STILLWATER/USA, May 31st (Biermann) – 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, the researchers explain in their article.

Dr. Catherine Lamm, from Oklahoma State University, and colleagues examined 393 dogs with streptococcal infection to identify the bacterial species, determine demographics of affected dogs, and characterize the disease processes associated with the infection

In the May issue of Veterinary Pathology they report that 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%).

Furthermore, they note that sex was not a risk factor and fetuses and neonates were more likely to have streptococcal infection than were other age groups. 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.

Apart from that, they observed 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%), they write, especially in dogs with dermatitis or pneumonia. 

References

• Veterinary Pathology, May 2010; vol. 47 no. 3, 387-395