Clostridium difficile in faeces from healthy dogs and dogs with diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the faecal occurrence and characterization of Clostridium difficile in clinically healthy dogs (N = 50) and in dogs with diarrhea (N = 20) in the Stockholm-Uppsala region of Sweden. FINDINGS: Clostridium difficile was isolated from 2/50 healthy dogs and from 2/20 diarrheic dogs. Isolates from healthy dogs were negative for toxin A and B and for the tcdA and tcdB genes. Both isolates from diarrheic dogs were positive for toxin B and for the tcdA and tcdB genes. The C. difficile isolates from healthy dogs had PCR ribotype 009 (SE-type 6) and 010 (SE-type 3) whereas both isolates from dogs with diarrhoea had the toxigenic ribotype 014 (SE-type 21). One of the isolates from healthy dogs was initially resistant to metronidazole. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed presence of toxigenic C. difficile in faecal samples of diarrheic dogs and low number of non- toxigenic isolates in healthy dogs from Uppsala-Stockholm region in Sweden. However, more comprehensive studies are warranted to investigate the role of C. difficile in gastrointestinal disease in dogs.

Carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in dogs--a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius strains (MRSP) are reported with increasing frequency in bacterial cultures from dogs. The objectives of this study were to determine whether MRSP could be found in dogs several months after a clinically apparent infection and whether the length of carriage varied depending on systemic antimicrobial treatment, diagnosis at time of the first positive MRSP culture and the presence of skin disease or wounds. Thirty-one dogs previously diagnosed with a clinical infection were sampled repeatedly for a minimum of eight months or, with the exception of two dogs, until two consecutive negative results were obtained. Five specified locations were sampled, and the results were evaluated to determine future recommendations concerning sample strategies when screening for MRSP carriage. Information was collected from medical records and questionnaires to evaluate factors that may influence length of carriage. RESULTS: The overall median length of MRSP carriage was 11 months (48 weeks). The presence of wounds and signs of dermatitis did not influence length of carriage. Systemic treatment for three weeks or longer with antimicrobial agents to which the bacterium was resistant was associated with prolonged carriage compared to dogs treated for a shorter period of time. Three of five dogs treated with an antimicrobial to which their MRSP-isolates were susceptible (tetracycline) were found to still be MRSP-positive when sampled after the end of treatment. Wound samples had the highest positive MRSP yield (81%) for the positive sample sites, compared to less than 70% for each of the other four sample sites. Cultures from the nostrils were less likely to detect MRSP carriage relative to the pharynx, perineum, wounds and the corner of the mouth. CONCLUSIONS: Dogs can carry MRSP for more than a year after a clinically apparent infection. Systemic antimicrobial treatment of infections with antimicrobial agents to which the MRSP-bacteria are resistant should be avoided when possible in dogs with possible or confirmed MRSP carriage or infection, since it may prolong time of MRSP carriage. Simultaneous sampling of pharynx, perineum, and the corner of the mouth as well as wounds when present is recommended when screening for MRSP. Cultures from nostrils were shown to be less likely to detect MRSP carriage.

Identification of Helicobacter DNA in feline pancreas, liver, stomach, and duodenum: comparison between findings in fresh and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples.

The clinical significance of Helicobacter spp. in feline digestive organs needs to be evaluated and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples provide an invaluable source for molecular studies. In this study, we performed a PCR assay to investigate the presence of Helicobacter DNA in digestive organs from seven cats and compared this occurrence in fresh and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from the same organs. The present study identified Helicobacter DNA in the pancreas, liver, stomach, and duodenum in fresh tissue samples but only in the stomach in FFPE samples. To our knowledge this is the first time that Helicobacter DNA have been identified in the feline pancreas. This study indicates that it is important to be aware of differences between results when analyzing FFPE samples compared to fresh tissue samples, especially regarding longer DNA fragments (>200 bp (base pairs)).

Subgroups of canine antinuclear antibodies in relation to laboratory and clinical findings in immune-mediated disease.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune system diseases in dogs are commonly referred to as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test as a hallmark. In human patients, other systemic ANA-positive diseases with overlapping diagnostic features, referred to as SLE-related diseases, are described. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate whether different patterns of ANA reactivity represent different systemic autoimmune diseases in dogs. METHODS: Dogs with serum positive for ANA by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF-ANA, titer > or = 1:100) (n = 56) were identified retrospectively from the patient population at the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Dogs were grouped on the basis of ANA staining patterns, and the results of immunodiffusion tests. Clinical, hematologic, serum biochemical, radiologic, and pathologic examinations were described for each group. RESULTS: Dogs with a chromosomal-positive, homogeneous ANA staining pattern (n = 14) had clinical signs involving multiple organ systems; 8 dogs were anemic. Dogs with a speckled IIF-ANA staining pattern (n = 42) primarily had clinical signs of musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue and fever. Precipitating antibodies by immunodiffusion were found only in dogs with a speckled IIF-ANA staining pattern and comprised 4 different subgroups based on antigen specificity. CONCLUSIONS: In dogs with homogeneous IIF-ANA staining, SLE is a probable diagnosis because of the diversity of clinical manifestations and autoantibody reactivity against chromosomal antigens. Dogs with a speckled IIF-ANA pattern may have SLE-related diseases, which, in turn, may be correlated with different immunodiffusion subgroups. These syndromes had overlapping clinicopathologic features, as described for human patients.

Isolation and identification of thermophilic Campylobacter species in faecal samples from Swedish dogs.

To investigate the role of Swedish dogs as potential reservoirs of thermophilic Campylobacter species, faecal samples were analysed from 91 dogs in 2001. The majority of dogs (n = 84) were healthy family dogs. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 51 of the 91 dogs (56%). A significant difference in isolation rates was observed between younger and older dogs: 76% of the younger dogs (5-12 months) were positive, compared with 39% of dogs > or = 13 months (p < 0.01). Two different selective media, Preston and CAT, were used for isolation of Campylobacter species. 104 Campylobacter isolates were identified to species level using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis techniques. Campylobacter upsaliensis predominated and was isolated from 39 dogs, C. jejuni from 10, C. coli from 2, C. helveticus from 2 and C. lari from 1 dog. Four dogs had mixed flora with 2 different Campylobacter species. These data clearly show that younger dogs in particular frequently shed thermophilic Campylobacter spp, which could be of impact for public health. To establish the zoonotic potential of canine Campylobacter isolates, both human and canine isolates have to be further characterized and compared.