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Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery logoLink to Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
. 2009 Oct 1;11(10):856–863. doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.02.009

Primary ocular melioidosis due to a single genotype of Burkholderia pseudomallei in two cats from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia

Helen M Parkes 1, Catherine M Shilton 2, Ian V Jerrett 3, Suresh Benedict 4, Brian G Spratt 5, Daniel Godoy 6, Carolyn R O'Brien 7, Mark B Krockenberger 8, Mark Mayo 9, Bart J Currie 10, Richard Malik 11
PMCID: PMC11135512  PMID: 19428280

Abstract

Melioidosis was diagnosed in two domestic crossbred cats presented for unilateral ocular disease. One patient was born and bred in Nhulunbuy, Arnhem Land, while the other had moved there 6 months previously from Townsville, Queensland. Both patients were presented with sudden onset of a ‘red eye’ and blepharospasm, which progressed to an enlarged, painful, firm globe with loss of pupillary light reflexes and vision. An obvious primary focus of infection outside the eye was not detected in either cat. In both patients, the affected eye was surgically removed and vitreal culture revealed a pure growth of Burkholderia pseudomallei. In each instance, the infection had penetrated the sclera to produce retrobulbar cellulitis, and in one case frank retrobulbar abscessation. Histologically, there was a pyogranulomatous uveitis with extensive destruction of intraocular structures. The first case was still alive approximately 1 year following enucleation and limited antimicrobial therapy using amoxicillin clavulanate and doxycycline. The second was euthanased when a localised abscess developed on the same side of the face as the healed surgical incision, despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Both cases were caused by the same multilocus sequence type of B pseudomallei (ST 116), which had only been isolated previously from two human patients, both living in the same isolated geographical area as the cats of this report. Apart from the geographical clustering, no epidemiological links were evident between the two cats and/or the two people. The presumptive pathogenesis of these infections is discussed in relation to current knowledge about melioidosis in northern Australia.

Contributor Information

Helen M. Parkes, Gove Vet Clinic, PO Box 1030, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory 0881, Australia

Catherine M. Shilton, Berrimah Veterinary Laboratories, Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Darwin, Northern Territory 0801, Australia

Ian V. Jerrett, Berrimah Veterinary Laboratories, Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Darwin, Northern Territory 0801, Australia

Suresh Benedict, Berrimah Veterinary Laboratories, Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Darwin, Northern Territory 0801, Australia.

Brian G. Spratt, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, England, UK

Daniel Godoy, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, England, UK.

Carolyn R. O'Brien, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia

Mark B. Krockenberger, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Building B14, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia

Mark Mayo, Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory 0811, Australia.

Bart J. Currie, Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory 0811, Australia

Richard Malik, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Building B14, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia, Centre for Veterinary Education, Building B22, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia  r.malik@vetc.usyd.edu.au.

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