Frecuencia de la leucemia felina (ViLeF) en un refugio municipal de Rionegro, Colombia, durante 2020 / Frequency of Feline Leukemia (FeLV): Municipal Shelter Rionegro, Colombia 2020

RESUMEN La leucemia viral felina (ViLeF) es una enfermedad retroviral letal, de una elevada prevalência en Colombia, que afecta a felinos de diferentes edades y sexos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar la frecuencia por serodiagnóstico de ViLeF en felinos del centro integral de bienestar animal Ceiba, ubicado en Rionegro, Antioquia (Colombia), en 2020. Para ello, se realizó un estudio descriptivo longitudinal de serofrecuencia de ViLeF desde enero hasta diciembre de 2020. Fueron muestreados 92 gatos, a los cuales se les efectuó una prueba p27 por inmunoensayo comercial Elisa (Idexx©, Snap Combo Plus®, Maine, EE. UU.). La frecuencia de felinos positivos fue 30/92 (32,60%) y el mes de mayo fue el de mayor frecuencia (9,78%). Los machos positivos fueron 17/92 (18,47%) y las hembras 13/92 (14,13%). La edad promedio de seropositividad fue 2,14 años. La frecuencia de ViLeF en 2020 para Ceiba, Rionegro (Colombia) es de 32,60%, un valor elevado con respecto a descripciones en otros albergues para felinos. ViLeF es una enfermedad que está siendo reportada con mayor frecuencia en Colombia, debido a que las medidas de prevención no se están adoptando rutinariamente.

ABSTRACT Feline viral leukemia (ViLeF) is a lethal retroviral disease with a high prevalence in Colombia that affects felines of different ages and sexes. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the frequency by serodiagnosis of ViLeF in felines of the integral center of animal welfare Ceiba, located in Rionegro, Antioquia (Colombia), during 2020. For that, a longitudinal descriptive study of ViLeF serofrequency from were made January to December 2020. 92 cats were sampled, which were tested for p27 by commercial Elisa immunoassay (Idexx©, Snap Combo Plus®, Maine, USA). The frequency of positive felines was 30/92 (32,60%). May was the month with the highest frequency (9,78%). The positivity frequency for males was 17/92 (18,47%) and the frequency for females 13/92 (14,13%). The main age of seropositivity was 2,14 years. The frequency of ViLeF in 2020 for Ceiba, Rionegro (Colombia) is 32,60%. This is a high value in comparison to descriptions in other shelters for felines. ViLeF, in Colombia, is a disease that has been reported with more frequency because prevention measures are not being adopted routinely.

Correlação entre as contagens de reticulócitos manual e automática em amostras de felinos anêmicos / Correlation between manual and automatized values of reticulocyte count in anemic feline samples

O objetivo do presente estudo foi correlacionar os valores de reticulócitos pontilhados e agregados obtidos por metodologia manual com a metodologia automática de contagem de reticulócitos totais em amostras de sangue de gatos anêmicos, analisados em um contador hematológico com citometria de fluxo. Para isso, 40 amostras de sangue de pacientes felinos anêmicos, independentemente de idade e sexo, foram utilizadas para a determinação das contagens absolutas de reticulócitos totais pela metodologia automatizada por citometria de fluxo fluorescente e pela técnica manual com corante supravital, em duplicata. Na contagem manual, houve a discriminação entre reticulócitos pontilhados e agregados. Para a correlação entre os métodos, foi realizada a análise de regressão de Passing-Bablok. A média do hematócrito dos gatos foi de 15,25%, tendo a maioria dos gatos (32,5%) apresentado anemia moderada (hematócrito = 17,81%). Como resultados, a análise de regressão demonstrou que a correlação entre a contagem absoluta total automática foi superior à contagem manual de reticulócitos agregados (rho= 0,71; P<0,001) do que a contagem absoluta de reticulócitos pontilhados (rho= 0,68; P<0,001). Os resultados apresentados sugerem que a contagem de reticulócitos total absoluta realizada pelo analisador hematológico ProCyte Dx em gatos anêmicos se refere à contagem absoluta de reticulócitos. Dessa maneira, recomenda-se que os valores possam ser utilizados para a avaliação imediata da condição hematológica de gatos anêmicos.(AU)

