Feline Cases Research Articles

Reversible positioning head tilt observed in 14 cats with hypokalaemic myopathy.

Positioning head tilt (PHT) is a dynamic neurological sign in which the head tilts to the opposite side to which it is moving. This sign is triggered in response to head movement and is thought to be due to the lack of inhibition of vestibular nuclei by the cerebellar nodulus and uvula (NU). The occurrence of PHT in animals has been suggested to be an indicator of NU dysfunction. Here, we describe the acute onset of PHT in 14 cats. All the cats were diagnosed with hypokalaemic myopathy caused by a range of pathologies. The PHT resolved along with other signs related to myopathy, such as cervical flexion and generalised weakness, after electrolyte correction in all cats. Hypokalaemic myopathy was the likely cause of PHT in the present feline cases.

Quantification of a shelter cat population: Trends in intake, length of stay and outcome data of cats in seven Dutch shelters between 2006 and 2021.

Shelter metrics can be used by shelters for self-assessment to optimise the health of their animal population and to identify risk factors for disease outbreaks. However, there is a need for a wider scope of these shelter metrics, as evidenced by the interest from shelters in the benchmarking of shelter progress and the development of national best practices. For the first time, Dutch shelter data were used retrospectively to signal trends using potentially reliable metrics for the analysis of shelter data. The aims of this study were to apply relevant metrics describing the different phases of shelter management for shelter cats (i.e., intake, stay and outcome) and a retrospective analysis of shelter data over the period between 2006 and 2021. Seven of the approximately 120 Dutch animal shelters participated in this study. Quantitative data on the intake of more than 74,000 shelter cats (e.g., stray cats, cats surrendered by their owners and cats obtained from other sources) and their outcomes (i.e., cats rehomed, returned to their owners, deceased, or otherwise lost) have been analysed. Metrics such as rehoming rate, return to owner rate, rates for mortality and euthanasia, length of stay and risk-based live release rate were determined. The main findings of the study during this 16-year period were that, over time, the number of cats per 1000 residents admitted to Dutch shelters was reduced by 39%, the number of feline euthanasia cases decreased by approximately 50%, the length of stay showed a reducing trend, while the return to owner and the risk-based live release rate increased. The shelter metrics examined in this study could be helpful in monitoring and evaluating the management, consequent health, and well-being of cats in shelters and eventually measuring progress of shelters both in the Netherlands and at a European level.

Clinicopathological and Radiological Features of Cats Presented with Infectious Respiratory Disease Signs: A Focus on Rhodococcus equi and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of involvement of common viral organisms R. equi and K. pneumoniae and their clinicopathological and radiological features in respiratory disease of Malaysian domestic cats. A total of 34 feline cases with acute/chronic infectious respiratory disease signs were followed prospectively to investigate respiratory disease due to R. equi and K. pneumoniae and their relationship with concurrent viral infections in disease manifestation. All sampled cats (n = 27) were positive for FCoV antibodies and negative for FeLV. A significantly high antibody titer for FCV in n = 26 cases was also noticed. A single sample of pyothorax from a 3-months-old, non-vaccinated kitten was positive for R. equi. Bronchopneumonia with severe infiltration of the polymorphs and mononuclear inflammatory cells were prominent features of lungs histopathology from the kitten positive for R. equi. K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae was confirmed from tracheal swabs of two cats. Histologically, the tracheal tissues of the two cats positive for K. pneumoniae were normal. In diagnostic imaging, epicenter of the infectious URT disease was nasal conchae rostrally and nasal turbinates caudally, however for infectious LRT disease was bronchial tree. Conclusively, infectious respiratory disease is a complex illness in cats, predominantly for unvaccinated kittens and young adult cats, especially those kept in multi-cat household or shelter environments because of the involvement of multiple bacterial and viral organisms as primary or secondary invaders. Clinicians should not preclude feline rhodococcosis from differentials, especially in kittens with pyothorax and less than one year of age. Unlike R. equi, K. pneumoniae has the potential to colonize URT of cats which might be disseminating further to cause LRT disease.

