No description available.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the most common oral neoplasm of cats, demonstrates aggressive local invasion and has a poor prognosis. In humans, mutation of the p53 gene, crucial in cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in damaged cells, is common in neoplasms. Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, is frequently overexpressed in many types of human cancer. Studies suggest that wild-type p53 inhibits survivin expression, while mutated p53 does not. The purposes of this study included immunohistochemical examination of survivin and p53 expression in feline oral SCC and determination of a correlation between p53 mutation and survivin overexpression, as well as comparison with survival time. Survivin expression was noted in 80% (24/30) of cases, while 43.3% (13/30) of cases were positive for p53. No statistically significant correlation was noted between p53 and survivin expression, even when corrected for age, breed, and sex; and survival time was not affected.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Corneal transplantation carries a high rate of success in the domestic cat and is an indicated treatment for specific corneal diseases in this species. The potential for iatrogenic transmission of viral diseases is a well-recognized problem in human corneal transplantation programs and screening donors for certain diseases is routine. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a common agent of disease in domestic cats and available blood tests are highly effective in identification of infected individuals. This study investigates the presence of FeLV within corneal tissues of FeLV infected cats. Seventeen cats were identified to be positive for serum p27 antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Twelve of these individuals were found to be positive on peripheral blood by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) testing. Seventeen ELISA negative cats were identified to serve as negative controls. Full thickness corneal specimens were collected from all subjects and analyzed for the presence of FeLV proviral DNA and gp70 antigen by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) testing, respectively. Eleven (64.7%) positive corneal PCR results were obtained from 17 ELISA positive cats. Of 12 cats which were both ELISA and IFA positive on peripheral blood, 10 (83.3%) had positive corneal PCR results. All corneal tissues from ELISA negative subjects were PCR negative. IHC staining of corneal sections revealed the presence of FeLV gp70 in corneal tissues of nine (52.9%) ELISA positive cats. Of the 12 cats which were both ELISA and IFA positive on peripheral blood, 8 (66.7%) had positive corneal IHC results. Positive IHC staining was localized to the corneal epithelium. Corneal tissues of all ELISA negative cats and all IFA negative cats were negative on IHC testing. This study reveals FeLV to be present within the corneal epithelium of some FeLV infected cats. Screening potential corneal donors for this virus is warranted. This work was funded by grants from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association Pet Memorial Fund, and the DSACS Quick Response Fund. / Master of Science

Latent feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infections, in which proviral DNA is integrated into host DNA, but not actively transcribed, are suspected to be associated with many diseases. Bone marrow is the suspected site of the majority of latent infections. The purpose of this study was to determine if polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could detect FeLV proviral DNA in bone marrow and provide a method of detecting latent infections. Blood and bone marrow samples from fifty cats and bone marrow from one fetus were collected; sixteen had FeLV-associated diseases. Serum ELISA, blood and bone marrow immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA), and blood and bone marrow PCR were performed on each cat, and IFA and PCR on bone marrow of the fetus. Forty-one cats were FeLV negative. Five cats and one fetus were persistently infected with FeLV. Four cats were discordant; two ELISA positive with other tests negative, one bone marrow IFA negative with other tests positive, and one bone marrow IFA positive with other tests negative. No cats were positive on bone marrow PCR only. These results indicate that PCR can detect FeLV in bone marrow, but no cats in this study harbored FeLV only in the bone marrow. Not all cats with FeLV-associated diseases are persistently or latently infected with FeLV. / Master of Science

Objective: We sought to determine N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide concentrations [Nt-proANP] in plasma from cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Secondarily, we wished to evaluate the relationship between [Nt-proANP] and echocardiographic variables. Methods: Venous blood samples were obtained from seventeen cats with HCM and from nineteen healthy cats. Plasma [Nt-proANP] was determined using an ELISA assay. The relationship between plasma [Nt-proANP] and M-mode, 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic variables was evaluated. Cats that were hyperthyroid or had evidence of renal disease were excluded from the study. Results: The mean plasma [Nt-proANP] was higher in cats with HCM (3.81 +/- 1.23 pmol/l) than in control cats (3.08 +/- 1.41 pmol/l); however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.17). There was a significant correlation between plasma [Nt-proANP] and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (r = 0.42; p=0.01). Additionally, plasma [Nt-proANP] was correlated with left atrial size (r = 0.35; p=0.03). A linear regression model was developed to further explore these relationships. LAs2D and LVPWd had an interactive effect on plasma [Nt-proANP] (R2 = 0.2737; p= 0.02). There was no correlation between any other echocardiographic variable and plasma [Nt-proANP]. There was no correlation between plasma [Nt-proANP] and heart rate (HR), body-weight, or age. Conclusions: Cats with HCM do not have significantly higher plasma [Nt-proANP] than normal cats. There was a significant linear relationship between [Nt-proANP] and LAs2D, LVPWd and the model that described their interaction. / Master of Science

