title: Campylobacter Species and Neutrophilic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common cause of signs of gastrointestinal disease in cats. A subset of cats with IBD has neutrophilic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Neutrophilic enteritis in cats is associated with mucosal invasion by microorganisms, and specifically Campylobacter spp.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven cats with neutrophilic IBD and 8 cats with lymphoplasmacytic IBD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of duodenal biopsy specimens that were collected endoscopically for histologic examination. Cases were identified and selected by searching the histopathology archive for cats with a diagnosis of neutrophilic and lymphoplasmacytic IBD. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) targeting either all eubacteria or individual Campylobacter spp. was performed on archived samples. Neutrophils were detected on the same samples using a FISH probe for neutrophil elastase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Campylobacter coli was present in (6/7) cats with neutrophilic IBD and in (1/8) cats with lymphoplasmacytic IBD (P = .009). Cats with neutrophilic IBD had significantly higher number of C. coli (median bacteria 0.7/hpf) in the mucosa than cats with lymphoplasmacytic IBD (median bacteria 0/hpf) (P = 0.002). Colocalization of neutrophils and C. coli was demonstrated, with C. coli closer to the neutrophils than any other bacteria (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identification of C. coli associated with neutrophilic inflammation suggests that C. coli is able either to produce compounds which stimulate neutrophils or to induce feline intestinal cells to produce neutrophil chemoattractants. This association should allow a directed therapeutic approach in cats with neutrophilic IBD, potentially improving outcome and reducing any zoonotic risk.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Maunder
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: Z F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cogan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017000:Campylobacter coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male
keywords: Duodenum; Endoscopy; Enteritis; FISH; Histopathology