Campylobacter Species and Neutrophilic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats

Presence of Potential Enteropathogenic Bacteria in Cats and Association With Diarrhea in Multicat Households

BACKGROUND

Diarrhea in cats is common in multicat households, and fecal panels are frequently used to diagnose potential enteropathogenic bacteria.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the presence of potential fecal enteropathogenic bacteria and their association with diarrhea in multicat households. The null hypothesis was that potential enteropathogenic bacteria were not related to diarrhea in the cohort.

ANIMALS

In total, 234 cats from 41 privately owned catteries were included.

METHODS

In this prospective study, feces were evaluated for consistency according to a visual scoring system (Purina Fecal Score). Scores from 4 to 7 were defined as diarrhea. Quantitative PCR for Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens encoding the α toxin gene (cpa), Clostridium perfringens encoding the enterotoxin gene (cpe), Clostridioides difficile, Campylobacter jejuni/coli, and Salmonella enterica was used. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the impact of selected bacteria on diarrheic feces (fecal score ≥ 4). p values were corrected for multiple comparisons (q values in results). A q value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS

23/234 cats (9.8%) had diarrhea. None of the selected bacteria were significantly associated with diarrhea (cpa: q = 0.10, cpe: q = 0.20, C. jejuni: q = 0.70). E. coli was detected in all tested fecal samples (100%). The associations of Cl. difficile (detected in 2.3% of cats), C. coli (0%), and S. enterica (0.9%) with diarrhea could not be evaluated due to the small sample sizes.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Fecal bacteria detected via PCR were not associated with clinical signs of diarrhea in multicat households. These data do not support the use of PCR for fecal bacteria for baseline routine diagnostic work-up of diarrhea in cats.

Findings and Prognosis in 149 Horses with Histological Changes Compatible with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease characterized by different cell infiltrates in the intestine. The aims of this study were to report the clinical and clinicopathological findings in horses with histological changes compatible with IBD in the duodenum. Further, the clinical progression of IBD and survival were investigated. Patient records were reviewed for horses in which histological evidence of IBD was found in duodenal biopsies collected during endoscopy. The histological changes were classified as mild, moderate or severe and the predominant infiltrating cell type was recorded. Clinical improvement was assessed by the owner via a questionnaire at 6 weeks after biopsy, along with survival after one year. In total, 149 horses were included, and the most common clinical signs were weight loss, reduced performance and pain during abdominal palpation. Most horses showed partial malabsorption during an oral glucose absorption test, and the horses with severe IBD had lower serum protein concentrations. Lymphoplasmacytic enteritis was the most common type of IBD (78.5% of cases), while in six horses neutrophilic infiltration of the duodenum was present. Overall, 71% of the cases had improved clinically after six weeks, mostly following treatment with corticosteroids. The results of a second biopsy were a poor predictor of improvement, and the horses that improved after 6 weeks were more likely to be alive after one year.

Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization for the Detection of Intracellular Bacteria in Companion Animals

FISH techniques have been applied for the visualization and identification of intracellular bacteria in companion animal species. Most frequently, these techniques have focused on the identification of adhesive-invasive Escherichia coli in gastrointestinal disease, although various other organisms have been identified in inflammatory or neoplastic gastrointestinal disease. Previous studies have investigated a potential role of Helicobacter spp. in inflammatory gastrointestinal and hepatic conditions. Other studies evaluating the role of infectious organisms in hepatopathies have received some attention with mixed results. FISH techniques using both eubacterial and species-specific probes have been applied in inflammatory cardiovascular, urinary, and cutaneous diseases to screen for intracellular bacteria. This review summarizes the results of these studies.

Histopathologic diagnosis and patient characteristics in cats with small intestinal obstructions secondary to trichobezoars

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to describe the distribution of gastrointestinal histopathology findings associated with gastrointestinal obstructions secondary to trichobezoar formation in cats.

METHODS

A total of 100 surgical gastrointestinal biopsies were obtained from 44 cats with gastrointestinal obstructions secondary to a trichobezoar. Medical records, including signalment, type and duration of clinical signs, surgical reports and histopathologic analysis, were reviewed for each cat.

RESULTS

Biopsies taken near the site of the trichobezoar were more likely to show neutrophilic inflammation and mucosal erosion/ulceration compared with biopsies taken elsewhere in the small intestine. Lymphoplasmacytic and mixed lymphocytic and eosinophilic populations were the most common histopathologic findings from all biopsies followed by alimentary small cell lymphoma. Biopsy samples were more likely to represent a diagnosis of alimentary lymphoma in cats older than 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Gastrointestinal biopsies taken at the time of surgery in cats with trichobezoar obstructions may represent an important diagnostic tool for further evaluation of potential feline chronic enteropathy. Biopsies taken at the site of the obstruction should be interpreted cautiously as the presence of a trichobezoar may induce an acute inflammatory reaction. The resultant histologic interpretation at this site may not represent the chronic state of the intestinal mucosa, supporting the utility of obtaining multiple biopsies orad and aborad to the obstruction.

