Feline chronic rhinitis is a common and challenging condition in cats, characterized
by prolonged inflammation of the nasal cavity, often lasting 4 weeks or more. It is
the second most frequent cause of chronic nasal discharge after neoplasia. The
condition can arise from various primary causes, including viral or fungal infections,
nasal parasites, neoplasia, congenital defects, dental disease, nasal foreign bodies,
nasopharyngeal polyps, allergic rhinitis, and nasal trauma. Diagnosis can involve
rhinoscopy, radiography, MRI, and CT scans.
In this study, moderate lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was identified as the primary
cause of nasal discharge, with the presence of P. aestus likely secondary. Chronic
inflammation can damage the nasal mucosa, predisposing to secondary bacterial
infections, which are often difficult to control if caused by multidrug-resistant
strains.
Primary bacterial infections are rare, with bacterial involvement usually secondary
to other conditions like viral infections, particularly feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1).
Cats with chronic lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis may benefit from antibacterial therapy.
Pseudomonas spp., including P. aestus, are common in deeper nasal samples from
cats with chronic rhinosinusitis.
This study is the first to report P. aestus in a mammal, previously known for its
antimicrobial properties in the food industry and agriculture. Previous studies on this
environmental Pseudomonas strain have focused on its potential as a biocontrol
agent in the food industry and agriculture, due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial
activity and ability to produce compounds like pyrrolnitrin, pyoluteorin, 2,4-
diacetylphloroglucinol, hydrogen cyanide, and exoprotease. In such cases, cats with
chronic lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis may benefit from antibacterial therapy.
Chronic and recurrent cases may require 6 to 8 weeks of antimicrobial therapy,
ideally based on susceptibility profiles from nasal biopsies or flush fluid. Recurrence
is common, suggesting secondary bacterial involvement, and repeated antibiotic
courses may select for resistant strains. The study highlights the need for
monitoring and identifying non-traditional Pseudomonas strains in veterinary
settings.
Feline chronic rhinitis is a common and difficult-to-manage condition in cats, marked
by inflammation of the nasal cavity that can persist for 4 weeks or more. It is the
second most frequent cause of chronic nasal discharge in cats, following neoplasia.
The symptoms of chronic rhinitis in cats can stem from various primary conditions,
including viral or fungal infections, nasal parasites, neoplasia, congenital defects,
dental disease, nasal foreign bodies, nasopharyngeal polyps, allergic rhinitis, and
nasal trauma. Diagnosing nasal cavity abnormalities can be achieved through
rhinoscopy, as well as conventional and contrast radiography, MRI, and CT scans.
In this study, the cat's nasal cavity showed moderate lymphoplasmacytic
infiltration, likely the primary cause of the observed nasal discharge, with P. aestus
presence probably secondary to this underlying issue. Chronic inflammation is
known to damage the nasal mucosa, making it susceptible to secondary bacterial
infections, which can be challenging to manage, especially if caused by multidrug-
resistant strains.
Primary bacterial infections causing cat rhinitis are rare. Typically, bacterial
involvement is secondary, often due to opportunistic pathogens or an overgrowth of
nasal microbiota, following a primary condition like a viral infection, especially feline
herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1). While mixed growth of commensal microorganisms is
common, the presence of a single pathogenic species, such as P. aeruginosa, can be
more significant. In such cases, cats with chronic lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis may
benefit from antibacterial therapy.
Pseudomonas spp. are commonly found in deeper nasal samples from cats with
chronic rhinosinusitis. While this bacterial genus includes ubiquitous organisms
often described as opportunistic pathogens in animals and humans, this study is the
first to report P. aestus associated with disease in a mammal. Previous studies on
this environmental Pseudomonas strain have focused on its potential as a biocontrol
agent in the food industry and agriculture, due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial
activity and ability to produce compounds like pyrrolnitrin, pyoluteorin, 2,4-
diacetylphloroglucinol, hydrogen cyanide, and exoprotease. The nasal inflammation
in the cat may have facilitated the invasion of its nasal cavity by this environmental
agent.
Given the chronic and recurrent nature of this condition, a 6 to 8-week course of
antimicrobial therapy may be necessary. Ideally, this treatment should be based on
the susceptibility profile of isolates from nasal biopsies or flush fluid. The presence
of bacteria in biopsy samples indicates a more established infection compared to
surface colonization. Cats with chronic rhinitis often show only temporary
improvement with antimicrobial treatment, leading to frequent recurrence. This
suggests that bacterial involvement is secondary to the disease's primary cause,
necessitating repeated antibiotic courses. These repeated treatments can eliminate
other commensal organisms and select for resistant strains. Some authors note that
repeated antibiotic use may select for Pseudomonas spp. In this case, the cat's
previous doxycycline treatments might explain the selection of this bacterial species
and its resistance pattern, complicating infection control and elimination.
A limitation of this study is the absence of the follow-up clinical information of the
animal; however, the main goal of this work was to report a non-conventional
bacterial species responsible for a nasal infection in a cat.
Concluding, this manuscript constitutes the first report of the isolation of a
multidrug-resistant, non-traditional P. aestus strain in companion animal medicine,
highlighting the possibility that less common Pseudomonas species, including
environmental strains, can cause disease in animals and remain unnoticed due to
the difficulties associated with their identification using the conventional
bacteriological methods. The resistance profile of the clinical isolate under study
also supports the establishment of monitorization protocols aiming at the isolation,
identification, and characterization of non-traditional Pseudomonas strains in the
veterinary setting.