Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Hominissuis Infection in a Dog from Germany with Multifocal Alopecia, Exfoliative Dermatitis, Hypercalcaemia, and Subsequent Sebaceous Atrophy
January 2015
in “
Veterinary record case reports
”
TLDR A dog in Germany was successfully treated for a rare bacterial infection without spreading it to humans.
A nine-year-old female Elo dog in Germany presented with multifocal alopecia, exfoliative dermatitis, hypercalcaemia, polyuria/polydipsia, and severe weight loss. Despite no other animals or humans in the household showing symptoms, skin biopsies revealed pyogranulomatous dermatitis, and PCR identified Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis. Initial hypercalcaemia was noted, but other tests were normal. Treatment with rifampicin, pradofloxacin, and oral fatty acids resolved the dermatitis, although sebaceous glands were lost. This case was the first to report successful antibiotic treatment of this infection in a dog, with no zoonotic transmission.
