Actinomyces infection in a dog with pulmonary carcinoma

Thoracic actinomycosis was diagnosed by bacterial isolation in a dog with a history of chronic productive cough, weight loss, pyrexia and a pulmonary mass lesion on radiography. Therapy with amoxycillin and clindamycin did not significantly improve the patient's condition and euthanasia was performed during exploratory thoracotomy. Histological examination of the affected lung lobes revealed the presence of peribronchiolar adenocarcinoma. Actinomycosis has been reported to co-exist with pulmonary neoplasia in humans and may mask the presence of malignancy.