TY - JOUR
T1 - Streptococcal infection in dogs
T2 - A retrospective study of 393 cases
AU - Lamm, Catherine G.
AU - Ferguson, A. C.
AU - Lehenbauer, Terry W
AU - Love, B. C.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Streptococcus spp are opportunistic pathogens that normally reside in the upper respiratory, intestinal, lower urinary, and genital tracts but can cause localized infection or septicemia in dogs of all ages. A retrospective study of streptococcal infection in 393 dogs was conducted to identify the species of Streptococcus isolated, determine demographics of affected dogs, and characterize the disease processes associated with infection. The major streptococcal species isolated were S canis (88 cases, 22.4%), S dysgalactiae ssp equisimilis (13, 3.3%), and S equi ssp zooepidemicus (4, 1.0%). Sex was not a risk factor (P gt;. 30). Fetuses and neonates were more likely to have streptococcal infection than were other age groups (P lt;. 001). Streptococcal septicemia was considered an important cause of abortion and neonatal death and was isolated from all samples submitted for aerobic culture from dogs in that age group. There was a seasonal trend, with dogs more likely to have streptococcal infection in summer months. In dogs for which a disease process was identified, streptococcal infection was associated with dermatitis (29 dogs), pneumonia (24 dogs), adult septicemia (13 dogs), and fetal/neonatal septicemia leading to abortion or neonatal death (16 dogs). Identification of other clinically significant bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic organisms was common (267 of 393 dogs, 68%), especially in dogs with dermatitis or pneumonia. Infection with Streptococcus spp should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of abortion, septicemia, dermatitis, and pneumonia in dogs. Clinical significance of isolation of streptococcal organisms should be interpreted in context of clinical signs and pathologic findings.
AB - Streptococcus spp are opportunistic pathogens that normally reside in the upper respiratory, intestinal, lower urinary, and genital tracts but can cause localized infection or septicemia in dogs of all ages. A retrospective study of streptococcal infection in 393 dogs was conducted to identify the species of Streptococcus isolated, determine demographics of affected dogs, and characterize the disease processes associated with infection. The major streptococcal species isolated were S canis (88 cases, 22.4%), S dysgalactiae ssp equisimilis (13, 3.3%), and S equi ssp zooepidemicus (4, 1.0%). Sex was not a risk factor (P gt;. 30). Fetuses and neonates were more likely to have streptococcal infection than were other age groups (P lt;. 001). Streptococcal septicemia was considered an important cause of abortion and neonatal death and was isolated from all samples submitted for aerobic culture from dogs in that age group. There was a seasonal trend, with dogs more likely to have streptococcal infection in summer months. In dogs for which a disease process was identified, streptococcal infection was associated with dermatitis (29 dogs), pneumonia (24 dogs), adult septicemia (13 dogs), and fetal/neonatal septicemia leading to abortion or neonatal death (16 dogs). Identification of other clinically significant bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic organisms was common (267 of 393 dogs, 68%), especially in dogs with dermatitis or pneumonia. Infection with Streptococcus spp should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of abortion, septicemia, dermatitis, and pneumonia in dogs. Clinical significance of isolation of streptococcal organisms should be interpreted in context of clinical signs and pathologic findings.
KW - Abortion
KW - Dermatitis
KW - Dog
KW - Lung
KW - Necrotizing fasciitis
KW - Pneumonia
KW - Septicemia
KW - Skin
KW - Streptococcus
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U2 - 10.1177/0300985809359601
DO - 10.1177/0300985809359601
M3 - Article
C2 - 20382824
AN - SCOPUS:77954527143
VL - 47
SP - 387
EP - 395
JO - Pathologia veterinaria
JF - Pathologia veterinaria
SN - 0300-9858
IS - 3
ER -