Melioidosis in companion animals: Analysis of 45 Australian cases (24 dogs; 21 cats) from 1997 to 2025 and a brief review of the animal and human literature
Abstract
Objective: To report 45 cases of melioidosis in dogs and cats from northern Australia and analyse trends in epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis and response to treatment over a 27-year period.
Design: Retrospective and prospective analysis of clinical records.
Results: Forty-five cases were diagnosed (24 dogs, 21 cats) from the Northern Territory and Queensland over 27 years, with most diagnosed during the wet season (December-March). Presentations most commonly involved localised infection (wounds, cellulitis or abscessation) or primary neurological disease. Other presentations included septic arthritis, urinary tract infection, pneumonia/pyothorax, disseminated disease, ocular infection and reproductive tract infection. Dogs more often had disease of the skin and subcutis, whereas cats showed more variable clinical manifestations. Predisposing causes such as immunosuppression were not identified in most cases. Treatment and outcome data were available for 15 cases: 5/11 (45%) cats and 4/4 (100%) dogs recovered; one cat was lost to follow-up (LTFU); one cat was receiving treatment at the time of manuscript submission and 4/11 (36%) cats were euthanised. Of 13 animals that died or were euthanised due to melioidosis, seven presented with neurological disease.
Conclusion: Melioidosis is a serious, potentially fatal infection in dogs and cats in tropical and occasionally subtropical regions of Australia. Diverse clinical presentations may delay definitive…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a review, done in animal, not in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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