Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with widespread Mycobacterium avium infection after kidney
By Griffin, Alison et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2003·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection following renal transplantation in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old cat who had a kidney transplant was brought in because she was vomiting, had diarrhea, wasn't eating, was very tired, and was losing weight. An ultrasound showed two large masses in her abdomen, which were biopsied and found to have a serious infection caused by Mycobacterium avium, a type of bacteria that can cause severe illness. Unfortunately, despite efforts to treat her, her condition worsened, and she was euthanized. This case highlights a rare but serious infection that can occur in cats after organ transplants.
People also search for: cat vomiting and diarrhea · cat kidney transplant complications · Mycobacterium avium in cats
Abstract
An 11-year-old cat with a history of renal transplantation and treatment with cyclosporine and prednisolone was examined because of vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, lethargy, and weight loss. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed 2 large heteroechoic masses thought to be mesenteric lymph nodes. Ultrasound-guided biopsy was performed, and histologic examination of biopsy specimens revealed granulomatous inflammation of presumptive lymph node tissue. Examination of sections stained with acid-fast stains revealed innumerable acid-fast bacilli within histiocytes, and a presumptive diagnosis of mycobacteriosis was made. The cat's clinical condition deteriorated, and euthanasia was elected. At necropsy, granulomatous inflammation was present within the mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, small and large intestines, lungs, and bone marrow. Bacterial culture yielded Mycobacterium avium, a slow-growing, opportunistic, saprophytic mycobacterium that can cause tuberculous lesions that are clinically indistinguishable from those associated with classic tuberculosis. It is a rare cause of disseminated mycobacteriosis in human transplant recipients. To our knowledge, this is the first report of disseminated M avium complex infection in a feline transplant recipient.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12710773/