title: Pulmonary cowpox in cats: five cases.
abstract: This case series documents five cases of pneumonia (with pleural effusion in three cases) caused by cowpox virus (CPxV) in domestic cats. Predisposition to pneumonia may have resulted from mixed infections in two cases (feline herpesvirus and Bordetella bronchiseptica in one cat, and Mycoplasma species in the other).
  
  
  
  As well as diagnostic confirmation by previously described methods of virus isolation from skin lesions, and demonstration of pox virions in skin samples using electron microscopy and inclusion bodies in histological preparations, this is the first report of diagnosis by virus isolation from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or pleural fluid, and demonstration of inclusion bodies in cytological preparations. This is also the first series to report treatment with interferon omega (IFN-ω). Two cats survived, both of which had been treated with IFN-ω. As CPxV represents a serious zoonotic risk it is an important differential diagnosis of pneumonia in cats.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK jenniemcinerney@live.com.
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McInerney
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford Veterinary Services Diagnostic Laboratories, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papasouliotis
authors.affiliation: Orange House, Jitsin, Koh Tao, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: English
authors.affiliation: Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
authors.forename: Elspeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
authors.forename: Danièlle A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gunn-Moore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D015605:Cowpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D015608:Cowpox virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*