Para avaliar se a dinâmica da infecção toxoplásmica em gatos infectados pelo VIF é diferente daquela que ocorre em gatos não infectados por esse retrovírus, gatos adultos infectados pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Felina (VIF) clade B assintomáticos (n=7) (Grupo I: VIF+TOXO+), e gatos sem a infecção viral (n=7) (Grupo III: VIF-TOXO+) foram inoculados pela via oral com cistos de Toxoplasma gondii cepa P. Os animais foram avaliados por meio do exame clínico, mensuração de anticorpos IgM e IgG anti-T. gondii pela Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta, eliminação e quantificação de oocistos pela técnica de flutuação em solução de sacarose, leucograma, e as subpopulações de linfócitos T CD4+ e CD8+ foram mensuradas por meio da citometria de fluxo. Outros dois grupos de gatos, um apenas infectado com o VIF (n=7) (Grupo II: VIF+TOXO-) e outro não infectado com nenhum dos agentes (n=3) (Grupo IV: VIF-TOXO-), constituíram os grupos controle. O período de eliminação de oocistos e a quantidade de oocistos eliminados foram semelhantes entre os Grupos I e III, respectivamente p=1,00 e p=0,201. O período de soroconversão e a duração dos títulos de IgM e IgG também foram semelhantes, respectivamente p=0,535; p=0,789 e p=0,674; p=0,123. No entanto, os episódios febris e de apatia foram mais freqüentes entre os gatos co-infectados (Grupo I) do que entre os animais do grupo não infectado com o vírus (Grupo III), embora estes últimos tenham apresentado diarréia mais freqüente e intensa do que os primeiros. Apenas no grupo co-infectado (Grupo I) um animal desenvolveu uveíte anterior unilateral autolimitante. Exclusivamente no grupo de gatos co-infectados (Grupo I), durante todo o período experimental foi observado aumento do número de leucócitos (p=0,047), linfócitos (p=0,029) e linfócitos T CD8+ (p=0,047) em relação aos gatos do grupo infectado apenas com o T. gondii (Grupo III). O grupo de gatos infectados somente com o VIF (Grupo II) apresentou diminuição quantitativa de linfócitos T CD4+ (p=0,031) em comparação ao grupo controle não infectado com nenhum dos agentes (Grupo IV), evidenciando a ação do vírus em destruir progressivamente essa subpopulação de linfócitos. A relação de linfócitos CD4/CD8 entre os Grupos I e II, infectados pelo VIF, e os Grupos III e IV, não infectados pelo vírus, foi alterada (p<0,001 e p=0,002 respectivamente), observando-se que a infecção toxoplásmica não teve influência sobre esse parâmetro. O aumento dos linfócitos T CD8+ nos gatos co-infectados e a diminuição de linfócitos T CD4+ causada pela infecção pelo VIF podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de manifestações clínicas mais graves nos gatos infectados por ambos os agentes infecciosos. / Asymptomatic adult cats (n=7) infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) clade B (Group I: FIV+TOXO+) and normal non-infected cats (n=7) (Group III: FIV-TOXO+) were inoculated, orally with cysts of Toxoplasma gondii strain P, in order to evaluate if there is a difference in dynamics of toxoplasmic infection between cats infected with FIV and naive-FIV cats. The animals were assessed by means of physical exam, T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent reaction, shedding and quantification of oocysts using sugar centrifugation, leucogram and CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes subsets using cytometry. Others two groups of cats, one of them only infected with FIV (n=7) (Group II: FIV+TOXO-) and other non-infected (n=3) (Group IV: FIV-TOXO-) composed the control groups. The shedding and quantification of oocysts were not different between the Groups I and III, respectively p=1,00 and p=0,201. The serum convertion and the period that during of values of IgM and IgG antibodies were not different, respectively p=0,535; p=0,789 and p=0,674; p=0,123. However, fever and letargy were more frequent between cats co-infected (Group I) than the group not infected with FIV (Group III), although the latter one had presented more frequently intense diarrhea than formers. Just one cat dually infected (Group I) presented autolimitant unilateral anterior uveitis. Only cats co-infected (Group I), during all period of the experiment, presented increase in number of leukocytes (p=0,047), lymphocytes (p=0,029) and CD8+ T lymphocytes subset (p=0,047) comparing to the cats only infected with T. gondii (Group III). Only in the group FIV-infected (Group II) was observed decrease in numbers of CD4+ T lymphocytes subset (p=0,031) compared to the not infected any microrganism (Group IV), showing the virus action to destroy this lymphocyte subset slowly. The CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio was different between the Groups I and II, FIV-infected, from Groups III and IV, FIV-naive cats, (p<0,001 e p=0,002 respectively) showing that toxoplasmic infection did not alter this parameter. The increase number of CD8+ T lymphocyte, in dually infected cats, associated with loss of CD4+ T lymphocyte caused by FIV, can contribute for the development of more severe clinical signs in cats dually infected.

