Although canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine enteric coronavirus (CCoV) are important enteric pathogens of dogs and have been studied extensively in different parts of the world, there are no reports on these viruses from the Caribbean region. During 2015-2016, a total of 104 diarrheic fecal samples were collected from puppies and adult dogs, with or without hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts (KNA). By PCR, 25 (24%, n=104) samples tested positive for CPV. Based on analysis of the complete deduced VP2 amino acid sequences, 20 of the KNA CPV strains were assigned to new CPV-2a (also designated as CPV-2a-297A). On the other hand, the VP2 genes of the remaining 5 strains were partially characterized, or could not be sequenced. New CPV-2a was the predominant CPV variant in St. Kitts, contrasting the molecular epidemiology of CPV variants reported in most studies from nearby North and South American countries. By RT-PCR, CCoVs were detected in 5 samples (4.8%, n=104). Based on analysis of partial M-protein gene, the KNA CCoV strains were assigned to CCoV-I genotype, and were closely related to CCoV-I strains from Brazil. To our knowledge, this is the first report on detection and genetic diversity of CPV and CCoV in dogs from the Caribbean region, and underscores the importance of similar studies in the other Caribbean islands.

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Introduction. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease of global distribution affecting humans and animals. The initial phase of leptospirosis resembles many other febrile illness and due to its broad and biphasic clinical manifestations, selection and implementation of appropriate diagnostic tests can be challenging. Case presentation. This report describes a case investigation of a 14 weeks old male, orphan puppy, presented with generalised jaundice, anemia, weakness, and anorexia. Clinical abnormalities included the evidence of renal and hepatic failure. Antemortem and postmortem diagnostic investigations were conducted to identify the cause of illness. PCR testing and culture of blood was positive for Leptospira sp. Necropsy followed by histopathology evaluation revealed lesions compatible with liver and kidney damage consisting of marked diffuse hepatocellular dissociation, acute renal tubular necrosis, and mild interstitial nephritis. Conclusion. Multiple diagnostic techniques including bacterial isolation confirmed Leptospira infection in this puppy. Whole genome sequencing and analysis identified the Leptospira sp. isolated from this puppy as Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni. To our knowledge, this case report describes the first isolation of Leptospira from Saint Kitts. This case highlights the usefulness of including multiple diagnostic tests for the diagnosis and epidemiological investigation of Leptospira infection. Accurate diagnosis followed by timely intervention can prevent case fatality and mortality in infected patients.

Objective -To determine if there is an association between the concentration of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in dogs measured at the time of admission with the severity of critical illness and short-term mortality.Design -This prospective observational study recruited critically ill dogs with heterogeneous diagnoses and then classified their disease severity using the acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation complete score as having either a good (<30) or poor (ࣙ30) prognosis. Setting -This study was conducted at Ross University Veterinary Clinic between January and November 2015. Animals -After exclusion of dogs diagnosed with acute kidney injury, 22 critically ill dogs and 7 control dogs were included in the study. Interventions -Each dog was assigned an acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation score calculated by the summation of individual scores allocated to selected clinical, focused assessment by sonography, hematological, and biochemistry results. Plasma SDMA concentrations were measured for all dogs at the time of admission. Measurement and Main Results -There was no difference identified in SDMA concentrations between dogs with a severe category of disease as compared to mild to moderate category, or critically ill dogs compared to control dogs. There was also no difference identified in SDMA concentrations in survivors as compared to nonsurvivors. Similarly, SDMA concentration was not higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (P = 0.968). In this population of dogs, SDMA was not a prognostic indicator. Conclusion -Further work may be warranted in specific populations of animals but based upon this work SDMA is likely of little relevance.

Leptospirosis is endemic in most of the Caribbean region, and it is considered to be one the most widespread zoonotic diseases in the world. In cats and dogs, the disease is caused by many different serovars. Cats and dogs have frequent interactions with other animal species including humans, thus they are a potential reservoir for transmission. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Leptospira sp. in cats in St Kitts. During the periods of February 2015 through December 2015, serum, whole blood and urine were collected from a number of feral cats in Saint Kitts. The standard microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was utilized to determine which feral cats were positive for various serovars: Icterohemorrhagiae, Ballum, Bataviae, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Ictero, and Pomona. Polymerase chain immunoreactivity (PCR) was performed on urine samples. Out of the 103 feral cats tested, seven cats were MAT positive to one serovar. The overall seroprevalence was estimated at 6.9 % (Confidence Interval: 1.9 % -11.9 %). One of the MAT positive cats also tested PCR positive. Although the seroprevalence is low, this study detected an exposure of cats to Leptospira spp. in St Kitts. Our study is the first published seroprevalence survey of Leptospirosis in cats on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts.

