Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat eye infection from Mycobacterium simiae treated successfully
By Dietrich, U et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2003·Department of Small Animal Surgery (Ophthalmology)·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ocular manifestation of disseminated Mycobacterium simiae infection in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old domestic shorthaired cat was brought to the vet with skin issues, breathing problems, swollen lymph nodes, and an eye problem. Tests revealed a rare infection caused by Mycobacterium simiae, which is usually seen in humans with weakened immune systems. The vet treated the cat with a combination of three antibiotics: rifampicin, enrofloxacin, and clarithromycin. After six months, the cat showed complete recovery with no side effects, and there have been no signs of the infection returning after 22 months.
People also search for: cat eye problems · cat skin infection treatment · Mycobacterium simiae in cats · cat breathing problems · antibiotics for cat infections
Abstract
Disseminated mycobacterial disease was diagnosed in an eight-year-old domestic shorthaired cat, with involvement of the skin, lungs, lymph nodes and one eye. Mycobacterium simiae was cultured from skin biopsies on solid agar and in liquid media. This organism is known to cause pulmonary, cutaneous or disseminated infection in human patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome but has never been encountered as a pathogen in companion animals. Combination treatment with rifampicin, enrofloxacin and clarithromycin resulted in complete clinical remission within six months, with no side effects. No recurrence was observed in a 22-month follow-up period.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12653327/