Para avaliar se a dinâmica da infecção toxoplásmica em gatos infectados pelo VIF é diferente daquela que ocorre em gatos não infectados por esse retrovírus, gatos adultos infectados pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Felina (VIF) clade B assintomáticos (n=7) (Grupo I: VIF+TOXO+), e gatos sem a infecção viral (n=7) (Grupo III: VIF-TOXO+) foram inoculados pela via oral com cistos de Toxoplasma gondii cepa P. Os animais foram avaliados por meio do exame clínico, mensuração de anticorpos IgM e IgG anti-T. gondii pela Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta, eliminação e quantificação de oocistos pela técnica de flutuação em solução de sacarose, leucograma, e as subpopulações de linfócitos T CD4+ e CD8+ foram mensuradas por meio da citometria de fluxo. Outros dois grupos de gatos, um apenas infectado com o VIF (n=7) (Grupo II: VIF+TOXO-) e outro não infectado com nenhum dos agentes (n=3) (Grupo IV: VIF-TOXO-), constituíram os grupos controle. O período de eliminação de oocistos e a quantidade de oocistos eliminados foram semelhantes entre os Grupos I e III, respectivamente p=1,00 e p=0,201. O período de soroconversão e a duração dos títulos de IgM e IgG também foram semelhantes, respectivamente p=0,535; p=0,789 e p=0,674; p=0,123. No entanto, os episódios febris e de apatia foram mais freqüentes entre os gatos co-infectados (Grupo I) do que entre os animais do grupo não infectado com o vírus (Grupo III), embora estes últimos tenham apresentado diarréia mais freqüente e intensa do que os primeiros. Apenas no grupo co-infectado (Grupo I) um animal desenvolveu uveíte anterior unilateral autolimitante. Exclusivamente no grupo de gatos co-infectados (Grupo I), durante todo o período experimental foi observado aumento do número de leucócitos (p=0,047), linfócitos (p=0,029) e linfócitos T CD8+ (p=0,047) em relação aos gatos do grupo infectado apenas com o T. gondii (Grupo III). O grupo de gatos infectados somente com o VIF (Grupo II) apresentou diminuição quantitativa de linfócitos T CD4+ (p=0,031) em comparação ao grupo controle não infectado com nenhum dos agentes (Grupo IV), evidenciando a ação do vírus em destruir progressivamente essa subpopulação de linfócitos. A relação de linfócitos CD4/CD8 entre os Grupos I e II, infectados pelo VIF, e os Grupos III e IV, não infectados pelo vírus, foi alterada (p<0,001 e p=0,002 respectivamente), observando-se que a infecção toxoplásmica não teve influência sobre esse parâmetro. O aumento dos linfócitos T CD8+ nos gatos co-infectados e a diminuição de linfócitos T CD4+ causada pela infecção pelo VIF podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de manifestações clínicas mais graves nos gatos infectados por ambos os agentes infecciosos. / Asymptomatic adult cats (n=7) infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) clade B (Group I: FIV+TOXO+) and normal non-infected cats (n=7) (Group III: FIV-TOXO+) were inoculated, orally with cysts of Toxoplasma gondii strain P, in order to evaluate if there is a difference in dynamics of toxoplasmic infection between cats infected with FIV and naive-FIV cats. The animals were assessed by means of physical exam, T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent reaction, shedding and quantification of oocysts using sugar centrifugation, leucogram and CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes subsets using cytometry. Others two groups of cats, one of them only infected with FIV (n=7) (Group II: FIV+TOXO-) and other non-infected (n=3) (Group IV: FIV-TOXO-) composed the control groups. The shedding and quantification of oocysts were not different between the Groups I and III, respectively p=1,00 and p=0,201. The serum convertion and the period that during of values of IgM and IgG antibodies were not different, respectively p=0,535; p=0,789 and p=0,674; p=0,123. However, fever and letargy were more frequent between cats co-infected (Group I) than the group not infected with FIV (Group III), although the latter one had presented more frequently intense diarrhea than formers. Just one cat dually infected (Group I) presented autolimitant unilateral anterior uveitis. Only cats co-infected (Group I), during all period of the experiment, presented increase in number of leukocytes (p=0,047), lymphocytes (p=0,029) and CD8+ T lymphocytes subset (p=0,047) comparing to the cats only infected with T. gondii (Group III). Only in the group FIV-infected (Group II) was observed decrease in numbers of CD4+ T lymphocytes subset (p=0,031) compared to the not infected any microrganism (Group IV), showing the virus action to destroy this lymphocyte subset slowly. The CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio was different between the Groups I and II, FIV-infected, from Groups III and IV, FIV-naive cats, (p<0,001 e p=0,002 respectively) showing that toxoplasmic infection did not alter this parameter. The increase number of CD8+ T lymphocyte, in dually infected cats, associated with loss of CD4+ T lymphocyte caused by FIV, can contribute for the development of more severe clinical signs in cats dually infected.