation. A right rostrotentorial craniectomy was performed to remove the tumor. Ten days after surgery, vision was improved, neurological examination was normal and normal behavior was restored. Ten months after surgery, ophthalmological examination showed no visual deficit and CT scan did not reveal any sign of recurrence. Conclusion Advanced imaging techniques allow veterinarians to detect early cerebral diseases and to provide specific treatment when it is possible. In cases of feline amaurosis due to intracranial meningioma, the vital prognosis is good while the visual prognosis is more uncertain, but recovery of normal vision and normal behavior is possible as demonstrated in the present case.     

Tear-film osmolarity in normal cats and cats with conjunctivitis

Objective To compare the tear‐film osmolarity of normal cats and cats with conjunctivitis. Animal studied The population consisted of shelter, research, and privately owned cats. Procedures Cats were classified as normal or having conjunctivitis. An ophthalmic examination including Schirmer tear test (STT), fluorescein staining, tear‐film break‐up time (TFBUT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and slit‐lamp biomicroscopy of the anterior segment was performed. The severity of conjunctivitis was graded and assigned a numerical score. The Tear Lab^TM Osmolarity System was utilized to determine the tear‐film osmolarity. Unpaired t‐tests were used to compare tear‐film osmolarity, TFBUT, IOP, and STT of the two groups. Results A total of 93 cats (186 eyes) were examined. There were 37 normal cats (74 eyes) and 39 conjunctivitis cats (78 eyes). The mean age was 2.34 years. There was no statistical difference (P = 0.2065) between the median tear‐film osmolarity of normal cats (328.5 ± 17.94 mOsms/L) and conjunctivitis cats (325.0 ± 24.84 mOsms/L). Cats with conjunctivitis had an accelerated TFBUT (P < 0.0001) and lower IOPs (P < 0.0001) as compared to normal cats. No statistical difference was found between STT values (P = 0.1304). Conclusions The median tear‐film osmolarity of normal cats was 328.5 mOsms/L. Despite the accelerated TFBUT, conjunctivitis did not cause a statistically significant change in tear‐film osmolarity. The Tear Lab^TM Osmolarity System was easily used and well tolerated by the cats in the study.     

Comparison of the pig and feline models for full thickness corneal transplantation

Purpose The goal of this study was to report on the advantages and limitations of the pig and feline models for experimental in vivo corneal transplantation. Methods Ten healthy domestic pigs and ten healthy cats were used. Full thickness penetrating keratoplasty was performed using autologous (eight cases), allogeneic (seven cases) or human xenogeneic (three cases) tissue. In two other cases, the inflammatory response to partial thickness trephination (without transplantation) was evaluated. Eyes were assessed daily before and after surgery by slit‐lamp, pachymetry, and tonometry. A transparency score ranging from 0 (opaque graft) to 4 (clear graft) was used, based on the slit‐lamp examination. Optical coherence tomography, histology, and electron microscopy were performed postmortem. Results In the pig, the mean (±SD) transparency score for the eight full thickness grafts was 0.88 ± 0.99, ranging from 0 to 3. In the feline model, the mean transparency score for the seven uncomplicated grafts was 3.93 ± 0.19, ranging from 3.5 to 4. Both negative controls without endothelium remained opaque at all time. Intraoperative tendency for iris incarceration into the wound, rapid corneal swelling, suture cheese wiring, and postoperative intraocular inflammation were the main factors jeopardizing the functional success of the corneal transplant in the pig model. Conclusion Suboptimal functional results were obtained after full thickness corneal transplantation in the pig model, while in the feline model, the same protocol yielded uneventful surgeries and clear transplants, with functional results similar to those achieved in human subjects.     

Porphyrins are not present in feline ocular tissues or corneal sequestra

Objective To determine if feline lacrimal glands, glands of the third eyelid, corneas, and corneal sequestra contain porphyrins, which could be responsible for the brown/amber discoloration of corneal sequestra and tears in affected cats. Procedures Samples of grossly normal cornea, lacrimal gland, gland of the third eyelid, and sequestra obtained via keratectomy were collected. Porphyrin concentrations of the homogenate were determined by spectrofluorometry with protoporphyrin IX and coproporphyrin III dihydrochloride used as standards. A hamster harderian gland was used as a positive control. Results Normal tissues were harvested from one eye each of 14 nonclient owned, adult, mixed‐breed, short‐hair cats euthanized for reasons not associated with this study. Eighteen sequestra were acquired from cats undergoing unilateral lamellar keratectomies. Breeds of the affected cats included eight Himalayan, five domestic shorthair, and one each of four other breeds. Only the positive control and standards contained levels of porphyrins above background. All feline samples examined were histologically normal with no evidence of porphyrins. Conclusions Porphyrins are absent in normal feline lacrimal glands, corneas, and corneal sequestra. Porphyrins do not appear to be the cause of the brown/amber color of feline corneal sequestra.     

猫瘟热病毒胶体金快速检测试纸的研究

利用双抗体夹心和胶体金免疫层析技术的原理,在玻璃纤维膜、硝酸纤维膜的检测线(T)和对照线(C)上分别喷上胶体金与猫瘟热病毒(FPV)单克隆抗体(3C4)的偶联物、FPV多克隆抗体和羊抗鼠IgG单克隆抗体,制成检测FPV抗原的猫瘟热病毒胶体金快速检测试纸,对临床26份虎粪便样本进行检测,并与PCR检测法及韩国(ASAN ...     

Changes in the blood lactate dehydrogenase measurements in canines and felines following the international standardization of the assay method

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in blood is measured using the Japanese Society of Clinical Chemistry (JSCC) method in Japan and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) method in other countries. In human clinical practice, the IFCC method replaced the JSCC method due to international standardization. Moreover, veterinary LDH measurement will also eventually shift to the IFCC method. However, the relationship between the IFCC and JSCC methods for LDH in various animals and whether they can be equated or not have not yet been investigated. This study aimed to present the changes in measurements in canines and felines after switching to the IFCC method. The plasma LDH activity of canines (N=177) and felines (N=115), who visited a secondary care veterinary clinic, was measured using the JSCC and IFCC methods. The IFCC/JSCC ratio was <1.0 in 85% of canines and 88% of felines, indicating that the IFCC method tended to show lower values than the JSCC method, presumably because LDH5 is dominant among the LDH isozymes in canines and felines. The increase in the systematic errors of both assays was in the high value range, with some samples exceeding the error tolerance from near the upper end of the reference range. When switching to the IFCC method for LDH measurement in canines and felines, each institution should consider whether the reference range and clinical diagnostic values established by the JSCC method are appropriate for continued use.     

1株猫杯状病毒的分离鉴定及其ORF2序列的遗传演化分析

为了解猫杯状病毒形态特征及遗传演化情况,采用F81细胞从患病宠物猫的鼻拭子样品中分离获得1株猫杯状病毒(feline calicivirus,FCV),命名为SH1.经电镜观察,病毒粒子呈球形,无囊膜,符合FCV的形态特征.采用RT-PCR方法扩增了该毒株的全基因组,并进行了序列测定和衣壳蛋白基因(ORF2)序列的分析...     

猫泛白细胞减少症病毒的分离与鉴定

应用猫肾传代细胞(FK),采用同步接毒的方法,从8份狮、虎、豹病料中分得6株病毒,经与标准病毒作交叉免疫电镜等系统鉴定,证明与猫泛白细胞减少症病毒的特性基本相符,从而首次证实在我国动物园狮、虎、豹等猫科动物中存在猫泛白细胞减少症。