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Cryptococcosis is an important fungal infection for both humans and cats, but molecular epidemiological studies on strains isolated from cats are limited. We conducted multi-locus sequence typing analysis and antifungal susceptibility testing of 14 Cryptococcus spp. strains from domestic cats in Japan and one strain isolated from a cat in Singapore. All 14 strains from domestic cats in Japan were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans molecular type VNI. The sequence types (STs) included eight cases of ST5, five cases of ST31, and one novel ST. VNI ST5 is the most frequently isolated strain in Japanese patients as well, while there are no records of VNI ST31 being isolated from Japanese patients. The Singaporean cat strain was identified as C. gattii VGIIb (C. deuterogattii), ST7. We compared these results with strains previously reported to have been isolated from cats. This comparison suggested that molecular types of Cryptococcus spp. isolated from cats may differ depending on the country. In the antifungal susceptibility testing of C. neoformans, one strain each exceeded the epidemiological cutoff value (ECV) for amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine, while two strains exceeded the ECV for fluconazole. This study reveals the molecular epidemiology of Cryptococcus spp. isolated from cats with cryptococcosis in Japan. It suggests that investigating Cryptococcus spp. carried by cats, which share close living environments with humans, may contribute to the health of both cats and human populations., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

Sporothrix schenckii and related species are the agents of human and animal sporotrichosis. Routine diagnoses using classical mycological approaches are unspecific due to overlapping phenotypes. As the frequency and prevalence of sporotrichosis increases worldwide, developing specific, sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic tools is essential to understand the distribution patterns, map-affected areas and promote specific public health strategies to mitigate future outbreaks. Polymorphisms among the β-tubulin gene were exploited to speciate S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii and S. globosa in a one-tube multiplex probe-based qPCR assay. A panel of 84 Sporothrix revealed 100% specificity (AUC = 1.000, 95% CI = 0.971-1.000, p < .0001) without cross-reacting with other medically relevant fungi, human, feline or murine DNA. Speciation via multiplex qPCR matched phylogenetic identification (Kappa = 1.0; 95% CI = 1.0-1.0; very good agreement), supporting its use as a reliable alternative to DNA sequencing. Remarkably, the lower limit of detection was 3 copies of the target for all species. As a proof of concept, we used swabs of wound exudate of 70 cats suspected of sporotrichosis to reveal an overwhelming occurrence of S. brasiliensis in 69 specimens (sensitivity = 98.57%; 95%CI: 92.3-100.0 and specificity = 100%; 95% CI = 78.2-100). In comparison to culture, qPCR showed a larger area under the curve (AUC = 0.993±0.007; 95% CI = 0.944-1.000; p < .0001; Youden's index = 0.9857), supporting that qPCR is an essential tool for accurately detect Sporothrix DNA directly from clinical samples, thus accelerating the diagnosis of sporotrichosis. Moreover, our multiplex qPCR system has the potential to increase diagnostic capacity in Sporothrix-affected areas, helping the local animal health agent or veterinarian to quickly identify and isolate new cases, which will likely benefit thousands of patients infected every year worldwide., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Protothecosis refers to disease of humans and animals caused by infection with fungus-like, colourless microalgae of the genus Prototheca. Although protothecosis remains an uncommon infection, increasing numbers of human and animal cases are being diagnosed worldwide. This review summarises major new findings in basic science (sequencing analyses of sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51/ERG11) genes and organelle genomes of Prototheca wickerhamii) to elucidate taxonomic features of this pathogen. Furthermore, this review updates and summarises the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of protothecosis in dogs and cats. This content of this review is based on information presented at the medical phycology symposium held in the 20th Congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology ( https://www.isham.org/ ).

Sporothrix schenckii sensu lato is currently recognized as a species complex with only Sporothrix brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto, Sporothrix globosa and Sporothrix pallida identified to cause disease in the cat. Feline sporotrichosis in Asia is mainly reported from Malaysia where a single clonal strain of clinical clade D, Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto manifesting low susceptibility to major antifungal classes, has been identified as the agent of the disease. Sporothrix globosa has been identified to cause disease from a single cat in Japan while the specific species of agent has not been identified yet for the disease in Thailand. Despite efforts to elucidate and describe the pathogenicity of the agent and the disease it causes, the paucity of data highlights the need for further molecular epidemiological studies to characterize this fungus and the disease it causes in Asia. Its prognosis remains guarded to poor due to issues pertaining to cost, protracted treatment course, zoonotic potential and low susceptibility of some strains to antifungals.

Background: The genus Malassezia is comprised of a group of lipophilic yeasts that have evolved as skin commensals and opportunistic cutaneous pathogens of a variety of mammals and birds., Objectives: The objective of this document is to provide the veterinary community and other interested parties with current information on the ecology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of skin diseases associated with Malassezia yeasts in dogs and cats., Methods and Material: The authors served as a Guideline Panel (GP) and reviewed the literature available prior to October 2018. The GP prepared a detailed literature review and made recommendations on selected topics. The World Association of Veterinary Dermatology (WAVD) Clinical Consensus Guideline committee provided guidance and oversight for this process. The document was presented at two international meetings of veterinary dermatology societies and one international mycology workshop; it was made available for comment on the WAVD website for a period of six months. Comments were shared with the GP electronically and responses incorporated into the final document., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: There has been a remarkable expansion of knowledge on Malassezia yeasts and their role in animal disease, particularly since the early 1990's. Malassezia dermatitis in dogs and cats has evolved from a disease of obscurity and controversy on its existence, to now being a routine diagnosis in general veterinary practice. Clinical signs are well recognised and diagnostic approaches are well developed. A range of topical and systemic therapies is known to be effective, especially when predisposing factors are identified and corrected., (© 2019 ESVD and ACVD.)

A 2-year-old, exotic shorthair cat presented with baldness and mild scaling on trunk that was confirmed as Microsporum canis (M. canis) infection by the following methods. Wood's lamp and trichogram were used to demonstrate fungal elements suggestive of dermatophytosis consistent with M. canis. Dermatophyte test medium (DTM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for identification. E-test and broth microdilution test were then utilized to estimate antifungal minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) towards ITZ and TRF respectively. The strain was isolated from the patient and revealed TRF MIC >32 µg/ml and ITZ MIC 0.023 µg/ml. Patient was cured of dermatophytosis with systemic ITZ.

The feline F12 gene was examined to identify a mutation associated with coagulation factor XII (FXII) deficiency in a litter of 6 cats, including 2 cats with severely reduced FXII activity (7.1 and 9.3%, respectively) and 4 cats with moderately reduced FXII activity (range 36.0 to 46.3%). Cats with severely reduced FXII activity were homozygous for a G to C missense mutation in exon 13 of the F12 gene, resulting in an amino acid change (p.G544A). Cats with moderately reduced FXII activity were heterozygous for this mutation. Expression studies revealed reduced secretion of p.G544A mutant FXII protein from transfected HEK293 cells compared with wild type FXII. These results reveal a novel F12 mutation in FXII deficient cats and define the underlying mechanism for low FXII activity in homozygotes.

Background: Feline sporotrichosis is common in Malaysia. Thermosensitivity and effects of azole treatment on fungal susceptibility are unknown., Objectives: To evaluate thermotolerance and antifungal susceptibility of feline Malaysian Sporothrix isolates, compare microdilution (MD) and E-test results, and investigate changes in susceptibility during azole therapy., Methods: Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto was isolated from 44 cats. Thermotolerance was determined via culture at 37°C for 7 days. Susceptibility to itraconazole (ITZ), ketoconazole (KTZ) and terbinafine (TRB) was assessed in 40 isolates by MD; to amphotericin B (AMB), KTZ, ITZ, fluconazole (FLC) and posaconazole (POS) by E-test. Results were statistically compared by Pearson's Product Moment. In eight ketoconazole treated cats, susceptibility testing to itraconazole and ketoconazole was repeated every two months for six months., Results: Thermotolerance was observed in 36 of 44 (82%) isolates. Assuming that isolates growing at antifungal concentrations ≥4 mg/mL were resistant, all were resistant on E-test to FLC and AMB, 11 (28%) to POS, 6 (15%) to ITZ and 1 (3%) to KTZ. On MD, 27 of 40 (68%) were resistant to TRB, 2 (5%) to ITZ and 3 (8%) to KTZ. There was no correlation between E-test and MD results (KTZ r = 0.10, P = 0.54, and ITZ r = 0.11, P = 0.48). MD values for ITZ and KTZ did not exceed 4 mg/L during KTZ therapy., Conclusion: The majority of feline isolates in Malaysia are thermosensitive. Lack of correlation between E-test and MD suggests that the E-test is unreliable to test antifungal susceptibility for Sporothrix spp. compared to MD. KTZ was the antifungal drug with the lowest MIC. Prolonged KTZ administration may not induce changes in antifungal susceptibility., (© 2017 ESVD and ACVD.)

