Population-level information on feline morbidity in China remains limited despite the rapid growth of the pet cat population. This study described morbidity patterns among insured cats in China using insurance claims from a major pet insurance provider, with diagnoses derived from veterinary records. Disease events were classified into hierarchical diagnostic categories and subcategories using disease names and clinical descriptions. The study population included 163,890 insured cats contributing 194,284 cat-years at risk. A total of 42,867 disease events were identified in 31,870 cats, and ~ 19.5% of insured cats had at least one disease event during follow-up. The overall incidence rate was ~22 events per 100 cat-years. Digestive disorders were the most commonly claimed disorders, followed by urinary disorders, infectious diseases, respiratory disorders, and dermatological disorders. Gastroenteritis and lower urinary tract disease were the most frequent diagnostic subcategories. Cats aged less than one year had the highest overall incidence rate. Male cats had a higher incidence rate than female cats, mainly reflecting the higher burden of lower urinary tract disorders. Descriptive differences were also observed among British Shorthair, Maine Coon, and Devon Rex cats. This study provides the first broad insurance-based description of feline morbidity across multiple diagnostic categories in China. The findings offer baseline evidence for future disease-specific epidemiological studies.

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a common, multifactorial, multidisease syndrome with limited data reported in Asia. We analyzed nationwide pet insurance data in China from 24/September/2023-25/February/2025 and performed disease mapping on the full insurance cohort. Using a triangulation framework, we then implemented both case-cohort and province-matched nested case-control designs to investigate associations between demographic factors and time to first FLUTD event after enrollment. We identified 8744 FLUTD claims including 7121 incident cases with a morbidity risk of 5.4% (confidence interval [CI]: 5.3 - 5.5%) and an incidence rate of 37.9 per 1000 cat-years (95%CI: 37.1 - 38.8). Disease mapping showed higher-than-expected risk in several eastern provinces/municipalities. Across both designs, males had more than a 3-fold higher hazard of FLUTD than females. Compared with British Shorthair, Maine Coon and Devon Rex had a lower hazard. Neutering showed an age-varying effect which was strongest before 2 years of age (HR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.72-2.15) but still present between 2 and 7 years of age (HR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.13-1.36) with imprecise estimates in cats ≥ 7 years. These findings support targeted prevention and early management in younger neutered cats, including owner education, diet and water-intake strategies, stress reduction, and prompt clinical assessment of urinary signs. This study provides the first large-scale Chinese evidence on FLUTD using insurance data and highlights priorities for standardized diagnostic criteria and structured electronic recording across veterinary clinics, incorporation of time-varying covariates, and broader breed representation in future research.

Increasing evidence suggests that intratumoral microorganisms and their metabolites can modulate cancer initiation and progression. However, the composition and functional role of intratumoral bacteria in canine mammary tumors (CMTs) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the functional significance of tumor-derived Staphylococcus in CMTs, focusing on its effects on the proliferation and migration of CMT-U27 cells. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed reduced alpha diversity in CMT tissues, with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius identified as the most frequently isolated species. Functional assays, including CCK-8, wound healing, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analyses, demonstrated that intratumoral Staphylococcus pseudintermedius significantly enhanced cellular proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius significantly upregulated the expression of TLR2, as well as the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt and P70S6K. The inhibition of TLR2 using C29 suppressed the mRNA expression of VEGF, MMP9, MMP2, and EGFR. Collectively, these findings indicate that intratumoral Staphylococcus pseudintermedius promotes the proliferation and migration of CMT-U27 cells through activation of the TLR2/PI3K/Akt pathway, highlighting a functional link between tumor-associated bacteria and cancer progression.

Canine mammary tumors (CMT), the most common neoplasms in intact female dogs, lack effective treatments for advanced cases. Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an oncolytic virus, kills tumor cells directly and stimulates antitumor immunity. However, NDV also activates Type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling, which restricts its replication via the JAK-STAT pathway. This study investigated whether propranolol, known to suppress antiviral responses, could enhance NDV's oncolytic effect in CMT. In vitro, using the CMT-U27 cell line, the combination reduced cell viability, migration, and invasion. Propranolol increased NDV replication and suppressed NDV-induced IFN-I release and JAK-STAT signaling pathway activation. In the CMT-U27 xenograft model, both NDV alone and the combination therapy prolonged the survival and suppressed tumor growth, with no significant difference between the two. However, the combination markedly enhanced intratumoral NDV replication by inhibiting IFN-I production and the JAK-STAT signalling pathway. These findings indicate that propranolol enhances NDV-mediated oncolysis in CMT by inhibiting the IFN-I/JAK-STAT pathway, increasing viral load, and represents a promising combined therapeutic strategy.

ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the sedative and echocardiographic effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) administered via intranasal (IN) and intramuscular (IM) routes in cats.MethodsThis randomised, blinded crossover study involved eight healthy adult cats. Cats were randomly allocated to receive DEX 10 μg/kg via either the IN or IM routes. Sedation, mechanical nociception and muscle relaxation were subjectively assessed and physiological variables recorded at baseline and at 5 min intervals for up to 40 mins after drug delivery. Echocardiography was performed 15 mins after delivery.ResultsIn both treatment groups, sedation assessment scores significantly increased compared with baseline values (P <0.05). At 25-35 mins after delivery, only the IN group exhibited a significant decrease in mechanical nociception scores compared with baseline (P = 0.041, P = 0.042, P = 0.026). DEX delivery via both routes resulted in significant reductions in pulse rate (P <0.05). In the IM group, mean arterial blood pressure measurements 35-40 mins after delivery were significantly lower than baseline (P = 0.012, P = 0.012). Fractional shortening significantly decreased in both the IN and IM groups compared with baseline (P = 0.016 and P = 0.049, respectively). Both routes caused reductions in cardiac systolic function, with no significant difference between the two routes. Vomiting occurred in half of the IN group (4/8) and in all cats of the IM group (8/8), with a significantly lower incidence in the IN group (P = 0.046).Conclusions and relevanceIN delivery of-DEX provided comparable sedation, increased tolerance to mechanical nociception and muscle relaxation effects while causing fewer adverse effects than IM-DEX. Both routes similarly reduced cardiac contractile function. Thus, IN-DEX at a dose of 10 μg/kg is a viable alternative to IM-DEX for sedation in healthy cats.

Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate the survival and survivor characteristics in cats diagnosed with feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE) who underwent surgical aortic thrombectomy. Methods:Medical records from 2021 to 2023 were retrospectively reviewed for cats diagnosed with FATE that underwent surgical aortic thrombectomy. Data collected included signalment, medical history, clinical examination findings, laboratory parameters before and after surgery, the time from FATE onset to surgery, treatments administered, survival to discharge, and recurrence or long-term outcomes in discharged cats. Results:Thirteen client-owned cats met the inclusion criteria. Common postoperative laboratory abnormalities observed during hospitalization included azotemia (n = 8), anemia (n = 4), hyperkalemia (n = 4), and elevated alanine aminotransferase (n = 3). After surgery, 53.8% of the cats survived to discharge, with 71.4% showing complete recovery of hind limb motor function. Among the discharged cats, two (28.6%) were confirmed deceased during follow-up, while five (71.4%) were lost to follow-up. The median follow-up duration was 37 days (14-498). Recurrence of FATE occurred in two cats (28.6%) at 77 and 493 days postoperatively; both were successfully managed with medical treatment and survived to discharge again. Cats that survived had significantly lower preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (p = 0.033), postoperative serum potassium levels (p = 0.037), and postoperative blood urea nitrogen concentrations (p = 0.037) than non-survivors. Conclusion and relevance:Cats undergoing surgical aortic thrombectomy for FATE showed a 53.8% survival rate to discharge, with 71.4% of survivors achieving full recovery of limb motor function. Surgical aortic thrombectomy may be considered as a treatment option for cats with FATE, particularly when timely presentation allows for early intervention.

