Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis linked to low nasal IgA levels
By Roccabianca, Paola et al.·Published in Veterinary immunology and immunopathology·2021·Università, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis (FLPCR): Severity of inflammation correlates with reduced mucosal IgA expression.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of older domestic short-haired cats, mostly around 11 years old, were found to have a condition called feline lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis (FLPCR), which causes symptoms like sneezing, mucus discharge, and noisy breathing. The study showed that the severity of inflammation in their nasal tissues was linked to lower levels of a protective antibody called IgA. This suggests that the cats' mucosal defenses were compromised, leading to ongoing inflammation and tissue damage. Unfortunately, the study did not provide specific treatments, but understanding the condition can help veterinarians manage symptoms and improve the cats' quality of life.
People also search for: cat sneezing treatment · feline rhinitis symptoms · cat mucus discharge causes
Abstract
Feline lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis (FLPCR) is a rare disease with an unclear pathogenesis characterized by lymphoplasmacytic (LPC) inflammation and progressive tissue destruction. Aims were to evaluate specific FLPCR clinical and pathological features to gain insights into disease pathogenesis. Signalment, clinical signs, serology and 47 pin. h biopsies were retrospectively collected from 33 FLPCR and 3 normal cats. Microscopical lesions and immunohistochemistry results utilizing anti-CD3, anti-CD20, anti-FOXP3, anti-feline-IgA, IgG, IgE and anti-FeLV (p27 and gp70), FIV, FCV and, FHV were scored and most were analyzed statistically. The majority of cats were domestic short haired (26/31) with median age of 11 years and a 0.35 F/M ratio. Serology evidenced 3/22 FIV and 1/22 FeLV positive cats. Immunohistochemistry evidenced 1/33 FeLV-p27 positive cats. Common clinical signs were sneezing (19/24 [79 %]), mucous discharge (13/24 [54 %]) and stertor (10/24 [42 %]). In normal tissues, IgAs were expressed in mucin, apical and lateral cell membrane of columnar cells and in periglandular plasma cells. IgGs were expressed in 20-30 % of columnar cells. Number of clinical signs was statistically significantly higher in female cats (p < 0.0001) and was significantly correlated with chronicity (p = 0.004), and IgG scores (p = 0.01). LPC severity scores correlated positively with infiltration of neutrophils (p = 0.015), gland destruction (p = 0.019) and angiogenesis (p = 0.016) and negatively with fibrosis (p < 0.0001). LPC severity scores were also significantly associated to female sex (p = 0.01) and to IgA (p = 0.03), with higher IgA scores associated to lower LPC scores. FLPCR associated to disruption of mucosal defense mechanisms generating cycles of tissue inflammation, tissue damage and repair with progressive loss of function independent from viral infections.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33611160/