The aim of this study was to correlate the punctate and aggregated reticulocytes values obtained by manual methodology and the automatic reticulocyte count in 40 blood samples from anemic cats. Total reticulocyte absolute counts were determined by automated fluorescence flow cytometry and manual methods in 40 blood samples obtained from anemic cats. The manual count was obtained by supravital stain in duplicate to each sample and the reticulocyte morphology were discriminated between punctate and aggregates reticulocytes. Passing-Bablok regression analysis was utilized to compare the methods. Most samples were from anemic cat (15,25%) and the hematocrit mean was 17,81%. Regression analysis showed that the correlation between the absolute total automatic counts is higher with aggregated reticulocytes (rho= 0,71; P< 0,001) than with absolute punctate reticulocytes counts (rho= 0, 68, P< 0.001). Results suggest that the ProCyte Dx reticulocytes count in anemic cats is correlated with aggregate reticulocyte count. Thus, the greater amount of RNA and organelles in aggregate reticulocytes generates a cellular complexity and, therefore, greater impregnation of the dye in an automatic count. Thus, the values obtained by the hematologic instrument can be used for the immediate evaluation of the hematological condition in anemic cats.(AU)

Avaliação de dois testes sorológicos comerciais para diagnóstico das infecções pelo FIV e pelo FeLV / Evaluation of two point-of-care tests to diagnosis of FIV and FeLV infections

FIV e FeLV são retrovírus associados principalmente com neoplasias. Dois testes rápidos são disponibilizados no Brasil para o diagnóstico dessas infecções: um kit de imunocromatografia de fluxo bidirecional (SNAP® Combo IDEXX) e um kit de imunocromatografia de fluxo lateral unidirecional (ALERE/BIONOTE Anigen Rapid). O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o teste SNAP® com o teste ALERE. Amostras de sangue de 178 gatos foram testadas utilizando-se ambos os kits. A reação em cadeia de polimerase em tempo real (qPCR) foi empregada como método confirmatório para todos os resultados. O teste SNAP® apresentou sensibilidade e especificidade de 100% para FIV; a sensibilidade e a especificidade do teste ALERE foram de 96,15% e 98,68%, respectivamente. A sensibilidade e a especificidade para o FeLV foram de 93,02% e 96,30% para o teste SNAP® e de 90,70% e 97,78% para o teste ALERE. Ainda em relação ao FeLV, três amostras com resultado positivo na qPCR obtiveram resultado falso-negativo em ambos os testes. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os métodos. Considerando a qPCR como padrão-ouro, o teste SNAP® apresentou maior sensibilidade e especificidade para o FIV, e o teste ALERE apresentou maior especificidade para o FeLV. Os resultados mostraram uma boa correlação entre os testes.(AU)

FIV and FeLV are Retrovirus associated mainly with feline neoplasms. Two point-of-care tests are commercially available in Brazil for diagnosis of these infections: a bidirectional flow immunochromatography kit (IDEXX SNAP ® Combo) and a lateral unidirectional flow immunochromatography kit (ALERE/BIONOTE Anigen Rapid). The aim of this study was to compare SNAP ® and ALERE tests. Blood samples obtained from 178 cats were evaluated using both tests. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used as confirmatory test for all samples. The sensitivity and specificity of SNAP ® test was 100% for FIV, and for ALERE test was 96.15% and 98.68%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for FeLV was 93.02% and 96.30% for SNAP ® test and 90.70% and 97.78% for ALERE test. Three samples with a qPCR positive result for FeLV obtained a false negative result in both SNAP ® and ALERE tests. There was no statistically significant difference between the two methods. Considering qPCR as gold standard method, the SNAP® test showed higher sensitivity and specificity for FIV, and the ALERE test presented higher specificity for FeLV. The results showed good agreement among the tests.(AU)

