Fanconi's Syndrome in a Dog With Primary Hypoparathyroidism

An 11 -year-old castrated male mixed breed dog was referred for evaluation of muscle twitching, polyuria, polydipsia, anorexia, and periocular alopecia. Primary hypoparathyroidism was diagnosed by documenting decreased serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone and ionized calcium. Neurological, gastrointestinal, and dermatological signs resolved after calcium repletion. Initially, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalcif erol PO was required to correct the hypocalcemia. Dihydrotachysterol, in combination with oral calcium supplementation, was used for long-term maintenance of normal serum calcium concentration. Aminoaciduria, glucosuria, and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis were consistent with a diagnosis of Fanconi's syndrome. This diagnosis was further supported by the presence of hypokalemia and increased urinary fractional excretion of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Renal tubular dysfunction resolved after oral supplementation with calcium and vitamin D₃. Fanconi's syndrome in this dog may have been caused by decreased serum concentration of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, which was secondary to decreased parathyroid hormone production.     

Molecular identification of Ehrlichia ewingii infection in dogs: 15 cases (1997-2001)

OBJECTIVE: To determine historical, physical examination, hematologic, and serologic findings in dogs with Ehrlichia ewingii infection. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 15 dogs. PROCEDURE: In all dogs, infection with E ewingii was confirmed with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Follow-up information and clarification of information recorded in the medical records was obtained by telephone interviews and facsimile correspondence with referring veterinarians and owners. RESULTS: Fever and lameness were the most common findings with each occurring in 8 dogs. Five dogs had neurologic abnormalities including ataxia, paresis, proprioceptive deficits, anisocoria, intention tremor, and head tilt. Neutrophilic polyarthritis was identified in 4 dogs. No clinical signs were reported in 3 dogs. The predominant hematologic abnormality was thrombocytopenia, which was identified in all 12 dogs for which a platelet count was available. Reactive lymphocytes were seen in 5 of 13 dogs. Concurrent infection with another rickettsial organism was identified in 4 dogs. Of the 13 dogs tested, 7 were seroreactive to E canis antigens. Morulae consistent with E ewingii infection were identified in neutrophils in 8 dogs. Treatment with doxycycline, with or without prednisone, resulted in a rapid, favorable clinical response in the 9 dogs for which follow-up information was available. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that PCR testing for E ewingii infection should be considered in dogs with fever, neutrophilic polyarthritis, unexplained ataxia or paresis, thrombocytopenia, or unexplained reactive lymphocytes, and in dogs with clinical signs suggestive of ehrlichiosis that are seronegative for E canis. Following treatment with doxycycline, the prognosis for recovery is good.     

Clinicopathologic findings in dogs seroreactive to Bartonella henselae antigens

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential clinical relevance of seroreactivity to Bartonella henselae antigens in dogs. ANIMALS: 40 dogs seroreactive to B henselae and 45 dogs that did not seroreact to B henselae. PROCEDURE: A case-control study was conducted. Clinical and clinicopathologic findings were extracted from medical records of each dog. RESULTS: Statistical differences were not detected between dogs seroreactive or nonseroreactive to B henselae when analyzed on the basis of disease category or results of hematologic, biochemical, urine, or cytologic analysis. However, seroreactivity to B henselae antigens was detected in 2 of 4 dogs with a clinical diagnosis of granulomatous meningoencephalitis, 3 of 4 dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, 3 of 4 dogs with infective endocarditis, 2 of 3 dogs with lymphoid neoplasia, and 5 of 10 dogs with polyarthritis. Additionally, seroreactivity to B henselae antigens was detected in 18 of 34 thrombocytopenic dogs and 14 of 27 dogs with neutrophilia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Significant associations were not detected between seroreactivity to B henselae and various diseases. Prospective epidemiologic studies investigating specific diseases, such as meningoencephalitis or polyarthritis, and specific hematologic abnormalities, such as immunemediated hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia, should be conducted to further define the potential clinical relevance of antibodies against B henselae in dogs. IMPACT FOR HUMAN MEDICINE: Bartonella organisms are increasingly reported as pathogens that induce are increasingly reported as pathogens that induce chronic infections in humans and dogs. Dogs may serve as natural candidates for future study of the disease in humans.     

Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis in Dogs from North Carolina and Virginia

Medical records of 3 dogs from North Carolina and 3 dogs from Virginia with ehrlichial morulae in circulating neutrophils were studied retrospectively. Two clinically distinct disease syndromes, including chronic, moderate to severe anemia (n = 3) and polyarthritis (n = 2) were associated with canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (CGE) in these dogs. One dog was clinically healthy, and abnormalities were not detected during physical examination. Clinical signs were nonspecific and included fever, lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea. The most frequent laboratory abnormalities were normocytic normochromic nonregenerative anemia, moderate thrombocytopenia with large platelets, lymphopenia, and eosinopenia. Considerable variability was found in the serologic responses to Ehrlichia equi, Ehrlichia canis , and Ehrlichia chaffeensis antigens among the 5 dogs for which stored sera were available for indirect fluorescent antibody testing. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of portions of the 16S rRNA gene from blood (collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) of 1 severely anemic dog (dog 3) and 1 polyarthritic dog (dog 4) resulted in DNA sequences nearly identical to the GenBank accessions for Ehrlichia ewingii. The DNA sequence from a 3rd dog (dog 5) was most similar to that of E. canis. Serologic or molecular results support the possibility of E. ewingii, E. equi , and E. canis coinfection or serologic cross-reactivity among canine granulocytic and monocytic Ehrlichia species in dogs from North Carolina and Virginia. Variability in response to tetracycline or doxycycline treatment was noted in these dogs, with more rapid resolution of signs in dogs with polyarthritis. We report the 1st cases of CGE in dogs from North Carolina and Virginia, including recognition of CGE in a healthy dog.     

