Metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of aortic body origin in a cat

An 8‐year‐old, female spayed Domestic Shorthair cat was presented to the Auburn University Emergency and Critical Care service for evaluation of pleural effusion and a suspected intrathoracic mass. Computed tomography was performed which confirmed the presence of a large intrathoracic mass, likely heart‐based. Fine‐needle aspirates were obtained and a cytologic diagnosis of a neuroendocrine tumor was made. Treatment with toceranib phosphate was briefly attempted at home by the owners. The cat died at home approximately 6 weeks after diagnosis. Necropsy and subsequent histopathologic examination revealed a metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of aortic body origin. Aortic body tumors are extremely rare in cats and to the authors’ knowledge, a neuroendocrine carcinoma of aortic body origin with distant metastases has not yet been reported in a cat.     

Ocular manifestation of lymphoma in newly diagnosed cats

Ocular manifestations of lymphoma are described in humans and dogs but rarely in cats. In this prospective study, cats with newly diagnosed and treatment‐naïve lymphoma were evaluated concerning clinical stage and ophthalmologic findings. Twenty‐six cats were included. In 12 cats (48%), ocular changes were documented. Uveitis anterior and posterior were predominant findings, being present in 58% of affected individuals. Other findings included exophthalmos, corneal surface lesions and chemosis. Eight cats received chemotherapy, two of which had ocular involvement. In these two cats, a complete remission of an anterior and a partial remission of a posterior uveitis were documented. Due to the detection of ocular involvement, a stage migration from stage IV to V occurred in four patients. In the light of these findings, an opthalmological examination may be considered as an important part of staging in feline lymphoma as well as of follow‐up examination in affected cats.     

Prokaryotic Expression and Immunogenicity Analysis of Mink Parvovirus NS1 and VP2 Protein

In order to develop subunit vaccine of mink enteritis virus,the immunogenicity of mink parvovirus protein NS1 and VP2 had been evaluated.Two pairs of primers were designed,and the full-length NS1 and VP2 genes had been amplificated,and then prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a-NS1,PET-32a-VP2 were constructed.After the analysis of SDS-PAGE and Western blotting,target proteins had been purified by His-Bind affinity chromatography.The immunogenicity of purified protein NS1 and VP2 were evaluated by serum ELISA testing,after inoculated BALB/c mouse.The results showed that the molecular mass of NS1 and VP2 protein were 83 and 67 ku by SDS-PAGF and Western blotting;Although both target protein NS1 and VP2 had the ability to induce BALB/c mouse to produce anti-MEV specific antibodies,the level of antibodies induced by the protein VP2 was higher than protein NS1.Mink parvovirus protein VP2 was more suitable for the development of subunit vaccine.     

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a cat: presumptive diagnosis by blood smear examination

Disseminated mycobacteriosis was diagnosed in a 4-year-old, castrated male Domestic Shorthair cat following the observation of one to three retractile, non-staining bacilli in neutrophils and monocytes on a Wright-Leishman-stained blood smear Organisms were bright red following acid-fast staining by Kinyoun's technique. The cat had a history of progressive weight loss, anemia, fever, and sporadic vomiting after eating. In addition to blood smears, mycobacteria also were observed in bone marrow aspirates. During necropsy, multiple small white nodules were observed in the spleen and liver. An enlarged sternal lymph node and ascites also were present. In histologic sections, mycobacteria were observed in granulomas within the lungs, liver, spleen, colon, mesenteric and sternal lymph nodes, omentum, and kidney. Mycobacterium avium complex was isolated from cultures of liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. Occult feline leukemia virus infection, detected by immunofluorescent testing of bone marrow aspirates, may have predisposed this cat to bacterial infection. The serum ELISA test for group-specific feline leukemia virus antigen was negative.     

