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A novel Filobacterium sp can cause chronic bronchitis in cats
Martina Načeradská1,2, Sona Pekova3, Patrizia Danesi4
1Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Plos One
|June 9, 2021
Summary
Filobacterium felis (F. felis) is identified as a cause of feline chronic bronchial disease. This bacterium is part of the normal feline respiratory microbiome but can cause inflammation when its population increases.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Feline Respiratory Disease
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Cilia-associated respiratory bacillus (CARB), now Filobacterium rodentium, is a known rodent pathogen.
- A CARB-like organism was previously observed in feline lung samples via microscopy.
- This study investigates the role of Filobacterium sp. in the feline lower respiratory microbiome and its potential link to chronic bronchial disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if Filobacterium sp. is a component of the normal feline lower respiratory microbiome.
- To investigate the potential contribution of Filobacterium sp. to the development of chronic bronchial disease in cats.
- To characterize a novel Filobacterium species found in diseased cats.
Main Methods:
- Identification of Filobacterium sp. in three cats with chronic neutrophilic bronchitis using 16S rDNA PCR and Sanger sequencing.
- Treatment of affected cats with antimicrobials, leading to prompt clinical resolution.
- Examination of additional feline lower respiratory samples from Australia and Italy using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).
- Development and application of a Filobacterium-specific qPCR assay for further testing.
Main Results:
- A novel Filobacterium sp., proposed as F. felis, was identified in cats with chronic lower respiratory disease.
- F. felis was detected in 3/3 Czech cats, 13/13 Australian cats, 6/11 Italian cats with respiratory disease, and 14/16 deceased Italian cats.
- NGS and qPCR confirmed identical sequences, with F. felis sometimes being the predominant species.
- An association was found between high bacterial loads of Filobacterium and neutrophilic/histiocytic inflammation.
Conclusions:
- The novel Filobacterium sp., F. felis, is a part of the normal feline lower respiratory microbiome.
- Increased abundance of F. felis can lead to neutrophilic and/or histiocytic bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and bronchopneumonia.
- F. felis is suggested as an underdiagnosed cause of feline bronchial disease.
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