Electrochemotherapy with Bleomycin Supported by NIRF Imaging with Indocyanine Green (ICG)—In Vitro and In Vivo Case Study

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) with bleomycin has been effectively used in recent years to treat various skin tumors. Microsecond electric pulses significantly improve bleomycin (BLM) delivery and its anticancer potential. Up to now, we can determine electric field distribution in the targeted tissue, however, the distribution of the injected drug is still not well known. In this study, we propose the combination of indocyanine green (ICG) with bleomycin as a practical approach for ECT, enabling drug distribution control and detection. Normal skeletal muscle (L6) and fibrosarcoma (WEHI-164) cells were used for the viability evaluation by MTT assay after 24 and 72 h. Cells were exposed to the ESOPE protocol alone and in combination with drugs. Additionally, visualization of the uptake of ICG and ICG + BLM supported by electroporation was performed by confocal microscopy. The mast cell tumor (MCTs) was diagnosed in the feline case. The mixture of ICG + BLM was injected into the tumor, and ECT was performed under near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF). The obtained results indicate the safety of the used procedure in vitro and in vivo. ICG does not affect ECT protocols in vitro. No significant cell viability decrease was noted only in the case of WEHI-164 cells post-ECT. Moreover, it does not adversely affect the procedure; in the case of in vivo surgery, it helps to control the drug distribution before and after ECT and identify the sentinel lymph node.

A step by step guide to a video otoscopic ear flush

Video otoscopy is useful tool in the diagnosis and treatment of canine and feline otitis cases, providing many advantages over low magnification hand held otoscopes. This article provides a step by step practical guide to performing a video otoscopic ear flush.

Malignant ocular teratoid medulloepithelioma in two cats

Medulloepithelioma is a type of rare primitive neuroectodermal tumour. Most medulloepitheliomas are intraocular and they have been most frequently reported in horses and dogs. A single feline case has been reported but the teratoid form has not been previously reported in cats. Two cats presented with rapidly expanding intraocular masses and ophthalmic examination revealed vascularized uveal tumours extending into the anterior chamber and vitreous chamber. Following enucleation, histopathological examination of each case revealed a focally extensive infiltrative neoplasm that replaced the uveal tract, with retinal detachment and scleral vascular invasion. Rosettes, medullary tubes and heterotopic tissue were present. During follow-up periods of 3.4 and 8.8 years, no evidence of orbital recurrence or metastasis was found in either cat. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first case reports of teratoid medulloepithelioma in cats. Although the risk of metastasis cannot be excluded, as in other species, these findings support enucleation as a curative intervention.

A series of heterogeneous lymphoproliferative diseases with CD3 and MUM1 co-expressed in cats and dogs.

Lymphoma diagnosis in dogs and cats is continually evolving as new subtypes and human correlates are being recognized. In humans, T-cell lymphomas with MUM1 expressed and plasma cell neoplasia or B-cell lymphomas with CD3 expressed aberrantly are reported only rarely. We report here a case series of tumors in dogs and cats with CD3 and MUM1 co-expressed as determined by immunocytochemistry or immunohistochemistry. Lineage was assigned for these tumors by 3 board-certified pathologists and a veterinary immunologist based on review of clinical and cellular features and the results of ancillary testing including PCR for antigen receptor rearrangements, flow cytometry, and serum protein electrophoresis with immunofixation. In cats, 7 of 7 tumors, and in dogs, 3 of 6 tumors with CD3 and MUM1 co-expressed had clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin gene or serum monoclonal immunoglobulin, consistent with a diagnosis of a plasma cell neoplasia or myeloma-related disorder with CD3 expressed aberrantly. Disease was often disseminated; notably, 3 of 7 feline cases had cutaneous and/or subcutaneous involvement in the tarsal area. In dogs, 3 of 6 cases had a clonal T-cell receptor gamma result and no clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and were diagnosed as a T-cell tumor with MUM1 expressed. The use of multiple testing modalities in our series of tumors with plasma-cell and T-cell antigens in dogs and cats aided in the comprehensive identification of the lymphoproliferative disease subtype.

