Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vagococcus lutrae infection in a cat with urinary syndrome in Italy
By Daniela Averaimo et al.·Published in Microorganisms·2025·Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy, CH·View original on DOAJ →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: <i>Vagococcus lutrae</i> Isolation in a Cat with Feline Urological Syndrome in Italy: A Case Report
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A neutered male cat with feline urological syndrome was brought in for serious issues with painful urination and bladder stones that didn't improve with catheter treatments. After surgery to create a new opening for urination (urethrostomy), tests showed the presence of a rare bacteria called Vagococcus lutrae in his urine. This bacteria is concerning because it has shown resistance to multiple antibiotics, making treatment more complicated. This case is significant as it's the first time Vagococcus lutrae has been found in a cat's urinary tract, highlighting the need for awareness of this emerging pathogen.
People also search for: cat urinary problems · feline urological syndrome treatment · Vagococcus lutrae in cats · cat bladder stones surgery · antibiotic resistance in cats
Abstract
<i>Vagococcus lutrae</i> is an emerging pathogen that can cause severe disease, especially in immunocompromised patients. Unlike <i>Vagococcus fluvialis</i>, which is recognized as a human and animal pathogen, there are few reports of <i>V. lutrae</i> from human and animal infections. In humans, it has been reported in patients with severe skin lesions and bloodstream infections. In veterinary medicine, <i>V. lutrae</i> was accidentally isolated from a Eurasian otter and a largemouth bass, and only once from the genitourinary tract of a pig with a urinary tract infection. However, the prevalence may be underestimated due to difficulties in identification using traditional methods. In addition, <i>V. lutrae</i> could be a carrier of resistance genes and contribute to the spread of AMR. A neutered male cat with feline urological syndrome underwent urethrostomy surgery due to serious problems with dysuria and urolithiasis that could not be resolved through catheterizations. Urine culture revealed the presence of <i>Vagococcus lutrae</i>. The strain showed resistance genes against aminoglycoside, lincosamide, streptogramin a and b, pleuromutilin, macrolide, tetracycline, oxazolidinone, and amphenicol classes. We report the first isolation of <i>V. lutrae</i> from the urinary tract of a cat.
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 on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092020