Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Mycobacterial infections in cats from northern California
By Matthew J. L. Munro et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·2021·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, Davis Davis California USA, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Feline mycobacterial disease in northern California: Epidemiology, clinical features, and antimicrobial susceptibility
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Nineteen cats in northern California were diagnosed with mycobacterial infections, which can be tough to treat. Four of these cats had a specific type of infection called Mycobacterium avium, while the other fifteen had rapid-growing mycobacterial infections. Symptoms included skin issues, and many of the affected cats had access to the outdoors. Treatment success varied; while some cats with rapid-growing infections improved with medication, three of the cats with Mycobacterium avium did not survive. For those dealing with these infections, a combination of medications is recommended, and follow-up testing is important to monitor progress.
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Abstract
Abstract Background Mycobacterial infections in cats are challenging to treat and incompletely described. Hypothesis/objectives To describe the features of mycobacterial infections in cats from northern California. Animals Nineteen cats, all with nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections; 4 with Mycobacterium avium infection, 15 with rapid‐growing mycobacterial (RGM) infection. Methods Retrospective study. Cases with positive mycobacterial culture, species identification, and susceptibility testing were included. Descriptive statistics were used. Fisher's exact test and Mann‐Whitney U test were used for comparisons between M avium and RGM infections (P ≤ .05). Results Rapid‐growing mycobacterial cases included Mycobacterium smegmatis (9), Mycobacterium fortuitum (4), Mycobacterium abscessus (1), and Mycobacterium thermoresistibile (1). Mycobacterium avium infections were more likely than RGM infections to be disseminated (3/4 vs 0/15; P = .004). Disease of the skin/subcutis (15/15 vs 0/4; P < .001) and outdoor access (14/15 vs 0/4; P = .001) were primary features of RGM infections. Resistance to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides was common among M avium isolates. A high prevalence of resistance to third‐ and fourth‐generation cephalosporins was noted in RGM species. Death/euthanasia was noted only in M avium cases (3/4). Twelve of 15 cats with RGM infection had available follow‐up; 4 of these cats achieved remission. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The most prevalent RGM species isolated from cats from northern California are M smegmatis and M fortuitum. Susceptibility to prescribed antimicrobials does not appear to guarantee treatment success. Combination drug treatment is recommended. Repeat culture and susceptibility testing should be performed when disease is persistent/relapsing.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16013