Subcutaneous abscesses and arthritis caused by a probable bacterial L-form in cats

Three cats in one household developed pyogenic subcutaneous abscesses and arthritis over a period of 9.5 months. Despite vigorous surgical and antibiotic treatment, the infections in each of these cats continued to spread locally and hematogenously to involve other joints and subcutaneous sites. Although the infections did not respond to modern broad-spectrum antibiotics, they were susceptible to tetracycline. In spite of a favorable response to tetracycline, all 3 cats were euthanatized. A causative agent could not be identified by microbiologic culture of tissues obtained prior to death and at necropsy, or with special tissue stains. The infection was transmitted experimentally by sc inoculation with cell-free material from one of the naturally infected cats to a specific-pathogen-free cat. A tissue extract from the experimentally infected cat was, in turn, infectious for another specific-pathogen-free cat. The experimentally induced lesion was a rapidly enlarging necrotizing and pyogenic cellulitis and panniculitis, with no demonstrable causative agent by special tissue stains or microbiologic culture. A probable bacterial L-form was visualized in affected tissues of the experimentally infected cats and propagated in special L-form broth. Like the natural disease, infection in experimentally inoculated cats was progressive in nature, but could be treated successfully with tetracycline.