Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Old FIV-positive cat with tracheal mass from new mycobacterial
By De Lorenzi, D & Solano-Gallego, L·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2009·San Marco Private Veterinary Clinic, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tracheal granuloma because of infection with a novel mycobacterial species in an old FIV-positive cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 15-year-old cat with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was brought in after having a productive cough and trouble breathing for five days. The vet found that the cat had a mass in its trachea that was blocking most of the airway, and the cat also had severe gum inflammation. The mass was removed using a special camera procedure called bronchoscopy, and tests revealed it was caused by a rare mycobacterial infection. This case is notable as it’s the first time this type of infection has been identified in a cat.
People also search for: cat coughing and breathing problems · FIV cat respiratory issues · tracheal mass in cats treatment
Abstract
A 15-year-old domestic shorthair feline immunodeficiency virus-positive cat was presented with a five day history of productive cough and acute respiratory distress. Physical examination revealed inspiratory dyspnoea and diffuse gingivostomatitis. Radiographs showed an intratracheal mass located at the level of the sixth and the seventh cervical vertebrae. Bronchoscopy revealed a unique intratracheal mass occluding about 85 per cent of the tracheal lumen. The tracheal mass was removed bronchoscopically. A diagnosis of pyogranulomatous inflammation referable to a mycobacterial infection was made based on cytological and histopathological findings. 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction testing and sequence analysis identified a novel mycobacterial species, likely a slow grower, with 95 per cent identity with Mycobacterium xenopi. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a tracheal mycobacterial granuloma in a cat, and the first time, a mycobacterium with this sequence has been identified.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19261085/