Endocarditis in a dog due to infection with a novel Bartonella subspecies

134

Background: Molecular diagnosis of canine bartonellosis can be extremely challenging and often requires the use of an enrichment culture approach followed by PCR amplification of bacterial DNA.Hypotheses: (1) The use of enrichment culture with PCR will increase molecular detection of bacteremia and will expand the diversity of Bartonella species detected. (2) Serological testing for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii does not correlate with documentation of bacteremia.Animals: Between 2003 and 2009, 924 samples from 663 dogs were submitted to the North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Vector Borne Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory for diagnostic testing with the Bartonella a-Proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) platform. Test results and medical records of those dogs were retrospectively reviewed.Methods: PCR amplification of Bartonella sp. DNA after extraction from patient samples was compared with PCR after BAPGM enrichment culture. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody assays, used to detect B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii antibodies, were compared with PCR.Results: Sixty-one of 663 dogs were culture positive or had Bartonella DNA detected by PCR, including B. henselae (30/61), B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (17/61), Bartonella koehlerae (7/61), Bartonella volans-like (2/61), and Bartonella bovis (2/61). Coinfection with more than 1 Bartonella sp. was documented in 9/61 dogs. BAPGM culture was required for PCR detection in 32/61 cases. Only 7/19 and 4/10 infected dogs tested by IFA were B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii seroreactive, respectively.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Dogs were most often infected with B. henselae or B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii based on PCR and enrichment culture, coinfection was documented, and various Bartonella species were identified. Most infected dogs did not have detectable Bartonella antibodies.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular and Serological Diagnosis of Bartonella Infection in 61 Dogs from the United States

Pérez

Maggi

Diniz

et al. 2011

134

“…[14][15][16][17] Recognized as important emerging pathogens in human and veterinary medicine, Bartonella species have been implicated in several disease processes in dogs, such as endocarditis, granulomatous lymphadenitis, peliosis hepatis, and granulomatous hepatitis. [18][19][20][21] In the current study, we hypothesized that the development of lymphoma in Golden Retrievers may be associated with chronic infection with 1 or more vectorborne pathogens, specifically Bartonella, Anaplasma, or Ehrlichia species. We performed a matched, case-control study to determine the association of lymphoma with the presence of these vector-borne organisms in serum, blood, and lymph node aspirate samples.…”

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confidence: 99%

BartonellaDNA in the Blood and Lymph Nodes of Golden Retrievers with Lymphoma and in Healthy Controls

Duncan

Marr

Birkenheuer

et al. 2008

Background: Although lymphoma is the most common neoplastic process reported in dogs, its precise etiology is unknown. Golden Retrievers are more likely to develop lymphoma, suggesting a breed predisposition; however, other factors, including environment, immunity, and infection, are likely contributors to oncogenesis. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the development of lymphoma in Golden Retrievers may be associated with vector‐borne infections, specifically Bartonella, Anaplasma, or Ehrlichia species infections. Animals: Golden Retrievers with lymphoma and healthy Golden Retrievers from across the United States were recruited for study participation. Methods: A matched, case‐control study was performed to determine the association of lymphoma and the presence of Bartonella, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia species in serum, blood, and lymph node aspirates. Results: Using PCR analyses and DNA sequencing, single and coinfections with Bartonella henselae, Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella quintana, and/or Bartonella vinsonii (berkhoffii) were detected in the blood and lymph node aspirates of Golden Retrievers with lymphoma (5/28 dogs, 18%) and in healthy Golden Retrievers (10/56 dogs, 18%); no Anaplasma or Ehrlichia DNA was detected in any dog. When compared with dogs with lymphoma, a higher (P <.001) proportion of healthy Golden Retrievers were receiving monthly acaricide treatments (2.6 times higher). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Bartonella DNA can be detected in blood and lymph nodes; importantly, in this report, Bartonella was detected in the same proportion of clinically healthy dogs and dogs with lymphoma. Longitudinal studies should be conducted to determine the mode of transmission of Bartonella in dogs, whether lymphatic infection is persistent, or whether these bacteria may contribute to the development of lymphoma.

