Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treatment and relapse of Mycobacterium avium infection in two dogs
By Coates, V et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2024·Department of Internal Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Response to treatment, relapse and outcome of two dogs treated for Mycobacterium avium infection.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old male neutered Golden Retriever had nasal swelling and swollen lymph nodes due to a Mycobacterium avium infection. He was treated with a combination of antibiotics for 9 months, which worked initially, but he relapsed after 10 months with more symptoms. After another year of treatment, he had a second relapse but continued to respond to the same therapy, surviving for over 6 years after his diagnosis. Meanwhile, a 1-year-old male neutered Portuguese Podengo with joint pain and the same infection was treated for 4 months but relapsed. He eventually responded to a different combination of medications, but after several relapses, he was euthanized 38 months after diagnosis. While treating Mycobacterium avium infections can be difficult, some dogs can live for a long time with proper care.
People also search for: dog nasal swelling treatment · Mycobacterium avium infection in dogs · Golden Retriever lymphadenopathy · dog joint pain antibiotics
Abstract
A 3-year-old male neutered Golden Retriever with nasal swelling and lymphadenopathy was diagnosed with diffuse Mycobacterium avium infection. Treatment with 9 months of enrofloxacin, clarithromycin and rifampicin was successful, but relapsed 10 months later with lymphadenopathy, skin plaques and testicular involvement. Repeat treatment for 12 months was effective but 15 months later a second relapse responded to the same therapy which is ongoing with survival from diagnosis of 82 months. A 1-year-old male neutered Portuguese Podengo was diagnosed with polyarthritis and M. avium infection and treated with enrofloxacin, clarithromycin and rifampicin for 4 months but relapsed, subsequently responding to combined pradofloxacin, rifampicin, doxycycline and ethambutol. After 12 months of treatment, M. avium was detected and treatment extended to 17 months before stopping when no organism was detected. Relapse occurred after 6 weeks, responding to retreatment but relapsing (polyarthropathy, lymphadenomegaly) after 15 months, with euthanasia 38 months after diagnosis. Dogs with M. avium are challenging to treat with frequent relapse; however, long-term survival is possible.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39370133/