Causes and Lesions of Fatal Pneumonia in Domestic Cats. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Slaviero, Mônica; Ehlers, Luiza P.; Argenta, Fernando F.; Savi, Caroline; Lopes, Bruna C.; Pavarini, Saulo P.; Driemeier, David; Sonne, Luciana
• Is Part Of: Journal of comparative pathology. Volume 189(2021)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: bacterial pneumonia -- cats -- feline retroviruses -- viral pneumonia; Veterinary pathology -- Periodicals; Veterinary therapeutics -- Periodicals; Pathology, Comparative -- Periodicals; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; Pathology, Veterinary -- Periodicals; 636.089607
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2021.09.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9975

Abstract

Summary: Pneumonia in cats may cause severe lung injury and consequent death. We describe the post-mortem findings and aetiologies of naturally fatal pneumonia in 78 domestic cats, using gross and histopathological examinations, immunohistochemistry and microbiological techniques. Morphological patterns found were bronchopneumonia (27/78), interstitial (15/78), bronchointerstitial (13/78), granulomatous (8/78), aspiration (8/78) and pyogranulomatous (5/78) pneumonia, and pleuropneumonia (2/78). Bacterial pneumonia was identified as the most common cause (32/78), followed by viral (15/28 feline calicivirus, 10/28 felid alphaherpesvirus 1 and 3/28 both viruses), aspiration (8/78), fungal (5/78) and parasitic pneumonia (5/78). Co-infection with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus was found in 54 cats. Viral infections involved cats of all ages, indicating the importance of investigating viral causes in cats with respiratory diseases, including in adult and ageing cats.