Overlooked bacterial communities may be associated with severe ocular disease in shelter cats Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) is a major challenge in shelter settings, often escalating to extreme ocular pathology and even enucleation. A recent study by Becky Morrow and Diana Ruggiero published in the ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS INC's Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH), evaluated enucleated eyes from 16 young shelter cats suffering from ruptured or buphthalmic eyes, applying Next‑Generation DNA Sequencing with universal bacterial primers to capture the full bacterial landscape. Concurrently, they screened for feline herpesvirus‑1 (FHV‑1) and calicivirus (FCV) via qPCR and RT‑qPCR. Burkholderia dominated the bacterial population in 15 of 16 samples (relative abundance 44–98%), marking the first association of this genus with severe feline ocular disease. Viral pathogens were also detected in half of the cases (FHV‑1: 50%; FCV: 6%), underlining the multifactorial nature of URTD‑related eye complications. By shifting from targeted pathogen detection to comprehensive microbiome profiling, the findings suggest new avenues for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies in feline URTD and shelter medicine. Read more at https://lnkd.in/e28CiU55 #VeterinaryResearch #ShelterMedicine #FelineHealth #Microbiome #NextGenSequencing #Ophthalmology #Burkholderia (fb)

In Córdoba, Spain, the City committed to covering veterinary expenses to produce a structured TNR program. In just 4 years, a population decline of 2.68% occurred - this "modest decline" was compared to a population increase that could have occurred without intervention. The cost per person in the city was less than 1 Euro per year - although the volunteers were purchasing food and other supplies. Read more to understand how a city set up a structured, scalable program with a core of dedicated volunteers. (fb)