Recurrent bacterial pneumonia in Irish Wolfhounds: Clinical findings and etiological studies

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 846 - 855
• Main Authors: Viitanen, Sanna J., Lappalainen, Anu K., Koho, Ninna M., Pessa‐Morikawa, Tiina, Ressel, Lorenzo, Rajamäki, Minna M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Alveoli; Animals; Antimicrobial agents; Bacterial infections; Biochemistry; Bronchiectasis; Bronchiectasis - veterinary; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - microbiology; Bronchoscopy; Bronchus; canine; Computed tomography; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytology; Disease; dog; Dog Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Dog Diseases - etiology; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dogs; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Esophageal Motility Disorders - diagnostic imaging; Esophageal Motility Disorders - veterinary; Esophagus; Etiology; Female; Flow cytometry; Fluoroscopy; Hematology; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins - analysis; Immunoglobulins - blood; Internal medicine; Laboratories; Lymphocyte Subsets; Lymphocytes; Male; Paralysis; Peripheral blood; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Bacterial - diagnostic imaging; Pneumonia, Bacterial - etiology; Pneumonia, Bacterial - veterinary; Prospective Studies; pulmonary; Questionnaires; Radiography; Radiography, Thoracic - veterinary; respiratory infection; SMALL ANIMAL; Studies; Subpopulations; Thorax; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - veterinary; Vocal Cord Paralysis - veterinary; Germany; pulmonary; canine; dog; respiratory infection
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15413

Background Increased incidence of bacterial pneumonia (BP) has been reported in Irish Wolfhounds (IWHs), and recurrence of BP is common. The etiology of recurrent pneumonia in IWHs is largely unknown. Objectives To describe clinical findings in IWHs with recurrent BP and investigate possible etiologies. Animals Eleven affected IWHs, 25 healthy IWHs, 28 healthy dogs of other Sighthound breeds, and 16 healthy dogs of other breeds. Methods Prospective cross‐sectional observational study. All affected IWHs underwent thorough clinical examinations including thoracic radiographs, thoracic computed tomography, electron microscopic evaluation of ciliary structure, and bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology and culture. Serum and BALF immunoglobulin concentrations were measured using an ELISA method, and peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed using flow cytometry. Esophageal function was assessed by fluoroscopy (n = 2). Results Median age of onset was 5.0 years (range, 0.4‐6.5 years), and when presented for study, dogs had experienced a median of 5 previous episodes of BP (range, 2‐6). The following predisposing factors to BP were detected: focal bronchiectasis (10/11), unilateral (2/9) and bilateral (1/9) laryngeal paralysis, and esophageal hypomotility (2/2). Local or systemic immunoglobulin deficiencies or primary ciliary defects were not detected. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Recurrent BP affects mostly middle‐aged and older IWHs without any evident immune deficit or primary ciliary defects. Focal BE was a frequent finding in affected dogs and likely contributed to the development of recurrent respiratory infections. Laryngeal and esophageal dysfunction identified in a minority of dogs may contribute to recurrent BP.