Severe Case of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Discospondylitis in a Doberman

A 6-year-old, neutered female Doberman Pinscher was presented with acute progressive paraparesis consistent with T3-L3 myelopathy. For 5 months prior to the admission, the dog had multiple recurrent hyperthermic episodes treated with antibiotics and intermittent corticosteroids for a Borrelia and Ehrlichia co-infection. On survey radiographs and CT of the spine, severe osteoproliferative changes were extensively seen throughout the thoracolumbar vertebral column, and were suggestive of discospondylitis. After cytological and microbiological examinations of the vertebral aspirate a severe Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-resistant discospondylitis was established as a final diagnosis. This is the first case report of discospondylitis due to MRSA in dog without vertebral spine surgery. Treatment with corticosteroids can cover the evolution of discospondylitis until the condition became severe and untreatable.