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In this study, we investigated severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus (SFTSV) infection in cats in Nagasaki, Japan. In total, 44 of 133 (33.1%) cats with suspected SFTS were confirmed to be infected with SFTSV. Phylogenetic analyses of SFTSV isolates from cats indicated that the main genotype in Nagasaki was J1 and that unique reassortant strains with J2 (S segment) and unclassified genotypes (M and L segments) were also present. There were no significant differences in virus growth in cell cultures or fatality in SFTSV-infected mice between the SFTSV strains that were isolated from recovered and fatal cat cases. Remarkably, SFTSV RNAs were detected in the swabs from cats, indicating that the body fluids contain SFTSV. To evaluate the risk of SFTSV infection when providing animal care, we further examined the seroprevalence of SFTSV infection in veterinarian staff members; 3 of 71 (4.2%) were seropositive for SFTSV-specific antibodies. Our results provide useful information on the possibility of using cats as sentinel animals and raised concerns of the zoonotic risk of catching SFTSV from animals.

Background and aim: Olympus Corporation released the texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) technology as a novel image-enhancing endoscopic technique. We investigated the effectiveness of TXI in the imaging of serrated colorectal polyps, including sessile serrated lesions (SSLs). Methods: Serrated colorectal polyps were observed using white light imaging (WLI), TXI, narrow-band imaging (NBI), and chromoendoscopy with and without magnification. Serrated polyps were histologically confirmed. TXI was compared with WLI, NBI, and chromoendoscopy for the visibility of the lesions without magnification and for that of the vessel and surface patterns with magnification. Three expert endoscopists evaluated the visibility scores, which were classified from 1 to 4. Results: Twenty-nine consecutive serrated polyps were evaluated. In the visibility score without magnification, TXI was significantly superior to WLI but inferior to chromoendoscopy in the imaging of serrated polyps and the sub-analysis of SSLs. In the visibility score for vessel patterns with magnification, TXI was significantly superior to WLI and chromoendoscopy in the imaging of serrated polyps and the sub-analysis of SSLs. In the visibility score for surface patterns with magnification, TXI was significantly superior to WLI but inferior to NBI in serrated polyps and in the sub-analysis of SSLs and hyperplastic polyps. Conclusions: TXI provided higher visibility than did WLI for serrated, colorectal polyps, including SSLs.

BACKGROUND Olympus Corporation has developed texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) as a novel image-enhancing endoscopic technique. AIM To investigate the effectiveness of TXI in identifying colorectal adenomas using magnifying observation. METHODS Colorectal adenomas were observed by magnified endoscopy using white light imaging (WLI), TXI, narrow band imaging (NBI), and chromoendoscopy (CE). This study adopted mode 1 of TXI. Adenomas were confirmed by histological examination. TXI visibility was compared with the visibility of WLI, NBI, and CE for tumor margin, and vessel and surface patterns of the Japan NBI expert team (JNET) classification. Three expert endoscopists and three non-expert endoscopists evaluated the visibility scores, which were classified as 1, 2, 3, and 4. RESULTS Sixty-one consecutive adenomas were evaluated. The visibility score for tumor margin of TXI (3.47 ± 0.79) was significantly higher than that of WLI (2.86 ± 1.02, P < 0.001), but lower than that of NBI (3.76 ± 0.52, P < 0.001), regardless of the endoscopist’s expertise. TXI (3.05 ± 0.79) had a higher visibility score for the vessel pattern of JNET classification than WLI (2.17 ± 0.90, P < 0.001) and CE (2.47 ± 0.87, P < 0.001), but lower visibility score than NBI (3.79 ± 0.47, P < 0.001), regardless of the experience of endoscopists. For the visibility score for the surface pattern of JNET classification, TXI (2.89 ± 0.85) was superior to WLI (1.95 ± 0.79, P < 0.01) and CE (2.75 ± 0.90, P = 0.002), but inferior to NBI (3.67 ± 0.55, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION TXI provided higher visibility than WLI, lower than NBI, and comparable to or higher than CE in the magnified observation of colorectal adenomas.

ObjectivesLittle has been reported on the yield and characteristics of colorectal neoplasia detected by the two-sample faecal immunochemical test (FIT), particularly the difference between subjects with two-positive results on the two-sample FIT and those with one-positive results. We aimed to assess risk stratification among patients with positive two-sample FIT to prioritise colonoscopy.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study.SettingA single-centre, representative endoscopy clinic in Japan.ParticipantsConsecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy were enrolled. Indications for colonoscopy included two-positive results on the two-sample FIT (FIT (+/+)), one-positive results on the two-sample FIT (FIT (+/−)), and other reasons (non-FIT group, including presence of symptoms, screening or surveillance).Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcomes were detection rates of colorectal cancers, including in situ (all cancers) and invasive cancers, based on the indications for colonoscopy. Secondary outcomes were cancer features, such as location, size, T stage and histological subtype.ResultsOf the 8724 patients, 264 underwent colonoscopy following FIT (+/+), 1018 following FIT (+/−) and 7442 for reasons other than positive FIT. Detection rates of all (and invasive) cancers in the FIT (+/+), FIT (+/−) and non-FIT groups were 12.1% (8.3%), 1.9% (0.3%) and 0.4% (0.2%), respectively. The cancer detection rates were much higher in the FIT (+/+) group than in the FIT (+/−) group, which in turn had higher rates than the non-FIT group. Moreover, the FIT (+/+) group showed more advanced T stages on tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) classification (Tis/T1/T2/T3/T4: 10/7/4/10/1) than the FIT (+/−) group (16/1/2/0/0, p<0.001).ConclusionsTwo-positive results for two-sample FIT showed a much higher yield for more advanced colorectal cancers than the one-positive result. High priority for diagnostic colonoscopy should be assigned to patients with two-positive-FIT results.