<p><em>Salmonella</em> Mesenteric Lymphadenitis Causing Septic Peritonitis in Two Dogs</p>

Abstract

This report describes two cases of Salmonella mesenteric lymphadenitis leading to septic peritonitis in two young dogs. The cases were similar in presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and length of hospitalization. Both cases presented with clinical signs of vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever and were treated successfully via surgical debridement, omentalization, and antibiotic therapy. Both cases grew multi-drug resistant Salmonella spp. with resistance to ampicillin sulbactam, which is a common empiric antibiotic choice for cases of canine septic peritonitis. In both cases, the source of Salmonella is proposed to be the raw diet that preceded the septic peritonitis diagnosis. While Salmonella mesenteric lymphadenitis has been reported in humans and pigs, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of Salmonella mesenteric lymphadenitis in dogs.

What is your diagnosis? Septic peritonitis, lymphadenitis, and lymph node abscesses in a dog

“…Salmonella has been identified as a causative agent of lymphadenitis and lymph node abscessation in dogs. In a recent publication, Salmonella infection was associated with mesenteric lymphadenitis, abscess formation, and septic peritonitis in two dogs who ate raw meat 2 . Multidrug resistant Salmonella spp.…”

“…In a recent publication, Salmonella infection was associated with mesenteric lymphadenitis, abscess formation, and septic peritonitis in two dogs who ate raw meat. 2 Multidrug resistant Salmonella spp. were cultured, and both dogs were treated with surgical debridement, abscess omentalization, and antimicrobial therapy.…”

“…Consumption of a raw diet is a known risk factor for developing salmonellosis in dogs. 2 Although most cases of this disease are asymptomatic or mild, in some cases, severe life-threatening septicemia develops; thus, prevention via not feeding a raw diet is recommended.…”

“…One major risk of raw feeding is the potential for exposure to bacterial pathogens that would typically be eliminated or reduced by heat treatment. Consumption of a raw diet is a known risk factor for developing salmonellosis in dogs 2 . Although most cases of this disease are asymptomatic or mild, in some cases, severe life‐threatening septicemia develops; thus, prevention via not feeding a raw diet is recommended.…”

Mesenteric lymph node abscesses due to Escherichia coli in a cat

“…In dogs, there have been several reports on infectious mesenteric lymphadenitis and lymph node abscesses. The causative agents included Salmonella spp., Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus canis, Escherichia coli, Prevotella spp., Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Cryptococcus neoformans (Binagia et al, 2020;Engelmann et al, 2014;Malik et al, 1999;Schmitz, 2016). In cats, there has been only one report on three cases of mesenteric lymphadenitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes (Fluen et al, 2019).…”