“…berkhoffii has only rarely been isolated from pet dogs, foxes, or humans. 2,3 To our knowledge, this case report describes the 1st isolation of B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii from a cat and the 1st association of a Bartonella spp.…”

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confidence: 89%

“…berkhoffii genotype I was isolated for the 1st time in 1993 from a dog with shifting leg lameness, epistaxis, recent-onset seizures, and endocarditis. 2 Subsequently, 3 additional genotypes (designated II-IV), all of which have been implicated as a cause of endocarditis in dogs, were described based upon sequence differences in the Bartonella 16S-23S intergenic spacer region and the pap31 gene. 3,4 In pet dogs, both seroprevalence studies and blood culture isolation results indicate infrequent exposure to or active infection with any of the 4 B. vinsonii subsp.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…8 Combining pre-enrichment culture with PCR amplification has substantially improved diagnostic sensitivity when testing samples from dogs and humans infected with novel Bartonella species. 18 Historically, because B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae could be readily isolated from cat blood after an incubation period of a few weeks in a high CO 2 incubator, our laboratory did not initially recommend the use of BAPGM when culturing cat blood samples. As illustrated by this cat, direct PCR from blood was negative, suggesting that an enrichment culture approach may be necessary to diagnose infection with non-reservoir-adapted Bartonella spp.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Recurrent Osteomyelitis in a Cat due to Infection with Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii Genotype II

Varanat

Travis

Lee

et al. 2009

A 4-year-old spayed-female Domestic Shorthair cat, obtained from a shelter as a kitten, was examined in May 2007 because of an intermittent lameness. Rectal temperature was 1021F. The cat weighed 3.3 kg. There was a focal, nonpainful, 2.5-cm-diameter firm swelling at the medial aspect of the left metatarsal region. Radiographs of the left rear leg identified lysis of the distal aspect of the 1st metatarsal bone and adjacent soft tissue swelling. Thoracic radiographs were unremarkable. Neoplasia was suspected and digital amputation was elected. Preanesthetic blood tests identified thrombocytopenia (25,000/mL; reference range, 200,000-500,000) with an adequate estimated platelet count because of clumping, mild lymphopenia (1,071 lymphocytes/mL; reference range, 1,200-8,000), mild hyperglobulinemia (5.4 g/dL; reference range, 2.3-5.3), and negative FIV and FeLV ELISA test results. The neutrophil count was 4,725/mL (reference range, 2,500-8,500) with no bands or neutrophil toxicity. Urinalysis was unremarkable.At surgery, the left medial metatarsophalangeal joint was disarticulated and the digit was removed. Histopathologic evaluation identified a mixed inflammatory response, characterized by a large number of well-differentiated plasma cells, macrophages with erythrophagocytosis and focal aggregates of neutrophils. Pyogranulomatous osteomyelitis was diagnosed. Plasma cell numbers were sufficiently high that plasma cell neoplasia was considered a plausible differential diagnosis. Fungal, acid-fast, and silver stains did not identify infectious agents. Culture of the amputated tissue was not performed. Two weeks postoperatively, an ulcer formed at the surgical site and was accompanied by moderate muscle atrophy. The distal limb became necrotic from the surgical site to the mid-tibia, which was accompanied by severe atrophy of the left rear leg to the level of the stifle and a loss of distal deep pain, which required mid femoral amputation. At no time had the cat traumatized the original incision. Despite necrosis, there was minimal to no purulent discharge and the cat never appeared overtly uncomfortable, despite rapid deterioration in the limb.In November 2007, the cat was examined because of lethargy. The cat was thrombocytopenic (97,000/mL; reference range, 175,000-600,000) and neutropenic (1,064/mL; reference range, 2,500-8,500). Urinalysis identified proteinuria and neutrophils suggestive of a urinary tract infection and the cat was treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate 62.5 mg PO q12h for 7 days. Urine culture was not performed.In February 2008, diffuse distal swelling and lameness developed in the left front leg. Radiographs identified mild soft tissue swelling and mild degenerative joint disease. The cat was treated with meloxicam 0.45 mg PO q24h for 3 days, then q72h to alleviate pain and swelling. Despite this treatment, the cat remained intermittently lame. Swelling and lameness of the left front leg again were documented by physical examination in May 2008, at which time the swelling had become firmer and ...