A retrospective study of more than 400 feline nasal biopsy samples in the UK (2006–2013)

Abstract

Objectives The main objective of this study was to utilise a large database from a UK-based, commercial veterinary diagnostic laboratory to ascertain the prevalence of different forms of nasal disease within the feline population. Further objectives included using this database to detect any breed, sex or age predilections, or associations between the degree of brachycephalism, and the different conditions diagnosed. Methods Records from the laboratory were searched for feline submissions received between 31 May 2006 and 31 October 2013. For all samples taken from the nasal cavity, the diagnosis was recorded together with the breed, age, sex and neuter status of the cat, whether the clinical presentation was uni- or bilateral and whether a nasal discharge was present. Pedigree breeds were further subclassified according to skull conformation into brachycephalic, mesocephalic and dolichocephalic. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the adjusted magnitude of association of significant risk factors with each disease, and each disease was also used as a potential independent risk factor for each other disease. Results The most prevalent nasal disease was rhinitis, followed by neoplasia and polyps. The most commonly diagnosed neoplasm was lymphoma, followed by adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma, with benign tumours being very uncommon. No significant association was found between skull conformation and nasal diseases. The only statistically significant association was polyps being more likely to arise in younger male cats, with a mesocephalic skull conformation and no nasal discharge. Conclusions and relevance No significant association was found between skull conformation and nasal diseases, contrary to what might be expected. The only significant association found between any of the potential risk factors and various forms of nasal disease was polyps being more likely to arise in younger cats; other identified associations are only likely to be weak.