Molecular detection and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs of positive owners during the first COVID-19 wave in Brazil.

Despite previous reports of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats worldwide, the type of swab sample used for its detection through RT-qPCR needs to be better compared and described. Accordingly, as part of a multicenter study in Brazil, the aim of the present study was to assess which rectal or oropharyngeal swabs would be more appropriate for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs, through viral load comparison. Pets of owners diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 7 days were eligible. A total of 148 animals from four of the five Brazilian geographical regions were analyzed, among which 10/48 cats (20.83%) and 11/100 dogs (11.00%) were positive. The results suggested that oropharyngeal swabs should be considered for SARS-CoV-2 detection, particularly in cats, due to the higher cDNA viral load. Also, the genomic results showed similarities between SARS-CoV-2 animal variants and human variants that were circulating at the time of sampling, thus corroborating the existence of zooanthroponotic transmission. In conclusion, the present study highlighted the importance of SARS-CoV-2 monitoring among cats and dogs, as virus modification may indicate the possibility of mutations in animals and spillover back to owners. Thus, positive individuals should always self-isolate from their pets during COVID-19, to prevent trans-species transmission and mutation.

Professional Student Education and Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous challenges to education at all levels, but has been particularly challenging for professional schools and other educational sectors that require intensive hands-on training. Those institutions have had to deploy and continuously adapt new learning strategies in response to an ever-changing pandemic landscape over the past two years, while at the same time meeting the rigorous proficiency standards for their students. Methods: This communication describes how two professional schools at Oregon State University, the College of Pharmacy and the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, pivoted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continuity in student training. The adaptations included technological solutions, physical distancing, barriers, reduced group size and scheduling changes in the curriculum, and enhanced personal protective equipment. Results: The available evidence suggest that the biosafety measures implemented to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the hands-on educational setting appear to have been effective in preventing transmission during classroom and experiential learning activities. Professional licensing exam scores for the students of both colleges remain as high as pre-pandemic values, suggesting that the implemented changes in instruction did not have a detrimental impact on student learning. The scores will need to be monitored for several more years before firm conclusions can be drawn. Discussion: Both colleges implemented creative solutions to the delivery of hands-on pedagogy that sought to balance risk of infection and the necessity to master critical skills that can only be acquired by active learning.

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigen presence in multiple organs of a naturally infected cat from Brazil.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of the disease coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in cats with or without clinical signs. Case presentation: We describe the pathological and molecular findings in a six-month-old asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 infection from Brazil, belonging to a human family with COVID-19 cases. The pool of nasopharynx and oropharynx swabs at day zero tested positive by RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2. No amplification resulted from molecular testing performed on days 7 and 14. The cat was hit by a car and died 43 days after the molecular diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry at post-mortem examination demonstrated nucleocapsid protein in samples from the lungs, kidneys, nasal conchae, trachea, intestine, brain and spleen. Conclusion: The present study has highlighted the possibility that viral antigens can be detected by immunohistochemistry in multiple organs six weeks after infection, although the same tissues tested negative by RT-PCR.

Infection of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic dogs associated with owner viral load.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive pet owners are reported to be a risk factor for infection of their pets; however, the influence of the viral load and associated risks has not been fully established. This study aimed to assess potential association of viral load in owners with the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in their dogs. Of 20 SARS-CoV-2-positive pet owners from 13 families in Curitiba, Brazil, 5 of 22 (22.7%) dogs were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Viral presence was detected in oropharyngeal samples for 2 of 5 (40.0%) dogs at 8 and 9 days after the first positive sample. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in these dogs was associated with higher viral loads in the owners and close owner contact. All 5 RT-qPCR-positive dogs had antibodies to at least one viral protein tested in the serological assay. Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs was statistically associated with clinical signs in owners such as cold, cough, or diarrhea (P = 0.039), number of positive persons in the household (P = 0.002), and higher viral load (P = 0.039). Such findings serve as a warning for risks of human to dog infection, mainly due to sharing beds and other close interactions without protection. In conclusion, people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in households with multiple residents and high viral load, should take the same preventive measures when interacting with their dogs during self-isolation as they do with people.

