We evaluated the performance characteristics of the FilmArray respiratory panel and the eSensor respiratory viral panel on clinical and spiked lower respiratory tract specimens (LRTS). The overall agreement between the two methods was 89.5% (51/57). The lower limit of detection of both assays for all targets in LRTS was comparable to that for nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Lower respiratory tract infections, especially pneumonia, can be particularly severe and a cause of high morbidity and mortality in cancer and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients (1). In HSCT recipients, progression of respiratory viral infections from the upper to the lower respiratory tract occurs most frequently with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), parainfluenza viruses (PIV), and influenza viruses (2, 3). Two of the several multiplexed molecular assays cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the detection of respiratory pathogens include the FilmArray respiratory panel (FA RP) test (BioFire Diagnostics, Salt Lake City, UT) and the eSensor respiratory virus panel (eS RVP) test (GenMark Diagnostics, Carlsbad, CA). However, both assays are cleared only for testing on nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) specimens. A few studies evaluating both the FA RP and the eS RVP have included a small number of other specimen types, including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids, bronchial washes (BW), sputum (SPT), throat swabs, and tracheal aspirates (4-8). In this study, we compare the performances of both the FA RP and the eS RVP exclusively with lower respiratory tract specimens (BAL fluids, BW, and SPT) from cancer patients with symptoms of pneumonia. In addition to accuracy, the lower limit of detection (LOD) of the assays for each target in BAL fluids was compared to the LOD for NPS specimens.This was a retrospective study performed with specimens collected from July 2010 to March 2013 and stored at Ϫ80°C following testing by direct fluorescent antibody assay and viral culture as previously described (4). A total of 52 samples (31 BAL fluid, 17 BW, and 4 SPT) from 45 patients were included: 32 consecutive positive samples and 20 randomly selected negative specimens. Patients' ages ranged from 25 to 89 years old, with 25 liquid-tumor patients (12 with leukemia and 13 with lymphoma) and 20 solidtumor patients (12 with lung cancer and 8 with other types of cancer). The most common symptoms included radiological evidence of lung abnormality (infiltrates or nodules) and/or fever and cough. The study was granted a waiver of the HIPPA authorization and informed consent by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) institutional review board.To increase the number of positive specimens tested, BAL fluids (n ϭ 14) negative for all 20 targets detected by the FA RP were combined, split into 4 pools, and spiked with organisms from the Zeptometrix respiratory panel (Zeptometrix, Buffalo, NY). This panel includes all the targets listed in Table 1. The concentration of each viral stock solution varied fr...

Background: Lower levels of tryptophan (TRP) have been identified in people with inflammatory bowel disease and in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). No data on serum amino acids (AAs) but some on plasma in canine immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE) are available. The aim of this study is to compare serum AAs between healthy and IRE dogs, considering clinicopathological variables and follow-up. Results: Twenty-six healthy control dogs (CD) and 51 IRE dogs were included. IRE was diagnosed after the exclusion of extra-intestinal diseases and food and antibiotic responsive enteropathies. The canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI) was assessed at presentation and during the clinical follow-up. In CD and IRE dogs, 19 different serum AAs were measured. IRE dogs were classified into responders, partial responders and non-responders, based on CCECAI after 1 month, and divided into PLE and non-PLE, based on albumin level. IRE dogs showed lower L-Tyrosine (TYR), L-Phenylalanine (PHE) and TRP (p < 0.001) and higher L-Serine (SER), L-Glutamic acid (GLU), L-Arginine (p < 0.001), L-Threonine (p = 0.013), Proline (p = 0.044), L-Cysteine (p = 0.003), L-Valine (p = 0.018), L-Lysine (p = 0.01) and L-Isoleucine (p = 0.005) than CDs. PLE dogs showed lower L-Histidine (HIS) (p = 0.008), PHE (p = 0.005) and TRP (p = 0.005) than non-PLE dogs. In IRE dogs, median GLU was significantly lower in dogs with BCS 3/9 than BCS 5/9 category (p = 0.036). Total protein was positively correlated with PHE and TRP (both p = 0.031, r = 0.30) and albumin was positively correlated with HIS (p = 0.025, r = 0.31), PHE and TRP (both p = 0.001, r = 0.46). HIS (p = 0.041), PHE (p = 0.047) and TRP (p = 0.044) concentrations were significantly lower in nonresponders than in responders and partial responders. Conclusions:This study may suggest further investigation on serum, HIS, PHE, TRP and TYR as markers of intestinal disease and proposed HIS, PHE and TRP as prognostic marker for response to therapy.

