Campylobacter Species and Neutrophilic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats

Abstract

BackgroundInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common cause of signs of gastrointestinal disease in cats. A subset of cats with IBD has neutrophilic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.HypothesisNeutrophilic enteritis in cats is associated with mucosal invasion by microorganisms, and specifically Campylobacter spp.AnimalsSeven cats with neutrophilic IBD and 8 cats with lymphoplasmacytic IBD.MethodsRetrospective review of duodenal biopsy specimens that were collected endoscopically for histologic examination. Cases were identified and selected by searching the histopathology archive for cats with a diagnosis of neutrophilic and lymphoplasmacytic IBD. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) targeting either all eubacteria or individual Campylobacter spp. was performed on archived samples. Neutrophils were detected on the same samples using a FISH probe for neutrophil elastase.Results Campylobacter coli was present in (6/7) cats with neutrophilic IBD and in (1/8) cats with lymphoplasmacytic IBD (P = .009). Cats with neutrophilic IBD had significantly higher number of C. coli (median bacteria 0.7/hpf) in the mucosa than cats with lymphoplasmacytic IBD (median bacteria 0/hpf) (P = 0.002). Colocalization of neutrophils and C. coli was demonstrated, with C. coli closer to the neutrophils than any other bacteria (P < .001).Conclusions and clinical importanceIdentification of C. coli associated with neutrophilic inflammation suggests that C. coli is able either to produce compounds which stimulate neutrophils or to induce feline intestinal cells to produce neutrophil chemoattractants. This association should allow a directed therapeutic approach in cats with neutrophilic IBD, potentially improving outcome and reducing any zoonotic risk.

Zoonotic Bacteria Associated with Cats

“…35 Campylobacter coli may be associated with neutrophilic inflammatory bowel disease in cats, posing a zoonotic risk. 36 Clinical signs such as diarrhea are not reliable predictors of whether a cat is actively shedding enteric organisms. For newly adopted pet cats, potential risks to the client should be considered.…”

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), porA and flaA typing of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from cats attending a veterinary clinic

“…Although there is a general conception that healthy pets do not carry C. jejuni , our results have shown that healthy cats did carry zoonotic C. jejuni (ST-45 and ST-583) populations which may pose a potential risk for their owners. Besides, cats themselves may suffer from inflammatory bowel disease [48].…”

Best Practices for Microbiome Study Design in Companion Animal Research

“…There are several specific types of microbial imbalances that we recommend as exclusion criteria. These include: high relative abundances of frank or opportunistic pathogens such as Escherichia coli (134), Campylobacter (135,136), or Clostridioides difficile (137,138); elevated levels of bacteria typically found in the small intestine such as Streptococcus or Veillonella (139,140); elevated levels of bacteria associated with inflammatory bowel disease such as [Ruminococcus] gnavus group (141) or Desulfovibrio (142); relative abundances >10% of genera that are not usually found in companion animals in high abundance; and relative abundance of a single genus >50%. While these are our current best recommendations, they can change with scientific advancement.…”