Clinical, virological, imaging and pathological findings in a SARS CoV-2 antibody positive cat.

This paper reports a presumptive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a cat. A cat with respiratory disease living with three individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 showed bilateral ground-glass opacities in the lung on X-ray and computed tomography. The clinical swabs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, but the serum was positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Interstitial pneumonia and prominent type 2 pneumocyte hyperplasia were noted on histopathology. Respiratory tissues were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen, but the cat was positive for feline parvovirus DNA. In conclusion, the respiratory disease and associated pathology in this cat could have been due to exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Apoptosis-inducing Effect of a Palladium(II) Complex-[PdCl(terpy)](sac).2H2O] on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) in Mice.

BACKGROUND/AIM: New compounds for cancer treatment are needed due to persistenly unsatisfactory management of cancer. [PdCl(terpy)](sac)·2H2O] (sac=saccharinate, and terpy=2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) is a compound synthesized for this purpose. We investigated its anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 42 Balb-c female mice were subcutaneously (s.c.) injected with EAC cells (1st day) and then randomly divided into 5 groups: control (0.9% NaCl), complex (2 mg/kg), complex (3 mg/kg) cisplatin (4 mg/kg) and paclitaxel (12.5 mg/kg). On the 5th and 12th day animals were drug administrated. At 14th day, animals were sacrificed. Expression of cell death and/or cell cycle-related markers (Bcl-2, Bax, active caspase-3, p53, PCNA) and apoptosis were investigated immunohisto-chemically. Survival-related markers (Akt, GSK-3ß, IGF-1R, IR, IRS-1, p70S6K, PRAS40) were evaluated by luminex analysis. RESULTS: Expression of p53, PCNA, Bcl-2 was found decreased (p<0.001) and that of active caspase-3, Bax, and apoptotic cells was found increased (p<0.001) in all groups. The survival-related markers did not show any statistical difference in complex groups. CONCLUSION: The Pd(II)-complex seems to have a strong anticancer activity on EAC by inducing apoptosis via both suppression of proliferation and activation of apoptosis in vivo, similar to the effects of cisplatin and paclitaxel.