An 8-month-old owned European cat showing abdominal pain, fever, distended painful bladder and urinary blockage was presented. Intravenous fluids were immediately administered and, after sedation, a urinary catheter was applied. Blood and urine analysis revealed cystitis and a moderate-to-severe degree of renal failure. About 20 thread-like nematodes, identified as Capillaria plica larvae and fragments of adult stages, were found in the urine sediment. After treatment with an oral formulation of fenbendazole at 25 mg/kg q 12 h for 10 days, urinary signs and bladder worms disappeared. Cases of Capillaria species bladder worms in cats are rarely reported and most infected cats show no clinical signs, presumably because of a low parasite burden. In the present study, feline capillariosis was associated to urethral obstruction, severe difficulties in urination, cystitis and renal failures.
Pearsonema spp. nematodes infect the urinary bladder of domestic and wild carnivores. The red fox is considered a reservoir of Pearsonema plica, while the prevalence of Pearsonema spp. in domestic carnivores is still poorly known. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of Pearsonema spp. infection in privately owned cats (26) and dogs (83) from central and northern Italy alongside occurrence in red foxes (42) from central Italy. In positive dogs and cats, associated clinical signs were also evaluated. Urine samples were first examined under a stereomicroscope; then, they were centrifuged and microscopically examined after a flotation test. As for foxes, the urinary bladders were opened and urine was collected and processed as above, while collected nematodes were identified at the species level. Among examined animals, 2/26 cats (7.7%), 1/83 dogs (1.2%), and 38/42 foxes (90.5%) scored positive. Recurrent cystitis, pollakiuria, and hematuria were the main clinical signs in symptomatic dogs and cats. This is the first study on Pearsonema spp. infection in domestic carnivores examining a large number of privately owned pet animals. Obtained results confirm the role of the red fox as a reservoir for P. plica and suggest a possible high occurrence of Pearsonema spp. infection in domestic cats of central Italy.
Klebsiella pneumoniae: sorveglianza della resistenza ai carbapenemi mediata dalla produzione di carbapenemasi nella provincia di Piacenza
SUMMARYThe detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates showing a reduced susceptibility or resistance to carbapenems represents an increasing problem. The aim of this study is to survey the presence of carbapenemases producing strains in our country. 22 isolates of K. pneumoniae isolates showing carbapenems MIC => 2 by Vitek 2 System, were collected in the period May-August 2010 and studied for carbapenemases production using phenotypic confirmatory tests. The modified Hodge test and the DD-sinergy test with boronic acid yelded positive results for 17/22 strains; all the isolates resulted negative to the E-test MBL (imipenem and imipenem/EDTA). The results of this study confirm the recent emergence of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae strains in the area of Piacenza.The phenotypic tests employed appear reliable and simple for the confirmation of carbapenemases-production in K. pneumonie.
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