Mycobacterium Fortuitum Lipoid Pneumonia in a Dog

Abstract

A 1-year old female spayed German Shepherd dog was evaluated for acute onset of dyspnea. Pyogranulomatous inflammation and green globoid structures were present on aspirates of the affected lung. Impression smears and histopathology confirmed pyogranulomatous pneumonia, with large amounts of lipid corresponding to the green structures noted cytologically, and identified poorly staining bacterial rods within lipid vacuoles. Special stains confirmed the presence of acid-fast bacterial rods, and polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing identified the organism as Mycobacterium fortuitum. M. fortuitum pneumonia is well described in humans and has previously been reported in 4 dogs and 1 cat. Lipid was a prominent cytologic and histologic feature, as is often described in humans and in the single feline case report. Additionally, this case highlights the variable cytologic appearance of lipid, as well as Mycobacterium spp, which are classically nonstaining with Wright-Giemsa.

Endogenous lipoid pneumonia associated with pulmonary neoplasia in three dogs

“…2006) and Mycobacterium fortuitum (Leissinger et al . 2015), as well as laryngeal paralysis (Camus et al . 2013).…”

What is your diagnosis? Transtracheal wash in a horse

“…Several mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of endogenous lipoid pneumonia, including retained epithelial secretion, cell breakdown, leakage from vessels, and prolonged hypoxia 1 . A variety of diseases have been reported to cause endogenous lipoid pneumonia, such as obstructive pulmonary diseases (most commonly pulmonary neoplasia), infectious diseases (fungal, mycobacterial, and parasitic), and lipid metabolic disorders in people, 1 dogs 2,3 and cats, 4 while no published literature has described endogenous pneumonia in horses.…”

Dystrophic mineralisation in chronic exogenous lipid pneumonia in cats

“…There are various reports in the literature of NTM infections as a complicating factor of ELP in people, dogs and cats. [13][14][15] Lipid-rich environments seem to be essential in some fast-growing species of NTM, acting as a mechanical protection and contributing to the growth and pathogenicity of the organisms. 13,15 In our patients, an underlying mycobacterial infection was considered unlikely considering the clinical presentation and the absence of progression of the pulmonary lesions years later not receiving proper treatment for mycobacteriosis.…”