First report of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 detection in two asymptomatic cats in the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Despite worldwide case reports, including Brazilian cases, no frequency study on infection of pets by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been conducted to date in Brazil. Accordingly, the present study was aimed to assess dogs and cats belonging to positive owners in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a longitudinal prospective study on dogs and cats in the city of Recife whose owners were in isolation at home due to a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 through reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Oral and rectal swabs from the pets were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific RNA by means of RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Among the pets tested, 0/16 dogs and 2/15 cats were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, the two positive cats were owned by two unrelated asymptomatic veterinary students, which, therefore, post a warning to veterinarians worldwide. CONCLUSION: The findings herein indicate that cats may act as sentinels for human cases, particularly sharing households with asymptomatic human cases. Although with small sampling and convenient recruiting, the presence of infected cats by SARS-CoV-2 was most likely due to close cat-human contact with positive owners, posting a human-animal health threat when pets share the same bed and interact with owners without protection, particularly during owner self-isolation. Thus, infected owners should follow the same human preventive guidelines with their pets to avoid spreading infection.

Clinical relevance of splenic nodules or heterogeneous splenic parenchyma assessed by cytologic evaluation of fine-needle samples in 125 dogs (2011-2015).

BACKGROUND: Splenic nodules and heterogeneous parenchyma are seen frequently in abdominal ultrasound examinations of dogs, but the clinical importance of these lesions remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether specific ultrasonographic findings correlate with clinically relevant cytologic diagnoses and determine what sonographic features are correlated with these diagnoses. Another objective was to develop a scoring rubric to help clinicians make decisions on whether or not certain ultasonographic findings of the spleen warrant evaluation by fine-needle cytology. ANIMALS: One-hundred twenty-five adult client-owned dogs with ultrasonographically identified splenic nodules, heterogeneous parenchyma, or both. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively searched for ultrasound-guided splenic fine-needle cytology reports. Ultrasonographic images were assessed for nodule number, size, echogenicity and distal enhancement, degree of splenic heterogeneity, and peritoneal fluid. Dogs were divided into 2 groups: those with clinically important or clinically irrelevant cytologic findings. Potentially useful and discriminatory ultrasonographic findings were identified by statistical analysis, and the most useful findings were used to generate the scoring rubric. RESULTS: The clinically important group included 25 of 125 dogs (22 malignancies, 3 suppurative inflammation). Splenic nodules 1-2 cm in diameter, peritoneal fluid, and >1 targetoid nodule were associated with clinically important cytologic findings. Receiver operator characteristic analysis showed that the scoring rubric was useful for identifying dogs in the clinically important group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Splenic fine-needle cytologic findings identified a clinically relevant diagnosis in 20% of dogs, and larger nodule size, number of targetoid lesions, and presence of peritoneal fluid increase the likelihood of detection of clinically important disease.

Natural Infection by SARS-CoV-2 in Companion Animals: A Review of Case Reports and Current Evidence of Their Role in the Epidemiology of COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is the causative infectious agent of the current pandemic. As researchers and health professionals are still learning the capabilities of this virus, public health concerns arise regarding the zoonotic potential of SARS-CoV-2. With millions of people detected with SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, reports of companion animals possibly infected with the virus started to emerge. Therefore, our aim is to review reported cases of animals naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2, particularly companion pets, shedding light on the role of these animals in the epidemiology of COVID-19.

Analysis of Staphylococcus infections in a veterinary teaching hospital from 2012 to 2015.

Records of all Diagnostic laboratory submissions from 2012 to 2015 were examined and subjected to analysis according to species, location of infection, species of bacteria, and antibiotic resistance/susceptibility. A total of 23.8% of all culture isolates were Staphylococcus sp. Of those Staphylococcus, 43% were isolated from surgical site infections. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius accounted for approximately 28% of all staphylococcus cultures, while methicillin-resistant (MR) S. pseudintermedius accounted for 8% of all staphylococcus cultures. Environmental samples were also collected by swabbing surfaces in the intensive care unit (ICU) and anesthesia prep room at the OSU VTH. Isolated bacterial colonies were subjected to PCR for species identification and for the presence of the mecA gene. Ability of horizontal transfer in vitro of the mecA gene was evaluated by incubating the mecA positive bacterium, with the mecA negative bacterium, and then plated onto agar plates infused with known concentration of oxacillin. Colonies were then subjected to PCR for species and mecA identification. Horizontal transfer of the mecA gene was demonstrated and confirmed via PCR from MR S. epidermidis to MS S. pseudintermedius in an in vitro model that mimicked the veterinary hospital environment. Biofilms were established using four Staphylococcus species isolated from swabbing the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and anesthesia prep room and were resistant when exposed to the current cleaning agent. Staphylococcus species makeup nearly » of all infections at OSU VDL during the four years of the study, and MS S. pseudintermedius was shown to acquire the mecA gene from an environmental strain.

