A 1-year-old, male neutered Persian cat presented to the emergency room with acute, severe wheezing and coughing after the introduction of a new kitten to the household. The patient progressed to hypoxemic respiratory failure consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and required mechanical ventilation. RT-PCR testing from a conjunctival and deep pharyngeal swab confirmed feline calicivirus infection. Because of refractory hypoxemia and declining lung compliance (2.4 ml/cmH2O), novel therapy with intratracheal porcine surfactant (Curosurf) was attempted. A dose of 1.5 ml/kg was administered over 60 s. After administration, pulmonary compliance improved to 3.1 ml/cmH2O. The patient was weaned from the ventilator on day 10; however, severe laryngeal swelling necessitated a temporary tracheostomy. The patient died on day 15 from tracheal stenosis and obstruction of the stoma site by granulation tissue.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment efficacy of occupational acute arsenic poisoning based on literature reports. Methods: Literature on occupational acute arsenic poisoning from domestic and international sources was retrieved to summarize its clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes. Results: Six articles reporting a total of 97 cases of occupational acute arsenic poisoning were identified. The primary routes of occupational exposure are the respiratory tract and skin/mucous membranes, the initial clinical manifestations involve skin and mucosal irritation symptoms (>80%), such as dermatitis, pharyngitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis, as well as tracheitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Subsequently, symptoms related to the nervous and digestive systems appear. Timely treatment generally results in a favorable prognosis, cure rate of 92.8%. Conclusion: Occupational acute arsenic poisoning is relatively rare. It primarily presents with skin and mucosal irritation symptoms, alongside respiratory, nervous, and digestive system manifestations. These findings highlight the close relationship between the route of exposure and the clinical presentation and prognosis.

Porcine astrovirus 4 (PoAstV4) is an emerging pathogen that has previously been associated with respiratory disease in piglets. The objective of this study was to inoculate naïve piglets with PoAstV4 and characterize the host-pathogen interaction and pathological lesions. Cesarean-derived colostrum-deprived (CDCD) piglets were inoculated intratracheally and intranasally with PoAstV4 PCR-positive tissue homogenate previously screened for the presence of other primary pathogens with next-generation sequencing (NGS). Nasal and fecal swabs for PCR identification of PoAstV4 were collected pre and postinoculation. Animals were euthanized at 5, 8, and 21 days postinoculation (DPI) and tissues were collected for histopathologic and digital image analysis. Nasal swabs were PCR positive for PoAstV4 from 2 DPI to 10 DPI. Microscopic lesions of epitheliotropic viral infection of the trachea and bronchi, including epithelial attenuation and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, were found in inoculated pigs at 5 DPI and 8 DPI. PoAstV4 was localized to the lesions demonstrated by in situ hybridization and quantified by digital image analysis. In addition, PoAstV4-inoculated pigs at 8 DPI had an abundance of infiltrating lymphocytes predominated by T cell lymphocytes characterized by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantified using digital image analysis. Both anti-PoAstV4 IgM and IgG were detected in serum, with IgG levels first detectable at 14 DPI and increasing to the end of the study at 21 DPI. The presented findings confirm the respiratory epithelial tropism of PoAstV4 while also characterizing viral shedding and host immune response dynamics.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), represents a chronic immune-mediated disorder frequently associated with extraintestinal manifestations. While musculoskeletal, dermatologic, and ocular complications are well recognized, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement remains underrecognized despite its potential morbidity. Objective: To systematically evaluate the spectrum of ENT manifestations in IBD, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and outcomes. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included English-language human studies (2015-2026) reporting ENT manifestations in UC or CD. Following screening, 23 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Extracted data comprised study design, IBD subtype, patient demographics, ENT manifestations, diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes. Results: The majority of studies consisted of case reports and small observational series. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was the most frequently reported manifestation in both adult and pediatric populations, with evidence suggesting immune-mediated mechanisms and variable responsiveness to corticosteroids. Nasal involvement included pyoderma gangrenosum, pyoderma vegetans, and aseptic nasal septal abscess, occasionally resulting in severe structural complications such as saddle-nose deformity. Laryngeal and airway involvement included dysphonia, tracheitis, and rare but potentially life-threatening inflammatory airway disease. Additional findings included associations with chronic rhinosinusitis. Diagnosis relied on audiometry, imaging, endoscopy, and histopathology. Systemic corticosteroids were frequently effective; however, delayed recognition may lead to irreversible sequelae. Conclusions: ENT manifestations in IBD constitute a clinically heterogeneous but important group of extraintestinal complications. Increased awareness of ENT manifestations may support earlier diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of IBD, potentially reducing irreversible complications.

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are endemic in the Americas and responsible for outbreaks in both domestic and wild birds that occasionally spill over into humans. We report the first known outbreak of AIV H9N2 in lesser rhea (Rhea pennata), also known as Darwin's rhea, in the region of Puno-Peru. The animals in this study lived in an isolated conservation center located in remote highlands above 4,000 m.a.s.l. Between June and July 2025, a total of 46/92 animals were recorded sick, with symptoms including greenish diarrhea (100%), hyporexia (24%), dyspnea (76%), nasal discharge (42%), drowsiness (18%) and isolation from the flock (73%), and 94% later died. Gross pathology exams revealed septicemia characterized by severe hepatitis, pneumonia, tracheitis, enteritis, and encephalitis. Swab and necropsy samples tested positive for Influenza A by PCR and were later identified as H9N2 through whole genome sequencing. We generated complete H9N2 genomes for two individuals. No additional pathogens were found. Phylogenetic analysis across all eight segments revealed that the viruses were low pathogenicity H9N2 AIV strains of North American origin, which indicated this outbreak was a new introduction of the virus into South America. We also performed a comparative mutational analysis and identified multiple mutations previously associated with mammalian host adaptation, increased virulence, increased pathogenicity, and increased virus binding to α2-6 receptors, which may explain the high mortality rates observed despite the supposedly low pathogenicity of the strain. We also identified novel mutations specific to rhea viruses that will need to be experimentally validated. This is the first report of a natural H9N2 systemic infection in an avian host, highlighting a need for increased surveillance efforts for zoonotic influenza viruses with pandemic potential.

Poultry disease outbreaks are frequently multifactorial, involving complex interactions between infectious agents and environmental stressors. This report describes a case of avian influenza (AI) co-infection in a commercial broiler farm located in Majalengka, West Java, Indonesia, where a total of 11,000 birds exhibited increased mortality during the grow-out period. Diagnostic investigations included pathological examination, serological testing-such as hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays for AI H5 and H9, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for infectious bronchitis, and rapid testing for Mycoplasma gallisepticum-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis, fecal flotation for coccidiosis, and an environmental assessment measuring ammonia levels, humidity, and heat stress index. Pathological findings revealed tracheitis, airsacculitis, thymitis, bursitis, perihepatitis, ascites, petechial hemorrhages, nephromegaly, and enteritis, indicating a complex disease process. Serological results demonstrated exposure to AI H9 and H5, with differing infection dynamics, while the uneven distribution of infectious bronchitis antibodies suggested field challenges. Additionally, partial exposure to Mycoplasma gallisepticum was observed. PCR results were negative at the time of sampling, consistent with post-infection phases. Environmental evaluation revealed elevated ammonia levels, excessive humidity, and a high heat stress index. In conclusion, the increased mortality was associated with avian influenza co-infection, complicated by secondary infections and adverse environmental conditions.