Nocardiosis: an overview and additional report of 28 cases in cattle and dogs

Abstract

SUMMARYPhenotypic characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and clinical-epidemiological features of 28 Nocardia strains isolated from 19 cases of bovine mastitis, eight cutaneous-subcutaneous lesions and one case of pneumonia in dogs were evaluated. Microbiological, biochemical, cytological and scanning electron microscopy methods were used in diagnosis. Nocardia asteroides type IV, Nocardia otitidiscaviarum, Nocardia nova (type III) and Nocardia farcinica (type V) were isolated from bovine milk, bronchial lavage and/or cutaneous-subcutaneous abscesses in dogs. Nocardial bovine mastitis was diagnosed predominantly in clinical cases, in dairy herds with poor environmental hygienic conditions between milking and inappropriate intramammary therapy. Canine nocardiosis was observed commonly in animals co-infected with distemper virus. Sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (92.8%), amikacin (92.8%) and ceftiofur (92.8%) were the most effective drugs in 28 isolates. Multiple drug resistance to three or more and five or more antimicrobials was observed in ten (35.7%) and three (10.7%) strains, respectively, predominantly with use of cloxaxillin, cefoperazone and ampicillin. The species (type) classification, clinical-epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis, multiple drug resistance and public health considerations in Nocardia strains isolated from cattle and dogs in Brazil are discussed, with special reference to report of bovine mastitis by N. otitidiscaviarum by first time in Brazil and the similarity between Nocardia species isolated from human and animal origin.

Pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis due to Nocardia nova in a cat

“…are aerobic, grampositive, partial acid-fast, filamentous bacteria and ubiquitous environmental saprophytes responsible for granulomatous or suppurative infections (RIBEIRO et al, 2008). The bacteria belong to the order Actinomycetales, family Nocardiacea and the main species that affect domestic animals are N. asteroides, N. brasiliensis, N. otitidiscaviarum, and N. nova (HARADA et al, 2009).…”

“…The bacteria belong to the order Actinomycetales, family Nocardiacea and the main species that affect domestic animals are N. asteroides, N. brasiliensis, N. otitidiscaviarum, and N. nova (HARADA et al, 2009). N. brasiliensis is the most common species affecting humans in tropical countries, such as central and south America (SYKES, 2012), where as N. otitidiscaviarum was considered the specie more isolated in dogs from Brazil (RIBEIRO et al, 2008) and has been occasionally reported in a cat from Spain (LUGUE et al, 2002).…”

“…Nocardiosis can affect many domestic animals, but is uncommon in cats (RIBEIRO et al, 2008). Immunosuppression associated to multidrug therapy or concurrent infections is an important predisposing factor to the development of the disease in animals and humans (RIBEIRO et al, 2002).…”

“…Bacteria are facultative intracellular organisms which contain important virulence factors, such as resistance to phagocytosis and complex cell wall lipids (BEAMAN & BEAMAN, 1994). Nocardiosis affects especially dogs and cats, but can infect other species, such as cattle, horses, pigs, poultry, and humans (RIBEIRO et al, 2008). The main lesions observed in companion animals include skin lesions, pyothorax and pneumonia (MALIK et al, 2006).…”

Actinomicose mandibular em ovino: relato de caso

“…Apesar da visualização de bacilos Gram-positivos de aspecto filamentoso na bacterioscopia, faz-se necessário no diagnóstico definitivo o isolamento do microrganismo e caracterização bioquímica, em virtude da similaridade da lesão bucal da actinomicose com a actinobacilose e nocardiose. No entanto, o gênero Nocardia é isolado em aerobiose, apesar de também se apresentar como bactérias Gram-positivas filamentosas (RiBeiRo et al, 2008). Em contraste, o gê-nero Actinobacillus se apresenta como bacilos Gram--negativos e desenvolve lesões predominantemente na língua dos animais (Quinn et al, 1994;RaDostits et al, 2007).…”