Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Corynebacterium spp. in dogs and cats with otitis externa and/or media: a retrospective study.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Henneveld, Kerstin et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the role of a type of bacteria called Corynebacterium in ear infections (otitis) in dogs and cats. Researchers found that Corynebacterium was often present alongside other bacteria, making it hard to tell if it was actually causing the infection. In most cases, when the other bacteria were treated, the Corynebacterium disappeared too, even if it was resistant to the antibiotics used. However, there were two cases in dogs where Corynebacterium might have been the main problem. The study also found that most Corynebacterium bacteria were sensitive to certain antibiotics, suggesting that gentamicin and enrofloxacin could be good choices for treating these infections.
Abstract
The role of Corynebacterium spp. in the pathogenesis of canine and feline otitis externa/media and their appropriate antimicrobial therapy are unclear. The objectives of this study were to (1) better establish the pathogenicity of Corynebacterium spp. in otitis utilizing reported criteria and by assessing clinical response to antibiotic therapy and (2) to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Corynebacterium spp. associated with otitis. The study was retrospective, targeting cultures positive for Corynebacterium spp. Corynebacterium spp. were part of mixed microbial populations in 79/81 cultures. Corynebacterium spp. pathogenicity was highly questionable because of their almost invariable presence with other microbes and the observation that Corynebacterium spp. usually disappear from the ear with resolution of other infections, even when the Corynebacterium spp. are resistant to the prescribed antibiotic(s). However, 2/81 cultures came from two canine ears wherein Corynebacterium spp. may have been pathogenic. Antimicrobial sensitivities for Corynebacterium spp. were available for 54 isolates. Most isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol (53/54), amikacin (50/54), tetracycline (50/54), gentamicin (46/54), and enrofloxacin (32/54). Among those antibiotics available in otic products, gentamicin and enrofloxacin would be rational choices for the empirical, topical therapy of Corynebacterium spp.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22843832/