Are γ-terpinene, 1,8-cineole, p-coumaric acid, and quercetin active against wild-type and non-wild-type Sporothrix brasiliensis to itraconazole?

The emergence of itraconazole (ITZ)-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis in feline and canine cases in southern Brazil has hampered the clinical cure of animal sporotrichosis, encouraging the search for therapeutic alternatives. The promising use of plants extracts from Lamiaceae family is known; however, there are no studies with its major compounds, as γ-terpinene (γTER), 1,8-cineole (1,8CIN), p-coumaric acid (pCOU), and quercetin (QUER). For the first time, we evaluated the antifungal, synergistic, cytotoxic activities and action mechanism of these compounds against S. brasiliensis. For this, 28 S. brasiliensis from cats (n = 24) and dogs (n = 4) and standard strains of S. brasiliensis and S. schenckii (n = 4) were tested by M38-A2 (CLSI), revealing non-wild-type (WT) isolates to ITZ on 54.2% (13/24) and 75% (03/04) of feline and canine isolates, respectively. Of the compounds, γTER stood out against all isolates (MIC/MFC 0.75 to > 3mg/ml; MIC50 3mg/ml). However, 1,8CIN, pCOU, and QUER showed little or no activity (MIC50 > 3mg/ml). Thus, γTER was selected for checkerboard assay, whose combination with ITZ showed synergistic (WT isolates) and indifferent (non-WT isolates) interaction. For action mechanism (sorbitol protection and ergosterol effect), γTER acted in membrane by complexing with fungal ergosterol and at the cell wall level, showing two possible pathways as antifungal target. Finally, cytotoxicity (MTT assay) showed that γTER was the safest compound on MDBK cells, even at a concentration of 3mg/ml (90.16%). Our findings support that γTER is a potent antifungal candidate for the control of sporotrichosis, including against non-WT S. brasiliensis.

A feline case of multiple myeloma treated with bortezomib

BackgroundMultiple myeloma (MM) is an uncommon neoplasm in cats. There is no established standard of treatment due to the rare occurrence of this disease in cats. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor that serves as the first-line drug for MM in humans, but its effectiveness currently is unknown in feline MM. We present here the case report of a feline MM that exhibited a favorable response to bortezomib.Case presentationThe case was an 11-year-old non-castrated male domestic cat with light-chain MM presenting with clinical symptoms (anorexia, fatigue, and vomiting), mild azotemia, and pancytopenia. The cat failed on melphalan with prednisolone (MP), so bortezomib (Velcade) was initiated on Day 88. A total of 6 cycles of the treatment was performed, with each treatment cycle consisting of twice-weekly subcutaneous administration for 2 weeks followed by a 1-week rest. The dose of bortezomib was 0.7 mg/m2 for first week and 1.0 mg/m2 for second week in the first cycle. A dose of 0.7 mg/m2 was used for subsequent cycles. Prednisolone was used concomitantly in the first 2 cycles. Following treatment with bortezomib, clinical symptoms disappeared and a decrease in serum globulin and recovery of pancytopenia were noted. A monoclonal gammopathy, overproduction of serum immunoglobulin light chain, and Bence-Jones proteinuria that existed at diagnosis were undetectable on Day 123. A monoclonal gammopathy also was not detectable at the end of the bortezomib treatment (Day 213). Anorexia, fatigue, and marked bone marrow toxicity were experienced when bortezomib was administrated at a dose of 1.0 mg/m2, while no recognizable toxicity was observed at a dose of 0.7 mg/m2 throughout the treatment period. The case was placed on follow-up and there was no evidence of relapse as of Day 243.ConclusionsBortezomib was effective and durable for the treatment of this case of feline MM after failure with MP. Bortezomib was well-tolerated in this cat at a dose of 0.7 mg/m2, but not at 1.0 mg/m2. Bortezomib appears to be a drug worthy of further study for the treatment of feline MM.

