Enteropathogenic Bacteria in Dogs and Cats: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Treatment, and Control

Abstract

Consensus Statements of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) provide the veterinary community with up-to-date information on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of clinically important animal diseases. The ACVIM Board of Regents oversees selection of relevant topics, identification of panel members with the expertise to draft the statements, and other aspects of assuring the integrity of the process. The statements are derived from evidence-based medicine whenever possible and the panel offers interpretive comments when such evidence is inadequate or contradictory. A draft is prepared by the panel, followed by solicitation of input by the ACVIM membership which may be incorporated into the statement. It is then submitted to the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, where it is edited prior to publication. The authors are solely responsible for the content of the statements. This report offers a consensus opinion on the diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment, and control of the primary enteropathogenic bacteria in dogs and cats, with an emphasis on Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli associated with granulomatous colitis in Boxers. Veterinarians are challenged when attempting to diagnose animals with suspected bacterial-associated diarrhea because well-scrutinized practice guidelines that provide objective recommendations for implementing fecal testing are lacking. This problem is compounded by similar isolation rates for putative bacterial enteropathogens in animals with and without diarrhea, and by the lack of consensus among veterinary diagnostic laboratories as to which diagnostic assays should be utilized. Most bacterial enteropathogens are associated with self-limiting diarrhea, and injudicious administration of antimicrobials could be more harmful than beneficial. Salmonella and Campylobacter are well-documented zoonoses, but antimicrobial administration is not routinely advocated in uncomplicated cases and supportive therapy is recommended. Basic practices of isolation, use of appropriate protective equipment, and proper cleaning and disinfection are the mainstays of control. Handwashing with soap and water is preferred over use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers because spores of C. difficile and C. perfringens are alcohol-resistant, but susceptible to bleach (1:10 to 1:20 dilution of regular household bleach) and accelerated hydrogen peroxide. The implementation of practice guidelines in combination with the integration of validated molecular-based testing and conventional testing is pivotal if we are to optimize the identification and management of enteropathogenic bacteria in dogs and cats. Enteropathogenic Bacteria in Dogs and

Clostridium difficile in Food and Animals: A Comprehensive Review

“…It seems that colonisation rates are relatively low in the general population (0-21 %), but slightly higher among cats in veterinary hospitals (9.4-31 %) (Marks et al 2011). The same C. difficile strains were recovered from cats and floor drains in the same veterinary hospital, suggesting the clinical environment was a possible source of contamination (Madewell et al 1999).…”

Enteric Pathogens of Dogs and Cats With Public Health Implications

“…Many pathogenic campylobacter species such as C. jejuni ssp. jejuni and Campylobacter coli induce diarrhea in dogs, cats and humans (Marks et al, 2011). The association between diarrhea and the presence of Campylobacter in the feces has been investigated in many studies.…”

“…It may be transmitted from dogs to humans, as a relationship between C. jejuni enteric diseases in humans with the ownership of a puppy has been found in epidemiologic analyses (Stafford et al, 2007). Children and immunocompromised individuals who own young pets are at greater risk of becoming infected by contact with dogs or cats while other sources of infection such as food products are the most commonly incriminated (Marks et al, 2011).…”

Risk reduction and management strategies to prevent transmission of infectious disease among dogs at dog shows, sporting events, and other canine group settings

“…Canine infectious disease textbooks, 3,15,16 published expert panel consensus guidelines and compendia, [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] and a relevant website 25 were reviewed to identify primary literature sources and generally accepted information regarding clinical signs, transmission, and epidemiologic characteristics of the identified list of pathogens. Additionally, targeted literature database searches were conducted to identify reports involving pathogens infectious to dogs and related outbreaks by use of PubMed, Web of Science, and CAB Abstract search engines and a combination of pathogen names, common disease names, and various dog and group setting terms.…”