[ODP1] 1. Taxonomy / Epidemiology / Infectious diseases -a. Phylogenetics, taxonomy and strain typing

[ODP-004] A novel Filobacterium sp found in feline chronic bronchitis

Fumio Ike¹, Martina Maceradska², Sona Pekova³, Patrizia Danesi⁴, Tommaso Furlanello⁴, Roberta Calleo⁴, Patricia Martin⁵, Richard Malik⁵ (¹Div. Exp. Anim., RIKEN BRC, Japan, ²Czech Univ in Prague, Czech Rep., ³Tilia Lab, Czech Rep., ⁴Inst Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Venezie, San Marco Vet Clin Lab, Italy, ⁵Univ Sydney, Australia)

We found a novel organism in cats with a chronic respiratory disease. It had a 16S rRNA sequence similar to that of Filobacterium rodentium (Gram-negative filamentous rod, discovered in rats and mice). This led us to hypothesize that it could, in some cats, contribute to the development of chronic bronchial disease.
Methods: The BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) specimens were obtained during the treatment of domestic cats. The cat lung samples were preserved for pathology. PCR amplified products of 16S rRNA gene (V5-V8 region) were sequenced using Ion Torrent.
Results and Discussion: Czech cats (3 cases) with a chronic respiratory disease showing neutrophilic infiltration were negative for feline pathogens (Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, FHV-1, FCV, and bronchial septicemia bacteria). However the PCR products of BALF yielded a single sequence, suggesting an involvement of a new species of Filobacterium sp (F. felis, tentatively). We extended our search to Australia and Italy to comprehensively analyze 16S rRNA sequences of BALF (24 cases) and lung samples (16 cases). The sequences of F. felis were found in 19 BALF and 14 lung samples, with several cases showing the highest prevalence. These results strongly suggest that F. felis constitutes a part of the respiratory microbiota of cats, and seems to cause neutrophilic and histiocytic bronchitis when it grows under some conditions.