Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive Staphylococcus aureus in Family and Pet Cat.

Continued detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus in samples from a family with severe repeated skin infections and their pet cat suggests transmission between the family and the cat. Decolonizing the pet led to successful elimination of the bacteria from the household. Clinicians should consider pet cats as possible reinfection sources.

Sporothrix brasiliensis-specific polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of cat and human sporotrichosis through non-invasive samples.

Zoonotic sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis is an emerging mycosis in Latin America. One of the problems to quickly treat infected animals and break the transmission chain is associated with the time-consuming gold-standard diagnosis method (culture). We aimed to evaluate a species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of sporotrichosis caused by S. brasiliensis using non-invasive samples. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using samples collected with swabs from humans and cats with clinical suspicion of sporotrichosis. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted using a commercial kit, and a species-specific PCR for S. brasiliensis detection was performed. One hundred ten samples were included. PCR showed a good concordance with culture (86% of agreement) for human and cat samples (Kappa coefficient = 0.722, and 0.727, respectively). In conclusion, our data shows that this adapted PCR using non-invasive samples can be applied to sporotrichosis diagnosis, being a good alternative mainly in regions with a lack of mycologists to identify the fungus in culture, contributing to the control of this emergent zoonosis.

We aimed to evaluate a molecular method for diagnosing sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis in humans and cats. We observed that the technique is in good agreement with the classic method and is a good alternative for assisting in the diagnosis and consequent control of this zoonosis.

Development of genogroup-specific ELISAs based on the VP1 protein to detect antibodies to GIV and GVI feline norovirus.

Feline norovirus (FNoV) is a potential pathogen of feline gastroenteritis and has two genogroups (GIV and GVI). Few epidemiological studies have been conducted on FNoV. We designed two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to identify genogroup-specific FNoV antibodies for serological surveillance. Analysis of sera from cats experimentally infected with FNoV GIV or GVI and from specific-pathogen-free (SPF) cats confirmed that the two recombinant proteins used in the assay react in a genogroup-specific manner. Of the 183 samples tested, 6.6% were positive for GIV and 26.2% were positive for GVI. Antibodies to both FNoV genogroups were detected in sera collected in 2005, seven years before FNoV was first reported.

Chrysosporium articulatum mimicking Trichophyton spp. infection in a cat: a case presentation and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytosis is a common skin infection of cats and many other animals. A reliable diagnosis is crucial because of the zoonotic potential of dermatophytes. The routine mycological diagnostic procedures for dermatophytosis are widely known, but in the case of some isolates, identification based on phenotypic characteristics may be incorrect. Infections caused by Chrysosporium spp. are usually described in reptiles, but in other animals they are uncommon. CASE PRESENTATION: This study presents a description of a cat with dermatological lesions, that was mistakenly diagnosed with Trichophyton spp. dermatophytosis. Clinical material for mycological examination was collected from alopecic areas on the back of the neck, the ventral abdomen, and the hindlimbs. The initial identification based on phenotypic properties indicated Trichophyton spp. The result of the MALDI-ToF MS allowed the exclusion of the Trichophyton genus. Ultimately, the correct identification as Chrysosporium articulatum was obtained based on the sequencing of ribosomal genes. CONCLUSIONS: Interpretation of the results of the mycological examination of samples collected from animals' skin or hair shafts is always challenging. Thus, careful consideration of the primary cause of the clinical lesions observed on the skin is mandatory, and the culture results are worth supporting by molecular methods.

Bladder duplication in the male cat: the first case report in China.

BACKGROUND: Bladder duplication is a rare congenital lower urinary tract anomaly disease characterized by the presence of two bladders, possibly with duplication of the urethra. This disease is rarely reported in cats. The clinical symptoms are commonly occult, with increased difficulty in making a definitive diagnosis, especially if there is no obvious urethral duplication. The diagnosis is typically based on radiographs and ultrasound, with computer tomography serving as a more advanced imaging diagnostic modality. Cases of duplicated bladders with accessory tubular tissues are even scarcer in both human and veterinary medicine. CASE PRESENTATION: A 6-year-old male neutered cat was brought to the hospital because of vomiting and constipation. Cystography revealed increased soft tissue density of a fusiform structure in the lower middle abdomen. The purulent-filled cavitary structure and the accessory tubular structure were removed via surgery, and histopathological examination confirmed a double bladder with attached accessory tubular tissue. After antibiotic treatment, the cat recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSION: This is the first case of bladder duplication in China and the first case of feline bladder duplication with tubular structure attachment in the world. This information will provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of similar cases in the future.