OBJECTIVE To describe the association between a diagnosis of eosinophilic lung disease (ELD) in dogs with signalment and bronchoscopic features and evaluate the accuracy of visualization of nodules for the diagnosis of ELD. ANIMALS 781 dogs with cough that underwent bronchoscopy between 2014 and 2016. PROCEDURES Data were extracted from the medical records of each included dog. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to investigate associations between ELD and patient characteristics. RESULTS ELD was diagnosed in 113 (14.5%) dogs. More than 3 nodular lesions of the bronchial mucosa were detected in 64 (8.2%) dogs. The odds of having ELD were greater in dogs with nodules (adjusted OR [aOR], 26.0; 95% CI, 13.0 to 52.0) and static bronchial collapse (aOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.6), and lower in dogs having focal versus diffuse inflammation (aOR, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.37). The odds of having ELD decreased for each 1-year increase in age (aOR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.92), and increased for each 1-kg increase in weight (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.06). Visualization of nodules during bronchoscopy had a overall accuracy of 89.4% (95% CI, 87.0% to 91.4%), sensitivity of 41.6% (32.4% to 51.2%), and specificity of 97.5% (96.0% to 98.5%) for a diagnosis of ELD. CLINICAL RELEVANCE On the basis of high specificity and negative predictive value, lack of visualization of bronchial nodules during bronchoscopy can be used to preliminarily rule out ELD. However, visualization of bronchial nodules does not imply presence of ELD. This could be especially relevant when results of BAL cytology are available several days after the actual bronchoscopy.

Few studies have examined platelet alterations in dogs with chronic enteropathy. Our aim was to investigate platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet-tolymphocyte ratio (PLR) in dogs diagnosed with immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE). In this retrospective study of 41 dogs, data regarding signalment, canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), endoscopic and histopathological scores, PLT, MPV, PLR, total serum protein concentrations, albumin, and iron were collected. Clinical response and relapse were assessed with the evaluation of CCECAI over time. One month after starting therapy, dogs with >25% CCECAI reduction were considered responders. During a three-month CCECAI evaluation as part of a twelve-month follow-up, a CCECAI >3 together with a ≥2 unit increase in responder dogs was considered a relapse. PLT and PLR displayed significant negative correlation with MPV. MPV was positively correlated with total protein and albumin levels and negatively correlated with CCECAI. Three dogs were classified as non-responders, and 14 relapsed within 12 months. No differences were observed in PLT, MPV, or PLR between responding/non-responding and relapsing/non-relapsing groups. PLT, MPV, and PLR correlated with total protein, albumin, and CCECAI, confirming PLT as a potential marker, and suggesting MPV as a new marker of clinical efficacy against canine IRE.

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the endoscopic appearance of gastroduodenal ulcers (GDUs), and to assess the clinical, ultrasonographic and histological data, as well as long-term follow-up, in cats. Methods The medical record databases of five veterinary endoscopists were evaluated between January 2016 and 2020, in a retrospective study. Cats with at least one gastric or duodenal ulcer detected by endoscopic examination were included. All the medical records of the selected cats were reviewed and information was collected regarding breed, age, sex, neuter status, medical history, clinical signs, and ultrasonographic, endoscopic and histological findings. The cats were evaluated at 6, 12 and 18 months. Results Sixty-one cats with a median age of 9.0 years (range 2.0–16.0) were included in the study. The most common complaints were vomiting (n = 55; 90%) and hyporexia (n = 40; 66%); haematemesis was reported in 12 (20%) cats. Endoscopy showed GDUs in the following locations: gastric body in 28 cats (46%), antropyloric area in 34 cats (56%), fundus in 13 cats (21%) and duodenum in eight cats (13%). A single GDU was found in 42 cats (69%) and multiple GDUs were seen in 19 cats (31%). Histopathological evaluation revealed benign lesions in 33 (54%) cats and malignant lesions in 28 (46%; 24 high-grade lymphoma, one low-grade lymphoma and three carcinoma). High-grade lymphoma was detected only in the stomach. Cats diagnosed with malignant GDUs (median 10.5, range 4–16) were significantly older than cats with benign lesions ( P = 0.002). Conclusions and relevance GDUs are common and were detected in 5.1% of cats undergoing an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The risk of a malignant ulcer increases proportionally with each year of increasing age. GDU location, number and morphological appearance do not provide any indication of the nature of the ulcer; however, duodenal ulcers are frequently benign. Endoscopic examination facilitates the early and minimally invasive detection of GDUs in cats.