Histopathologic and bacteriologic survey of nocardial pyothorax in a cat

ABSTRACT

A two year old male Iranian cat was presented to the pathology department of veterinary school of Shiraz University with lethargy anorexia progressive weight loss and severe acute respiratory signs and death. In autopsy thoracic cavity was full of a brown yellow blood tinged creamy like exudates. Sulphur granules were not observed. Thickening of pleura and pericardium associated with fibrino purulent exudates was observed. In histopathologic examination chronic pleuritis and pericarditis, chronic interstitial pneumonia and atelectasis were observed. Gram positive and acid fast organisms with branching filamentous bacilli were found by bacteriological studies of the thoracic exudates but no bacteria were recovered aerobically or anaerobically. A diagnosis of nocardial pyothorax was made on the basis of pathologic findings and bacteriologic examination of the thoracic exudates