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) has been identified worldwide and is associated with reproductive and systemic diseases, yet the dynamics of PCV3 within pig farms remain unclear. Building upon our previous study, which initialised comparisons of different sample types for the detection of PCV3 in a sow farm, this study expanded both the range of sample types and the timeline of sampling in piglets and sows to better understand the PCV3 dynamics. This study collected two additional sample types—oropharyngeal swab (OS) and oral fluid (OF) along with placental umbilical cord (PUC) blood and processing fluid (PF) that were used in the previous study. Data were collected from July to August and October 2022; the aforementioned four sample types from 51 litters were collected, and additional OS samples were collected from two to three identified piglets per litter on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 post‐farrowing. Besides, blood swabs were taken from 135 sows subject to both PCR test and oestrogen measurement. PF showed the highest detection rates (50/51), while OS and OF revealed 33/51 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51.2%–76.8%) and 37/51 (95% CI: 59.5%–83.5%) detection rates; both were higher than that of PUC blood (22/51, 95% CI: 30.2%–56.8%). Despite the similarity between OS and OF samples, they did not identify the same population as infected, as the agreement between the samples was only fair at 90% level. The Bayesian generalised linear mixed model suggested PCV3 was more likely to be detected in both OS and OF compared to PUC blood, and PCV3 was present in the farrowing room throughout the pre‐weaning period using an OS. Finally, we observed higher PCV3 detection rates in sows after farrowing; however, no evidence was found that such a pattern was associated with the decreased concentration of oestrogen.

Mammary tumours are the most common type of neoplasm in female dogs, with nearly half being malignant. Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) therapy has emerged as a novel cancer treatment option; however, its precise oncolytic mechanism in canine mammary tumours (CMT) remain unclear. Ultrastructural analysis of NDV-infected CMT-U27 cells with locally damaged cell membranes and swollen and ruptured mitochondria revealed the occurrence of pyroptosis. Transcriptome sequencing further identified a significant upregulation of pyroptosis-related genes, including NLRP1, NOD2, caspase-1, and GSDMD. Subsequent examination of RNA and protein expression levels of pyroptosis-related molecules in vitro indicated that NDV induces pyroptosis in CMT-U27 cells via the caspase-1/GSDMD pathway. Additionally, inhibition of the TNFα/NF-κB pathway and knockdown of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) using small interfering RNA demonstrated that the TNFα/NF-κB pathway can regulate NDV-induced pyroptosis through the NLRP3 inflammasome. In a xenograft model, intravenous administration of NDV significantly inhibited tumour growth, and prolonged the survival time in nude mice bearing CMT-U27 cells. NDV treatment enhances intratumoural pyrotosis in tumour bearing mice. In conclusion, these findings suggest that NDV induces pyroptosis in CMT-U27 cells through the TNFα/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, providing a foundation for future research into NDV's therapeutic potential in canine mammary cancer.

Bordering cities and farms serve as potential hotspots for the transboundary spread of animal infectious agents. This study aimed to investigate the presence and genetic variability of porcine circovirus types 2 (PCV2) and 3 (PCV3) in live markets across six border cities (Dandong, Ji'an, Hunchun, Mishan, Fuyuan, and Heihe) in northeast China. Samples from pork (n = 44), cutting boards (n = 46), and meat stall floors (n = 42) were collected in 46 meat stalls. Quantitative PCR analysis detected PCV2 in 75.0% (95% CI: 59.7%-86.8%) of pork samples, 73.9% (95% CI: 58.9%-85.7%) of cutting board swabs, and 64.3% (95% CI: 48.0%-78.4%) of meat stall floor swabs. For PCV3, the detection rates in pork, cutting board swabs, and meat stall floor swabs were 31.8% (95% CI: 18.6%-47.6%), 67.4% (95% CI: 52.0%-80.5%), and 54.7% (95% CI: 38.7%-70.2%), respectively. Subsequent sequencing of positive samples identified five open reading frame (ORF)2 sequences of PCV2 from markets in Dandong, Fuyuan, and Hunchun, with one sequence from Dandong shared 99.4% homology with a Russia sequence. Similarly, five ORF2 sequences of PCV3 were obtained from samples in Hunchun, Heihe, and Ji'an, including a sequence from Hunchun showing 99.6% homology to a sequence from a pig farm in Changchun in Jilin Province. These findings suggest that border market pork trade may contribute to the introduction and dissemination of PCV2 and PCV3. The observed genetic similarities highlight potential transboundary transmission routes, emphasizing the need for active surveillance and control measures to mitigate the risks associated with the transboundary transmission of emerging swine pathogens.

