Astrovirus Outbreak in an Animal Shelter Associated With Feline Vomiting.

An outbreak of cat vomiting was observed in an animal shelter. Testing for known enteric feline pathogens did not identify a causative agent. Viral metagenomics on four mini pools of feces from cases and controls housed in the same area revealed the presence of feline astrovirus in all pools. Also found with fewer reads in one pool each were rotavirus I, carnivore bocaparvovirus 3, norovirus (NoV) GVI, and a novel dependovirus. The genome of the highly prevalent astrovirus was sequenced and classified into mamastrovirus species two, also known as feline astrovirus. Real-time RT-PCR on longitudinally acquired fecal samples from 11 sick cases showed 10 (91%) to be shedding astrovirus for as long as 19 days. Affected cats were sick for an average of 9.8 days, with a median of 2.5 days (range = 1-31 days). Unaffected control cats housed in the same areas during the outbreak showed five out of nine (56%) to also be shedding astrovirus. Feline fecal samples collected from the same animal shelter ~1 year before (n = 8) and after (n = 10) showed none to be shedding astrovirus, indicating that this virus was temporarily associated with the vomiting outbreak and is not part of the commensal virome for cats in this shelter. Together with the absence of highly prevalent known pathogens, our results support a role for feline astrovirus infection, as well as significant asymptomatic shedding, in an outbreak of contagious feline vomiting.

CrAssphage and its bacterial host in cat feces.

CrAssphages are a diverse group of related phages detected in human feces where they are the most prevalent and abundant prokaryotic virus. CrAssphages' cellular host has been identified as the anaerobic Bacteroides intestinalis. CrAssphage has also been reported in non-human primates and environmental samples and has been proposed as a marker of human fecal contamination. Here we describe crAssphage DNA in a feline fecal sample. 95% of the ~ 100 Kb genome could be assembled and classified in genus 1 of the recently proposed Alphacrassvirinae subfamily. The cat origin of the fecal sample was confirmed by partial mitochondrial DNA sequencing. High levels of Bacteroides intestinalis DNA could also be detected in this cat's feces. Fecal samples longitudinally collected over a 4-week period showed the continuous shedding of crAssphage DNA. We therefore report the first genome sequence-confirmed detection of crAssphage in fecal samples of a non-primate mammal.

Descriptive epidemiology of companion animal dermatophytosis in a Canadian Pacific Northwest animal shelter system.

This study investigated the frequency of false positive dermatophyte cultures, dermatophyte prevalence, and dermatophytosis risk factors in an animal sheltering system in British Columbia. Records for 80 471 incoming shelter animals over 3.5 years were accessed retrospectively. For 831 high-risk animals cultured, the false positive rate was 28% [N = 229; 95% confidence interval (CI): 25% to 31%]. Microsporum canis was diagnosed in 201 cases (0.25%, 95% CI: 0.22% to 0.29%) and Trichophyton was diagnosed in 43 cases (0.055%, 95% CI: 0.040% to 0.072%). Microsporum canis cases occurred only in cats and rabbits, but not in dogs. Cats were twice as likely to be diagnosed with Trichophyton as dogs. Puppies and kittens (versus adults) and animals from cruelty investigations (versus other sources) were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with dermatophytosis. Animals seized from 4 cruelty cases with enzootic dermatophytosis did not follow overall prevalence or population risk patterns. Understanding patient and population risk factors can help expedite diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, and reduce contagious risk to humans and animals.

Épidémiologie descriptive de la dermatophytose des animaux de compagnie dans un système de refuges animaliers du Nord-Ouest Pacifique canadien. Cette étude descriptive cherchait à déterminer la fréquence de faux positifs (contaminant) dans les cultures de dermatophytes, la prévalence de dermatophytes, ainsi que les facteurs de risque de dermatophytose dans un système de refuge pour animaux en Colombie-Britannique. Les archives d'arrivées aux refuges de 80 471 animaux sur une période de 3,5 ans ont été inspectées rétrospectivement. Pour les cultures de 831 animaux à haut risque, le taux de faux positifs était de 28 % (N = 229; IC 25­31 %). Microsporum canis a été diagnostiqué dans 201 cas (0,25 %; IC 0,22­0,29 %) et 43 cas de dermatophytes Trichophyton ont été diagnostiqués (0,055 %; IC 0,040­0,072 %) chez quatre espèces d'animaux. Les cas de M. canis n'ont été identifiés que chez le chat et le lapin, mais pas chez le chien. Les chats étaient diagnostiqués deux fois plus souvent avec Trichophyton que les chiens. Les chiots et les chatons (vs adultes), ainsi que les animaux arrivant au refuge à la suite d'enquêtes pour maltraitance (vs autres sources) étaient significativement plus souvent diagnostiqués avec une dermatophytose. Les animaux avec dermatophytose enzootique saisis dans quatre cas de maltraitance n'étaient conformes ni avec la prévalence générale, ni avec les schémas de population à risque. Comprendre les facteurs à risque chez le patient et dans la population peut permettre d'accélérer le diagnostic, le traitement et la guérison, tout en réduisant le risque de contagion aux humains et aux animaux.(Traduit par Emeline Nogues).

Virome of a Feline Outbreak of Diarrhea and Vomiting Includes Bocaviruses and a Novel Chapparvovirus.

An unexplained outbreak of feline diarrhea and vomiting, negative for common enteric viral and bacterial pathogens, was subjected to viral metagenomics and PCR. We characterized from fecal samples the genome of a novel chapparvovirus we named fechavirus that was shed by 8/17 affected cats and identified three different feline bocaviruses shed by 9/17 cats. Also detected were nucleic acids from attenuated vaccine viruses, members of the normal feline virome, viruses found in only one or two cases, and viruses likely derived from ingested food products. Epidemiological investigation of disease signs, time of onset, and transfers of affected cats between three facilities support a possible role for this new chapparvovirus in a highly contagious feline diarrhea and vomiting disease.