• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.24.1-24.7
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• 2022

Incidences of major feline viral diseases provide basic information for preventing viral disease in cats. Despite the growing interest in feline viral diseases, sero-surveillances have been lacking. In this study, we analyzed the diagnoses of feline viral diseases and conducted a sero surveillance of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) in Korean cats. Of the 204 confirmed cases since 2015, the numbers of diagnoses for FPV, FIPV, FCV, feline influenza virus, and FHV-1 were 156, 32, 12, 3, and 1 case, respectively. In total, 200 sera, collected between 2019 and 2021, were screened for the presence of antibodies against FPV, 2 FCVs, FHV-1, and FIPV using a hemagglutination inhibition test and a virus-neutralizing assay (VNA). The overall seropositive rates in cats tested for FPV, the 2 FCVs, FHV-1, and FIPV were 92.5%. 42.0%, 37.0%, 52.0%, and 14.0%, respectively. A low correlation (r = 0.466) was detected between the VNA titers of 2 FCV strains. The highest incidence and seropositive rate of FPV reveal that FPV is circulating in Korean cats. The low r-value between 2 FCVs suggests that a new feline vaccine containing the 2 kinds of FCVs is required.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.119-123
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• 2018

There has recently been a growing demand for pathodiagnosis to determine the cause of death in cats. We retrospectively analyzed the diseases diagnosed in cats that were submitted to Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) in 2015~2017. Overall diagnostic rate in feline samples was 85.2% (n=104/122). Among diagnosed cases, infectious diseases (n=63) were responsible for most of the feline diseases and feline panleukopenia (n=29) were most prevalent. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N6 was first diagnosed in cats at the end of December 2016 in the HPAI outbreaks. One case in 2015, 4 cases in 2016, and 14 cases in 2017 were associated with animal abuse, such as trauma and poisoning. These results suggest that suitable vaccination of feline infectious diseases, monitoring of the susceptible domestic animals during HPAI outbreaks, and interest on veterinary forensics to prevent and determine animal abuse are needed.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.240-242
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• 2018

A 1-year-old, female Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) presented signs of weight loss and dark browncolored diarrhea. On fecal examination, numerous intact and broken red blood cells were found, but both parasites and inflammatory signs were absent. No significant findings were seen in serum biochemistry profiles, including electrolytes, with negative feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI). Diagnostic kits using feces or peripheral blood were negative for feline parvovirus, feline coronavirus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline leukemia virus. Based on the result of feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI) concentration ($4.6{\mu}g/L$), the tiger was provisionally diagnosed to have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). After this diagnosis, pancreatic enzymes were prescribed. The feces of the tiger returned to normal form and her weight was increasing. EPI is uncommon and not described extensively in Felidae, including domestic cats. Feline EPI is associated with a variety of non-specific signs and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases presenting with weight loss, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal signs. In this case, the patient was strongly suspected to have EPI based on the very low fTLI concentration, though the concentration of fTLI in tigers has not yet been determined. This is the first report to present a suspected EPI case in Bengal tigers.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.31.1-31.4
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• 2023

From 2008 to 2017, blood samples from 280 and fecal samples from 149 stray cats in Gwangju, South Korea, were examined for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), Dirofilaria immitis, and Giardia infections using commercial diagnostic tests. Overall, the combined prevalence of FeLV, FIV, D. immitis, and Giardia was 8.6%, 1.4%, 0.4%, and 2.0%, respectively. FeLV exhibited the highest prevalence rate among the 4 pathogens surveyed, both in the 2008-2009 (9.6%) and 2015-2017 (6.3%) surveys. The results of the feline Giardia study represent the first prevalence report of Giardia infection among stray cats in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.31.1-31.8
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• 2024

Background: Recently, there has been a growing interest in stem cells for human medicine. Limited feline endometrial mesenchymal stem cell (fEM-MSC) research in veterinary medicine necessitates reporting for future feline disease research and therapy. Objectives: This study aimed to isolate fEM-MSCs from feline endometrial tissues and evaluate their morphology, proliferative ability, differentiation ability, and immunophenotype. Methods: Feline endometrial tissues were obtained from the ovariohysterectomies of healthy cats and isolated using an enzymatic method. The morphology and proliferative ability of the isolated cells were assessed using a doubling time (DT) assay from passages 3 to 6 (P3 - P6). We measured pluripotency gene expressions of cells in P2 using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). To investigate MSC characteristics, a trilineage differentiation assay was conducted in P4, and cells in P4 were immunophenotyped using flow cytometry. Results: fEM-MSCs showed a typical spindle-shaped morphology under a microscope, and the DT was maintained from P3 to P6. fEM-MSCs could differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes, and expressed three pluripotency markers (OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG) by qRT-PCR. Immunophenotypic analysis showed that the fEM-MSCs were CD14 ^-, CD34 ^-, CD45 ^-, CD9⁺, and CD44⁺. Conclusions: In this study, the feline endometrium was a novel source of MSCs, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation method and characteristics of fEM-MSCs.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.38.1-38.17
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• 2021

