Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with ear infection causing brain inflammation from Streptococcus
By Martin-Vaquero, Paula et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2011·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Presumptive meningoencephalitis secondary to extension of otitis media/interna caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old male domestic longhair cat was brought to the vet showing signs of neurological issues, including balance problems and a droopy eyelid on one side of his face. Scans revealed an infection in the ear that had spread to the brain, and tests showed a specific bacteria called Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus. This type of ear infection leading to brain issues is rare in cats. The cat received treatment for the infection, and while the abstract does not specify the outcome, prompt veterinary care is crucial for recovery in such cases.
People also search for: cat neurological signs · cat ear infection treatment · Streptococcus equi in cats
Abstract
A 5-year-old castrated male domestic longhair cat was presented with neurological signs consistent with a central vestibular lesion and left Horner's syndrome. Computed tomography images revealed hyperattenuating, moderately contrast-enhancing material within the left tympanic bulla, most consistent with left otitis media/interna. Marked neutrophilic pleocytosis was identified on cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (SEZ) was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid. Intracranial extension of otitis media/interna is relatively infrequent in small animals. There are no reports of otitis media/interna caused by SEZ in dogs or cats. This is the first report of otitis media/interna and presumptive secondary meningoencephalitis caused by SEZ in a cat.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21640625/