Causes of death and euthanasia in domestic cats in the Santa Catarina plateau (1995-2015) / Causas de morte e eutanásia em felinos domésticos no Planalto de Santa Catarina (1995-2015)

Knowledge about the causes of death in felines constitutes important information to owners, veterinarians, and researchers, aiming at reducing the number of deaths in this species. In order to determine the main causes of death or euthanasia in cats in the Santa Catarina plateau, data from 1995 to 2015 available in necropsy files of the Laboratory of Animal Pathology (LAPA) of the State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC) were collected and evaluated. In that period, 1,728 cats were necropsied, mainly males (46.12%) and adults (50.11%). The mean ages at death for kittens, adults, and elderly were 5.07 months, 3.9 years, and 13.9 years, respectively. Of the 1,728 necropsy reports assessed, the cause of death was identified in 1,184 (68.52%) cases. The main cause of death was associated with infectious diseases (15.8%), with prevalence of feline infectious peritonitis (29.76%), followed by neoplasms (11.98%) with lymphoma (44.93%) and leukemia (16.91%) as the most common, and traumas (11.81%) mainly caused by motor vehicle accidents. These results show the need for owner awareness, as well as establishment of prophylaxis and vaccination programs, aimed at reducing the number of deaths and thus increasing life expectancy in the feline population.(AU)

O conhecimento a respeito da causa mortis em felinos é importante para que se construa um informativo para proprietários, médicos veterinários e pesquisadores, objetivando a redução no número de mortes na espécie. Com o intuito de determinar as principais causas de morte ou eutanásia em felinos domésticos no planalto catarinense foram avaliados os arquivos de registro das necropsias do período de 1995 a 2015 do Laboratório de Patologia Animal da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina. No período, foram necropsiados 1.728 felinos, principalmente machos (46,12%), adultos (50,11%). A idade média para filhotes foi de 5,07 meses, enquanto para adultos foi 3,9 anos e para idosos 13,9 anos. Das 1.728 necropsias de felinos, a enfermidade que levou o animal a morte foi determinada em 1.184 (68,52%). As doenças infecciosas foram a principal causa de morte (15,8%), dentre as quais a peritonite infecciosa felina (29,76%) foi a mais frequente; seguida das neoplasias (11,98%), sendo o linfoma (44,93%) e a leucemia (16,91%), as mais comuns; e dos traumatismos (11,81%), principalmente atropelamentos por veículos automotivos. Estes resultados refletem a necessidade da conscientização dos proprietários, bem como da instituição de programas de profilaxia e vacinação, visando a redução de mortes e o aumento na expectativa de vida para a população felina.(AU)

Development and clinical evaluation of a rapid diagnostic kit for feline leukemia virus infection

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) causes a range of neoplastic and degenerative diseases in cats. To obtain a more sensitive and convenient diagnosis of the disease, we prepared monoclonal antibodies specific for the FeLV p27 to develop a rapid diagnostic test with enhanced sensitivity and specificity. Among these antibodies, we identified two clones (hybridomas 8F8B5 and 8G7D1) that specifically bound to FeLV and were very suitable for a diagnostic kit. The affinity constants for 8F8B5 and 8G7D1 were 0.35 x 10(9) and 0.86 x 10(9), respectively. To investigate the diagnostic abilities of the rapid kit using these antibodies, we performed several clinical studies. Assessment of analytical sensitivity revealed that the detection threshold of the rapid diagnostic test was 2 ng/mL for recombinant p27 and 12.5 x 10(4) IU/mL for FeLV. When evaluating 252 cat sera samples, the kit was found to have a kappa value of 0.88 compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indicating a significant correlation between data from the rapid diagnostic test and PCR. Sensitivity and specificity of the kit were 95.2% (20/21) and 98.5% (257/261), respectively. Our results demonstrated that the rapid diagnostic test would be a suitable diagnostic tool for the rapid detection of FeLV infection in cats.