Aberrant sparganosis in cat caused by Spirometra mansoni (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae): a case report.

BACKGROUND: Sparganosis is a rare zoonotic disease caused by plerocercoid larvae of the genera Spirometra or Sparganum (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae). The larvae of Spirometra generally do not undergo asexual reproduction, whereas those of Sparganum can induce proliferative lesions in infected tissues. This paper presents an unusual case of proliferative sparganosis due to infection with Spirometra mansoni in a cat, normally considered a definitive host of the species. CASE PRESENTATION: A 9-year-old male domestic cat was presented with a mass on the right side of the face that underwent progressive enlargement for 1 month. The morphological and histopathological examinations revealed multiple asexual proliferative cestode larvae in the lesions, suggestive of proliferative sparganosis. Next-generation sequencing analysis of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of surgically excised tissue indicated that the worm was Spirometra mansoni. CONCLUSION: Although S. mansoni a common tapeworm species found in the small intestine of domestic cats and dogs in Japan, proliferative sparganosis is extremely rare. This is the first confirmed case of proliferative sparganosis due to infection with S. mansoni in cat.

Feline sporotrichosis: Characterization of cutaneous and extracutaneous lesions using different diagnostic methods.

Sporotrichosis is a mycotic infection of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues caused by Sporothrix spp. that can also cause extracutaneous manifestations. This study aimed to characterize cutaneous and extracutaneous sporotrichosis lesions in cats. Over 1 year, 102 cats rescued by the Zoonoses Control Center of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, euthanized with clinical suspicion of feline sporotrichosis were evaluated. After euthanasia, the animals were evaluated by macroscopic, cytological, histopathological, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) examinations; fungal culture; and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sporothrix infection was identified by at least one diagnostic technique in all cats (n = 102) evaluated by postmortem examination, including 26/28 cases (93%) evaluated by IHC, 66/90 cases (73%) evaluated by cytology, 70/102 cases (68.6%) evaluated by histopathology, and 62/74 cases (84%) evaluated by fungal culture. Two cats had positive results only by fungal culture. Cytology and histopathology examinations were effective in diagnosing sporotrichosis, although IHC was needed to confirm the diagnosis in cats with low fungal loads. Sporothrix brasiliensis was confirmed by the sequencing of 3 samples. Skin lesions were characterized mainly by pyogranulomatous to granulomatous dermatitis (frequently with subcutaneous inflammation) with different intensities of Sporothrix spp. yeast. Extracutaneous findings associated with sporotrichosis included rhinitis or rhinosinusitis, lymphadenitis, pneumonia, meningitis, periorchitis, conjunctivitis, and glossitis. Extracutaneous infections were observed in 74/102 cases, and a possible association between the chronicity of the disease and the higher pathogenicity of this fungal species in cats requires further investigation.

Mitotic activity: A systematic literature review of the assessment methodology and prognostic value in feline tumors.

Increased proliferation is a driver of tumorigenesis, and quantification of mitotic activity is a standard task for prognostication. This systematic review is an analysis of all available references on mitotic activity in feline tumors to provide an overview of the assessment methods and prognostic value. A systematic literature search in PubMed and Scopus and a nonsystematic search in Google Scholar were conducted. All articles on feline tumors that correlated mitotic activity with patient outcome were identified. Data analysis revealed that of the 42 eligible articles, mitotic count (MC, mitotic figures/tumor area) was evaluated in 39 studies, and mitotic index (MI, mitotic figures/tumor cells) in 3 studies. The risk of bias was considered high for most studies (26/42, 62%) based on small study populations, insufficient details of the MC/MI methods, and lack of statistical measures for diagnostic accuracy or effect on outcome. The MC/MI methods varied between studies. A significant association of MC with survival was determined in 20 of 28 (71%) studies (10 studies evaluated other outcome metrics or provided individual patient data), while 1 study found an inverse effect. Three tumor types had at least 4 studies, and a prognostic association with survival was found in 5 of 6 studies on mast cell tumors, 5 of 5 on mammary tumors, and 3 of 4 on soft-tissue sarcomas. MI was shown to correlate with survival for mammary tumors by 2 research groups; however, comparisons to MC were not conducted. Further studies with standardized mitotic activity methods and appropriate statistical analysis for discriminant ability of patient outcome are needed to infer the prognostic value of MC and MI.

