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Case summary: This report describes the case of a 7-year-old male neutered domestic mixed-breed cat that was initially referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the State University of Londrina for evaluation of a 2-week history of abdominal distension and a 2-day history of anorexia, infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Abdominal ultrasound revealed an expansive mass located around the pancreas and right hepatic lobe. In the transoperative macroscopic observation, multiple white nodules were visualized in the liver, pancreas, mesentery, intestine, stomach and peritoneal wall. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that neoplastic cells demonstrated a strong positivity for AE1/AE3 and CK20. A sparse immunoreactivity to chromogranin A was observed, which demonstrates neuroendocrine cell labeling. The histopathologic changes associated with the immunohistochemical profile confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, originating from the pancreas. Relevance and novel information: Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas are rare and are associated with a poor prognosis in humans. In humans, approximately 7% of neuroendocrine tumors develop in the pancreas, and the 5-year survival rate for a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor is 53%, according to the American Cancer Society. To our knowledge, only one case has been described in the feline species so far. Due to the rarity of this type of tumor in cats, there is little information about predisposition related to age, sex or breed, as well as the main clinical signs presented, survival time and treatment options.
RESUMEN
ABSTRACT: Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) may causes an asymptomatic infection that result in an efficient transmission and subsequently dissemination of the virus in feline population. This study used molecular detection by qPCR (quantitative PCR) based on DNA polymerase gene fragment amplification to evaluate the occurrence of FcaGHV1 and its correlation with other feline viral pathogens, such as Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1), Felid alphaherpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1), and feline retroviruses such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Of the 182 blood samples evaluated 23.6% (43/182) were positives for FcaGHV1. Approximately 37.9% (33/87) of the samples that tested positive for retrovirus were also were positive for FcaGHV1 infection (P<0.0001). Among FIV-infected samples, 49% (24/49) were positive for FcaGHV1 (P<0.0001). FcaGHV1 infection was not associated with FeLV (P>0.66) or CPPV-1 (P>0.46) coinfection. All samples were negative for FeHV-1. Male felines were significantly associated to FcaGHV1 (P<0.0001) and their risk of infection with FcaGHV1 was about of 7.74 times greater compared to females. Kittens (≤ 1year) were the least affected by FcaGHV1 infection, being verified a rate of 7.7% (4/52). Therefore, male cats over one year old and infected with FIV were considerably more likely to be infected with FcaGHV1. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the occurrence and molecular detection of FcaGHV1 infection in domestic cats in Brazil and in South America.
RESUMO: Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) pode causar uma infecção assintomática, que resulta em uma transmissão eficiente e consequente disseminação do virus na população felina. Este estudo utilizou a detecção molecular por qPCR (PCR quantitativa) baseado na amplificação de um fragmento do gene da DNA polimerase para avaliar a ocorrência de FcaGHV1, sendo correlacionado a outros patógenos virais felinos como Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1), Felid alphaherpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1) e aos retrovírus felinos como vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) e vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV). Das 182 amostras de sangue avaliadas, 23,6% (43/182) foram positivas para FcaGHV1. Aproximadamente 37,9% (33/87) das amostras positivas para retrovirus também foram positivas para FcaGHV1 (P<0,0001). Entre as amostras FIV-infectadas, 49% (24/49) foram positivas para FcaGHV1 (P<0,0001). A infecção por FcaGHV1 não foi associada à coinfecção por FeLV (P>0,66) e CPPV-1 (P>0,46). Todas as amostras foram negativas para FeHV-1. Felinos machos foram significativativamente associados à infecção por FcaHV1 (P <0,0001) e o risco de infecção com FcaGHV1 foi aproximadamente 7,74 vezes maior comparados às femeas. Os filhotes (≤1 ano) foram os menos acometidos pela infecção por FcaGHV1 sendo verificado uma proporção de 7.7% (4/52). Assim, gatos machos com mais de um ano de idade e infectados por FIV foram, consideravelmente, mais susceptíveis a serem infectados com FcaGHV1. Para nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro estudo que relata a ocorrência de infecção e detecção molecular de FcaGHV1 em gatos domésticos no Brasil e na América do Sul.
