Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with pyothorax and leukemia caused by Nocardia infection
By Juliana de Moraes Intrieri et al.·Published in Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Medicine·2023·Veterinarian. Autonomus, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil , BR·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Pyothorax caused by Nocardia sp. in a cat – Case report
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old female mixed-breed cat with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and chronic kidney disease was brought in for severe breathing problems and skin lesions. The vet suspected fluid in her chest and drained a thick, foul-smelling liquid, which was later identified as an infection caused by Nocardia bacteria. After confirming the diagnosis, the cat was treated with a long-term course of amoxicillin combined with clavulanic acid. Fortunately, this treatment successfully resolved her symptoms, and she recovered well.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · Nocardia infection in cats · cat skin lesions treatment · amoxicillin for cat infection
Abstract
Nocardiosis is an infection caused by ubiquitous opportunistic bacteria and is rare in felines. In retrospective studies of the infection in the species, pyothorax was found in only about 5% of the cases described, with the most frequent forms being cutaneous and subcutaneous. This report describes Nocardia spp. as an etiologic agent of pyothorax in a feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-positive female cat. A 10-year-old female mixed-breed cat, positive for FeLV, with chronic kidney disease IRIS stage 2, was examined with a severe dyspneic onset, suspected of pleural effusion. It also had skin lesions in the interscapular region. The patient underwent thoracentesis, and a dense, creamy, fetid, and flocculated liquid was collected. Radiography was performed after draining the pleural fluid, which showed images suggestive of atelectasis of the left lung lobes and pneumonia. The collected material was sent for analysis, which found that it was a septic exudate. In addition, it was referred for bacterial culture in a special medium due to suspicion of nocardiosis. Long-term treatment with amoxicillin + clavulanic acid resolved the clinical case.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm005522