title: Evaluation of cytologic findings in feline conjunctivitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytologic examination of smears prepared from ocular swabs of conjunctiva from cats with conjunctivitis permits identification of the type of inflammation and possibly specific microorganisms. Results of studies of the diagnostic utility of cytology for detection of infectious causes of feline conjunctivitis have been inconsistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to describe cytologic findings in cats with conjunctivitis and to compare those findings with results of PCR analysis for feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), Chlamydophila felis (C felis), and Mycoplasma felis (M felis).
  
  
  METHODS
  Conjunctival smears from 88 cats with conjunctivitis and 10 healthy control cats were stained with a Romanowsky stain and evaluated for the type of inflammation and evidence of an infectious agent. PCR analysis for FHV-1, C felis, and M felis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infectious agents identified by PCR analysis were FHV-1 in 9 cats (10%), C felis in 8 cats (9%), and M felis in 6 cats (7%). Inclusions interpreted as chlamydial inclusions were found in all cytologic smears from cats positive for C felis by PCR analysis and in 3 PCR-negative cats. Inclusions interpreted as Mycoplasma organisms were found in 3 of 6 cats that were PCR-positive for M felis and in 1 PCR-negative cat. FHV-1 inclusion bodies were not detected on cytologic examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytologic examination can be diagnostic for C felis infection when many typical inclusions are present. Cytologic examination was unreliable in diagnosing M felis infection, and viral inclusions of FHV-1 were not found in specimens stained with Romanowsky stains.
authors.affiliation: University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. anna.hillstrom@slu.se
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hillström
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tvedten
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Källberg
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanås
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindhe
authors.forename: Bodil Ström
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Holst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D023501:Chlamydophila / Q000145:classification; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction