Wavy changes in the whiskers of domestic cats are correlated with feline leukemia virus infection.

BMC Vet Res. March 2023;19(1):58.

Masataka Morishita¹, Yuji Sunden², Misaki Horiguchi³, Hirosei Sakoya⁴, Mana Yokogawa⁵, Hiroyuki Ino⁶, Satoshi Une⁷, Mutsumi Kawata⁸, Taisei Hosoido⁹, Takehito Morita¹⁰

¹ Niihama Animal Hospital, 2-1-11 Wakamizu Niihama, Ehime, 792-0017, Japan.; ² Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8553, Japan. sunden@tottori-u.ac.jp.; ³ Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8553, Japan.; ⁴ Niihama Animal Hospital, 2-1-11 Wakamizu Niihama, Ehime, 792-0017, Japan.; ⁵ Niihama Animal Hospital, 2-1-11 Wakamizu Niihama, Ehime, 792-0017, Japan.; ⁶ Niihama Animal Hospital, 2-1-11 Wakamizu Niihama, Ehime, 792-0017, Japan.; ⁷ Neovets VR Center, 3-8-15 Nakamichi, Higashinari, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan.; ⁸ Neovets VR Center, 3-8-15 Nakamichi, Higashinari, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan.; ⁹ Neovets VR Center, 3-8-15 Nakamichi, Higashinari, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan.; ¹⁰ Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8553, Japan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus with global impact on the health of domestic cats and is usually examined by serology. In our daily clinical practice, we noticed that cats infected with FeLV often possess wavy whiskers (sinus hairs on the face). To investigate the relationship between wavy whiskers (WW) and FeLV infection, the association between the presence or absence of wavy changes in whiskers and serological FeLV infection was examined in a total of 358 cats including 56 cats possessing WW, using the chi-square test. The results of blood tests from 223 cases were subjected to multivariate analysis (logistic analysis). Isolated whiskers were observed under light microscopy, and upper lip tissues (proboscis) were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses.

RESULTS:The prevalence of WW was significantly correlated with FeLV antigen positivity in the blood. Of 56 cases with WW, 50 (89.3%) were serologically positive for FeLV. The significant association between WW and serological FeLV positivity was also confirmed by multivariate analysis. In WW, narrowing, degeneration, and tearing of the hair medulla were observed. Mild infiltration of mononuclear cells in the tissues, but no degeneration or necrosis, was found. By immunohistochemistry, FeLV antigens (p27, gp70 and p15E) were observed in various epithelial cells including the sinus hair follicular epithelium of the whisker.

CONCLUSIONS:The data suggest that the wavy changes in whiskers, a unique and distinctive external sign on a cat's face, were associated with FeLV infection.

Keywords

FeLV; Feline leukemia virus; Pathology; Wavy whisker (WW);

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

Performing an Avian Physical Examination in Practice
As with mammalian physical examinations, it is important to develop a consistent order for the avian examination to thoroughly evaluate each body system. Some components of the physical examination differ between avian species. For example, cloacal palpation is performed in chickens, but not in parrots.

National survey reveals elastic price sensitivity for select equine veterinary services.
Willingness-to-pay questions were presented with a payment card approach and addressed 3 common services: annual spring vaccinations, lameness examinations, and emergency colic surgeries. In a payment card approach, respondents choose from among preselected values. Respondents were asked to choose the maximum amount they would be willing to pay for each service.

Investigation of maternal mortality and stillbirth in feline dystocia after emergency obstetric care interventions: a retrospective analysis.
Medical treatment was successful in 17% of patients, and 83% underwent surgical treatment for dystocia. Ovariohysterectomy (59%) was the most common surgical method, followed by conservative caesarean section (35%).

Recovery of ambulation in small, nonbrachycephalic dogs after conservative management of acute thoracolumbar disk extrusion.
Forty-nine of fifty-one (96%) of deep pain-positive and 10/21 (48%) of deep pain-negative dogs recovered ambulation within the 12-week period. The median time to ambulation was 11 and 25 days for deep pain-positive and -negative dogs, respectively. Reduction in spinal cord compression varied among individuals from minimal to complete and apparently was unrelated to the recovery of ambulation.

A public health campaign to increase awareness of the risk of dog bites in South Australia.
Over one third (36-37%) of dog owners and 25-29% of non-dog owners had been previously bitten by a dog, although most did not require medical attention. Approximately 70% of dog owners believed it was safe for strangers to approach their dog, 34-37% allowed children or other people to pat their dog without permission, and less than half separated their dog from visitors or delivery people. In contrast, few of the non-dog owners allowed their children to pat a dog without the owner's permission and only 2% allowed them to play with dogs without supervision.