RESUMEN
A infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência dos felinos (VIF) apresenta um curso prolongado, caracterizado por uma fase aguda, em que ocorre a replicação viral no organismo hospedeiro, seguida de um período de menor replicação, no qual o animal é praticamente assintomático. Anos depois, no estádio final da infecção, desenvolve-se a síndrome da imunodeficiência dos felinos. Alguns animais infectados podem desenvolver hipergamaglobulinemia do tipo policlonal, principalmente na fase crônica ou final da infecção. Este fato tem sido atribuído a um distúrbio na produção de citocinas, causado pela infecção viral de linfócitos T CD4+. Não obstante, pouco se sabe a respeito das concentrações de proteínas séricas, especificamente gamaglobulinas, na fase aguda da infecção pelo VIF. Objetivando esclarecer isto, procedeu-se à determinação das proteínas séricas de dez felinos, SRD de ambos os sexos, infectados aos 7 meses de idade com o VIF (clade B), antes da infecção e 4, 8 e 12 meses após. A infecção pelo VIF foi confirmada pela soroconversão, com a presença de anticorpos específicos, pesquisados por meio da técnica de imunoadsorção enzimática (ELISA) e pela demonstração de material genético do vírus (PCR). Outros dez felinos VIF-, da mesma faixa etária foram mantidos como controle. Previamente à infecção experimental, todos os felinos eram negativos ao VIF, fato comprovado pela ausência de anticorpos específicos. A proteína sérica total foi determinada pelo método do buireto e as frações protéicas foram obtidas por eletroforese em tiras de acetato de celulose lidas por densitometria. Verificou-se aumento de gamaglobulinas (2,01 ±0,27g dL-1, P<0,0001) quatro meses após a infecção nos animais infectados. Doze meses após a infecção, não foram observadas diferenças nas concentrações das frações protéicas entre os felinos infectados e os controles.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection is known as a lifelong infection of cats. The acute phase corresponds to the period of viral replication in the host organism, followed by a period of lower replication when the animal is asymptomatic. Some years later, at the final stage, an immunodeficiency syndrome subsides. Hypergammaglobulinemia or a polyclonal gammapathy might be seen in some, but not all affected cats, mainly in the chronic phase of infection. This is thought to be due to a disturbance of cytokines production as a result of T CD4 + cells infection. Nonetheless, little is known regarding serum protein, specifically, gammaglobulin concentration in the early phase of FIV infection. Aiming at clarifing this, serum protein concentrations were determined before and 4, 8 and 12 months after FIV infection of ten domestic short-haired, male or female, 7 months old cats (group I). Ten cats of same age were maintained as controls (group II). All cats were FIV-naive cats, as confirmed by ELISA test. After infection, both, ELISA and PCR became positive only for the cats belonging to the group I. Serum protein concentration was measured by biuret method and protein fractions were obtained by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips. An increase in the gammaglobulin concentration (2.01 ± 0.27g/dL, P<0.0001) could be observed 4 months p.i. in the group I. Twelve months after infection, no differences could be found on protein concentrations between both groups of cats.
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In order to study B. henselae transmission among cats, five young cats were kept in confinement for two years, one of them being inoculated by SC route with B. henselae (10(5) UFC). Only occasional contact among cats occurred but the presence of fleas was observed in all animals throughout the period. Blood culture for isolation of bacteria, PCR-HSP and FTSZ (gender specific), and BH-PCR (species-specific), as well as indirect immunofluorescence method for anti-B. henselae antibodies were performed to confirm the infection of the inoculated cat as well as the other naive cats. Considering the inoculated animal, B. henselae was first isolated by blood culture two months after inoculation, bacteremia last for four months, the specific antibodies being detected by IFI during the entire period. All contacting animals presented with bacteremia 6 months after experimental inoculation but IFI did not detect seroconversion in these animals. All the isolates from these cats were characterized as Bartonella (HSP and FTSZ-PCR), henselae (BH-PCR). However, DNA of B. henselae could not be amplified directly from peripheral blood by the PCR protocols used. Isolation of bacteria by blood culture was the most efficient method to diagnose infection compared to PCR or IFI. The role of fleas in the epidemiology of B. henselae infection in cats is discussed
