Intra-abdominal nocardiosis and scedosporiosis in a dog: case report and literature review

• Published in: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation p. 10406387241287799
• Main Authors: Lambert, Jessica Rose, Cheng, Arthur Colombari, Lee, Laura M, Raiford, Donna, Zuber, Emily, Kilbane, Erin, Fish, Eric J, Królak, Ewa, Hlusko, Katelyn C, McMichael, Maureen, Wilkes, Rebecca P, Wiederhold, Nathan P, Cañete-Gibas, Connie F, Barrantes Murillo, Daniel Felipe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SAGE Publications 14-10-2024
• Subjects: Brief Report; peritonitis; Nocardioides zeicaulis; dogs; Scedosporium apiospermum; Nocardia yamanashiensis; nocardiosis; scedosporiosis; Nocardioides cavernae
• ISSN: 1040-6387; 1943-4936; 1943-4936
• DOI: 10.1177/10406387241287799

A 2-y-old, intact female, mixed-breed dog was presented to the veterinary hospital with abdominal distension, anemia, and lethargy following a chronic history of nonspecific gastrointestinal signs. CBC and serum biochemistry revealed moderate nonregenerative anemia with neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, hypoglycemia, decreased urea and creatinine, and hypercholesterolemia. Abdominal radiographs and ultrasound revealed a large heterogeneous mesenteric mass and ascites. Abdominocentesis confirmed septic peritonitis with filamentous bacteria. Fine-needle aspiration of the mass yielded pyogranulomatous inflammation and hyphae. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a large cranial abdominal mass with granulomas present throughout the abdominal cavity. Due to the poor prognosis and disseminated disease, the owner elected euthanasia. Postmortem and histologic examinations detected intralesional mycetomas and bacterial colonies within the mesenteric masses. 16S ribosomal RNA gene PCR and sequencing using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections identified
,
, and
. Fungal culture, PCR, and sequencing confirmed
. Our report highlights the importance of molecular methods in conjunction with culture and histologic findings for diagnosing coinfections caused by infrequent etiologic agents. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive literature review of
infections in dogs.