title: Brain abscess in a dog immunosuppressed using cyclosporin.
abstract: This report describes a dog that developed brain abscesses following prolonged immunosuppression with cyclosporin. Bacteria within the abscess were most likely Nocardia, an organism well recognised in immunosuppressed humans, and probably reached the brain through haematogenous spread from a more long-standing abscess in the mediastinum. Bacterial brain abscesses developing in this manner are very rare in dogs and this case highlights the wider range of possible diagnoses that need to be considered in immunosuppressed patients and the care with which potent drugs such as cyclosporin should be used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK. pms24@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Haughland
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Jeffery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009615:Nocardia / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine