Cholangiocarcinoma in a cat infected with domestic cat hepatitis B virus

Haruka Dosaka; Nanami X Kato; Kei  Taga; Soshin Yamamoto; Kaito Kondo; Rissar Siringo  Ringo; Yasuyuki Kaneko; Takuya Hirai; Akatsuki Saito; Fuke, Naoyuki

doi:10.51094/jxiv.1376

##article.authors##

Haruka Dosaka University of Miyazaki, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture
Nanami X Kato University of Miyazaki, Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture
Kei Taga Tokyo Cat Specialists
Soshin Yamamoto Tokyo Cat Specialists
Kaito Kondo University of Miyazaki, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture
Rissar Siringo Ringo University of Miyazaki, Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Science
Yasuyuki Kaneko University of Miyazaki, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Agriculture
Takuya Hirai University of Miyazaki, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture
Akatsuki Saito University of Miyazaki, Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Science
Fuke, Naoyuki University of Miyazaki, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51094/jxiv.1376

キーワード:

cat、 cholangiocarcinoma、 domestic cat hepadnavirus、 immunohistochemistory、 in situ hybridization

抄録

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare hepatic malignancy in domestic cats, and its etiology remains largely undefined. Domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCHBV), a recently discovered member of the Orthohepadnavirus genus, shares similarities with human hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is associated with liver cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma. Here, we report a case of cholangiocarcinoma in a feline immunodeficiency virus-positive, 17-year-old spayed female cat infected with DCHBV. The patient presented with persistent vomiting, anorexia, and an elevated globulin level. Ultrasound revealed multiple hypoechoic hepatic lesions, and histopathology confirmed cholangiocarcinoma. Using quantitative PCR, DCHBV was detected in the spleen and ascitic fluid, and full-genome sequencing identified a unique 12-base deletion in both the polymerase and surface protein genes. Immunohistochemistry and RNA in situ hybridization demonstrated DCHBV core protein and mRNA expression in both tumor and non-tumor liver tissues, though signals were more prominent in non-neoplastic hepatocytes. The tumor exhibited CK7 positivity and HepPar-1 negativity, confirming biliary origin. While the causal relationship between DCHBV and cholangiocarcinoma remains to be clarified, the presence of a viral antigen and mRNA in neoplastic tissue suggests a potential role for DCHBV in hepatobiliary carcinogenesis. This is the first report describing cholangiocarcinoma in a cat with DCHBV infection, raising the possibility that DCHBV may have broader pathogenic potential beyond hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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