Difference between revisions of "Feline Asthma Syndrome"

From WikiVet English
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{unfinished}}
 
{{unfinished}}
  
{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
+
Also known as '''''Feline Allergic Bronchitis
| Also known as:
 
| '''Feline Allergic Bronchitis'''
 
|}
 
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==

Revision as of 10:46, 1 November 2010



Also known as Feline Allergic Bronchitis

Description

Feline asthma is an allergic airway disease that bears many similarities with asthma in humans and with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses. Affected animals become allergic to allergens present in their immediate environment, including house dust mites and fungal spores and produce IgE antibodies against these molecules. When later exposed to the same allergens, asthmatic cats suffer a form of type I hypersensitivity response localised in the bronchi and bronchioles and resulting in constriction of the airways.

Cases of feline asthma may be divided into intrinsic and extrinsic disease.

    • Extrinsic asthma
      • Type I hypersensitivity in response to allergen challenge - mediated by IgE
      • Pathological changes:
        • Exudate into airways - mucus/ cells
        • Thickened airway walls - oedema, glandular and smooth muscle hypertrophy, vascular congestion
        • Altered fluidity of mucus (associated with goblet cell hyperplasia) -> less effective mucociliary apparatus
    • Intrinsic asthma
      • A proportion of cats there is an increased propensity for the bronchial smooth muscle to contract (increased bronchial reactivity) -> airway constriction

Signalment

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

Laboratory Tests

Diagnostic Imaging

Treatment

Prognosis

References