S2.4a Pythiosis: An emerging disease in Hong Kong

S2.4 Veterinary mycology research, September 21, 2022, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PMOomycosis is an emerging disease of humans and animals caused by oomycetes in the Stramenopiles-Alveolata-Rhizaria super group, mainly Pythium insidiosum and occasionally Lagenidium giganteum or Paralagenidum species. In surface freshwater, oomycetes produce motile biflagellate asexual zoospores with marked chemotactic attraction to epithelial surfaces of vertebrate hosts. Infection is the result of encystation and invasion of damaged skin or gastrointestinal mucosa.Of ∼ 4200 cases of pythiosis reported globally between 1980 and 2021 only ∼ 20% involved humans while 80% involved animals, mainly horses, dogs, and cattle. Most human cases occur in India and Thailand, whereas most animal infections were reported in the United States and Brazil. Pythiosis has been reported in mainland China, but the burden of the disease is low and comprises <1% of overall cases in humans.Neither pythiosis nor lagenidiosis has been previously reported in humans or animals in Hong Kong. From January 2018 to January 2022, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory of City University of Hong Kong diagnosed 10 cases of oomycosis (5 canine, 5 feline) after identification of non-parallel walled, irregularly branching, and poorly septate hyphae in the center of necrotic regions of histological sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues (FFPET). Species identity was confirmed by PCR and sequencing of 28S rDNA from DNA extracts of FFPET. There were 8 cases of P. insidiosum and 2 of L. giganteum infection. Serum ELISA was positive for Pythium antibodies in 5/6 cases tested and negative for Pythium/Lagenidium/Paralagenidum antibodies in a German shepherd dog (GSD) with disseminated disease caused by L. giganteum.Affected dogs were young to middle-aged at presentation (9 months to 5 years old). Two dogs had focal cutaneous infections, two had extensive gastrointestinal involvement, and the GSD had disseminated disease with cutaneous, mediastinal, and abdominal involvement.Affected cats were young (8 weeks to 18 months) and presented with subcutaneous/cutaneous disease. Three cats had a distinctive perianal ring of bulging subcutaneous granulation tissue, including one that also had an ulcerated, proliferative and necrotic lesion involving two adjacent hind-limb digits. One cat had facial subcutaneous swelling with mandibular lymph node enlargement and the remaining cat presented with extensive circumferential swelling of one hind limb from the distal paw to the mid-stifle.All cats tested negative for the Feline leukemia virus and Feline immunodeficiency virus. Traumatic or surgical wounds preceding infection were identified in a kitten caught in a rodent glue-trap with skin wounds, in a cat with facial involvement that had an injured globe surgically enucleated, and in a dog with cutaneous pythiosis that had chronic dermatitis.Treatment data were available for one canine case. The GSD with lagenidiosis was treated with combination antimicrobial therapy including voriconazole, terbinafine, minocycline, and azithromycin. The dog responded poorly. Mefenoxam was substituted for voriconazole and hyperbaric oxygen therapy was administered. After initial response, the dog succumbed 4 months from diagnosis. We have had success with the treatment of four feline cases using combination therapy including surgical debridement, immunotherapy with a Pythium vaccine, and combinations of antifungal drugs (posaconazole and terbinafine), and/or antimicrobials (doxycycline/minocycline and azithromycin).