Repeat histopathology and culture of colonic biopsy specimens after treatment for Escherichia coli-associated granulomatous colitis in a cat

Case summary

A 7.5-year-old neutered male Oriental Shorthair cat presented with an 8-month history of haematochezia, mucoid diarrhoea, tenesmus and vocalisation after a 4-year history of small bowel diarrhoea. Transabdominal ultrasonography confirmed diffuse colonic wall thickening and extensive ulceration and erythema after colonoscopy. Colonic histopathology confirmed periodic acid-Schiff positive macrophages, consistent with granulomatous colitis; Escherichia coli was cultured from colonic biopsy specimens. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) identified intracellular E coli, and an 8-week oral course of marbofloxacin, a hydrolysed protein diet and a 5-day course of fenbendazole yielded a transient partial clinical remission of the colitis signs. A reported resolution in the small bowel signs was also reported. Colonoscopy was repeated 5 months later due to the recurrence of colitis signs. Histopathology was not consistent with granulomatous colitis supporting a complete remission; however, a chronic inflammatory enteropathy was confirmed with moderate lymphoplasmacytic, neutrophilic and eosinophilic colitis without a histiocytic component. E coli was again cultured from colonic biopsies with sensitivity to fluoroquinolones; FISH was positive for intracellular E coli. Clinical signs persisted despite a 2-week course of oral marbofloxacin.

Relevance and novel information

E coli-associated granulomatous colitis is rare in cats. Colonic biopsy specimen culture is important to guide appropriate antibiotic therapy. Repeat histopathology, culture and FISH have not been previously reported after treatment of a cat with E coli-associated granulomatous colitis. Persistent clinical signs after treatment with oral marbofloxacin alongside a confirmed complete histologic remission support the presence of a concurrent chronic inflammatory enteropathy and pathology for the cat's ongoing colitis.

Coumarin-based turn-on fluorescence probe with a large Stokes shift for detection of endogenous neutrophil elastase in live cells and zebrafish

Neutrophil elastase (NE), a serine proteinase, is a significant biomarker which is closely related to the progress of diseases. However, only few probes have been reported for detection of NE activity and cell imaging. And these probes have exhibited small Stokes shift, which leads to high fluorescence interferences. Furthermore, only one probe among them is able to image NE in vivo successfully. To overcome the above problems, we designed a novel coumarin-based fluorescent probe HNCOU-NE with large Stokes shift to visualize NE activity in living cells and zebrafish. The new probe HNCOU-NE for NE contains fluorophore HNCOU as the reporter and pentafluoroethyl as the enzyme-active trigger moiety. As expected, HNCOU-NE displays perfect detecting performance for sensing of NE, including good water solubility, large Stokes shift, high affinity and wide linear response concentration. In addition, HNCOU-NE has been successfully utilized for NE real-time detection and imaging in different living cells, exhibiting low cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility. Most importantly, endogenous NE fluorescence imaging experiments reveals that HNCOU-NE can distinguish liver cancer cells (HepG2) and other cells (293T, HeLa and SKOV3), illustrating its specific ability to diagnose liver cancer cells. Besides, probe HNCOU-NE also has the ability to specifically detect endogenous NE activity in living zebrafish. All the results indicate that HNCOU-NE is a valuable probe for qualitative and quantitative sensing of NE activity in vitro and in vivo.

[Chronic enteropathies in cats - diagnostic and therapeutic approach]

Chronic enteropathies are characterized by persistent or recurrent gastrointestinal signs including vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, anorexia and lethargy for a minimum duration of 3 weeks. Diagnosis is by excluding other disease processes and includes faecal examinations, blood screenings (e. g., thyroidal, pancreatic, liver dysfunctions, investigation for infectious diseases, vitamin B₁₂ status), diagnostic imaging, histopathological evaluation using biopsies from several different gastrointestinal segments and the response to therapeutic trials. Chronic inflammatory enteropathies are classified as food-responsive enteropathy (FRE), antibiotic-responsive enteropathy (ARE), immunosuppressant-responsive or, similarly -refractory enteropathy (IRE). Small-cell (low-grade) alimentary lymphoma (LGAL), a crucial differential diagnosis, is predominantly seen in older cats. The feline chronic enteropathy activity index (FCEAI), a clinical scoring system, was established to objectively assess the severity of clinical illness and to evaluate the response to treatment. In general, the prognosis depends on the underlying aetiology. Cats diagnosed with FRE typically have a good long-term prognosis with adequate dietary management. The response to treatment varies in cats with IRE, with same cats experiencing frequent relapses of clinical signs and still others being non-responsive to treatment. Prognosis for LGAL, with adequate treatment, is usually fair to good (median survival time 510-704 days).

