An unusual case of feline acute corneal hydrops: atypical disease presentation and possible in vivo detection of Descemet's membrane detachment in the cat's unaffected eye

A 1‐year‐old, female spayed, domestic shorthair cat presented for blepharospasm of the right eye. Slit‐lamp biomicroscopic examination showed focal corneal ulceration and presumptive keratomalacia of the right eye. Examination of the left eye was normal apart from a focal endothelial opacity. Within the first 24 h of medical management, the right eye developed marked corneal edema and globular anterior protrusion of the corneal surface consistent with feline acute corneal hydrops (FACH). Surgical management consisted of a bridge conjunctival graft, nictitating membrane flap, and temporary tarsorrhaphy. Resolution of corneal edema and pain occurred in the right eye within 24 days. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) of the anterior segment was performed in both eyes. Conjunctival tissue from the bridge graft precluded examination of deeper corneal structures in the right eye. The left eye displayed a focal separation of the corneal endothelium and Descemet's membrane from the overlying stroma. These SD‐OCT findings are similar to the analogous syndrome found in humans and represent a potential etiology for FACH of the right eye in the case presented here. Unfortunately, the cat was lost to follow‐up and the progression of this lesion to FACH in the left eye could not be determined.     

Feline vaccine‐associated sarcomagenesis: Is there an inflammation‐independent role for aluminium?

Aluminium has been found in feline vaccine‐associated sarcomas. In this study, we investigated the potential for aluminium to contribute directly to tumourigenesis. Our results indicated that an aluminium hydroxide adjuvant preparation was cytotoxic and mutagenic in human‐Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) hybrid cells in vitro. Moreover, CHO cells deficient in DNA double strand break (DSB), but not single‐strand break (SSB), repair, were particularly sensitive to aluminium exposure compared with repair proficient cells, suggesting that aluminium is associated with DSBs. In contrast to CHO cells, primary feline skin fibroblasts were resistant to the cytotoxic effects of aluminium compounds and exposure to an aluminium chloride salt promoted cell growth and cell cycle progression at concentrations much less than those measured in particular feline rabies vaccines. These findings suggest that aluminium exposure may contribute, theoretically, to both initiation and promotion of tumours in the absence of an inflammatory response.     

猫泛白细胞减少症病毒北京株NS1基因克隆与生物信息学分析

为分析猫泛白细胞减少症病毒（FPV）北京株（FPV-BJ 05株）NS1基因的分子特征及其编码蛋白的生物学功能,本研究对FPV-BJ 05株NS1基因进行PCR扩增、克隆及序列测定。应用生物信息学软件分析FPV-BJ 05株与GenBank上登录的11株FPV参考株NS1基因的同源性,并预测NS1蛋白理化性质、信号肽、跨膜结构、B细胞抗原表位、磷酸化位点、亚细胞定位及蛋白结构与功能、高级结构等。结果显示,NS1基因全长2 007 bp,编码668个氨基酸,且与其他FPV分离株NS1基因核苷酸序列同源性为98.8%~99.3%,氨基酸序列同源性为97.9%~98.8%。系统进化树分析结果显示,FPV-BJ 05株NS1蛋白与GenBank上登录的3株FPV参考株处于同一大分支,但由于氨基酸的突变导致其属于独立的一小分支。NS1蛋白既无信号肽也无跨膜结构域,属于非分泌型的疏水性蛋白。B细胞抗原表位预测结果显示,NS1蛋白柔韧性较好,抗原性及表面可及性较高,预测该蛋白含有13个优势抗原位点。修饰结构预测表明,NS1蛋白含有62个潜在磷酸化位点,27个O-糖基化位点和2个N-糖基化位点。亚细胞定位结果显示,NS1蛋白在细胞质和细胞核的概率较高,分别为69.6%和17.4%。NS1蛋白二级结构中α-螺旋、延伸链、无规则卷曲和β-转角分别占39.37%、15.42%、39.37%和5.84%。应用在线软件SWISS-Modle对NS1蛋白进行建模,预测其三级结构,结果发现NS1蛋白主要以α-螺旋为主。本试验结果将为北京地区FPV免疫诊断及核酸疫苗研究提供理论依据。     

Evaluation of coagulation markers in the plasma of healthy cats and cats with asymptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis and arterial thromboembolism are frequent complications of feline cardiomyopathy, especially when associated with left atrial enlargement. Markers of activated coagulation may be used to evaluate the coagulation status of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in relation to left atrial size. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare plasma concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), D-dimer, and fibrin degradation products (FDP) between clinically healthy cats and cats with HCM. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and antithrombin activity were also compared and the association between left atrial (LA) size and coagulation results in cats with HCM was evaluated. METHODS: Blood samples from 19 clinically healthy cats and 20 cats with HCM were obtained. All cats with HCM were asymptomatic and had no signs of heart failure. LA diameter and LA to proximal aortic (Ao) diameter ratio (LA:Ao) were determined by echocardiography. RESULTS: Reference intervals for D-dimer and TAT concentrations in plasma of healthy cats were established as 0.09-0.32 microg/mL and 2.0-20.0 microg/L, respectively. TAT, D-dimer, and FDP concentrations were increased in 5, 3, and 2 cats with HCM, respectively. TAT and D-dimer concentrations, and PT and aPTT were not significantly different between groups. Antithrombin activity was significantly decreased in cats with HCM (P=.03) despite marked range overlap. LA and LA:Ao were not correlated with coagulation results. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory evidence of hypercoagulability was found in 45% of cats with HCM. Left atrial size was not associated with laboratory evidence of hypercoagulability. Association between coagulation markers and risk of thrombosis has yet to be evaluated in cats with HCM.     

Management of eyelid neoplasms in the dog and cat

Eyelid neoplasms are common in the older dog and typically benign. Eyelid neoplasms in the cat are less common and more often malignant. Resection of eyelid masses may be curative; however, restoration of the eyelid structure after mass excision is essential for maintaining long-term ocular surface health. Surgical techniques and instrumentation for eyelid surgery are reviewed. Indications, benefits. and limitations of sharp excision, cryotherapy, and laser excision and ablation are discussed. Neoplasia of the third eyelid is also discussed.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE NORMAL FELINE ABDOMEN: AN ANATOMIC REFERENCE

Magnetic resonance images of two adult domestic short-haired cats were obtained with a whole body scanner. Images of the abdomen were compared with cross-sectional anatomy cadaver specimens from the same two cats. Anatomic structures were first identified on the cadaver specimens with the aid of anatomy texts and references and were then identified and labeled on the magnetic resonance images. Results from this project provide an atlas of normal cross-sectional MRI anatomy of the feline abdomen.     

中国明对虾肝胰腺细小病毒全基因组的克隆及序列分析

中国明对虾肝胰腺细小病毒是一种单链、线性DNA病毒.本研究利用DNA末端加尾和嵌套PCR首次完成了对虾肝胰腺细小病毒(hepatopancreatic parvovirus,HPV)中国分离株(HPV-Pc)全基因组序列的测定,研究结果表明,HPV-Pc株(GenBank登录号GU371276)的全基因组由6085个核...