Alpha-chloralose poisoning in cats in three Nordic countries - the importance of secondary poisoning

BackgroundAlpha-chloralose (AC) is a compound known to be toxic to various animal species and humans. In 2018 and 2019 an increase in suspected cases of AC poisoning in cats related to the use of AC as a rodenticide was reported to national veterinary and chemical authorities in Finland, Norway and Sweden by veterinarians working in clinical practices in respective country. The aims of this study were to prospectively investigate AC poisoning in cats, including possible secondary poisoning by consuming poisoned mice, and to study metabolism and excretion of AC in cats through analysis of feline urine.MethodsData on signalment, history and clinical findings were prospectively collected in Finland, Norway and Sweden from July 2020 until March of 2021 using a questionnaire which the attending veterinarian completed and submitted together with a serum sample collected from suspected feline cases of AC-poisoning. The diagnosis was confirmed by quantification of AC in serum samples. Content of AC was studied in four feline urine samples, including screening for AC metabolites by UHPLC-HRMS/MS. Bait intake and amount of AC consumed by mice was observed in wild mice during an extermination of a rodent infestation.ResultsIn total, 59 of 70 collected questionnaires and accompanying serum samples were included, with 127 to 70 100 ng/mL AC detected in the serum. Several tentative AC-metabolites were detected in the analysed feline urine samples, including dechlorinated and oxidated AC, several sulfate conjugates, and one glucuronic acid conjugate of AC. The calculated amount of AC ingested by each mouse was 33 to 106 mg with a mean of 61 mg.ConclusionsClinical recognition of symptoms of AC poisoning in otherwise healthy cats roaming free outdoors and known to be rodent hunters strongly correlated with confirmation of the diagnosis through toxicological analyses of serum samples. The collected feline exposure data regarding AC show together with the calculation of the intake of bait and subsequent AC concentrations in mice that secondary poisoning from ingestion of mice is possible. The results of the screening for AC metabolites in feline urine confirm that cats excrete AC both unchanged and metabolized through dechlorination, oxidation, glucuronidation and sulfatation pathways.

Rapid brain MRI protocols result in comparable differential diagnoses versus a full brain protocol in most canine and feline cases.

Evaluation of brain disease in veterinary patients uses a wide variety of MRI sequences. A shortened protocol that maintains consistency of interpretation would reduce radiologist reporting time, patient anesthetic time, and client cost. The aims of this retrospective, methods comparison, observer agreement study were to evaluate whether abbreviated MRI protocols alter differential diagnoses and recommendations compared to our institution's standard protocol; evaluate interobserver agreement on standard brain MRIs; and assess whether differential diagnoses change after postcontrast images. Normal and pathologic canine and feline brain MRIs were retrieved from hospital archives. Three protocols were created from each: a 5-sequence noncontrast enhanced Fast Brain Protocol 1 (FBP1); a 6-sequence contrast-enhanced Fast Brain Protocol 2 (FBP2); and an 11-sequence standard brain protocol (SBP). Three blinded veterinary radiologists interpreted FBP images for 98 cases (1 reader/case) and SBP images for 20 cases (3 readers/case). A fourth observer compared these interpretations to the original MRI reports (OMR). Overall agreement between FBPs and OMR was good (k=0.75) and comparable to interobserver agreement for multiple reviews of SBP cases. Postcontrast images substantially altered conclusions in 17/97 cases (17.5%), as well as improved interobserver agreement compared to noncontrast studies. The conclusions reached with shortened brain protocols were comparable to those of a full brain study. The findings supported the use of a 6-sequence brain MRI protocol (sagittal T2-weighted [T2w] TSE; transverse T2w turbo spin echo fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, T2*-weighted gradient recalled echo, T1-weighted spin echo, and diffusion weighted imaging/apparent diffusion coefficient; and postcontrast transverse T1-weighted spin echo) for dogs and cats with suspected intracranial disease.

Sporothrix brasiliensis and Feline Sporotrichosis in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1998-2018).