Ocorrência do vírus da leucemia felina em Felis cattus em Belo Horizonte / Occurrence of feline leukemia virus in Felis cattus in Belo Horizonte

Blood samples from 1,072 domestic cats of nine administrative regions of Belo Horizonte, MG, were collected and tested using PCR nested for the occurrence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Overall occurrence was 47.5 percent (507/1072) being North (68.1 percent) and East (54.4 percent) the most prevalent areas. Epidemiological data showed that FeLV infection was very common among examined cats and breed neither gender nor were predisposing factors for FeLV. The results suggest that the agglomeration of a large number of cats in the same environment can be an important factor for the increase in the rate of transmission of this retrovirus among domestic cats in the studied city.

Uterine adenocarcinoma with feline leukemia virus infection / 한국실험동물학회지

Feline endometrial adenocarcinomas are uncommon malignant neoplasms that have been poorly characterized to date. In this study, we describe a uterine adenocarcinoma in a Persian cat with feline leukemia virus infection. At the time of presentation, the cat, a female Persian chinchilla, was 2 years old. The cat underwent surgical ovariohystectomy. A cross-section of the uterine wall revealed a thickened uterine horn. The cat tested positive for feline leukemia virus as detected by polymerase chain reaction. Histopathological examination revealed uterine adenocarcinoma that had metastasized to the omentum, resulting in thickening and the formation of inflammatory lesions. Based on the histopathological findings, this case was diagnosed as a uterine adenocarcinoma with abdominal metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a uterine adenocarcinoma with feline leukemia virus infection.

Seroprevalencia del virus de leucemia e inmunodeficiencia felina en gatos de Montería, Córdoba / Seroprevalence immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia in cats in Monteria, Córdoba

El incremento gradual de la población felina en Colombia y algunos países está acompañadode la aparición de enfermedades que ponen en riesgo la salud animal. El virus deinmunodeficiencia y la leucemia felina son las principales enfermedades retrovirales demayor morbilidad y mortalidad en los felinos, que requieren de un diagnóstico oportunoque permita prolongar la vida de estos animales. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de cortetransversal que incluyó 60 gatos domésticos del área urbana de la ciudad de Montería procedentesde clínicas, consultorios veterinarios y viviendas familiares. El diagnóstico simultáneode leucemia e inmunodeficiencia felina se realizó en muestras de suero y plasma porel inmunoensayo comercial SNAP combo FeLV Ag/ FIV Ab (Laboratories Idexx Toronto,Canadá). Los animales fueron sometidos a exámenes físicos y de laboratorio. La poblaciónestuvo conformada por 30 hembras y 30 machos en su mayoría menores de dos años. Laseroprevalencia fue del 23,3% (14/60) para leucemia felina, inmunodeficiencia felina 1,6%(1/60) y la seroprevalencia de doble infección por el virus de leucemia e inmunodeficienciafelina fue del 5% (3/60). Se realizó por primera vez el serodiagnóstico del virus de inmunodeficienciay leucemia felina en la población de gatos domésticos de la ciudad de Montería;se estableció una seroprevalencia del 23,3% y 1,6% respectivamente.

The gradual increment of the feline population in Colombia and some countries is associatedwith presence of diseases that care produce animal health risk. The virus of immunodeficiencyand the feline leukemia are the main retroviales diseases with high morbility andmortality in felines and they require of a right diagnostic that extend the felines’ life. A descriptivetransversal cut study was done, 60 urban domestic cats of Montería were included,animals were from clinics, veterinarian consults and familiar houses. The simultaneousdiagnostic of leukemia and feline immunodeficiency was carried out by using inmunoensayo SNAP combo FeLV Ag/FIV Ab (laboratories Idexx Toronto, Canadá) in samples ofserum and plasma. The animals were submitted to a physical and laboratory examinationthe population studied were 30 females and 30 males most of them minor of 2 years. Felineleukemia showed a seroprevalence of 23,3% (14/60), for feline immunodeficiency a seroprevalenceof 1,6% (1/60), and the prevalence of double infection for feline leukemia andimmunodeficiency was of 5% (3/60). The immunodeficiency’s virus and feline leukemiadiagnostic was carry out for first time in the population of domestics cats in the city ofMontería and it established a seroprevalence of 23,3% and 1,6% respectively.