Spatial and temporal clustering of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Illinois household cats, 2021-2023.

This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and spatial and temporal clustering of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in household cats within 63 counties in Illinois from October 2021 to May 2023. The analysis followed a stepwise approach. First, in a choropleth point map, we illustrated the distribution of county-level seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Next, spatial interpolation was used to predict the seroprevalence in counties without recorded data. Global and local clustering methods were used to identify the extent of clustering and the counties with high or low seroprevalence, respectively. Next, temporal, spatial, and space-time scan statistic was used to identify periods and counties with higher-than-expected seroprevalence. In the last step, to identify more distinct areas in counties with high seroprevalence, city-level analysis was conducted to identify temporal and space-time clusters. Among 1,715 samples tested by serological assays, 244 samples (14%) tested positive. Young cats had higher seropositivity than older cats, and the third quarter of the year had the highest odds of seropositivity. Three county-level space-time clusters with higher-than-expected seroprevalence were identified in the northeastern, central-east, and southwest regions of Illinois, occurring between June and October 2022. In the city-level analysis, 2 space-time clusters were identified in Chicago's downtown and the southwestern suburbs of Chicago between June and September 2022. Our results suggest that the high density of humans and cats in large cities such as Chicago, might play a role in the transmission and clustering of SARS-CoV-2. Our study provides an in-depth analysis of SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in Illinois household cats, which will aid in COVID-19 control and prevention.

Oncolysis of canine tumor cells by myxoma virus lacking the serp2 gene.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the oncolytic efficacy of an attenuated form of myxoma virus lacking the serp2 gene in canine tumor cells. SAMPLE: Primary cells were isolated from tumors that were surgically removed from dogs and from connective tissue obtained from the cadaver of a dog. Cells of various established cell lines from tumors and nontumorous tissues were obtained. PROCEDURES: Experiments were performed with cells in monolayer culture. Cell cultures were inoculated with wild-type myxoma viruses or myxoma viruses lacking the serp2 gene, and measures of cytopathic effects, viral growth kinetics, and cell death and apoptosis were determined. RESULTS: Myxoma viruses replicated in cells of many of the primary and established canine tumor cell lines. Canine tumor cells in which expression of activated protein kinase B was upregulated were more permissive to myxoma virus infection than were cells in which expression of activated protein kinase B was not upregulated. Myxoma viruses lacking the serp2 gene caused more cytopathic effects in canine tumor cells because of apoptosis than did wild-type myxoma viruses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of the present study indicated myxoma viruses lacking the serp2 gene may be useful for treatment of cancer in dogs. Impact for Human Medicine-Results of the present study may be useful for development of novel oncolytic treatments for tumors in humans.

Altered granulopoietic profile and exaggerated acute neutrophilic inflammation in mice with targeted deficiency in the sialyltransferase ST6Gal I.

Elevation of serum sialic acid and the ST6Gal-1 sialyltransferase is part of the hepatic system inflammatory response, but the contribution of ST6Gal-1 has remained unclear. Hepatic ST6Gal-1 elevation is mediated by P1, 1 of 6 promoters regulating the ST6Gal1 gene. We report that the P1-ablated mouse, Siat1DeltaP1, and a globally ST6Gal-1-deficient mouse had significantly increased peritoneal leukocytosis after intraperitoneal challenge with thioglycollate. Exaggerated peritonitis was accompanied by only a modest increase in neutrophil viability, and transferred bone marrow-derived neutrophils from Siat1DeltaP1 mice migrated to the peritonea of recipients with normal efficiency after thioglycollate challenge. Siat1DeltaP1 mice exhibited 3-fold greater neutrophilia by thioglycollate, greater pools of epinephrine-releasable marginated neutrophils, greater sensitivity to G-CSF, elevated bone marrow CFU-G and proliferative-stage myeloid cells, and a more robust recovery from cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression. Bone marrow leukocytes from Siat1DeltaP1 are indistinguishable from those of wild-type mice in alpha2,6-sialylation, as revealed by the Sambucus nigra lectin, and in the expression of total ST6Gal-1 mRNA. Together, our study demonstrated a role for ST6Gal-1, possibly from extramedullary sources (eg, produced in liver) in regulating inflammation, circulating neutrophil homeostasis, and replenishing granulocyte numbers.