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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Cat with chronic cough diagnosed with bronchitis and bronchiolitis

By Shiga, Takanori et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2025·Azabu University, Japan·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis with prominent globule leukocyte infiltration in a cat with.

Species:
cat
Feline asthmaBreathing & coughCats

Plain-English summary

A 7-year-old mixed-breed cat had a dry cough that came and went for two years. After examining lung tissue, the vet found signs of chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis, which included inflammation and the presence of a specific type of bacteria called cilia-associated respiratory (CAR) bacillus. This condition was unusual because it showed a significant number of globule leukocytes, a type of immune cell, in the lungs. Treatment details were not specified, but understanding the cause of the cough is crucial for managing the cat's respiratory health.

People also search for: cat dry cough treatment · chronic bronchitis in cats · cilia-associated respiratory bacillus in cats

Abstract

A 7-year-old mixed-breed cat presented with intermittent dry cough for 2 years. Histological examination of the lung biopsy revealed hyperplasia of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium, and intraepithelial infiltration of globule leukocytes in many bronchi, bronchioles, and terminal bronchioles. Lymphoid aggregates cuffed airways, respiratory bronchioles, and alveolar ducts. Terminal airway inflammation was associated with type II pneumocyte hyperplasia within adjacent alveoli. Warthin-Starry stain revealed numerous argyrophilic and filamentous bacilli that were interspersed or clustered with cilia of the respiratory epithelium. The morphology, distribution, and gram (negative) and ultrastructural characteristics were consistent with cilia-associated respiratory (CAR) bacillus. Real-time polymerase chain reaction assays using paraffin-embedded lung tissue confirmed the presence of. Chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis in a cat withshare characteristics of diseases caused by species specific CAR bacilli in many species, but uniquely in this case, globule leukocytes were a prominent feature of the inflammatory response.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40088090/