title: Infection of the subcutis and skin of cats with rapidly growing mycobacteria: a review of microbiological and clinical findings.
abstract: Mycobacteria were isolated and characterised from 49 cats with extensive infections of the subcutis and skin. Cats were generally between 3 and 10 years of age, and female cats were markedly over-represented. All isolates were rapid-growers and identified as either Mycobacteria smegmatis (40 strains) or M fortuitum (nine strains). On the basis of Etest for minimum inhibitory concentration and/or disc diffusion susceptibility testing, all strains of M smegmatis were susceptible to trimethoprim while all strains of M fortuitum were resistant. M smegmatis strains were typically susceptible to doxycycline, gentamicin and fluoroquinolones but not clarithromycin. All M fortuitum strains were susceptible to fluoroquinolones, and often also susceptible to gentamicin, doxycycline and clarithromycin. Generally, M smegmatis strains were more susceptible to antimicrobial agents than M fortuitum strains. Treatment of mycobacterial panniculitis involves long courses of antimicrobial agents, typically of 3-6 months, chosen on the basis of in vitro susceptibility testing and often combined with extensive surgical debridement and wound reconstruction. These therapies will result in effective cure of the disease. One or a combination of doxycycline, ciprofloxacin/enrofloxacin or clarithromycin are the drugs of choice for long-term oral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2006. R.Malik@vetc.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Wigney
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Love
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019907:Mycobacterium fortuitum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D020102:Mycobacterium smegmatis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D017678:Sex Distribution; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents