Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Streptomyces skin infection in cats with poor treatment response
By Traslavina, R P et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2015·School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Laser Capture Microdissection of Feline Streptomyces spp Pyogranulomatous Dermatitis and Cellulitis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Four cats with severe skin infections were treated at a veterinary hospital, showing symptoms like painful, ulcerated lumps and swollen lymph nodes. Despite aggressive medical and surgical treatments, none of the cats improved and they were ultimately euthanized. Tests revealed that the infections were caused by Streptomyces spp, a type of bacteria usually considered harmless but that can lead to serious skin problems in cats that spend time outdoors. This case highlights the challenges of diagnosing and treating these infections effectively.
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Abstract
Suspected Streptomyces spp infections were identified in 4 cats at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between 1982 and 2011. Three had ulcerated, dark red mycetomas involving the dermis, subcutis, and fascia with fistulous tracts and/or regional lymphadenopathy. One cat had pyogranulomatous mesenteric lymphadenitis. Granulomatous inflammation in all cats contained colonies of Gram-positive, non-acid-fast organisms. All 4 cats failed to respond to aggressive medical and surgical treatment and were euthanized. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to selectively harvest DNA from the affected formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. Cloned amplicons from LCM-derived tissue confirmed the presence of Streptomyces spp in the dermatitis cases. Amplicons from the remaining cat with peritoneal involvement aligned with the 16S ribosomal RNA gene for Actinomycetales. Usually considered a contaminant, Streptomyces spp can be associated with refractory pyogranulomatous dermatitis and cellulitis in cats with outdoor access. LCM is useful in the diagnosis of bacterial diseases where contamination may be an issue.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25516065/