A Molecular and Histopathological Study on Bronchopneumonia in Cats

In this study, it was aimed to determine Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma felis, Staphylococcus aureus and Chlamydia felis, which cause bronchopneumonia in cats, by Real-time PCR and to compare the pathological findings of the identified agents. The material of the study was constituted of paraffin blocks belonging to the lungs, of which 21 bronchopneumonia were detected in microscopic examination (with Hematoxylin Eosin (HE)) from a total of 78 cats samples brought to Selcuk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology for pathological diagnosis. Histopathologically, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and mononuclear cell infiltration (MCI) in the bronchi and bronchiolar lumens, desquamation in the bronchi and bronchiolar epithelium, PMNL infiltration with oedama in alveolar lumens and desquamated alveolar epithelium, PMNL infiltration in the interstitium, and peribronchi and peribronchiolar MCI, and pleuritis were detected. Real-time PCR analysis revealed Bordetella bronchiseptica in 3 (14.29%) cases, Mycoplasma felis in 3 (14.29%), Staphylococcus aureus in 5 (23.8%), and Chlamydia felis in 5 (23.8%). Morever, Mycoplasma felis and Staphylococcus aureus infection was detected in 1 case, and Staphylococcus aureus and Chlamydia felis mixed infection was observed in 1 case. Our results show that relevant agents can frequently be isolated in cases of feline bronchopneumonia.