{"id":1469826,"date":"2023-05-30T09:30:32","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T07:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laboklin.com\/?p=1469826"},"modified":"2024-08-01T14:24:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T12:24:25","slug":"feline-respiratory-tract-infection-how-to-choose-between-pcr-and-bacterial-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laboklin.com\/en\/feline-respiratory-tract-infection-how-to-choose-between-pcr-and-bacterial-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Feline respiratory tract infection \u2013 how to choose between PCR and bacterial culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Feline patients with respiratory infections are common in companion animal practice. The clinical signs associated with these infections are diverse, ranging from mild nasal discharge to severe pneumonia.<\/p>\n

The primary etiological agents implicated in these cases are five pathogens that comprise the feline upper respiratory tract disease<\/strong> (URTD) complex: feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), feline caliciviruses (FCV), Chlamydia felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Mycoplasma felis. These pathogens can cause single or mixed infections in affected cats.<\/p>\n

In addition to these primary URTD pathogens, secondary bacterial infections can also occur, particularly in cases of severe or protracted illness. Those can further complicate the clinical presentation and may necessitate additional therapeutic interventions.<\/p>\n

For the detection of viruses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the method of choice, whereas bacterial pathogens can also be identified via bacterial culture (BC). Indirect detection using antibodies is less appropriate, since many patients are either vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. Additionally, in case of an acute infection, antibodies may not yet be detectable.<\/p>\n

According to various studies most URT infections have a viral origin (i. e. FHV-1\/ FCV-1). An infection with FHV-1 typically leads to a lifelong latency, with affected animals experiencing recurrent infection, especially during periods of stress or immunosuppression. The clinical signs can range from rhinitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis and fever to severe pneumonia. FCV infections can lead to a range of symptoms, from typical ulcers in the oral cavity to infections of the upper respiratory tract, fever and arthritis. This variability in symptoms is due to the high mutation rate of the virus, which results in differing levels
\nof virulence.<\/p>\n

According to the literature, Mycoplasma felis, Chlamydia felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica<\/em> and, less commonly, Streptococcus (S.) canis<\/em> and Streptococcus (S.) equi<\/em> ssp. zooepidemicus have been detected in cats with URTD even in the absence of FHV-1 or FCV, suggesting that these agents may also play a primary role. In a study by Veir et al. (2008), approximately 80% of nasal\/pharyngeal swabs from cats with respiratory symptoms were positive for Mycoplasma felis, while this pathogen was rarely detected in samples from healthy cats.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of an infection with Mycoplasma felis<\/em> or Chlamydia felis<\/em> can range from conjunctivitis, keratitis and fever to severe pneumonia, although the latter is rare. Both agents are also associated with reproductive problems. Chlamydial infections are common in kittens. PCR is the method of choice for routine diagnosis of mycoplasma and chlamydial infections. Bordetella bronchiseptica<\/em> plays a less significant role in cats and is more commonly associated with lower respiratory tract infections. These bacteria can be detected not only using PCR, but bacterial culture, bringing the advantage of performing an antimicrobial susceptibility test afterwards.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t