Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with abdominal lymph node abscesses caused by E. coli
By Sakai, Kosei et al.·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2022·Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Mesenteric lymph node abscesses due to Escherichia coli in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old mixed-breed cat was brought in for chronic loose stools that had been ongoing for nearly two years. Imaging tests revealed two swollen lymph nodes in the abdomen filled with pus, caused by an infection from Escherichia coli. Although surgery to remove the abscesses was not possible due to their attachment to surrounding tissues, the cat received drainage and antibiotics, which helped reduce the size of the lymph nodes. A change to a special hydrolyzed diet improved the cat's symptoms, indicating a possible food-related issue contributing to the problem.
People also search for: cat loose stools treatment · cat lymph node abscess · Escherichia coli infection in cats · hydrolyzed diet for cats
Abstract
A 3-year-old, castrated male mixed-breed cat presented with an almost 2-year history of chronic loose stools. On radiography and ultrasound examination, there were two masses in the centre of the abdomen. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed that the masses were enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes with fluid accumulation. Percutaneous lesion drainage yielded pus-like fluid. Fluid cytology revealed numerous neutrophils and Gram-negative rods. Pus culture identified Escherichia coli as the causative organism. Consequently, mesenteric lymph node abscesses were definitively diagnosed. Since computed tomography showed that the abscesses adhered to the surrounding tissues, it was difficult to remove them surgically. With drainage and antimicrobial therapy, the mesenteric lymph nodes gradually decreased in size. However, loose stools persisted. The cat's diet was changed to a hydrolysed diet, and the clinical symptoms improved, suggesting food-responsive enteropathy. This may be an underlying disease of lymph node abscesses. Lymph node abscesses limited to the mesenteric lymph nodes rarely occur in veterinary medicine, and this is the first report in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35654083/