Central Nervous System Infection Associated With Anaerobic Bacteria in Two Dogs and Two Cats

Central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by anaerobic bacteria (including Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Eubacterium) was diagnosed in two dogs and two cats. In one dog there was extensive meningomyeloencephalitis, presumably the result of hematogenous spread of bacteria from lung abscesses and bacterial endocarditis. Subdural empyema of unknown origin was found in a second dog and two cats. Clinical signs in all four animals included mental depression and focal neurologic deficits, without fever.