ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of feline haemoplasma infections in Northern Serbia, identify potential risk factors and perform molecular subtyping of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).MethodsPCR analysis for feline haemoplasmas was performed on surplus EDTA blood samples from 373 cats from the Belgrade region, Serbia. An ELISA was used to determine the prevalence of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and FIV; PCR was performed on a subpopulation of these cats. FIV subtyping was performed using PCR.ResultsWithin this population, 64/373 cats (17.2%) were infected with one or more haemoplasma species. Mycoplasma haemofelis was detected in 20/373 cats (5.4%), ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ in 47/373 cats (12.6%) and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ in 23/373 cats (6.2%). Coinfections were observed in 21/373 cats (5.6%). Based on ELISA serological retroviral testing, 4/310 cats (1.3%) were infected with FeLV, whereas 78/331 (23.6%) were infected with FIV. Multivariable analysis identified significant associations between haemoplasma infection and anaemia (anaemic/non-anaemic, odds ratio [OR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–7.1; P = 0.041]), male gender (male/female, OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.22–9.03; P <0.0005), outdoor access (yes/no, OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.28–11.92; P <0.0005), non-pedigree breed (non-pedigree/pedigree, OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.24–24.84; P = 0.025) and FIV seropositive status (positive/negative, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.21–4.83; P = 0.012). PCR analysis of the FIV ELISA-positive samples revealed clade D as being the most prevalent.Conclusions and relevanceAll three known species of feline haemoplasma were detected, confirming their presence in Serbia; ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ was the most prevalent. We found a high prevalence of FIV-infected cats and FIV clade D was most prevalent.

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Background The epidemiological status concerning many canine tick‐borne diseases (TBDs) in Serbia is still insufficiently known. Objectives Our study aimed to investigate the presence of tick‐borne pathogens of the family Anaplasmataceae and Hepatozoon spp., as a cause of illnesses accompanied by clinical signs that can occur in dogs with anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis. Methods Dogs are included in the study based on the presence of a minimum of three clinical and/or pathological findings that could be associated with anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis. During the study (April–October 2018), 11 dogs met the conditions to be included in the survey. Identification of the causative agent in the blood of diseased dogs was performed by conventional PCR followed by sequencing. Results The presence of the pathogens was confirmed in three animals (3/11, 27.3%). The presence of Ehrlichia canis was confirmed in 3‐month‐old female Rottweiler puppy, an 8‐year old Miniature Schnauzer female was positive for Hepatozoon canis infection, while 4‐year‐old mixed breed male dog was co‐infected with both mentioned pathogens. These are the first cases of autochthonous infection with E. canis and H. canis in dogs from Serbia confirmed by molecular methods. Conclusions The results of our study indicate the importance of molecular methods to establish a reliable diagnosis of TBDs. Also, the confirmed presence of causative agents of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis in Serbia appeals to veterinary practitioners that it is necessary to exclude the presence of those diseases in suspicious dogs.

The aim of this study was to determine whether synovial fl uid (SF) of dogs contains cells that have characteristics of MSCs and to describe their differentiation potential. SF adherent cells from 5 young German shepherd dogs (average 3.8 ± 0.9 years) were expanded (37ºC, 5% CO 2 , humidifi ed atmosphere) three weeks before their phenotype was characterized by fl ow-cytometry for the presence of CD90 and CD34. Population doubling time (PDT), number of CFU-F and adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic potentials have been determined in vitro. In early passages PTD was 31 ± 10 hours and expansion fold after 3 sub cultivations (9 days) theoretically could be 372 ± 134. At P1, 0.55 ± 0.05% of SF cells had the ability to form CFU-F. Sixty-six percent of cells expressed CD90 and none of the cells expressed markers of hematopoietic cells. Oil Red O staining has shown accumulation of fat droplets in cells grown in adipogenic medium, while deposits of calcium in the osteogenic medium were evidenced with Alizarin red staining. SF cultured in hondrogenic and control medium in three-dimensional conditions formed a cartilage-like tissue. Alcian blue staining of pellets' slides have shown a signifi cant amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and immunohistochemistry analysis documented collagen type II expression. The amount of GAGs in pellets grown in both conditions showed no difference. SF cells in vitro exhibited osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potentials, suggesting the presence of different mesenchymal progenitors. These results also demonstrated that SF cells have a spontaneous chondrogenic potential that should be further explored for possible tissue engineering protocols.

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Diseases of the lower urinary pathways with urethral obstruction are frequent urological conditions demanding urgent treatment that lead to the occurrence of post renal azotemia due to difficult or disabled urine elimination. The aim of these investigations was to establish the most frequent causes for the occurrence of obstructions of the lower urinary pathways in cats, the most frequent clinical signs, as well as the changes in the hematological and biochemical blood and urine parameters. The obtained results indicate that the most frequent cause of urethral obstruction in cats is the presence of urethra stones, sand, and urethra plugs caused by the aggregation of struvite crystals on organic matrix. The laboratory findings showed that all animals were dehydrated, azotemia was established in half the animals, and signs of uremia were evident in 10% cats. Over 90% cats had disrupted tubular function, and only 50% had clear laboratory signs of inflammation. It can be concluded from the presented results that all cats with urethra obstruction exhibit a certain degree of disrupted kidney function, which is, in most cases, a reversible pathological change when treated with timely and adequate therapy. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 175061