Assessment of infectious organisms associated with chronic rhinosinusitis in cats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine detection rates for feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), Mycoplasma spp, fungi, and bacteria in flush samples and biopsy specimens from the nasal cavities of cats with and without chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
10 CRS-affected cats and 7 cats without signs of respiratory tract disease.


METHODS
Nasal flush samples and biopsy specimens were collected from all cats for bacterial (aerobic and anaerobic), fungal, and mycoplasmal cultures; additional biopsy specimens were collected for virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (to detect FHV-1 DNA).


RESULTS
Aerobic bacteria were detected in flush samples from 5 of 7 control cats; culture of flush samples from CRS-affected cats yielded aerobic bacteria (9/10 cats), anaerobic bacteria (3/10), and Mycoplasma spp (2/10). No fungal organisms were isolated from any cat. Potential pathogens were isolated significantly more often from CRS-affected cats than from control cats. Bacterial culture of biopsy specimens yielded aerobic bacteria (2/7 control cats and 4/10 CRS-affected cats) and anaerobic bacteria (2/10 CRS-affected cats). Although FHV-1 was not detected in nasal biopsy specimens from control or CRS-affected cats, FHV-1 DNA was detected via PCR assay in specimens from 4 of 7 control cats and 3 of 10 CRS-affected cats.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with findings in control cats, anaerobic bacteria, Mycoplasma spp, and a variety of potentially pathogenic organisms were detected more commonly in samples from cats with CRS. In both groups, FHV-1 was detected via PCR assay as a nonviable organism or in noncultivable amounts.
Johnson
Lynelle R
LR
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Foley
Janet E
JE
De Cock
Hilde E V
HE
Clarke
Heather E
HE
Maggs
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology