Koch, Christoph; Drees, Randi; Hartmann, Faye A; McGuirk, Sheila M; Prichard, Michael A (2009). Nocardia arthritidis infection in the distal metaphysis of the metatarsal III and IV bone of a heifer. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 234(5), pp. 669-673. American Veterinary Medical Association 10.2460/javma.234.5.669
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)CASE DESCRIPTION
A 19-month-old 536.4-kg (1,180-lb) Brown Swiss heifer was referred for evaluation of a firm swelling over the distal aspect of the right metatarsal region and chronic lameness in the right hind limb.
CLINICAL FINDINGS
Examination of radiographs of the right metatarsophalangeal joints revealed an expansile, smoothly marginated, cyst-like lesion within the distal metaphysis of the metatarsal III and IV bone. Differential diagnoses included bone abscess, bone cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst, neoplasia, osteomyelitis, and metabolic bone disease. Aerobic microbial culture of the aspirate yielded moderate growth of branching, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria, which were presumptively identified as Nocardia spp. The isolate was subsequently identified as Nocardia arthritidis by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis.
TREATMENT AND OUTCOME
The lesion was surgically debrided, lavaged, and bandaged. Exercise was restricted, and systemic and local administration of antimicrobials was instituted. After a communication between the abscess and the metatarsophalangeal joints was iatrogenically created, the extralabel use of aminoglycosides was initiated. The heifer had noticeable clinical improvement within 2 weeks after initial evaluation and reportedly had no evidence of lameness and minimal external blemishes 3 months after the second evaluation.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
To our knowledge, this is the first report on the diagnosis and management of a long-bone abscess attributable to N arthritidis infection in cattle. Complications encountered during treatment and the decision to engage in extralabel use of antimicrobial agents in the heifer described here may serve as a guide for food animal practitioners faced with the treatment of valuable cattle.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Further Contribution) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > ISME Equine Clinic Bern > ISME Equine Clinic, Internal medicine |
UniBE Contributor: |
Koch, Christoph |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 630 Agriculture |
ISSN: |
0003-1488 |
Publisher: |
American Veterinary Medical Association |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Andrea Stettler |
Date Deposited: |
28 Aug 2019 15:10 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 15:30 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.2460/javma.234.5.669 |
PubMed ID: |
19250048 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/132830 |
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