Feline sporotrichosis is enzootic in different regions of Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro. This study compared the genotype profiles of Sporothrix sp. isolated from cats in Rio de Janeiro between 1998 and 2018 and evaluated their association with clinical and epidemiological characteristics. One hundred nineteen Sporothrix sp. isolates from a cohort of cats with sporotrichosis seen at INI/Fiocruz were included. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from the medical records of the animals. T3B PCR fingerprinting was used for molecular identification of the Sporothrix species. All isolates were characterized as Sporothrix brasiliensis, with the observation of low intraspecific variation in 31 isolates (31.3%). The interval between lesion onset and first medical visit at INI/Fiocruz, as well as treatment duration until clinical cure, was longer in cats from the first decade of the epizootic. In addition, the frequency of the variables “good general status” and “presence of lymphadenomegaly” was higher among cats whose strains did not exhibit intraspecific variation. So far, S. brasiliensis has been the only species identified in feline cases of sporotrichosis since the beginning of the epizootic in Rio de Janeiro at INI/Fiocruz.

The association between symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations and various neoplasms in dogs and cats.

Following the introduction of the symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) immunoassay, cases were reported where the SDMA concentration was markedly increased above the reference interval (RI) with neither concurrent increases in serum creatinine (Cr) concentrations nor clinical signs of kidney disease. Many of these animals were also concurrently diagnosed with cancer, most commonly lymphoma. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association of increased SDMA in dogs and cats with lymphoma and other cancers as compared with age- and breed-matched non-tumour controls. In this retrospective case-control study, serum chemistry results from 1804 tumour cases, and age- and breed-matched non-tumour control animals were used. Matched-pair odds ratios between animals diagnosed with neoplasms and non-tumour controls for dichotomized SDMA values were determined by tumour type. SDMA concentrations were significantly higher in dogs and cats with lymphoma (p < .0001) compared with non-tumour controls. The odds ratio for increased SDMA concentrations in dogs with lymphoma was 10.0 (95% CI, 5.98-16.72) and for cats with lymphoma was 3.04 (95% CI 1.95-4.73). A significant number of canine and feline lymphoma cases had an increased SDMA concentration not associated with an increased Cr concentration (p < .001). Canine and feline lymphoma patients have an increased odds of having a SDMA concentration above the RI at diagnosis. Further characterization and evaluation of dogs and cats with lymphoma is required to help understand the mechanism(s) and the clinical significance of these alterations.

Auricular Non-Epithelial Tumors with Solar Elastosis in Cats: A Possible UV-Induced Pathogenesis.

The photoinduced etiopathology of actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma in feline species is well known. This etiology has also been reported for non-epithelial cutaneous tumors in other species. To date, no cases of auricular non-epithelial cutaneous neoplasms erased in a contest of actinic keratosis in cats have been reported. The aim of this study was to describe feline auricular non-epithelial cutaneous neoplasms associated with typical UV-induced cutaneous lesions and solar elastosis. The study was conducted on five feline cases diagnosed with auricular non-epithelial cutaneous tumors (two fibrosarcomas, one mixosarcoma, one epithelioid melanoma and one hemangiosarcoma), selected from the Tumor Registry of the Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Pisa (1998–2018). Ten and six feline auricular biopsies of normal skin and skin with actinic keratosis, respectively, were used as controls. Orcein stain was used to investigate solar elastosis. Histological changes related to chronic solar irradiation were documented in the skin adjacent to the neoplastic lesions in the five cats. Considering the anatomical localization and the results of histopathology, this study suggests that non-epithelial cutaneous neoplasms may have a UV-induced etiopathogenesis in the feline species.

