Melioidosis in dogs and cats: 18 cases

The clinical manifestations and outcomes in dogs and cats with melioidosis have not been described.

Describe the presenting signs, treatment, and outcome of dogs and cats with melioidosis.

Fifteen dogs and 3 cats from a hospital in Singapore.

Retrospective case series. A hospital database search was performed to identify dogs with melioidosis presenting over a 5-year period. Data collected included signalment, clinical signs, test results, treatment, and outcome.

Diagnosis was based on positive bacterial culture and identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei in all cases. At presentation, 13/15 (87%) had systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), 10/15 (67%) were septic, and 3/15 (20%) had septic shock. In dogs, 8/15 (53%) had multiple cutaneous abscesses or open wounds, and 6/15 (40%) had prostatitis or prostatic abscessation. In cats, 2/3 had osteomyelitis and 1/3 had pyelonephritis. Of the cases, 5/15 (33%) dogs and none of the cats were considered potentially immunocompromised. Of the 17 cases with >4 weeks of follow-up, death or euthanasia attributed to melioidosis occurred in 8/17 (47%). Of the surviving 9/17 (53%) animals, 6 were alive after 1 month (range, 1-43 months) and 3 died or were euthanized for reasons unrelated to melioidosis, with median follow-up duration of 724 days.

Melioidosis should be considered in dogs with prostatitis or cutaneous abscesses, and in cats with osteomyelitis. Initial treatment with ceftazidime or meropenem, followed by 3-6 months of trimethoprim-sulfonamide (TMPS) might be optimal.