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.     

The in vitro effects of proxymetacaine, fluorescein, and fusidic acid on real-time PCR assays used for the diagnosis of Feline herpesvirus 1 and Chlamydophila felis infections

Purpose To investigate the possible inhibition of qPCR assays used for the diagnosis of ocular infections in cats by proxymetacaine, fluorescein, and fusidic acid, which are commonly used in veterinary ophthalmology. Methods Fluorescein, proxymetacaine, and fusidic acid were tested for possible inhibition of a triplex qPCR assay designed to detect Chamydophila felis, Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV‐1), and the feline 28S ribosomal DNA (28S rDNA) gene by comparing threshold cycle (C_t) values of samples with and without the three products. A second experiment was carried out to measure the effects of various dilutions of fusidic acid. Results No statistically significant differences were detected between the C. felis, FHV‐1, and 28S rDNA C_t values with and without proxymetacaine or fluorescein. However, there was a statistically significant increase in FHV‐1 (P < 0.01), C. felis (P < 0.01), and 28S rDNA (P < 0.05) C_t values when fusidic acid was used. When dilutions of fusidic acid were tested, the results revealed that only the 1:2 dilution caused a statistically significant increase (P < 0.01) in the FHV‐1 Ct values. Conclusion Proxymetacaine and fluorescein did not interfere with our qPCR assays for the detection of C. felis and FHV‐1. The presence of fusidic acid caused a small inhibitory effect of doubtful clinical significance. In vivo studies are required to establish the clinical relevance of this study and to confirm our findings.     

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.     

联合肌注猪IL2真核质粒对PPV VP2-PCV2 ORF2核酸疫苗免疫效果的影响

将猪IL2基因和PPV VP2基因、PCV2 ORF2截短基因克隆至真核表达载体pCI-neo,构建了重组质粒pCI-ORF2-VP2和pCI-IL2,用脂质体介导法将pCI-ORF2-VP2质粒转染PK15细胞,采用间接免疫荧光法检测在体外的表达情况。并以小鼠为动物模型,将pCI-IL2和pCI-ORF2-VP2质粒联合肌注免疫小鼠,相同剂量免疫2次,间隔2周,同时设立pCI-ORF2-VP2、pCI空载体、猪细小灭活苗、圆环亚单位苗对照,检测免疫小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞的转化功能,外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的动态变化及血清抗体的滴度。结果显示,pCI-ORF2-VP2在PK15细胞中能正常表达,联合免疫组在第28天能够检测到PPV和PCV2抗体,第21~42天诱导淋巴细胞转化和CD4+、CD8+细胞的数量高于或显著高于pCI-ORF2-VP2质粒组。结果表明,猪IL2质粒联合肌注可以提高VP2/ORF2核酸疫苗的免疫效果。     

犬细小病毒的病例分析

为了解西安地区犬细小病毒感染的流行病学和临床诊疗情况,给该病的防制提供科学依据,对一年期间前来西北农林科技大学西安宠物医院就诊的70例犬细小病毒感染病例进行了临床调查研究,并对部分病例诊疗过程中的血液白细胞变化进行了监测.西安地区犬细小病毒感染一年四季均可发生,以深秋和冬春季多发;感染犬以7周龄～6月龄的断奶犬最多;感...     

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 ...     

鹅细小病毒强毒YBLJ分离株的分离鉴定与vp3基因的进化分析

为分离鹅细小病毒(GPV),本研究将疑似GPV感染鹅的组织样品接种SPF鹅胚进行病毒分离和鉴定.结果显示,第4代病毒对12日龄鹅胚的平均致死时间为96 h,ELD50为10-4.6/0.5 mL,PCR和琼脂扩散试验均呈GPV阳性反应,负染电镜下可观察到直径20 nm～25 nm的圆形或六角形病毒粒子,病毒可以被GPV标准阳性血清完全中和,回归雏鹅后表现典型的GP临床症状和特征性病理变化,发病率和致死率均为100％.分离株GPV的vp3基因全长1 605 bp,编码534个氨基酸,与国内外有代表性11株GPVvp3基因的核苷酸同源性为94％～98％,氨基酸同源性为96％～99％.将该分离病毒命名为GPVYBLJ分离株.     

猫白介素-18基因的克隆、序列分析及其表达

用猫白介素18(interleukin,IL-18)基因特异性引物对刀豆蛋白(ConA)刺激后猫外周血单核细胞(PBMCf)总RNA进行了RT-PCR扩增,并将扩增产物纯化后克隆入pMD18-T中进行核苷酸序列测定。结果该基因全长579bp,编码192个氨基酸(GenBank登录号:DQ100372)。在推导的猫IL-18氨基酸序列中,无信号肽序列和潜在的N-联糖基化位点,但存在4个Cys残基。与不同物种IL-18相比,猫IL-18与犬、羊、牛和猪IL-18核苷酸序列有较高的同源性,分别为89.8%、88.6%、88.4%和88.1%,但与小鼠和鸡IL-18有明显的种属差异。将目的基因片段进一步亚克隆到大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达载体pET28a中构建了重组质粒pETIL-18,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),并用IPTG诱导。结果重组菌菌体裂解物经SDS-PAGE电泳可检测到分子量为27.5kD的重组目的蛋白。经凝胶薄层扫描,目的蛋白表达量可占菌体蛋白的13.6%。     

VERTEBRAL OSTEOSCLEROSIS IN A CAT SECONDARY TO RHABDOMYOSARCOMA

A 5–year–old cat was presented for pelvic limb weakness. Sclerosis of the vertebral body of T–10 was visible on thoracic radiographs. A compressive lesion at this area was noted on myelography. A tumor was partially removed at surgery, but the cat was killed because of poor postoperative response. Rhabdomyosarcoma was diagnosed at necropsy, with bone marrow necrosis and myelofibrosis, and new bone proliferation of the body of T–10. Causes of bone necrosis are discussed.