title: Clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of feline chronic gingivostomatitis.
abstract: Objectives This study presents the clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of 26 cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCG). Methods Oral mucosal biopsies, blood and swabs were collected from cats presenting with oral lesions. The tissue sections were submitted for histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis for feline calicivirus (FCV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The swabs were subjected to PCR analysis for FCV, and blood for FeLV and FIV. Results The main clinical findings were dysphagia (88.2%), halitosis (76.5%), sialorrhea (47.1%), weight loss (41.2%), intense oral discomfort (35.3%), oral hemorrhage (17.6%), and lackluster and fragile coat (11.8%). Gross inspection revealed bilateral lesions across the palatoglossal fold to the lateral tongue base. The lesions were diffuse, proliferative, intensely red and friable, and bled easily upon examination in 80.8% of cases. In 23.1% of cases, the lesions were multifocal to coalescent, at times forming multiple vesicles on a reddened, edematous palatoglossal fold. Microscopic examination showed that 15.4% of lesions had moderate (grade 2) and 84.6% had severe (grade 3) inflammation. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of FeLV antigens in the epithelium and the inflammatory infiltrate of 30.8% of the cats with FCG. FCV antigens were not detected in the FCG lesions. Conclusions and relevance The FCG cases analyzed could not be correlated with FCV. It is possible that FeLV plays a role as a causal agent of lesions in cases where the presence of the virus has been confirmed by immunohistochemistry in epithelial samples.
authors: 1 Department of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Veronica Machado
authors: VM
authors: Rolim
authors: 1 Department of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Saulo Petinatti
authors: SP
authors: Pavarini
authors: 2 Laboratory of Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Fabrício Souza
authors: FS
authors: Campos
authors: 3 Hospital Veterinary Clinics of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Viviam
authors: V
authors: Pignone
authors: 3 Hospital Veterinary Clinics of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Cláudia
authors: C
authors: Faraco
authors: 3 Hospital Veterinary Clinics of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Marcelo de Souza
authors: MS
authors: Muccillo
authors: 2 Laboratory of Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Paulo Michel
authors: PM
authors: Roehe
authors: 4 Department of Animal Medicine of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Fernanda Viera Amorim
authors: FV
authors: da Costa
authors: 1 Department of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Driemeier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002139:Caliciviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*