The Use of Diets in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Gastrointestinal Diseases in Dogs and Cats.

The nutritional health of dogs and cats is important to pet owners around the world. Nutrition is inextricably linked to the health of the gastrointestinal system and vice versa. Gastrointestinal signs, such as vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or weight loss, are one of the most common reasons that dog and cat owners make non-routine appointments with veterinarians. Those patients are evaluated systematically to identify and/or rule out the causes of the symptoms. Some causes of chronic diarrhea are within the gastrointestinal tract while others are secondary to pathogenic factors outside the digestive system. Some useful biomarkers of chronic intestinal disease (enteropathy) exist in serum and feces. After determination that the clinical signs are due to primary gastrointestinal disease and that there is no parasitism, specific diets are used for at least two weeks. There are several types of diets for pets with chronic enteropathies. There are limited ingredient diets and hydrolyzed protein diets with reduced levels of allergens. There are also highly digestible and fiber-enhanced diets. Some diets contain probiotics and/or prebiotics. If symptoms do not improve and the patient is stable, a diet from a different class may be tried. For chronic enteropathies, the prognosis is generally good for symptom resolution or at least improvement. However, if interventions with novel diets do not ameliorate the symptoms of chronic enteropathy, then antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or immunosuppressant therapy or further, more invasive diagnostics such as taking an intestinal biopsy, may be indicated. Pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal disease in dogs and cats and patients may present with mild to severe disease. Many patients with mild to moderate disease can be successfully treated with early supportive care, including feeding a low-fat diet. A novel pharmaceutical, fuzapladib (Panoquell-CA1) looks very promising for treating more severe forms of acute pancreatitis in dogs. Maintenance on a low-fat diet may prevent pancreatitis in at-risk dogs. Future advances in medicine will allow pet owners and veterinarians to use dietary management to maximize the health of their dogs and cats.

Detection of rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) infection by real-time PCR from the peripheral blood of animals: a preliminary study.

Rat lungworm disease or neuroangiostrongyliasis is a cerebral parasitic infection that affects humans and animals alike. Its clinical signs and symptoms can range from mild self-resolving to serious life-threatening conditions. Studies suggest therapeutic interventions during the early stages of infection to be more effective than in later stages. However, early diagnosis of infection is usually problematic without the knowledge of exposure and/or detection of the parasite's DNA or antibody against the parasite in the cerebrospinal fluid. This requires a lumbar puncture, which is an invasive procedure that generally requires hospitalization. This study evaluates an affordable and less invasive alternative to detect parasitic DNA by PCR from the peripheral blood of potentially infected animals. Blood samples from 58 animals (55 dogs and 3 cats) with clinical suspicion of infection were submitted to our lab between February 2019 and August 2022 by local, licensed veterinarians. DNA was extracted from whole blood, plasma, serum, and/or packed cells using the Qiagen DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit as per the manufacturer's protocol. All 58 animals were tested by real-time PCR using the AcanITS1 assay and 32 of these animals (31dogs; 1 cat) were also tested using the AcanR3990 assay. The PCR results for both assays were classified into strongly positive > positive > weakly positive > negative, and equivocal for ambiguous results, based on the strength of the signal. The percent infection detected using the AcanITS1 and AcanR3990 assays was 12.72% (7/55) and 20.68% (6/29), respectively. The overall percent infection detected was 34.37% (11/32), with only two animals testing positive by both assays. The three cats involved in this study tested negative by both assays. These results are promising and warrant further investigations to increase sensitivity including variables that might affect detection in the blood, such as parasite load, and laboratory methodologies.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: Morphological, immunophenotypical and clonality assessment in six cats.

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous lymphoma represents 0.2%-3% of all feline lymphomas, with nonepitheliotropic lymphomas being the most common. In humans and dogs, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a primary nonepitheliotropic lymphoma with a T-cell phenotype developing in the subcutis and often mimicking inflammation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this report is to describe pathological, phenotypical and clonal features of SPTCL in cats. ANIMALS: Six cats with SPTCL were included in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin biopsies were formalin-fixed, routinely processed and stained. Histological and immunohistochemical investigation for anti-CD18, CD204, CD79a, CD20, CD3, FeLVp27and FeLVgp70 and clonality assessment were performed. RESULTS: Four male and two female domestic shorthair cats, mean age 11.2 years, developed SPTCL in the abdominal (three), inguinal (two) and thoracic (one) regions. Variably pleomorphic neoplastic lymphoid cells were present in the panniculus in percentages, expanding the septa (six of six) and extending into fat lobules in one of six cats. Tumours were associated with elevated numbers of neutrophils (five of six), lesser macrophages (six of six) and variable necrosis (six of six). Neoplastic cells expressed CD3+ (six of six), with clonal T-cell receptor rearrangement detected in five of six cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first description of SPTCL in cats. Lesions can be confused with panniculitis, leading to delay in diagnosis and therapy. Awareness of this neoplastic disease is relevant to avoid misdiagnoses and to gain greater knowledge about the disease in cats.

Comparison of intradermal and serum testing for environmental allergen-specific immunoglobulin E determination in a laboratory colony of cats with naturally acquired atopic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Allergen testing is used to select antigens included in the desensitisation vaccine. Intradermal skin test (IDT) is the gold standard in cats, yet allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E serological testing (ASIS) is often used. Feline data are lacking regarding the agreement between IDT and ASIS results. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: The first objective of the study was to establish a colony of cats with naturally acquired feline atopic syndrome (FAS). Further objectives were to define their hypersensitivity disorder to detail the allergen tests results, and to assess similarity between the allergen tests. ANIMALS: Thirty-five cats with FAS and 10 control cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Enrolled cats went through a five phase-screening and quarantine process before joining the colony. An elimination diet trial was performed on all FAS cats. ASIS and IDT were consecutively performed on all cats under sedation. RESULTS: Reactions to 34 allergens were compiled for the 45 cats. Global sensitivity and specificity of ASIS were 34.7% and 78.9%, respectively. Only flea (ICC = 0.26, p = 0.040) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (ICC = 0.48, p < 0.001) allergens had a significant intraclass correlation (weak agreement). Two FAS cats had negative tests including one cat with a concomitant food allergy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study depicts the first reported colony of cats with naturally acquired FAS. This is the first feline study to compare and show the poor agreement between allergen tests with a panel of 34 allergens. This colony also harbours two cats with FAS with negative allergen tests. These may represent the first described cats with an intrinsic form of atopic syndrome.

Evaluation of a client questionnaire at diagnosing surgical site infections in an active surveillance system.

OBJECTIVE: To report sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy of a client questionnaire at diagnosing surgical site infections (SSIs) and describe the impact of active surveillance on SSI detection. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, cohort study. ANIMALS: Dogs and cats undergoing soft tissue or orthopedic surgery over a 12-month period at a referral hospital. METHODS: Clients were emailed a questionnaire 30 days postoperatively, or 90 days where an implant was used. Three algorithms were developed to diagnose SSIs using one or both of two criteria: (1) presence of any wound healing problems; (2) wound dehiscence or antibiotic prescription, and either purulent discharge or two or more clinical signs (redness, pain, heat, swelling, discharge). Algorithmic diagnoses were compared to gold standard diagnoses made by veterinarians. RESULTS: Of 754 surgical procedures, 309 responses were completed with 173 corresponding gold standard diagnoses. The most accurate algorithm determined "SSI" or "No SSI" from 90.2% of responses with 95.5% (92.4-98.6) accuracy, 82.6% (77-88.3) sensitivity, 97.7% (95.5-100) specificity, 86.4% (81.2-91.5) positive predictive value, and 97% (94.5-99.6) negative predictive value. "No SSI" was diagnosed in responses not meeting criterion 1, and "SSI" in responses meeting criteria 1 and 2. "Inconclusive" responses, comprising 9.8% of responses, met criterion 1 but not 2. Overall SSI rate was 62/754 (8.2%) and 12/62 (19.4%) SSIs were detected by active surveillance only. CONCLUSION: Use of this client questionnaire accurately diagnosed SSIs; active surveillance increased SSI detection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Surveillance of SSIs should be active and can be simplified by using a client questionnaire and algorithmic diagnoses, allowing automated distribution, data collection and analysis.

Presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes of cats undergoing surgical treatment of ectopic ureters.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the signalment, treatment, complications, and outcomes of cats treated surgically for ectopic ureters. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, multi-institutional study. ANIMALS: Twelve client-owned cats. METHODS: Medical records of cats diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral ectopic ureters were reviewed and analyzed. Data reported included signalment, clinical signs, diagnostics, open celiotomy, or cystoscopic surgical interventions, and outcomes. RESULTS: Seven of the 12 cats in the study population were female or female spayed and the median age at time of presentation was 4 years, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 6 months-14 years. Presurgical diagnostic imaging diagnosed ectopic ureters by abdominal ultrasound (8/10), contrast enhanced computed tomography (3/3), fluoroscopic urography (3/4), or cystoscopy (6/7). Eight of 12 cats had extramural ectopic ureters and six cats were affected bilaterally. Eight affected cats underwent ureteroneocystostomy, one cat underwent neoureterostomy, two cats underwent cystoscopic laser ablation, and one cat underwent nephroureterostomy. Immediate postoperative complications occurred in three cats; one cat required additional surgical intervention. Short-term complications occurred in three cats, and long-term complications in two cats. All cats that underwent surgical or cystoscopic intervention had improvement of their urinary incontinence scores, with complete resolution in 11 cats. CONCLUSION: Surgical correction of ectopic ureters in cats is associated with good long-term outcomes. Ectopic ureters in cats are commonly extramural and bilateral. Postoperative outcomes were acceptable and there were few postoperative complications, with varying forms of surgical correction. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Ectopic ureters in cats are rare but urinary incontinence can be corrected or improved successfully with surgery.

Smoke Inhalation in Veterinary Patients: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management.

Smoke contains a mixture of harmful gases, chemicals, and superheated particles. Inhalation of smoke causes generalized hypoxia and airway inflammation due to impaired oxygen transport and utilization, as well as thermal and chemical injury in the airways. Generally, treatment is supportive with oxygen therapy and airway management, including chest physiotherapy, bronchodilators, and nebulization. Immediate oxygen therapy is mandatory for all suspected smoke inhalation patients and should not be delayed pending diagnostic test results or due to "normal" oxygen saturation readings that can be falsely elevated in carbon monoxide intoxication. Smoke inhalation patients with mild clinical signs who respond well to initial stabilization generally have a favorable prognosis. However, patients with severe signs or progression despite initial stabilization may require more advanced or intensive care.

Epistaxis and Facial Swelling Due to Nasal Blastomycosis in a Cat.

A 5 yr old castrated male domestic longhair was examined because of left-sided facial swelling and epistaxis. Head computed tomography with contrast identified a mass within the left nasal cavity and multifocal regions of nasal bone osteolysis. Histopathology of nasal mass biopsies and cytology of the facial swelling revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation due to Blastomyces dermatitidis. The cat experienced resolution of clinical signs following 8 mo of treatment with itraconazole. Although rare, clinicians should include blastomycosis on the differential diagnoses list of infectious causes for feline nasal disease if within an endemic area.

Comparison of bacterial culture results obtained from three different sampling locations in dogs and cats with chronic nasal disease.

AIMS: To assess agreement of bacterial culture results from samples taken from nasal discharge, the nasal cavity and nasal biopsy from dogs and cats with nasal disease. METHODS: Nineteen dogs and 21 cats with different nasal diseases (chronic rhinitis, n = 30; neoplasia, n = 7; sinonasal aspergillosis, n = 3) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Nasal swabs were taken bilaterally from nasal discharge at the nares, the nasal cavity, and one nasal mucosal biopsy per side. All samples were subjected to aerobic bacterial culture. Kappa statistics were used to evaluate agreement for the most prevalent bacterial species between sampling sites. RESULTS: A positive culture result for at least one bacterial species was detected in 80% of samples from nasal discharge/nares, 92% of nasal cavity samples, and 75% of biopsy samples. The mean agreement between the three sampling sites for positive vs. negative culture results was never greater than moderate and the precision of the estimates of agreement varied widely.The most frequently isolated bacterial species in dogs were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. In cats, Pasteurella spp. and Staphylococcus felis were the bacterial species cultured most frequently.For the most prevalent cultured species, Staphylococcus spp., mean agreement between sites was never greater than fair and the precision again varied widely. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that bacterial culture results in feline and canine nasal disease are site-specific and there was no evidence from this study for consistency between sites within a patient for many bacterial species. Consequently, if bacterial culture results from nasal swabs are used to guide therapeutic antimicrobial choice, different treatments may be selected depending on the site of culture. As a consequence, there is no evidence from this study that nasal bacterial cultures should be recommended as a routine diagnostic measure.

Incidental findings of soft tissue gas in canine and feline thoracic computed tomographic examinations.