The Host Cellular Immune Response to Infection by Campylobacter Spp. and Its Role in Disease

Campylobacter spp. are the leading cause of bacterium-derived gastroenteritis worldwide, impacting 96 million individuals annually. Unlike other bacterial pathogens of the gastrointestinal tract, Campylobacter spp. lack many of the classical virulence factors that are often associated with the ability to induce disease in humans, including an array of canonical secretion systems and toxins. Consequently, the clinical manifestations of human campylobacteriosis and its resulting gastrointestinal pathology are believed to be primarily due to the host immune response toward the bacterium. Further, while gastrointestinal infection is usually self-limiting, numerous postinfectious disorders can occur, including the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome, reactive arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Because gastrointestinal disease likely results from the host immune response, the development of these postinfectious disorders may be due to dysregulation or misdirection of the same inflammatory response. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important to the Campylobacter field, and human health, that the cellular immune responses toward Campylobacter be better understood, including which immunological events are critical to the development of disease and the postinfectious disorders mentioned above. In this review, we collectively cover the cellular immune responses across susceptible hosts to Campylobacter jejuni infection, along with the tissue pathology and postinfectious disorders which may develop.

Best Practices for Microbiome Study Design in Companion Animal Research

The gut microbiome is a community of microorganisms that inhabits an animal host's gastrointestinal tract, with important effects on animal health that are shaped by multiple environmental, dietary, and host-associated factors. Clinical and dietary trials in companion animals are increasingly including assessment of the microbiome, but interpretation of these results is often hampered by suboptimal choices in study design. Here, we review best practices for conducting feeding trials or clinical trials that intend to study the effects of an intervention on the microbiota. Choices for experimental design, including a review of basic designs, controls, and comparison groups, are discussed in the context of special considerations necessary for microbiome studies. Diet is one of the strongest influences on the composition of gut microbiota, so applications specific to nutritional interventions are discussed in detail. Lastly, we provide specific advice for successful recruitment of colony animals and household pets into an intervention study. This review is intended to serve as a resource to academic and industry researchers, clinicians, and veterinarians alike, for studies that test many different types of interventions.

Endoscopic Biopsies and Histopathological Findings in Diagnosing Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders in Dogs and Cats

Nowadays, endoscopic examination is a diagnostic tool gaining popularity in the management of gastrointestinal disorders in dogs and cats. Direct accessibility of the lumen of gastrointestinal tract combined with the mucosal biopsy provides a great diagnostic potential. Using endoscopy and endoscopically guided biopsy, one can conduct both macro- and microscopic assessment of lesions and perform many specialist adjunct examinations. Histopathological examination of mucosal biopsy specimens collected from the stomach and intestines allows us to distinguish between types of inflammations and to diagnose ulcerative, polypoid, and cancerous lesions.

What Is the Evolutionary Fingerprint in Neutrophil Granulocytes?

Over the years of evolution, thousands of different animal species have evolved. All these species require an immune system to defend themselves against invading pathogens. Nevertheless, the immune systems of different species are obviously counteracting against the same pathogen with different efficiency. Therefore, the question arises if the process that was leading to the clades of vertebrates in the animal kingdom-namely mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish-was also leading to different functions of immune cells. One cell type of the innate immune system that is transmigrating as first line of defense in infected tissue and counteracts against pathogens is the neutrophil granulocyte. During the host-pathogen interaction they can undergo phagocytosis, apoptosis, degranulation, and form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In this review, we summarize a wide spectrum of information about neutrophils in humans and animals, with a focus on vertebrates. Special attention is kept on the development, morphology, composition, and functions of these cells, but also on dysfunctions and options for cell culture or storage.

Idiopathic sterile pyogranuloma in three domestic cats

Pyogranulomatous inflammation has been extensively described in cats, in particular in cases of feline infectious peritonitis and also associated with Mycobacteria, Actinomyces, Nocardia, Rhodococcus and fungal infections. Idiopathic sterile pyogranulomatous dermatitis has also been described. In this case series we describe the clinical presentation, histopathology and outcome of three cases of feline idiopathic sterile steroid-responsive pyogranuloma with different presentation and different locations of the lesion, but with the common feature of having a mass with no superficial skin involvement.

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), porA and flaA typing of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from cats attending a veterinary clinic

OBJECTIVE

Campylobacter is a major cause of gastroenteritis in humans and pet ownership is a risk factor for infection. To study the occurrence, species distribution and sequence-based types of Campylobacter spp. in pet cats, 82 faecal samples were collected from cats in New Zealand. The PCR positive samples of Campylobacter jejuni were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), major outer membrane protein gene (porA) and flagellin A gene (flaA) sequence typing.

RESULTS

Seven faecal samples were tested positive for Campylobacter spp. (9%, or 4-17% at 95% confidence interval), of which six were identified as C. jejuni, and one was C. upsaliensis. The six C. jejuni isolates were characterised by MLST; four belonged to ST-45 clonal complex and two of the isolates could not be typed. Two flaA-SVR types were identified: three samples were flaA-SVR type 8 and one belonged to 239. By combining all data, three isolates were indistinguishable with allelic combinations of ST-45, flaA-SVR 8, porA 44, although no epidemiological connection between these isolates could be established. To conclude, healthy cats can carry C. jejuni, whose detected genetic diversity is limited. The isolated sequence type ST-45 is frequently reported in human illnesses.