Cutaneous nocardiosis in two dogs receiving ciclosporin therapy for the management of canine atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Clinicians should be aware of the potential risk of systemic immunosuppression and subsequent infection with Nocardia spp. in dogs receiving ciclosporin. Measurement of serum ciclosporin levels may be useful in identifying those individuals which are at risk of opportunistic infections.

Vertebral Osteomyelitis and Multiple Cutaneous Lesions in a Dog Caused by Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis

“…Three of the reported dogs that developed nocardiosis after cyclosporine administration were also on ketoconazole (5–7.5 mg/kg once to twice daily) . One case had no reported decrease in dose of cyclosporine after introduction of ketoconazole . One animal had received cyclosporine for 2 years and had only started ketoconazole 6 months before presentation for disseminated nocardiosis, no concurrent decrease in cyclosporine was noted.…”

“…Three of the reported dogs that developed nocardiosis after cyclosporine administration were also on ketoconazole (5–7.5 mg/kg once to twice daily) . One case had no reported decrease in dose of cyclosporine after introduction of ketoconazole .…”

“…In addition, several reports of subcutaneous and pulmonary infection with Nocardia spp. in veterinary patients have occurred after chronic cyclosporine administration . Dogs were treated with cyclosporine anywhere from 2 months to 3 years, with an average of 14 months .…”

“…in veterinary patients have occurred after chronic cyclosporine administration . Dogs were treated with cyclosporine anywhere from 2 months to 3 years, with an average of 14 months . Individual doses varied from 3.5 to 5 mg/kg and dosing frequency ranged from once daily to three times weekly.…”

Successful Treatment of Disseminated Nocardiosis Caused by Nocardia veterana in a Dog

“…Disseminated nocardiosis is a relatively uncommon disease in dogs and cats and is most often reported in immunocompromised animals or in individuals on immunosuppressive medications such as cyclosporine. 2,3 With the more widespread application of gene sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS for bacterial identification, novel species of Nocardia have been identified, including N. veterana, which was first discovered in 2001 in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. 4 Initially, the role of N. veterana in clinical disease was poorly understood, but it was subsequently isolated from a mycetoma in a woman with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE).…”