Salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae as an opportunistic pathogen in a case of meningoencephalomyelitis and bacteriuria in a dog

Abstract

Background We report the first case of canine Salmonella meningoencephalomyelitis and second case of canine Salmonella bacteriuria, as well as the first reported case of Salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae in a dog. Case presentation Immunosuppressive treatment in a dog for a relapse of steroid-responsive meningitis and arteritis (SRMA) allowed for the opportunistic establishment of a bacteremia with Salmonella enterica subsp. houtenae, ultimately causing meningoencephalomyelitis and subclinical bacteriuria. The bacterial infections were treated with a four-month course of amoxicillin; clinical treatment success was determined by serial negative urine cultures and lack of clinical signs correlated to the meningoencephalomyelitis. Conclusions Both the bacteriuria and meningoencephalomyelitis represented opportunistic infections in a dog immunosuppressed for SRMA. The clinical course of this infectious meningoencephalitis emphasizes the importance of differentiating relapse of initial disease from opportunistic infection occurring in a compromised central nervous system. The novel Salmonella species identified in this case acts as a reminder that infectious disease diagnostics should not be curbed by anecdotal prediction of routine pathogenic suspects.

Case Report: Septic Pericarditis With Achromobacter xyloxidans in an Immunosuppressed Dog

“…For the dog in this case report, it is unknown if a single drug predisposed her to develop this opportunistic infection, a combination, or another unknown factor. In a literature review, most canine cases with an opportunistic infection had been on multiple immunosuppressant medications an average of 69 days before presenting with infections ( 15 – 18 ). The dog reported here had been on prednisone 19 days and oclacitinib approximately 1,440 days before she was diagnosed with septic pericarditis.…”

Steroid‐responsive meningitis‐arteritis secondary to septic arthritis due to Pasteurella multocida in a bull terrier puppy

“…Other possible mechanisms of P. multocida infection include distant spread from loci including the respiratory tract, abscesses and spontaneous peritonitis 23 . Infectious mediated inflammatory diseases of the CNS have been described secondary to opportunistic agents such as Salmonella enterica 24 . No evidence of any other loci of infection was identified in our patient.…”

“…23 Infectious mediated inflammatory diseases of the CNS have been described secondary to opportunistic agents such as Salmonella enterica. 24 No evidence of any other loci of infection was identified in our patient. However, an opportunistic infection could not be ruled out.…”

Case Report: Bordetella bronchiseptica Meningoencephalomyelitis in a Dog

“…The most common routes of infection are hematogenous spread from a distant focus, direct invasion (trauma and bite wound), or contiguous spread such as from an otitis interna or nasal infection. A few case reports describe BMEM as primary infections or opportunistic infections secondary to other diseases ( 2 – 8 ). In addition, review articles describe BMEM and list various infectious organisms ( 9 – 11 ).…”