To date, there is a dearth of information on canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) from the Caribbean region. During August–October 2020, the veterinary clinic on the Caribbean island of Nevis reported 64 household dogs with CPV-2-like clinical signs (hemorrhagic/non-hemorrhagic diarrhea and vomiting), of which 27 animals died. Rectal swabs/fecal samples were obtained from 43 dogs. A total of 39 of the 43 dogs tested positive for CPV-2 antigen and/or DNA, while 4 samples, negative for CPV-2 antigen, were not available for PCR. Among the 21 untested dogs, 15 had CPV-2 positive littermates. Analysis of the complete VP2 sequences of 32 strains identified new CPV-2a (CPV-2a with Ser297Ala in VP2) as the predominant CPV-2 on Nevis Island. Two nonsynonymous mutations, one rare (Asp373Asn) and the other uncommon (Ala262Thr), were observed in a few VP2 sequences. It was intriguing that new CPV-2a was associated with an outbreak of gastroenteritis on Nevis while found at low frequencies in sporadic cases of diarrhea on the neighboring island of St. Kitts. The nearly complete CPV-2 genomes (4 CPV-2 strains from St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN)) were reported for the first time from the Caribbean region. Eleven substitutions were found among the SKN genomes, which included nine synonymous substitutions, five of which have been rarely reported, and the two nonsynonymous substitutions. Phylogenetically, the SKN CPV-2 sequences formed a distinct cluster, with CPV-2b/USA/1998 strains constituting the nearest cluster. Our findings suggested that new CPV-2a is endemic in the region, with the potential to cause severe outbreaks, warranting further studies across the Caribbean Islands. Analysis of the SKN CPV-2 genomes corroborated the hypothesis that recurrent parallel evolution and reversion might play important roles in the evolution of CPV-2.

Case summaryA 6-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat presented with non-regenerative macrocytic anemia of 2 years’ duration and minimally ambulatory paraparesis. Neurologic examination suggested an upper motor neuron paresis or T3–L3 myelopathy. The cat was positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), neutropenic, had polyclonal gammopathy and was euthanized following a hemolytic crisis. At autopsy, multifocal bilateral dark red masses were observed subpleurally around the costochondral junctions, extradurally and paraspinally in the spinal canal, and paravertebrally, on the lateral and ventral subpleural surfaces of the T4–11 vertebrae. Histologic examination of the masses revealed extramedullary hematopoietic tissue composed primarily of erythroid precursors and megakaryocytes, with occasional myeloid precursors and blood-filled sinuses. Bone marrow findings supported ineffective granulopoiesis, and decreased erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis, with probable myelodysplasia as the underlying cause of the hematologic abnormalities.Relevance and novel informationThoracic, paraspinal and paravertebral extramedullary hematopoietis presenting as masses has not been described previously in cats with chronic anemia. This is a unique case of a thoracic–spinal–epidural extramedullary hematopoietic masses resulting in possible spinal cord compression and paraparesis in a cat.

A two-year-old female dog unexpectedly collapsed and was presented to Ross University Veterinary Clinic. On arrival, it appeared normal and was kept overnight for monitoring and further diagnostic assessment. In the early morning the dog collapsed again, arrested and died. The dog had a long-term history of putative immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and relapsing allergic dermatitis and was being treated with prednisone. On postmortem examination, a large thrombus almost completely obliterated the lumen of the pulmonary trunk and extended into the pulmonary arteries. Chronic corticosteroid treatment, even at low doses, can have severe detrimental consequences that may not be clinically noticeable. Pulmonary thromboembolism is a rare but known consequence of hyperadrenocorticism in dogs, but acute fatal cardiorespiratory failure has not been previously described in iatrogenic Cushing’s. Clinicians should be aware of this and other potentially adverse effects of prednisone therapy and use caution when prescribing corticosteroids.