A Feline Case of Primary Hyperparathyroidism with Palpable Cervical Mass

A Feline Case of Primary Hyperparathyroidism with Palpable Cervical Mass

Method comparison for serum protein electrophoretic M‐protein quantification: Agarose gel electrophoresis and capillary zone electrophoresis in canine and feline sera

Densitometric quantification of myeloma paraproteins (M-proteins) is used to monitor secretory myeloma related disorders in humans and dogs. The previous work in dogs used agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) but did not establish if other methods of serum protein electrophoresis, such as capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), were comparable. We aimed to determine if the densitometric quantification of M-proteins using CZE would yield results comparable to AGE methods. Fifty-one serum samples from 22 dogs and 18 cats with confirmed monoclonal gammopathies and previously performed AGE were evaluated using CZE on a Sebia Minicap system. Samples were run in duplicate, and their M-proteins were densitometrically measured using the corrected perpendicular drop method previously described. Human-based quality control samples were used to determine the inter-run coefficient of variation (CV). Patient samples were used to calculate the intra-run CV. Method comparison was performed using simple linear regression, Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland-Altman analyses, and Medx evaluations. Inter-run and intra-run CVs for CZE were 3.71%-7.65% and 2.89%-4.74%, respectively. Simple linear regression demonstrated an excellent correlation (r>0.98). Passing-Bablok regression was compatible with the presence of proportional bias in the entire population, and Bland-Altman plots revealed a proportional bias in the feline cases. The Medx evaluation suggested that the two methods did not perform similarly in clinical samples with poor performance at a decision limit of 0.5gm/dL. Capillary zone electrophoresis is an acceptable method for M-protein densitometric quantification in canine and feline sera but cannot be used interchangeably with AGE-based evaluations.

Comparison of the prevalence of Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus in a population of cats with uveitis and in a healthy blood donor cat population in the United Kingdom.

Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus (DCH) is a novel virus recently identified in the domestic cat. Currently, little is known regarding its clinical significance. The hepadnaviridae family includes the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Co-infection of HBV and Hepatitis C in humans increases the risk of uveitis. We aimed to determine whether DCH is present in the United Kingdom (UK) and whether DCH warrants investigation as a potential cause of uveitis in cats. Clinical records from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the Animal Health Trust (AHT) were reviewed for feline cases diagnosed with endogenous uveitis. A healthy control group was identified from cats presented to the RVC as blood donors. DNA was extracted from stored blood samples using commercially available kits. Polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to confirm the presence of feline DNA and to detect the presence of DCH DNA using previously described protocols. Blood samples were available from 65 cats with endogenous uveitis and 43 healthy control cats. Two blood samples from cats with endogenous uveitis tested positive for the presence of DCH DNA. DCH DNA was not detected in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of DCH between the groups. Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus is present in the UK. This study failed to demonstrate a conclusive link between DCH and uveitis in cats, although further studies to investigate an association with other feline diseases are warranted.

A feline case of jejunal lymphoma presenting with tension pneumoperitoneum.

A feline case of jejunal lymphoma presenting with tension pneumoperitoneum.

Endometrial Disease in Six Cats with Clinical and Histopathological Features Resembling Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia in Humans

In humans, atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) is considered as a precancerous lesion of endometrial adenocarcinoma (EA), from which it must be distinguished. Precancerous lesions have not been reported in cats with EA. We now document the histopathological features of endometrial lesions in six cats, which histopathologically resembled human AEH and had a good prognosis following ovariohysterectomy. Grossly, one cat presented with papillomatous nodules and three cats had pyometra. Histopathologically, proliferation of endometrial epithelial cells without atypia was observed in all cases. In some regions of the endometrium, cells had increased atypia and were arranged in stratified layers, which formed irregular ducts and papillary structures. No invasive behaviour or vascular invasion was observed. On the basis of these findings, the cats were diagnosed with non-invasive or early-stage adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry for oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor revealed an inverse correlation with the severity of the endometrial lesions and degree of malignancy of tumour cells. Ki67 labelling revealed that mitotic activity increased as the lesion developed. All cats survived, with a median survival time of 385 days (range: 229-744 days). The distribution of the histopathological endometrial changes and the non-invasive behaviour in these feline cases resemble cases of AEH in humans.