Canine and feline upper respiratory tract (URT) infection due to Aspergillus spp. is considered an emerging disease, with the number of reported cases continuing to rise in Japan. Aspergillus fumigatus has been the most frequently reported etiologic agent of sino-orbital aspergillosis in dogs and cats; the other Aspergillus species, Aspergillus felis, Aspergillus fischeri, Aspergillus udagawae, Aspergillus viridinutans, and A. fumigatus, have also been implicated in feline cases. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antifungal drugs are elevated for these cryptic species compared with A. fumigatus. Some reports showed that the feline infections due to cryptic species did not respond to treatment with antifungal drugs. These results suggest that species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing of infecting agents are important to ensure effective treatment of feline URT aspergillosis.　Feline cryptococcosis in Japan is typically attributed to Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii. We isolated a fluconazole-resistant strain of C. grubii from a feline cryptococcosis. The predicted amino acid sequence of the lanosterol 14-α demethylase gene (ERG11) protein in the isolate was identical to that of the C. grubii reference strain. RT-PCR analysis of ERG11 and ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter-encoding gene (AFR1) indicated that the isolate had increased transcription factor function for ERG11 and AFR1 compared with fluconazole-susceptible strains. This observation, in combination with the lack of resistance to other azoles (that is, lack of cross resistance), suggests that resistance in our isolate was the result of overexpression of the endogenous ERG11 and ABC transporter.　Further ecological and epidemiological studies on small animal mycoses in Japan are needed to monitor the emergence of antifungal drug resistant strains.

We report here, to the best of our knowledge, the first description of an in vitro fluconazole (FLZ)-resistant Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii from a case of feline cryptococcosis. In vitro testing demonstrated that this isolate was resistant to FLZ (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC, of 128 μg/ml) but remained susceptible to amphotericin B (0.064 µg/ml), itraconazole (0.38 µg/ml), voriconazole (0.023 µg/ml), and posaconazole (0.125 µg/ml). The predicted amino acid sequence of the lanosterol 14-α demethylase (ERG11) protein in the isolate was identical to that of the C. neoformans var. grubii reference strain, indicating that resistance was not mediated by mutation of the target gene's open reading frame. The RT-qPCR analysis for ERG11 and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter-encoding gene (AFR1) indicated that the isolate increased transcription factor function of ERG11 and AFR1 than that of FLZ-susceptive strains. This observation, in combination with the lack of resistance to other azoles (that is, lack of crossresistance), suggests that resistance in our isolate was the result of overexpression of the endogenous ERG11 and ABC transporter.

Feline upper respiratory tract infection due to Aspergillus spp. is considered an emerging disease, with the number of reported cases continuing to rise. In this study, we report the first case of feline sinonasal aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fischeri in Japan. The patient presented after 2 months of progressive facial deformity around the nose and nasal discharge. The isolate from this case was susceptible to itraconazole (ITZ), voriconazole and micafungin, but was resistant to amphotericine B. However, the infected cat died approximately 1 month after referral, despite treatment for 12 days ITZ administered orally at 10 mg/kg.

A 9-year-old spayed female cat was examined for cheek skin drainage. The skin lesion did not respond to medical therapy; thereafter, facial deformity developed. A computed tomography revealed an intranasal mass and maxillary osteolysis. The mass was histopathologically diagnosed as suppurative granulomatous inflammation caused by filamentous bacteria. The lesion responded well to radiation therapy. Although actinomycosis was suspected histopathologically, no actinomycetes were detected in the nasal lesion by a bacterial culture conducted at a commercial laboratory. The submandibular lymph node and subcutaneous tissue exhibited swelling. Microbiological examination and genetic analysis based on 16S rDNA gene sequence revealed that Nocardia spp. were isolated from both lesions.