Hemoplasma infection in HIV-positive patient, Brazil.

Hemotrophic mycoplasmas infect a variety of mammals. Although infection in humans is rarely reported, an association with an immunocompromised state has been suggested. We report a case of a Mycoplasma haemofelis-like infection in an HIV-positive patient co-infected with Bartonella henselae.

Metabolic acidosis: a quick reference.

This article serves as a quick reference for metabolic acidosis. Guidelines for analysis and causes, signs, and a stepwise approach are presented.

Metabolic alkalosis: a quick reference.

This article serves as a quick reference for metabolic alkalosis. Guidelines for analysis and causes, signs, and a stepwise approach are presented.

Anion gap and strong ion gap: a quick reference.

This article serves as a quick reference for the anion gap and strong ion gap. Guidelines for analysis and interpretation of changes are presented.

Chloride: a quick reference.

This article serves as a quick reference for the analysis of chloride abnormalities. Guidelines for causes, signs, and stepwise approaches for corrected hypochloremia and hyperchloremia are presented.

Hyperkalemia: a quick reference.

This article serves as a quick reference for hyperkalemia. Guidelines for analysis and causes, signs, and a stepwise approach are presented.

Hypokalemia: a quick reference.

This article serves as a quick reference for hypokalemia. Guidelines for analysis and causes, signs, and a stepwise approach are presented.

Hypernatremia: a quick reference.

This article serves as a quick reference for hypernatremia. Guidelines for analysis and causes, signs, and a stepwise approach are presented.

Hyponatremia: a quick reference.

This article serves as a quick reference for hyponatremia. Guidelines for analysis and causes, signs, and a stepwise approach are presented.

Metabolic acid-base disorders in the critical care unit.

The recognition and management of acid-base disorders is a commonplace activity in the critical care unit, and the role of weak and strong acids in the genesis of metabolic acid-base disorders is reviewed. The clinical approach to patients with metabolic alkalosis and metabolic acidosis is discussed in this article.

Surveillance for zoonotic vector-borne infections using sick dogs from southeastern Brazil.

For many vector-borne organisms, dogs can be used as sentinels to estimate the risk of human infection. The objective of this study was to use dogs as sentinels for multiple vector-borne organisms in order to evaluate the potential for human infection with these agents in southeastern Brazil. Blood from 198 sick dogs with clinicopathological abnormalities consistent with tick-borne infections were selected at the São Paulo State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Botucatu and tested for DNA and/or antibodies against specific vector-borne pathogens. At least one organism was detected in 88% of the dogs, and Ehrlichia canis DNA was amplified from 78% of the blood samples. Bartonella spp. seroreactivity was found in 3.6%. Leishmania chagasi antibodies were detected in 1% of the dogs. There was no serological or polymerase chain reaction evidence of infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Rickettsia rickettsii. The full E. canis 16S rRNA gene sequence of one of the Brazilian strains obtained in this study was identical to the causative agent of human ehrlichiosis in Venezuela. Ehrlichia canis may pose a human health hazard and may be undiagnosed in southeastern Brazil, whereas exposure to the other organisms examined in this study is presumably infrequent.

Co-infection with Mycoplasma haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' in three cats from Brazil.

The two most common haemotropic Mycoplasma of cats, Mycoplasma haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' have been identified using molecular techniques in all continents, except Antarctica. We report the first molecular characterization in South America of a dual infection with M haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' in three domestic cats. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified in three anaemic cats in which haemoplasma organisms were seen attached to the erythrocytes in the peripheral blood smear. Bands of the expected size for M haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' were observed in all three cats. The 393 bp segment of one of the amplicons had a similarity value of 100% to M haemofelis, whereas the other amplicon, a 192 bp segment, was 100% similar to 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum'. After diagnosis, two cats received blood transfusion and they were all treated with doxycycline. All three cats recovered uneventfully.