Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New Haemophilus felis bacteria found in cat lungs with COPD
By Inzana, T J et al.·Published in Journal of clinical microbiology·1992·Department of Pathobiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Isolation and characterization of a newly identified Haemophilus species from cats: "Haemophilus felis".
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with chronic breathing problems was found to have a new type of bacteria in its lungs called "Haemophilus felis." This bacteria was initially thought to be a different species but further testing showed it was unique. Interestingly, similar bacteria were also found in the noses of some healthy cats, suggesting that this new bacteria might be a common part of the respiratory system in cats. The cat's condition highlights the importance of understanding different bacteria that can affect feline health.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cat · Haemophilus felis cat infection
Abstract
A gram-negative coccobacillus was isolated from the lower respiratory tract of a cat with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The isolate required CO2 and V factor for growth and was initially identified as Haemophilus paraphrophilus on the basis of its nutritional requirements, colony morphology, and some biochemical tests. Because of the host specificity of Haemophilus species and discrepancies in catalase, oxidase, and hemolytic activities, additional testing was done. Extensive biochemical testing, G+C content, and DNA reassociation studies indicated that the organism was distinct from other Haemophilus species. Therefore, the organism was identified as a previously unrecognized Haemophilus species and was tentatively named "Haemophilus felis." Bacteria identical to the original isolate were isolated from the nasopharynxes of 6 of 28 apparently normal cats, indicating that H. felis or H. felis-like organisms may be common members of the feline upper respiratory tract flora.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1500518/