鹅细小病毒HN株的分离鉴定及全基因组序列分析

为研究鹅细小病毒(GPV)基因遗传变异特征,采集海南某养鹅场疑似鹅细小病毒感染的病料,将其处理后接种番鸭胚成功分离到一株病毒,经PCR鉴定为鹅细小病毒,命名为HN株,并获得了其全基因组序列,将该序列与GenBank数据库中登录的16条鹅和番鸭细小病毒基因序列进行了比对分析。结果显示,该株病毒基因组全长为5 106bp,由ITR、NS、VP构成,其中ITR为444bp,NS1为1 844bp,VP1为2 199bp;HN株与SHFX1201株的NS1基因和VP1同源性最高,分别达到99.8%和99.7%,与番鸭细小病毒株FM的NS1基因同源性最低,为82.7%;与90-0215株VP1同源性最低,为80.1%。HN株的遗传进化树可以看出,GPV可以分成明显的2个基因亚群,HN株与鹅细小病毒匈牙利株(B)、欧洲疫苗株(VG32/1)和台湾株(82-0321V、82-0321、06-0329)均处在第I亚群,且与安徽分离株Y株以及SHFX1201株同源性最接近,番鸭源匈牙利株FM单独处于第Ⅱ亚群。本研究丰富了GPV的数据资料,为研究GPV分类地位以及遗传进化关系提供了依据,同时也为研究GPV流行趋势和疫苗的开发奠定了基础。     

鸡细小病毒与禽呼肠病毒二重PCR检测方法的建立

建立可同时检测鸡细小病毒(Chicken parvovirus,ChPV)与禽呼肠病毒(Avian reovirus,ARV)的二重PCR方法,为防控ChPV与ARV提供技术支撑。根据鸡细小病毒NS1基因和禽呼肠病毒σC基因的保守序列,设计合成两对引物用于检测ChPV和ARV,通过优化二重PCR的反应体系,特异性、敏感性试验评价建立的ChPV与ARV二重PCR。优化后的二重PCR反应体系为:2×PCR Mix 12.5μL,其中ChPV与ARV的上、下游引物各1.0μL,混合模板2.0μL,ddH2O补足25μL;最佳的反应程序为:95℃5min;95℃1min,56.1℃1min,72℃1min,35个循环;最后72℃延伸10min。结果显示,建立的二重PCR能够同时扩增出204bp ChPV和405bp ARV片段;该方法对ChPV与ARV的检测敏感性分别达到58fg和53fg,但对鸡新城疫病毒、H9亚型禽流感病毒、马立克病病毒、鸡传染性喉气管炎病毒、鸡传染性支气管炎病毒等病原体均无特异性扩增,对ChPV与ARV混合感染的临床阳性病料的检测结果与各病毒单项PCR检测结果符合率为94%以上。建立的二重PCR可用于ChPV与ARV感染的快速鉴别诊断。     

EVALUATION OF THYROID TO BACKGROUND RATIOS AND COMPARISON OF VARIOUS SCINTIGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS AND THEIR CORRELATION TO SERUM T4 IN HYPERTHYROID CATS

Thyroid‐to‐salivary ratio and percent dose uptake are the most widely recognized scintigraphic measurements. Recently, the thyroid‐to‐background ratio has been proposed as an alternate method. However, this method has not been validated. The purpose of this observational, cross‐sectional, prospective study was to determine the location of a background region of interest (ROI) that is most reflective of blood pool activity. We also hypothesized that the thyroid‐to‐background ratio using this background ROI would be a better predictor of thyroid function. Fifty‐six cats presented to the Virginia‐Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine seeking radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism were enrolled in this cross‐sectional study to evaluating thyroid‐to‐background ratio. A blood sample for measuring plasma radioactivity was collected at the time of scintigraphy. The plasma radioactivity was compared to the background ROIs in eight anatomic regions. Scintigraphic measures of thyroid‐to‐background and thyroid‐to‐salivary ratios, and percent dose were then compared to serum T₄. The heart ROI was most closely correlated with plasma pertechnetate activity (r = 0.70). Percent dose uptake was most closely correlated with serum T₄ (r = 0.74), followed by thyroid‐to‐salivary ratio (r = 0.66) and thyroid‐to‐background ratio using the heart ROI (r = 0.59). Thyroid‐to‐background ratio using the heart background ROI is a good predictor T₄ but percent dose uptake and thyroid‐to‐salivary ratio proved to be better predictors of T₄ than any of the thyroid‐to‐background ratios.