Epidemiological data on the aetiologic agents of feline sporotrichosis in Malaysia have not been reported, though human sporotrichosis in Malaysia is reported to be transmitted primarily via cat scratch. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the first study of the molecular epidemiology of Sporothrix schenckii isolates from cats with sporotrichosis in Malaysia. In the present work, we characterised 18 clinical isolates from cats in Malaysia based on molecular properties, including sequence analyses of the calmodulin gene and the rDNA ITS region and selective PCR of mating type (MAT) loci. In this study, isolates from feline sporotrichosis were identified as a S. schenckii sensu stricto by sequence analyses of the calmodulin gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Notably, phylogenetic analysis of the ITS confirmed assignment to clinical clade D (and not C) of S. schenckii sensu stricto. Therefore, clinical clade D of S. schenckii sensu stricto appeared to be the prevailing source of feline sporotrichosis in Malaysia. The ratio of MAT1-1-1:MAT1-2-1 in these Malaysian isolates was found to be 1 : 0. This result suggested that a clonal strain of S. schenckii is the prevailing causative agent of feline sporotrichosis in Malaysia., (© 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Aspergillus udagawae and A. viridinutans are members of the section Fumigati; both cause invasive aspergillosis in humans. These two Aspergillus species are discriminated from A. fumigatus by molecular methods. Herein, we report two cases of feline orbital aspergillosis, one caused by A. udagawae and the other by A. viridinutans. To our knowledge, Case 1 represents the first reported case of treatment of A. udagawae with a high dosage of itraconazole, and Case 2 represents the first reported case of A. viridinutans infection associated with sarcoma. Identification of the etiologic agents of these cases was confirmed by comparative analyses of the sequences of β-tubulin-encoding genes. With the spread of non-fumigatus aspergillosis, increasing emphasis should be placed on molecular identification of the infecting Aspergillus species and the use of in vitro drug susceptibility tests to ensure the selection of appropriate antibiotics.

A case of feline demodicosis is described in this report. A 13-year-old spayed female domestic short hair cat weighing 4.5 kg was being treated with cefovecin and alternately with prednisone or methylprednisolone. On further physical examination, the cat showed mild erythema and hair loss on the bridge of the nose, around the eyes, on the chin, on the side part of the breast and on the abdomen. A large number of Demodex mites were found in deep skin scrapings from the affected areas. The cat was then treated with ivermectin at 600 μg/kg administered SC daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, the cat was clinically normal with no mites detected in the skin scrapings from the face or breast areas. The mite responsible may represent a previously seen but as yet unnamed new species. This is third report that describes a case of feline demodicosis caused by a different, unnamed mite species that has different morphological characteristics to those of known Demodex mites and may represent a previously seen but as yet unnamed species., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Human cases of dermatophytoses are occasionally transmitted from animals, and suffered from tinea corporis and sometimes Kerion celsi. The most frequent causative agent of these diseases is Microsporum canis. The other dermatophyte, Arthroderma benhamiae is now prevailing in rabbits, rodents and hedgehogs that are popular household pets in Japan. Therefore, some human cases of A. benhamiae infection were reported and the transmission of this infection from rabbits and rodents was confirmed.Cryptococcosis is regarded as dangerous zoonosis, but its transmission from animal to peoples has not been documented in Japan. Animal cases of cryptococcosis are possible to increase in number by developing immunosuppressive animals as well as by spreading of newly introduced C. gattii to Japan.Animal cases of sporotrichosis are rarely reported in Japan. However, feline sporotrichosis should be prevented and promptly treated since it easily transmitted to people from cat lesions and the exudates where copious numbers of organisms are found in tissues.

A 3-year-old castrated male domestic short-haired cat was presented with nodules on the left nasal wing and the left earflap. Prototheca cells were found after excision biopsy of one of the nodules located on the left earflap. The patient cat was generally in good condition without skin problems. Prototheca wickerhamii was isolated from all 6 masses after they were surgically nucleated. The cat was recovered two months after intervention with no recurrence of skin nodules. This report deals with the first case of feline protothecosis in Japan.

