The prognostic value of microalbuminuria in puppies with canine parvoviral enteritis

Increased urine albumin concentration (UALB) or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) at admission has been associated with systemic disease and increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill canine patients. The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic value of UALB and UACR for the survival, as well as for the development and duration of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in puppies with canine parvoviral enteritis (CPVE). Unvaccinated puppies, aged 1-12 months with confirmed CPVE, hospitalized for ≥5 days were included. Urine was collected at admission via cystocentesis; albumin was measured immunoturbidimetrically and creatinine spectrophotometrically. The presence of SIRS was daily evaluated. Statistical analysis was conducted using R language. Twenty-six dogs were enrolled; 12/26 (46%) developed SIRS during hospitalization, while 5/26 (19%) died. A significant correlation was found between UALB and UACR (ϱ=0.868, p0.05). SIRS duration was significantly correlated with UACR (ϱ=0.427, p=0.030), but not with UALB (ϱ=0.386, p=0.052). The non-survivors had higher median UALB [0.6 (0.1-12.7) mg/dL] and UACR [19.6 (0.7-2,093) mg/g] compared to survivors [UALB= 0.2 (0-1.5) mg/dL, UACR= 2.3 (0-16.9) mg/g], but the differences were non-significant (p>0.05). UACR appears to be a prognostic indicator of SIRS duration in puppies with CPVE. However, a large-scale study is warranted to confirm the usefulness of UALB and UACR for clinical risk assessment in puppies with CPVE

Brainstem phaeohyphomycosis due to Curvularia lunata (Cochliobolus lunatus) in a cat

A 13-year-old female neutered domestic short-hair cat was presented with chronic progressive vestibular ataxia, lethargy and anorexia. Clinical examination revealed bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. Neurological examination revealed obtundation, a right head tilt, ambulatory tetraparesis, generalised vestibular ataxia, decreased postural reactions in all limbs, right Horner's syndrome, spontaneous conjugate jerk rotatory nystagmus and right positional ventral strabismus. Neuroanatomical localisation was observed in the right central vestibular system. Computed tomography revealed a solitary ill-defined contrast-enhancing mass lesion at the level of the right cerebellopontine angle. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed mild mononuclear pleocytosis and fungal elements. CSF culture was positive for Curvularia spp. Further tests for underlying diseases were all negative. The cat was treated with antibiotic and antifungal treatment, but it deteriorated rapidly and was euthanased. Necropsy of the brainstem mass lesion revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation. Panfungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and subsequent sequencing identified Curvularia lunata in the formalin fixed brain tissue. This is the first report of brainstem phaeohyphomycosis by Curvularia lunata (Pleosporales) in a cat. In addition, this is the first report among animal and humans where fungal elements of Curvularia lunata were found in the CSF cytology. Opportunistic fungal pathogens should be always considered within the differential diagnoses list in cats with neurological signs and advanced imaging findings compatible with solitary mass lesions in the brain. In feline patients with pyogranulomatous meningoencephalitis and a suspicion of a fungal aetiology, panfungal PCR for the ITS region and sequencing should be performed regardless of the absence of fungal elements in histopathology