Relationship between rate of infection and markers of inflammation/immunity in Holy Birman cats with feline coronavirus

The aim of this study was to assess whether Holy Birman cats (HB) have a peculiar immune profile and a higher rate of infection by feline coronaviruses (FCoV). Leucocyte and lymphocyte subsets, antibody titers, α₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP), globulin fractions, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ in blood and fecal FCoV excretion were determined in HB (n = 75) and in cats from other breeds (n = 94). Significantly higher CD4/CD8 ratio, IFN-γ concentration and IL12/IL4 ratio and significantly lower IL-4 concentration and proportion of shedders were found in HB than in other breeds. No other differences were found. In conclusion, this study did not provide evidence of peculiar immune profiles in HB, except for a prevalent Th1 profile, that may explain why in our caseload the rate of shedders was lower in HB than in other breeds.     

Mortality of Life-Insured Swedish Cats during 1999–2006: Age, Breed, Sex, and Diagnosis

Background: A cat life insurance database can potentially be used to study feline mortality.
Hypothesis: The aim was to describe patterns of mortality in life-insured Swedish cats.
Cats: All cats (<13 years of age) with life insurance during the period 1999–2006 were included.
Methods: Age-standardized mortality rates (MR) were calculated with respect to sex (males and females), age, breed, and diagnosis. Survival to various ages is presented by time period and breed.
Results: The total number of cats insured was 49,450 and the number of cat-years at risk (CYAR) was 142,049. During the period, 6,491 cats died and of these 4,591 cats (71%) had a diagnosis, ie, were claimed for life insurance. The average annual MR was 462 deaths per 10,000 CYAR (95% confidence interval, 431–493). Sex-specific rates did not differ significantly. The overall mortality of the Persian and the Siamese groups was higher than that of several other breeds. Overall and breed-specific (for most breeds) survival increased with time when analyzed by 2-year periods. The 6 most common diagnostic categories (ignoring cats recorded as dead with no diagnosis) were urinary, traumatic, neoplastic, infectious, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal. The MR within diagnostic categories varied by age and breed.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In this mainly purebred, insured cat population, the overall mortality varied with age and breed but not with sex. The increase in survival over time is likely a reflection of willingness to keep pet cats longer and increased access to and sophistication of veterinary care.     

A comparison between immunofluorescence staining on smears from Membrana nictitans (M3 test), immunohistopathology and routine pathology in cats with suspected feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

An indirect immunofluorescence method using smears from membrana nictitans (M3 test) to diagnose feline corona virus (FCV) infection was compared with immunohistopathology (using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFFA) performed on organs (IFO], and routine pathology (RP) in cats with suspected feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). A close correlation between the 2 immunofluorescence methods (IFO and M3) was observed. Although the M3 test requires samples from only 1 organ per animal, both the sensitivity and specificity were high (80%), when compared to IFO (using samples from an average of 5 organs per animal). In 21% of the cats with suspected FIP typical pathological lesions were found. As the M3 test is relatively easy to perform, it could reduce work-load of pathology laboratories and provide valuable data for clinical and epidemiological use.     

GS-441524对自然感染的猫传染性腹膜炎的治疗效果观察

试验旨在观察GS-441524对自然感染的猫传染性腹膜炎（FIP）病例的临床疗效，为临床用药提供参考。试验招募了25只于中国农业大学动物医院确诊为FIP的患猫，随机分为高剂量组（5 mg/（kg·d））（12只）和低剂量组（2.5 mg/（kg·d））（13只），每日皮下注射GS-441524治疗并记录体重、体温、注射药物的疼痛反应及每周的实验室及影像学检查结果以评价药物疗效。设定治疗周期为4周，部分病例根据实际情况延长治疗时间。结果显示，共计20只湿性FIP和3只干性FIP患猫完成试验，2只患猫退出。治疗时间为4~18周。20只湿性FIP患猫中，2只在1周内死亡，1只体腔积液增加，17只用药1周后积液减少，用药2~3周后积液消失。3只干性FIP患猫中，2只患猫的肠系膜淋巴结在用药1~2周后减小，1只无明显变化。所有患猫的精神和食欲在用药3~5 d内改善；体重在1~2周内开始增长；5只发烧的患猫用药2~3 d后体温恢复正常；14只贫血的患猫用药1~10周后恢复正常；16只患猫出现白细胞数量升高且淋巴细胞数量下降或中性粒细胞数量升高，用药1~2周内开始好转。所有患猫血清中白蛋白和球蛋白的比值（白球比）均<0.8，其中9只总蛋白升高，4只白蛋白降低，14只球蛋白升高，用药1~2周后开始好转。高剂量组的患猫4周药物有效率和治愈率分别为81.8%和60.0%，低剂量组的患猫4周药物有效率和治愈率分别为75.0%和22.2%。用药4周前后，高剂量组的患猫除白细胞总数（WBC）和白蛋白（ALB）外，其余指标均差异显著或极显著（P<0.05；P<0.01）；而低剂量组的患猫仅体重差异显著。除血红蛋白（HGB）、WBC和ALB外，药物对患猫的体重、红细胞（RBC）、红细胞压积（HCT）、淋巴细胞（LYM）、中性粒细胞（NEU）、总蛋白（TP）、球蛋白（GLOB）及白球比（A/G）改善情况差异显著（P<0.05），且高剂量药物效果更佳。综上，GS-441524能有效治疗自然感染的FIP，高剂量（5 mg/（kg·d））疗效更佳，最短治疗周期为4周。