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of trazodone on sedation, and physiological and echocardiographic variables in healthy cats. Methods This randomised, blinded, crossover study involved eight healthy adult cats receiving either a placebo or oral doses of trazodone (50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg), with a washout period of at least 1 week between doses. Sedation, muscle relaxation and analgesia scores were assessed, along with physiological variables including systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse rate (PR) and respiratory rate (RR) at baseline (T0) and at 30-min intervals after administration (T30–T240). Echocardiographic variables were measured at T0 and T90. Results In the trazodone groups, cats’ sedation scores significantly increased compared with T0, with no significant changes in muscle relaxation or analgesia scores. A significant mean reduction of 22 ± 7 mmHg in SBP was observed only at T150 after oral administration of 100 mg trazodone compared with the placebo, but the SBP still remained within the reference interval. Across all trazodone doses, PR showed no significant changes, while RR significantly decreased compared with T0. There were no significant changes in echocardiographic variables after administration of three different doses of trazodone. Conclusions and relevance Oral administration of 50 mg, 75 mg or 100 mg of trazodone in cats produces mild sedation but there is a lack of muscle relaxation and analgesic effects. Trazodone has minimal effects on SBP, PR and RR in cats, although the 100 mg dose may cause a slight decrease in SBP within the physiological interval. Furthermore, oral trazodone at the tested doses has no impact on echocardiographic variables.

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) has been detected in wild boars across many countries in Europe, Asia, and South America. However, data regarding the presence of porcine circoviruses in wild boars and ticks remain limited. In this study, we investigated the presence and genetic characteristics of PCV3 in wild boars and parasitizing ticks in Jiangsu, China. Samples, including whole blood, serum, tissues, feces, and oral fluids from wild boars, as well as ticks collected from 47 wild boars, were obtained between March 2021 and November 2022. PCR results indicated that 34.0% (16/47) of wild boars tested positive for PCV3, while ELISA detected 41.9% (18/43) seropositivity. RT-qPCR results showed that 7.2% (6/83) were positive for PCV3 in 83 analyzed tick samples, with all positive samples identified as Amblyomma testudinarium. The PCV3 genome obtained from wild boars was classified as PCV3a and was closely related to the strain identified in domestic pigs in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Collectively, these findings confirm the presence of PCV3 in wild boars in Jiangsu and suggest a possible link of PCV3 infection among domestic pigs, wild boars, and ticks, providing new insights into the transmission risk of PCV3 at wildlife–livestock–human interfaces and highlighting the genetic homology between strains from wild and domestic pigs.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of three different doses of oral pregabalin on minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (MACISO) in cats.Study designProspective, randomized, placebo controlled, blinded, crossover trial.AnimalsA group of eight healthy adult cats (24–48 months old).MethodsCats were randomly assigned to three oral doses of pregabalin (low dose: 2.5 mg kg-1, medium dose: 5 mg kg-1, high dose: 10 mg kg-1) or placebo 2 hours before MACISO determination, with the multiple treatments administered with a minimum 7 day washout period. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen until endotracheal intubation was achieved, and maintained with isoflurane with volume-controlled ventilation. MACISO was determined in triplicate using the bracketing technique and tail clamp method 120 minutes after pregabalin or placebo administration. Physiologic variables (including heart rate and blood pressure) recorded during MACISO determination were averaged and compared between the pregabalin and placebo treatments. One-way analysis of variance and the Friedman test were used to assess the difference for normally and non-normally distributed data, respectively. The Tukey test was employed as a post hoc analysis. Values of p < 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsThe MACISO with the medium and high dose pregabalin treatments were 1.33 ± 0.21% and 1.23 ± 0.17%, respectively. These were significantly lower than MACISO after placebo treatment (1.62 ± 0.13%; p = 0.014, p < 0.001, respectively), representing a decrease of 18 ± 9% and 24 ± 6%. The mean plasma pregabalin concentration was negatively correlated with MACISO values. Physiologic variables did not differ significantly between treatments.Conclusion and clinical relevanceDoses of 5 or 10 mg kg-1 pregabalin, given orally 2 hours before determining MACISO, had a significant isoflurane-sparing effect in cats.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of oral pregabalin (PGB) for sedation and its impact on physiological and echocardiographic variables in healthy cats.Methods This study was a randomised, blinded, crossover trial. Eight cats were randomly assigned to receive PGB or placebo, with a 1-week washout period between each administration. Cats in the treatment group received oral PGB at varying doses (low dose: 2.5 mg/kg, medium dose: 5 mg/kg, high dose: 10 mg/kg). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (RR) and sedation score were measured at intervals of 30 mins after administration. Echocardiography was performed 120 mins after administration.Results Oral administration of PGB 2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg significantly increased sedation scores starting at 150 mins, while 10 mg/kg PGB showed a significant increase in sedation scores starting at 120 mins compared with placebo. PGB 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg resulted in a significant reduction in SBP compared with placebo, with minimal impact on PR and RR. In addition, PGB 10 mg/kg resulted in significant changes in the peak velocity of late diastolic transmitral flow (A) and the ratio of peak velocity of early diastolic transmitral flow and A; however, these changes were of marginal clinical significance.Conclusions and relevance A single dose of oral PGB could cause mild to moderate sedation. Hypotension was more prevalent in the PGB 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg groups among the majority of cats, but it was less frequently observed in the PGB 2.5 mg/kg group.

Objective To determine if oral gabapentin decreases the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in cats. Study design Prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover, and experimental study. Animals A total of six healthy adult cats (three male, three female) aged 18–42 months, weighing 3.31 ± 0.26 kg. Methods Cats were randomly given oral gabapentin (100 mg cat−1) or placebo 2 h before starting MAC determination, with the crossover treatment given at least 7 days apart. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Isoflurane MAC was determined in duplicate using an iterative bracketing technique and tail clamp method. Hemodynamic and other vital variables were recorded at each stable isoflurane concentration and were compared between gabapentin and placebo treatments at lowest end-tidal isoflurane concentration when cats did not respond to tail clamping. A paired t-test was used to compare normally distributed data, and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied for non-normally distributed data. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Data are mean ± standard deviation. Results Isoflurane MAC in the gabapentin treatment was 1.02 ± 0.11%, which was significantly lower than that in the placebo treatment (1.49 ± 0.12%; p < 0.001), decreasing by 31.58 ± 6.94%. No significant differences were found in cardiovascular and other vital variables between treatments. Conclusion and clinical relevance Oral administration of gabapentin 2 h before starting MAC determination had a significant isoflurane MAC-sparing effect in cats with no observed hemodynamic benefit.

Spontaneous canine mammary carcinomas (CMCs) have been widely considered a good research model for human breast cancers, which brings much attention to CMCs. In recent years, the oncolytic effect of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on cancer cells has been widely studied, but its effect on CMCs is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the oncolytic effect of NDV LaSota strain on canine mammary carcinoma cell line (CMT-U27) in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro cytotoxicity and immunocytochemistry experiments showed that NDV selectively replicated in CMT-U27 cells, and inhibited cell proliferation and migration but not in MDCK cells. KEGG analysis of transcriptome sequencing indicated the importance of the TNFα and NF-κB signalling pathways in the anti-tumour effect of NDV. Subsequently, the significantly increased expression of TNFα, p65, phospho-p65, caspase-8, caspase-3 and cleaved-PARP proteins in the NDV group suggested that NDV induced CMT-U27 cells apoptosis by activating the caspase-8/caspase-3 pathway and the TNFα/NF-κB signalling pathway. Nude mice tumour-bearing experiments showed that NDV could significantly decrease the growth rate of CMC in vivo. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the effective oncolytic effects of NDV on CMT-U27 cells in vivo and in vitro, and suggests NDV as a promising candidate for oncolytic therapy.

Objectives: In this study, the influence of methylprednisolone (MP) and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) on chondrocyte autophagy and bone quality were determined to investigate the mechanisms of femoral head necrosis in broilers. Methods: Chickens were divided into four groups: control, MP, 3-MA, and 3-MA+MP groups. Blood and bone samples were collected for biochemistry assay and bone quality determination. Cartilage was separated from the femoral head for histopathological analysis and gene expression detection. Results: The results indicated that MP treatment significantly affected blood levels of alkaline phosphatase, high-density lipoprotein, calcium, phosphorus, bone alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin in broilers. Additionally, MP treatment significantly increased blood levels of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5. MP treatment also significantly decreased the levels of bone parameters compared with these values in controls, inhibited the expression of collagen-2, aggrecan, and mammalian target of rapamycin, and increased the expression of beclin1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, protein kinase B and autophagy-related gene 5 of the femoral head. Furthermore, following co-treatment with 3-MA and MP, 3-MA mitigated the effects of MP. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that autophagy may be involved in the pathogenesis of femoral head necrosis induced by MP in broilers, and this study provides new treatment and prevention ideas for femoral head necrosis caused by glucocorticoids.