Morphologic alterations in the cilia of a cat

Based upon ultrastructural findings and computed tomography, a presumptive diagnosis of feline primary ciliary dyskinesia was made in a 2.5-year-old cat. The cat demonstrated morphologic alterations in the ultrastructure of oviductal cilia. In the oviduct, axonemal abnormalities were detected in 132 (20%) of 660 cross-sectioned cilia. The main ultrastructural ciliary defects were a lack of central microtubules, transposition of peripheral doublets to the center of the axoneme, supernumerary microtubules, and morphologic abnormalities of peripheral doublets. Computed tomography of the chest was consistent with early lesions of bronchiectasis, suggesting chronic stagnation of respiratory secretions, attributed to abnormal function of respiratory cilia. Specifically, the cranial branches of the cat's bronchi were wider and thicker than those of five healthy controls. Foci of pleural thickening and interstitial enlargement were also observed.