Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bloodstream infections from rare bacteria in companion animals
By R. Scarpellini et al.·Published in BMC Veterinary Research·2023·View original on Semantic Scholar →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Two cases of bloodstream infections associated with opportunistic bacterial species (Enterococcus hirae and Enterobacter xiangfangensis) in companion animals
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 15-year-old dog with heart problems and a weakened immune system was brought in for not eating and diarrhea. Despite treatment, the dog's condition worsened, and blood tests showed a serious infection caused by a bacteria called Enterococcus hirae. Unfortunately, the dog had to be euthanized due to the severity of the infection. In another case, a 2-year-old cat with heart issues and a history of eye problems was admitted for similar symptoms. The cat initially improved but later returned with severe neurological symptoms and was also euthanized. These cases highlight the risks of opportunistic bacterial infections in pets, especially those with existing health issues.
People also search for: dog not eating diarrhea treatment · cat fever and lethargy · opportunistic infections in pets
Abstract
Background Bloodstream infections are a matter of concern in small animal veterinary practice. Few reports are avaiable, especially regarding the role of opportunistic bacteria in becoming infectious. This report aims to add to the current veterinary literature on two opportunistic bacterial species ( Enterococcus hirae and Enterobacter xiangfangensis) associated with bloodstream infections in small animals admitted to the Bologna University Veterinary Hospital. Case presentation In the first case, a 15-year-old, immunocompromised, cardiopathic dog was admitted to the hospital for anorexia and diarrhea. The patient had a history of previous surgery and hospitalization. After three days, hyperthermia, leukopenia and hyperlactatemia were recorded, and blood culture revealed positivity for Enterococcus hirae , identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The patient’s general conditions progressively worsened, and the patient was euthanized. In the second case, a 2-year-old cat with chronic ocular herpesvirus infection and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was admitted to the hospital for anorexia and hyperthermia. The cat was hospitalized one week before and received antimicrobial treatment for urinary tract infection by Staphylococcus felis . Hypokalemia and lymphopenia were also diagnosed. The patient progressively improved and was discharged after three days. On the same day, blood culture taken at admission revealed positivity for Enterobacter xiangfangensis , identified using MALDI-TOF MS. After five days, the patient returned with neurological symptoms, hypothermia and bradycardia, and was euthanized. Conclusions In small animal veterinary practice, the impact of opportunistic bacterial agents (such as E.hirae and E.xiangfangensis ) on bloodstream infections remains unclear. As in human medicine, they can be contracted in every healthcare setting and considered hospital-acquired infections. In this report, we highlighted the threat they pose especially in patients with multiple risk factors. Rapid and accurate diagnostic tools (such as MALDI-TOF MS) could be particularly important for reducing the severity of the infections.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/36966282