This paper, as best as the authors can determine, is the first to describe a documented case of systemic infection caused by Cryptococcus albidus in a cat. The patient had a history of paralysis of the hind legs and had been treated with prednisone for 1 month. Microscopic examination of a fine needle biopsy specimen from a right popliteal lymph node showed granulomatous inflammation with many encapsulated yeast cells. Moreover, microscopic examination of Indian ink preparations of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed encapsulated ovoid yeast cells. Thus this case was diagnosed to be cryptococcosis. However, the cat died after treatment for three days with voriconazole. Isolates recovered from samples of the cerebrospinal fluid, liver and spleen were identified as C. albidus by molecular analysis, as well as through morphologic and biochemical studies. Therefore, this case indicates that C. albidus should be considered as a potential feline pathogen.

We excised surgically a feline granulomatous lesion and performed histopathological, mycological and molecular examinations. As a result, it was diagnosed as sporotrichosis, which was the second recorded case of a cat so afflicted in Japan. After the operation, we recognized another nodule on the lymph node. Histopathological examination was therefore performed, but no fungi were detected. To prevent recurrence, the cat was administered a antimycotic drug, itraconazole. As a result, no recurrence was found. Excision of the lesion is the treatment of choice for feline sporotrichosis.

Most isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans (teleomorph: Filobasidiella neoformans) from human patients and from environmental materials in Japan have been identified as serotype A mating type a by the seroagglutination test and mating experiments. A PCR method using the mating type alpha allele-specific primer of the STE12 gene and the serotype- and mating type-specific primers of the STE20 gene for identification of C. neoformans has been developed. Using the PCR method, conserved strains and clinical isolates from feline cryptococcosis were examined for serotype and the mating type. The results showed that all clinical isolates examined were identified as serotype A, MATalpha, indicating that feline cryptococcsis cases in Japan are caused by C. neoformans serotype A, MATalpha, as is the case in humans.

A 6-month-old male Japanese domestic cat with otitis externa due to Aspergillus fumigatus was treated with antifungal agents for 25 days and appeared to be cured. Many yeast colonies however developed from the ear canal samples on Sabouraud's dextrose agar at 27 degrees C for 5 days, instead of A. fumigatus. This yeast colony was cream-colored and slim in texture with smooth and highly glossy surface after 5-day incubation on Sabouraud's dextrose agar at 27 degrees C. The isolate was identified as Cryptococcus magnus by mycological analysis and 28S ribosomal analysis.

One of the mechanisms of eosinophil infiltration is its induction by chemoattractants such as regulated upon activation, normal T-expressed and secreted (RANTES) which is a cysteine-cysteine chemokine that mediates chemotaxis and activation of eosinophils in humans and mice. Skin lesions of feline eosinophilic plaque are characterized by a predominant infiltration of eosinophils. The mechanism(s) of eosinophilic infiltration in the skin and/or mucosa of cats is unknown. It is possible that RANTES is involved. To investigate the presence of RANTES in the skin of cats with eosinophilic plaques and nonaffected skin, we cloned and sequenced the full-length feline RANTES cDNA gene, in order to determine whether it is present in the skin of cats with eosinophilic plaques and/or if it is present in normal adjacent skin. We were able to document the the expression of RANTES mRNAs in skin with feline eosinophilic plaque as well as in normal cat skin. The full-length cDNA sequence of the RANTES gene (742 bp) contained a single open reading frame of 276 bp encoding a protein of 92 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of feline RANTES shared 67 and 74% sequence identity with that of bovine and mouse RANTES genes, respectively. RT-PCR analysis on RANTES mRNA in the skin of cats with eosinophilic plaque revealed that its expression was higher in the eosinophilic plaque skin lesions than in the normal skin. The result suggested that RANTES might play a role to induce eosinophil infiltration in feline eosinophilic plaque lesions.

Two feline cases were diagnosed as systemic cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans (teleomorph: Filobasidiella neoformans) by PCR assay with CAP59 gene primers using urine, serum and biopsy samples. The results of molecular analysis were consistent with the mycological findings.

Nocardia africana was isolated from a subcutaneous nodule of a cat. The isolate developed orange, wrinkled colonies. The bacteria were rod shaped to coccoid (1 by 5 microm) and gram positive. Analysis of the 16S ribosomal DNAs of the isolate and a reference strain of N. africana showed 100% homology.

