Jonathan D. Dear

Objective: To highlight clinical and clinicopathologic differences between kittens with feline infectious peritonitis–associated uveitis (FIP-AU) versus those with an otherwise similar feline undifferentiated resolving uveitis (FURU). Methods: Clinical and clinicopathologic data were compared between 22 kittens with FURU and 8 with necropsy-confirmed FIP-AU examined between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2022. Results: Sex, lifestyle, seasonality, household cat numbers and systemic signs were similar in both groups. Feline undifferentiated resolving uveitis occurred predominantly in domestic-breed kittens from shelters, whereas FIP-AU was more frequent in purebred or stray cats. Duration of ocular signs before presentation was 1 to 2 weeks for FURU versus > 2 months for FIP-AU. Feline undifferentiated resolving uveitis was more commonly associated with episcleral hyperemia while FIP-AU was more commonly associated with corneal edema, dyscoria, rubeosis iridis, iridal congestion/thickening, posterior synechia, or keratic precipitates. Corneal edema and chemosis were more severe in FIP-AU. No eyes with FURU had fundic abnormalities whereas 6 of 11 eyes with FIP-AU had chorioretinitis. All kittens with FIP-AU presented bilaterally whereas 5 of 15 kittens in which FURU was ultimately bilateral, initially presented unilaterally. Hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, and hyperbilirubinemia occurred only with FIP-AU. Neither likelihood of a positive coronavirus titer nor titer magnitude differed between groups. Conclusions: Kittens can develop bilateral fibrinous uveitis with keratic precipitates, systemic signs of illness, and serum coronavirus antibodies which resolves without sequelae following empirical treatment. Syndromic assessment—including careful fundic examination—can help differentiate FURU from FIP-AU and should precede antiviral therapy. Clinical Relevance: Resolution of uveitis during antiviral treatment does not confirm FIP. Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.

Background: Recurrent bacterial cystitis, often referred to as recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), can be difficult to manage and alternative treatments are needed. Hypothesis/Objective: Intravesicular administration of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) E. coli 212 will not be inferior to antimicrobial treatment for the management of recurrent UTI in dogs. Animals: Thirty-four dogs with >1 UTI in the 12 months before presentation. Methods: All dogs were deemed normal otherwise based on absence of abnormalities on physical examination, CBC, serum biochemical panel, and abdominal ultrasonography. Dogs were randomized to 1 of 2 treatment groups: Group 1 antimicrobials for 7 days or group 2 intravesicular administration of ASB E. coli 212. Owners were provided a voiding questionnaire regarding their dogs' clinical signs, which was completed daily for 14 days to assess clinical cure. Dogs were examined on days 7 and 14 to assess clinical cure, and urine specimens were submitted for urinalysis and bacterial culture. Results: Clinical cure rates for ASB E. coli 212–treated dogs were not inferior to 7 days of antimicrobial treatment with a 12% margin of difference to determine non-inferiority. No significant difference was found between the treatment groups on days 7 and 14 in the proportion of dogs achieving ≥50% or ≥75% reduction in their clinical score compared with baseline. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: These data suggest that intravesicular administration of ASB E. coli 212 is not inferior to antimicrobials for the treatment of recurrent UTI in dogs. This biotherapeutic agent could help alleviate the need for antimicrobials for some dogs with recurrent UTI, improving antimicrobial stewardship.

Bacterial pneumonia can present in both dogs and cats as either acute or chronic disease, and clinical signs may suggest respiratory or systemic impairment. Aspiration pneumonia, a common form of disease, can be caused by esophageal or laryngeal disease, vomiting, or altered mentation, such as with CNS disease or general anesthesia. Bacterial pneumonia can also develop due to inhaled airway foreign bodies, reduced local immune function, or impaired clearance of respiratory secretions. Rapid identification of the etiology and associated risk factors for pneumonia can help veterinarians develop a targeted therapeutic plan and prevent recurrence of disease.

Babesia species infect a very wide range of mammal hosts across the globe, and zoonotic infections are of growing concern. Several species of the Babesia genus infect dogs, and some of these cause significant morbidity and mortality. The Apicomplexan parasite resides within the red cell and infections result in direct damage to the host through intra- and extravascular hemolysis. An exuberant inflammatory response by the host to some species of Babesia parasites also results in significant collateral damage to the host. Canine infections have been the subject of many studies as the well-being of these companion animals is increasingly threatened by the spread of tick vectors and an increasingly mobile dog population. There are currently no widely available and effective vaccines, and effective treatment can be challenging. Understanding disease pathogenesis underlies the development of new treatments. The varying pathogenicity of the various Babesia parasite species that infect dogs offers an opportunity to explore the molecular basis for the wide range of diseases caused by infection with this parasite genus. In this review, we focus on what has been reported about the clinical presentation of Babesia-infected dogs in an attempt to compare the severity of disease caused by different Babesia species.

Babesia species infect a very wide range of mammal hosts across the globe and zoonotic infections are of growing concern. Several species of the Babesia genus infect dogs and some of these cause significant morbidity and mortality. The Apicomplexan parasite resides within the red cell and infections result in direct damage to the host through intra- and extravascular hemolysis. An exuberant inflammatory response by the host to some species of Babesia parasites also result in significant collateral damage to the host. Canine infections have been the subject of much study as the wellbeing of these companion animals is increasingly threatened by the spread of tick vectors and an increasingly mobile dog population. There are no widely available and effective vaccines and effective treatment can be challenging. Understanding disease pathogenesis underlies the development of new treatments. The varying pathogenicity of the various Babesia parasite species that infect dogs offers an opportunity to explore the molecular basis for the wide range of disease caused by infection with this parasite genus. In this review we focus on what has been reported about the clinical presentation of Babesia infected dogs in an attempt to compare the severity of disease caused by different Babesia species.

Background: Awareness of prescribing practices helps identify opportunities to improve antibiotic use (AU). Objectives: To estimate AU prevalence in dogs and cats in U.S. veterinary teaching hospitals (VTHs) and identify antibiotic drugs commonly prescribed, indications for use, and evidence of bacterial infection. Animals: Medical record data were collected from dogs and cats examined at 14 VTHs. Methods: Data were collected from VTH medical records of dogs and cats examined by primary care, urgent care, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, and surgery services on a single day during August 13-September 3, 2020. Data included signalment; clinical service; inpatient or outpatient status; clinical conditions; diagnostic tests; evidence of bacterial infection; intended reason for AU; name and route of antibiotics prescribed. Results: Of 883 dogs and cats, 322 (36.5%) were prescribed at least 1 antibiotic. Among 285 antibiotics administered systemically intended for treatment of infection, 10.9% were prescribed without evidence of infection. The most common class of antibiotics presribed for systemic administration was potentiated penicillin for dogs (115/346, 33.3%) and cats (27/80, 33.8%). For dogs and cats, first-generation cephalosporins (93/346, 26.9% and 11/80, 13.8%, respectively) and fluoroquinolones (51/346, 14.7% and 19/80, 23.8%, respectively) was second or third most-prescribed. Common AU indications included skin, respiratory, and urinary conditions, and perioperative use. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Collaborative data collection provides a sustainable methodology to generate national AU prevalence estimates and bring attention to areas requiring additional research and detailed data collection. These efforts can also identify practice improvement opportunities in settings where future veterinarians are trained.