Pyelonephritis Associated with Staphylococcus intermedius in a Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Pyelonephritis, in which Staphylococcus intermedius was isolated, was diagnosed in a 4-year-old female Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). At necropsy, the renal pelvis was dilated with a large amount of purulent exudates. Microscopically, the lesions of renal pelvis and medulla consisted of necrotic foci intermingled primarily with numerous degenerative neutrophils and a few lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages. Bacteriology showed the presence of S. intermedius. This is the first report on pyelonephritis associated with S. intermedius in wild felidae. KEY WORDS: Panthera tigris altaica, pyelonephritis, Staphylococcus intermedius.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 69(8): 851-852, 2007 Staphylococcus intermedius is a gram-positive, nonmotile, non-spore forming, facultative anaerobic coccus [3], which is part of the normal microflora of the skin and mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract of dogs, horses, cats, and minks [1,7]. This bacterium has also been isolated from the anterior nares of dogs and pigeons [4], and from infected dog bite wounds in humans [10]. S. intermedius may cause cutaneous, urinary tract, bone, and central nervous system infections in several animal species [1,7].In dogs, S. intermedius is one of the leading pus-forming bacteria and causes infections such as pyoderma and otitis externa [3,8]. Staphylococcus spp. does not generally appear to cause any major disease in cats [5], but cases of superficial dermatitis, bacterial folliculitis, and superficial pyoderma caused by S. intermedius have been reported [9]. About 10% (9/93) of Staphylococci obtained from feline clinical specimens were S. intermedius [3,5].Diseases associated with S. intermedius have not been reported in wild felidae. Here we describe an episode of a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) kept at the Korea National Arboretum with pyelonephritis caused by S. intermedius.The four-year-old female Siberian tiger had been donated from China for breeding and was raised for four months alongside a male Siberian tiger at the Korea National Arboretum. After showing depression and anorexia over several days, the female tiger suddenly died. A postmortem examination was performed immediately.At necropsy, the dead Siberian tiger was thin and emaciated. No wounds or disease conditions were observed in the external body surfaces and orifices, and the tiger was not pregnant. Both kidneys were congested, and the pelvis of the left kidney was markedly dilated and filled with a large amount of inspissated purulent exudates (Fig. 1). No purulent exudates or any significant gross abnormalities were found in the urinary bladder and ureter. Representative samples from major parenchymal tissues, including the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, small and large intestines, urinary bladder, ovaries and uterus, were fixed in 10% neutral phosphate-buffered formalin, routinely processed, embedded in paraffin, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for histopathologic examinations. The normal histologic architecture of the rena...

Are zoonotic Staphylococcus pseudintermedius strains a growing threat for humans?

“…These three coagulase-positive species are animal skin and mucous membrane commensals. S. pseudintermedius inhabits mainly companion animals such as pets (Jee et al 2007 ; Kmieciak and Szewczyk 2017 ; Wladyka et al 2015 ), but can also cause infections in animals (Międzobrodzki et al 2010 ), most often otitis and skin infections (van Duijkeren et al 2011 ). These bacteria have been also isolated from humans (Boost et al 2011 ; Savini et al 2014 ; Youn et al 2014 ).…”

Renal Lesions of Nondomestic Felids

“…8 Renal papillary necrosis (RPN) has been reported in 3 lions and a tiger, 3 and there is a single case report of pyelonephritis in a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). 7 This retrospective report evaluated kidney lesions in exotic felids that were necropsied at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital before 2009.…”

Urocystitis, pyelonephritis, renal papillary necrosis and chronic tubulointerstitial disease causing chronic renal insufficiency in a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): a case report

“…Moreover, our case suggests an association between medullary fibrosis and bacterial pyelitis causing papillary necrosis. A single case of bacterial pyelonephritis in a Siberian tiger has been reported in Korea (Jee et al 2007). Pathological findings including deep medullary necrosis; neutrophilic, lymphocytic and plasmacytic infiltration; the presence of macrophages and mild fibrosis (Jee et al 2007), suggest that had the animal lived longer, chronic kidney failure may have occurred.…”