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Pneumonia in cats caused by Pneumocystis carinii purified from mouse lungs
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Fourteen mice trapped in or near houses were infected with Pneumocystis carinii and the establishment of pneumonia was helped by injecting with cortisone acetate for 6 weeks. Then 16 cats were infected with P. carinii by injection of lung homogenate from the mice which contained from 1.3 x 10(5) to 2.6 x 10(5) P. carinii cysts. The infection resulted in severe cough and tachypnea in Cats 1-8 injected with cortisone acetate, and a subclinical infection in Cats 9-16. In Cats 1-8, the main pathological finding was typical P. carinii pneumonia, but there only was slight swelling of the lungs in Cats 9-16.
Insights
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was established in mice and then transmitted to cats. Cortisone acetate treatment in cats led to severe pneumonia, while untreated cats showed subclinical infections.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic pathogen.
- Murine models are used to study P. carinii infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in mice.
- To transmit P. carinii to cats and evaluate the role of immunosuppression.
Main Methods:
- Mice were infected with P. carinii and immunosuppressed with cortisone acetate.
- Cats were inoculated with P. carinii lung homogenate from infected mice.
- Cats were divided into two groups: cortisone acetate-treated and untreated.
Main Results:
- Cortisone acetate treatment in cats resulted in severe P. carinii pneumonia, characterized by cough and tachypnea.
- Untreated cats developed subclinical P. carinii infections with minimal lung pathology.
- Pathological findings in treated cats included typical P. carinii pneumonia.
Conclusions:
- Cortisone acetate exacerbates P. carinii pneumonia in cats.
- Cats can serve as a model for studying P. carinii infections, particularly with induced immunosuppression.