Objectives The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of Leishmania species infection in cats in Northern Italy and to evaluate the associations between infection and signalment and clinicopathological data. Methods The study was carried out in a veterinary university hospital from June to November 2017. Blood, urine, conjunctival swabs and hair were collected from all randomly selected cats. Leishmania species infection was evaluated using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), setting a cut-off value of 1:80, and using real-time PCR on blood, conjunctival and hair samples. A complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, serum electrophoresis and urinalysis were also carried out. The cats were grouped on the basis of the results of the diagnostic criteria adopted in positive, negative and unconfirmed Leishmania cases. Non-parametric variables and continuous data were compared among the study groups using the χ2 test and the Mann–Whitney U-test, respectively. Results One hundred and fifty-two cats were included. Nineteen of the 152 (12.5%) cats were positive (18/152 [11.8%] showed an IFAT titre of ⩾1:80 and 1/152 [0.7%] was real-time PCR-positive from a hair sample); 106/152 (69.7%) cats were negative; and 27/152 (17.8%) cats were unconfirmed for Leishmania species. Total proteins, beta2-globulin and gamma-globulin were significantly increased in the positive Leishmania group compared with the negative group. Conclusions and relevance The results of the present study demonstrated the spread of Leishmania infantum infection in cats in Northern Italy. Hyperproteinaemia and hypergammaglobulinaemia appeared to be significant clinicopathological abnormalities in this population of cats with L infantum infection.

1,2-O-dilauryl-rac-glycero glutaric acid-(6′-methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) lipase activity has been proposed as a faster and less expensive test used in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) compared to canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI), which is considered the most sensitive and specific serum test available for dogs. Elevations in lipase activity have been observed in dogs with naturally occurring hypercortisolism (HC) and in those treated with exogenous steroids, which complicates the diagnosis of AP in dogs with HC. We compared lipase activity measured by DGGR and 1,2-diglyceride (1,2-DiG) assays in 22 dogs with HC, 22 with AP, and 22 healthy dogs. The dogs with HC had no clinical signs or ultrasonographic findings consistent with AP. DGGR lipase activity was elevated in 64% and 73% of the dogs with HC and AP, respectively, and in 18% of healthy dogs. 1,2-DiG lipase activity was high in 23% and 36% of the dogs with HC and AP, respectively, and in 5% of the healthy dogs. Both DGGR and 1,2-DiG lipase activities were significantly different between the healthy dogs and the other 2 groups, whereas no differences were detected between the dogs with HC and those with AP. Our results support a lack of specificity for both DGGR and 1,2-DiG lipase activity assays in aiding the diagnosis of AP in dogs with HC.

A growing number of studies suggest that the lower urinary tract of humans and dogs can harbor a urinary microbiota. Nevertheless, a certain concern has developed that the microbiota reported could be due to unaccounted contamination, especially in low-biomass samples. The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial community which populates the urine of healthy cats using two approaches: a culture-dependent approach which consisted of the expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) techniques capable of identifying live bacteria not growing in standard urine cultures, and a culture-independent approach which consisted of 16S ribosomal RNA next generation sequencing (16S rRNA NGS) capable of identifying bacterial DNA and exploring microbial diversity with high resolution. To avoid confounding factors of possible bacterial contamination, the urine was sampled using ultrasound-guided cystocentesis, and several sample controls and negative controls were analyzed. The urine sampled from the 10 cats included in the study showed no bacterial growth in the EQUC procedure. Although several reads were successfully originated using 16S rRNA NGS, a comparable pattern was observed between urine samples and the negative control, and no taxa were statistically accepted as non-contaminant. Taken together, the results obtained allowed stating that no viable bacteria were present in the urine of healthy cats without lower urinary tract disease and urinary tract infections, and that the bacterial DNA detected was of contaminant origin.