Computed tomography (CT) is a commonly used modality in small animal veterinary medicine. Anecdotally, gas bubbles are frequently identified in small animals undergoing thoracic CT examination. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to record the occurrence and prevalence of vascular and extravascular gas in routine thoracic CT examinations in dogs and cats. Patients with any clinical signs of diseases   related to soft tissue gas were excluded. A total of 84 canine studies and 90 feline studies were included, detecting gas in 66.7% of all studies, with gas more likely to be detected in canine studies (75.0%) than in feline cases (58.9%) (P = 0.009). Canine studies were more likely to have gas detected in postcontrast studies than in precontrast studies (P = 0.016). Intravascular gas was detected in 65.5% of all included studies (75% canine and 56.7% feline). Extravascular gas was detected in 13.8% of all studies (14.3% canine, 13.3% feline), with gas detected in the vertebral canal of 8.62% of all studies (canine 11.9%, feline 5.56%) and within fascial planes in 5.75% of all studies (canine 2.38%, feline 8.89%). In conclusion, gas bubbles were identified in the majority of canine and feline thoracic CT studies without clinical evidence of a pathologic etiology.

Spontaneous cecal perforation in a cat diagnosed with ultrasonography.

An 8-year-old cat was presented for an acute history of anorexia, marked abdominal pain, and hyperthermia. Ultrasonography showed a cecal perforation with focal steatitis and adjacent free gas bubbles, consistent with focal peritonitis. Surgery confirmed the imaging findings. An enterectomy was performed with the removal of the cecum and ileocolic valve, and anastomosis between the ileum and colon was performed. Histology revealed transmural enteritis and chronic severe pyogranulomatous peritonitis with intralesional plant fragments.

Suspected malnutrition-induced reversible feline skin fragility syndrome in a cat with congenital axial deformities.

A stray cat, an intact female Japanese domestic shorthair cat of unknown age (suspected to be a young adult), was rescued. The cat was lethargic and thin and had marked skin fragility, delayed wound healing without skin hyperextensibility, and hind limb proprioceptive ataxia and paresis. Survey radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed congenital vertebral anomalies, including thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae, scoliosis resulting from a thoracic lateral wedge-shaped vertebra, and a kinked tail, and a dilated spinal cord central canal. Through nutritional support, the cat's general condition normalized, followed by a gradual and complete improvement of skin features. Whole-genome sequencing was completed; however, no pathogenic genetic variant was identified that could have caused this phenotype, including congenital scoliosis. A skin biopsy obtained 7 y after the rescue revealed no remarkable findings on histopathology or transmission electron microscopy. Based on clinical course and microscopic findings, malnutrition-induced reversible feline skin fragility syndrome (FSFS) was suspected, and nutritional support was considered to have improved the skin condition. Key clinical message: This is the second reported case of presumed malnutrition-induced reversible FSFS and was accompanied by long-term follow-up.

Syndrome de fragilité cutanée réversible induit par la malnutrition soupçonné chez un chat avec des difformités axiales congénitales. Un chat errant, une femelle intacte de race japonaise à poil court et d'âge inconnu (suspecté être une jeune adulte), a été secourue. La chatte était léthargique et maigre, et avait une fragilité marquée de la peau, un retard dans la guérison de plaies sans hyperextensibilité de la peau, et une ataxie proprioceptive et parésie des membres postérieurs. Des radiographies, un examen par tomodensitométrie, et de l'imagerie par résonnance magnétique ont révélé des anomalies congénitales des vertèbres, incluant des vertèbres transitionnelles thoraco-lombaires, une scoliose résultant d'une vertèbre thoracique en forme de coin, une queue pliée, et un canal central de la moelle épinière dilaté. Grâce à un soutien nutritionnel, la condition générale du chat s'est stabilisée, suivi d'une amélioration graduelle et complète des caractéristiques de la peau. Le séquençage du génome complet a été effectué; toutefois, aucune variation génétique pathogénique n'a été identifiée qui aurait pu causer ce phénotype, incluant la scoliose congénitale. Une biopsie cutanée obtenue 7 j après le sauvetage n'a révélé aucune trouvaille spéciale à l'histopathologie ou par microscopie électronique à transmission. Basé sur le déroulement clinique et l'examen microscopique, le syndrome de fragilité cutanée réversible félin induit par la malnutrition (FSFS) était suspecté, et le soutien nutritionnel a été considéré comme ayant amélioré la condition cutanée.Message clinique clé :Ce cas est le deuxième cas rapporté de FSFS induit par la malnutrition soupçonné et a fait l'objet d'un suivi à long terme.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).