Background: The feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccine, prepared from viruses grown in the Crandell-Rees feline kidney cell line, can induce antibodies to cross-react with feline kidney tissues. Objectives: This study surveyed the prevalence of autoantibodies to feline kidney tissues and their association with the frequency of FVRCP vaccination. Methods: Serum samples and kidneys were collected from 156 live and 26 cadaveric cats. Antibodies that bind to kidney tissues and antibodies to the FVRCP antigen were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and kidney-bound antibody patterns were investigated by examining immunofluorescence. Proteins recognized by antibodies were identified by Western blot analysis. Results: The prevalences of autoantibodies that bind to kidney tissues in cats were 41% and 13% by ELISA and immunofluorescence, respectively. Kidney-bound antibodies were observed at interstitial cells, apical border, and cytoplasm of proximal and distal tubules; the antibodies were bound to proteins with molecular weights of 40, 47, 38, and 20 kDa. There was no direct link between vaccination and anti-kidney antibodies, but positive antibodies to kidney tissues were significantly associated with the anti-FVRCP antibody. The odds ratio or association in finding the autoantibody in cats with the antibody to FVRCP was 2.8 times higher than that in cats without the antibody to FVRCP. Conclusions: These preliminary results demonstrate an association between anti-FVRCP and anti-cat kidney tissues. However, an increase in the risk of inducing kidney-bound antibodies by repeat vaccinations could not be shown directly. It will be interesting to expand the sample size and follow-up on whether these autoantibodies can lead to kidney function impairment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2018

Various trials have been conducted to develop therapies for serious untreatable diseases. Among these, those using stem cells have shown great promise, and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are easier to obtain than other types of stem cells. Prior to clinical trials, characterization of ADMSCs with monoclonal antibodies should be performed. However, it is difficult to use species-specific antibodies for veterinarians. This study was conducted to confirm the panel of human antibodies applicable for use in immunophenotypic characterization of canine adipose-derived stem cells and feline ADMSCs extracted from subcutaneous adipose tissue collected during ovariohysterectomy. For flow cytometric immunophenotyping, the third passages of canine ADMSC and feline ADMSC and human CD31, CD34, CD42, CD44, CD62 and CD133 antibodies were used. Of these, CD133 reacted with canine cells (3.74%) and feline cells (1.34%). CD133 is known as a marker related with more primitive stem cell phenotype than other CD series. Because this human CD133 was not a species-specific antibody, accurate percentages of immunoreactivity were not confirmed. Nevertheless, the results of this study confirmed human CD133 as a meaningful marker in canine and feline ADMSCs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.928-933
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• 2009

In an effort to discover an antiviral substance against noroviruse (NV), which causes gastroenteritis illness world-wide, several plants including spices and herbs were evaluated for their antiviral activities against feline calicivirus (FCV) as a surrogate for NV. Among them, methanolic extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) exhibited significant antiviral activity against FCV. After treatment with green tea extract (3.13 mg/ml) for 1 hr, FCV was completely inactivated. The antiviral activity of green tea extract against FCV was also determined to be dose and time- dependent. The results obtained in this study suggested that green tea will be effective in the prevention of food-borne diseases caused by NV.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.65-68
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• 2012

Feline parasites were investigated in the area of Suwon in Korea from September to October, 2003. Wild cat had spread to zoonotic parasites, these parasites could cause infection with a person. People have a lot of interest in parasite infection of wild cat. This article reviews rate of infection of a parasites and kind of a parasite of wild cats. We will report the critical characteristic features of parasites to a better understanding of the disease. The incidence rates of Toxocara cati, Trichuris felis, Ancylostoma braziliense and Capillaria sp were 37.0, 4.3, 1.1 and 1.1% in nematodes. Those of Taenia taeniaformis and Opisthorchis sp were 2.2 and 1.1% in cestode and trematode. Those of Isospora felis, Toxoplasma gondii, and Sarcocystis sp were 8.7, 9.8, and 2.2% in protozoa. Almost of these were zoonotic parasites without Isospora felis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2021

An 11-years old spayed female Persian chinchilla cat presented with acute onset of blindness from bilateral retinal detachment and systemic hypertension. On physical examination, the cat was tachycardic (240 beats/min) with a systolic blood pressure of around 250 mmHg. Clinical findings, blood works, urinalysis, thyroid function test, radiography, echocardiogram, and ultrasonography were performed to rule out underlying diseases. Organ injury induced by systemic hypertension including bilateral retinal detachment and left ventricular hypertrophy were confirmed by ultrasound. Based on these results, it was diagnosed as feline idiopathic hypertension with target organ damage (TOD). The cat was treated with a combination therapy using high doses of amlodipine, telmisartan, and atenolol. After the treatment, its hypertension and TOD were improved. This case showed that appropriate therapeutic management can help prevent TOD associated with feline hypertension.