For the direct detection of dermatophytes in skin scrapings and hairs from animals, a primer pair specific to the chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene of dermatophytes was constructed. By PCR analysis with the primer pair, dermatophyte DNA could be diagnosed directly and rapidly in clinical skin samples.

An isolate of Malassezia from a cat with otitis externa was examined mycologically as well as molecularly. The isolate was similar to M. sympodialis in morphological and biochemical characteristics. In molecular analysis, however, it differed from the 7 species of Malassezia previously reported. Therefore, this clinical isolate from a cat might be a new species of Malassezia.

Feline myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has been diagnosed in many cats infected with feline leukemia virus, although the pathogenesis of this hematopoietic deficiency has been unclear. In this study, we assayed the bone marrow erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E) and granulocyte-machrophage CFUs (CFU-GM) to investigate the pathogenesis of feline MDS. The number of CFU-E colonies was decreased in 4 of 7 cats with MDS, and the number of CFU-GM colonies was also decreased in 4 cats. Furthermore, small colonies of CFU-GM were found in all 7 cases. These findings indicated that refractory cytopenia of feline MDS could be caused by abnormal maturation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow, as it is in human MDS. The pathogenesis of feline MDS might be similar to that of human MDS.

Background: The Bcl-2 gene is a member of the rapidly expanding Bcl-2 family of genes that regulate apoptosis. Bcl-2 has been shown to repress cell death triggered by a diverse array of stimuli, including chemotherapy and gamma irradiation. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine feline Bcl-2 expression level in feline lymphoma cells using an immunoblot assay with anti-human and anti-canine Bcl-2 monoclonal antibodies. Methods: About 708 base pairs containing the coding sequence of the feline Bcl-2 gene were transformed into Escherichia coli. The recombinant Bcl-2 was used as a positive control for an immunoblot assay using mouse monoclonal antibodies against human and canine Bcl-2. An immunoblot assay using the monoclonal antibodies was carried out to determine the level of feline Bcl-2 expression in lymphoma and lymphocytic leukemia cell lines. Results: The recombinant feline Bcl-2 protein produced in E. coli had a molecular weight of about 26 kDa and was detected by immunoblot assay by using anti-human Bcl-2 mouse monoclonal antibody. Feline Bcl-2 expression was high in lymphoma cell lines (FL-74-UDC-1 and FT-1) and low in the cell line from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a healthy cat (FeTJ-1) but not low in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a healthy cat. The anti-human Bcl-2 mouse monoclonal antibody was found to cross-react with feline Bcl-2. Conclusions: These results confirm the expression of Bcl-2 in T-cell lymphoma cell lines and indicate that it is suitable to detect feline Bcl-2 using an immunoblot assay. Pending further evaluation, Bcl-2 expression might be useful in the differential diagnosis of feline tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the mechanisms of eosinophil infiltration is its induction by chemoattractants such as regulated upon activation, normal T-expressed and secreted (RANTES) which is a cysteine–cysteine chemokine that mediates chemotaxis and activation of eosinophils in humans and mice. Skin lesions of feline eosinophilic plaque are characterized by a predominant infiltration of eosinophils. The mechanism(s) of eosinophilic infiltration in the skin and/or mucosa of cats is unknown. It is possible that RANTES is involved. To investigate the presence of RANTES in the skin of cats with eosinophilic plaques and nonaffected skin, we cloned and sequenced the full-length feline RANTES cDNA gene, in order to determine whether it is present in the skin of cats with eosinophilic plaques and/or if it is present in normal adjacent skin. We were able to document the the expression of RANTES mRNAs in skin with feline eosinophilic plaque as well as in normal cat skin. The full-length cDNA sequence of the RANTES gene (742 bp) contained a single open reading frame of 276 bp encoding a protein of 92 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of feline RANTES shared 67 and 74% sequence identity with that of bovine and mouse RANTES genes, respectively. RT–PCR analysis on RANTES mRNA in the skin of cats with eosinophilic plaque revealed that its expression was higher in the eosinophilic plaque skin lesions than in the normal skin. The result suggested that RANTES might play a role to induce eosinophil infiltration in feline eosinophilic plaque lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]