Actinomyces

[obcsed]

One of my chins had surgery for a bladder stone about 3 weeks ago. We just got his lab results. They found Actinomyces bacteria in a culture from his bladder wall. My vet is clueless about this particular infection. She mentioned long term treatment with chloramphenical. Anybody have any experience with this?

 

[Riven]

Actinomyces doesn't usually end up in the bladder... for it to end up there the only way I can think of would be for it to travel up the urethra... in humans it's usually found in the mouth and lungs as well as the gastrointestinal tract.

 

[ticklechin]

Actinomyces is often found in primary periodontal disease and periodontal disease does occur in conjunction with malocclusion or on its own. My guess is it went up the urethra during cleaning. Chloramphenical is a heavy duty antibiotic, I would say a step above baytril, its safe for chinchillas. The treatment for it in the mouth takes months so if the vet says long term antibiotic therapy believe them.

 

[Stackie]

Actinomyces is an opportunistic pathogen and an anaerobe, so it certain could cause infection in the bladder if introduced. It is commonly found in the mouth, so like others have said, it could have travelled up the urethra during cleaning. I have heard of Actinomycosis in human patients, but it was generally from surgical infection.

It is a gram positive bacteria. Chloramphenicol is broad spectrum so in theory it *should* be able to take care of it.