Disseminated Mycobacterium avium subspecies infection in a cat

Abstract

An 18-month-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat, domiciled in the southwest of France, was first presented having suffered for a few days from dysorexia and vomiting. Abdominal palpation revealed lymph node enlargement. Cytological examinations of a fine needle aspirate demonstrated granulomatous inflammation with many non-staining elements consistent with mycobacteria. Diagnosis was confirmed by culture and polymerase chain reaction and Mycobacterium avium subspecies was isolated. Treatment was initiated with marbofloxacin, rifampicin and cefoxitin. There was a rapid clinical improvement. The cat suddenly died 2 months later. The main hypothesis is the administration of an inappropriate combination therapy that leads to the development of mycobacterial resistance. A volvulus and acute peritonitis secondary to the significant enlargement of a mesenteric lymph node were present at necropsy. Histopathological analysis of mesenteric lymph node, liver and spleen revealed multicentric granulomatous and severely necrotic lesions with numerous Ziehl-Neelsen positive intracytoplasmic elements.

Mycobacterial Infections

“…In cats, disease resembles that caused by M. bovis or M. microti, with cutaneous lesions (especially on the head and limbs) in some cats, osteomyelitis, pulmonary involvement with tachypnea or cough, peripheral and abdominal lymphadenomegaly, and gastrointestinal, liver, splenic, renal, omental, and uncommonly CNS or marrow involvement. 41,42,[44][45][46][47][48][49][50] Gastrointestinal involvement may initially manifest as weight loss despite a good appetite. 41 Dogs with MAC infections often develop marked peripheral or abdominal lymphadenopathy, tonsillar enlargement, hepatosplenomegaly, and/or osteomyelitis.…”

Reversible myelosuppression suspected to be secondary to linezolid in a cat with infected subcutaneous ureteral bypass systems

“…16 Despite these recommendations, linezolid has been utilized or recommended for use in a variety of companion animal infections, including those caused by MDR Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Nocardia species, Corynebacterium species and Mycobacterium avium. 17–21 Linezolid resistance has been documented in a variety of bacterial organisms collected from veterinary species, including Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus faecalis and E faecium. 22–25 This increasing resistance profile highlights the need to judiciously utilize second- and third-tier antibiotics.…”

Feline mycobacterial disease in northern California: Epidemiology, clinical features, and antimicrobial susceptibility

“…Antimicrobial susceptibility results for M avium cases are shown in Treatment outcome is stratified by disease and treatment variables in avium infection after immunocompromise has been described in cats [24][25][26] ; however, just as in human medicine, 40 many cases in the literature have no obvious underlying immunodeficiency. 10,12,13,16,[41][42][43] Immunocompromise may not be required for M avium infection but should be considered in these cases.…”