Clinical, hematologic, and humoral immune response in female dogs inoculated with Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia montana

Female Beagles were inoculated intradermally with a sublethal dose of Rickettsia rickettsii and R montana. Three dogs (group 1) were inoculated with 2 X 10(2) plaque-forming units (PFU) of R rickettsia and were treated with tetracycline beginning on postinoculation day (PID) 12; 3 dogs (group 2) were inoculated with 2 X 10(2) PFU of R rickettsii but were not treated; 3 dogs (group 3) were inoculated with 2 X 10(2) PFU of R montana. Group-3 dogs failed to seroconvert and were inoculated a second time on PID 68. Groups 1 and 2 dogs inoculated with R rickettsii became depressed and developed occasional inappetence, fever, hematochezia, and ocular lesions. These dogs had a decrease in PCV and RBC count, an initial decrease in WBC count followed by leukocytosis, and a decrease in platelet count. Group-3 dogs inoculated with R montana remained healthy. After R rickettsii inoculation, the serologic response to spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsial antigens (R rickettsii, R rhipicephali, R montana, and R bellii) was similar. The antibody response to R rickettsii was first detected on PID 9, with peak titers reached by PID 20. Serum titers to R rickettsii remained stable or decreased one dilution through PID 120. Of 4 SFG rickettsial antigens, the highest serologic response was to R rickettsii. A cross-reacting antibody response with R rhipicephali and R montana was nearly identical and was only slightly less than the response to R rickettsii. Cross-reacting antibodies to R belli were of lower mean titer and of shorter duration than were cross-reacting antibodies to other SFG rickettsiae.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bartonellosis: an emerging infectious disease of zoonotic importance to animals and human beings

Objective – To provide a review of clinically relevant observations related to Bartonella species as emerging pathogens in veterinary and human medicine.
Data Sources – Literature as cited in PubMed and as generated by each of the authors who have contributed to various aspects of the clinical understanding of bartonellosis.
Human Data Synthesis – Important historical and recent publications illustrating the evolving role of animal reservoirs as a source of human infection.
Veterinary Data Synthesis – Comprehensive review of the veterinary literature.
Conclusions – In addition to inducing life-threatening illnesses, such as endocarditis, myocarditis, and meningoencephalitis and contributing to chronic debilitating disease, such as arthritis, osteomyelitis, and granulomatous inflammation in cats, dogs, and potentially other animal species; pets and wildlife species can serve as persistently infected reservoir hosts for the transmission of Bartonella spp. infection to veterinary professionals and others with direct animal contact.     

Isolation of necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli from a dog with hemorrhagic pneumonia

A 7-month-old sexually intact male Cocker Spaniel was admitted to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for evaluation of lethargy, panting, and excessive salivation that had become progressively severe during a 5-hour period. Despite intensive medical care, the dog died within the first 24 hours of hospitalization, and death was attributed to acute, severe, necrotizing pneumonia. Lung tissue collected at necropsy by use of swabs was cultured and yielded an isolate of Escherichia coli; because of the rapid progression of illness in an otherwise healthy dog, the isolate underwent virulence typing and was determined to be a necrotoxigenic E. coli. Necrotoxigenic E. coli produce a toxin called cytotoxic necrotizing factor and are known to be involved in extraintestinal infections, including urinary tract infection, in humans and animals. Virulence typing of E. coli isolates from dogs with peracute pneumonia is recommended to further characterize the epidemiologic characteristics and public health importance of necrotoxigenic E. coli.     

A serological study of exposure to arthropod-borne pathogens in dogs from northeastern Spain

There is limited information regarding the prevalence of many vector borne pathogens in Europe and especially in Spanish dogs. We investigated 206 sick and 260 clinically healthy dogs from three different regions in northeastern Spain for antibodies to Rickettsia conorii (Rc), Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap), Bartonella henselae (Bh), Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (Bvb), Leishmania infantum (Li) and Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) and for antigen of Dirofilaria immitis (Di). Total prevalences were the following: Rc (56.4%), Li (30%), Ec (16.7%), Bh (16.8%), Ap (11.5%), Bvb (1.07%), Di (0.6%) and Bb (0.6%). Seroprevalences for Rc, Ec, Ap, Bh, and Bvb and Bb and Di antigens were similar among the three different study sites. The Ec seroprevalence, as determined by Snap 3DX, was statistically lower in dogs from Mallorca (0%) than Tarragona (16%) and Barcelona (5%) (P < 0.0001). Detection of Rc antibodies was associated with seroreactivity to Ec and Ap antigens (P = 0.018 and P = 0.002, respectively). IFA Ec antibodies were associated with Ap seroreactivity (P < 0.0001). There was no association between the clinical status, sex, time of the year when samples were collected, life-style or exposure to fleas or ticks and a positive test result for Ec, Bh, Bvb, or Bb antibodies or Di antigens. Li seroreactivity was associated with illness and living outdoors (P < 0.0001, P = 0.029; respectively), Rc seroreactivity with the male gender (P = 0.028) and Ap seroreactivity with living outdoors (P = 0.045). This study indicates that exposure to Rc, Li, Ec or related Ehrlichia spp., Bh and Ap or a related spp., is common whereas Di, Bb and Bvb is uncommon among dogs from the Mediterranean basin. We also provide serological data that suggests the existence of a novel Ehrlichia species on Mallorca island.