Successful treatment of suspected thoracic nocardiosis in a dog

Authors: Jones BR, Marshall RB, Harvey SL, Wyburn RS
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 23, Issue 9, pp 212-215, Sep 1975
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Companion animal, Dog
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Pneumonia/pleurisy, Respiratory system, Treatment/therapy
Article class: Clinical Communication

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Abstract: Organisms of the genus Nocardia are saprophytic soil-inhabiting, aerobic actinomycetes of the family Nocardiaceae (Buchanan and Gibbons, 1974) and they have been shown to cause infection in man and domestic animals. There are numerous reports of nocardiosis in dogs (McGaughey, 1952; Frost, 1959; Manktelow and Russell, 1965; Herin, 1969; Otcenasek et aZ., 1971; Velesky and Otcenasek, 1972; Mitten, 1974) and the disease is reviewed by Swerczek et aI. (1968a, b). The thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity and the skin are the most frequently reported sites of infection in the dog. Although there are many reports of nocardiosis in dolgs, there are few reports of the treatment of the condition. Ditchfield (1961) and Kappes (1973) both described the successful treatment of a case of thoracic nocardiosis in a dog. Ditchfield used prolonged sulphadiazine and penicillin therapy and Kappes gave intrathoracic penicillin and streptomycin daily for 3 weeks. This paper describes the successful treatment of another case of thoracic nocardiosis with combined systemic and local therapy.

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