ENCRUSTED CYSTITIS IN DOG AND CAT

Encrusted cystitis caused by Corynebacterium urealyticum is a rare but serious complication of urogenital infections in humans. From 1994 to May 1996 five dogs (underlying medical problems: chronical prostatiti s, prostatic abscess, intervertebral disc herniation) and five cats (u nderlying medical problem: FUS) were diagnosed with this infection. Th ese grampositive bacteria reach pathogenic levels only in basic urine around pH 8 and are often found in conjunction with struvit cristalls or calculi. Risk factors associated with Corynebacterium urealyticum i nfection include immunosuppression, previous urogenital infections and urologic manipulations. Encrustation of the urinary bladder wall coul d be demonstrated radiographically only in one dog. The sonographic ap pearance of the bladder is almost pathognomonic in these urinary tract infections. The bladder wall is then made up of two distinct layers. There is still thickening of the wall with the inner layer being hyper echoic and irregular and the outer layer being hypoechoic and inhomoge nous. The hyperechoic band represents the mucosal encrustation. Therap eutically it is most important to treat the underlying conditions. Sin ce Corynebacterium urealyticum is resistant against all commonly used antibiotics, so it is not recommended to place the animal on such. Aci dification of the urine to pH 6 is necessary since Corynebacteria cann ot survive in this acidic environment. Histopathology of two dogs and three cats showed purulent-necrotic cystitis with variable areas of mi neralizations.