Signalment and clinical features of diskospondylitis in dogs: 513 cases (1980–2001)

Abstract

Male dogs, older dogs, and Great Danes appeared more likely to be affected with diskospondylitis than female dogs, dogs < 1 year of age, and mixed-breed dogs, respectively. Long-term administration of antimicrobial drugs for treatment of diskospondylitis may be expected. Identification of the causative organism and early treatment are recommended.

Invasion, stress, and spinal arthritis in cane toads

“…Spinal infection rates in mammals increase with body size and age, suggesting a relationship with preexisting degenerative changes (11)(12)(13). The same may be true for toads with spinal arthropathy.…”

Spinal Arthropathy Associated with Ochrobactrum anthropi in Free-ranging Cane Toads (Chaunus [Bufo] marinus) in Australia

“…12,29,42 Diskospondylitis in dogs is associated with various opportunists, including Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., and Escherichia coli. 8,42 In pigs, diskospondylitis is associated with various bacteremic organisms, such as Erysipelothrix and Streptococcus sp. 12 In humans, pigs, and dogs, Brucella sp.…”

“…19 The route of infection in vertebral infections and diskospondylitis is usually assumed to be hematogenous from various sources, such as wounds, abscesses, skin infection, or the urinary tract. 8,21,42 Histologic examination of various tissues in 5 affected toads did not reveal consistent lesions among them to suggest a primary source of bacteria; however, the granulomatous cystitis in 1 toad was interesting, given the association of diskospondylitis with urinary tract infection in mammals. 42 The mild granulomatous hepatitis in 2 affected toads could be related to intervertebral joint infection, either as a source or the result of periodic bacteremia.…”

“…The proposed pathogenesis centers around vascular damage, with alterations in blood flow or hemorrhage that may occur as cartilage degenerates or becomes necrotic, or subchondral bone is damaged or undergoes microfracture. 4,8,24 Cane toads have evolved to disperse more rapidly since their introduction to Australia. 31 The increased levels of activity of toads at the invasion front raises the possibility that excessive physical activity is predisposing to degenerative joint changes, as it does in humans.…”

“…24,42 Inflammatory conditions of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral joints were reported in various captive species, including canids, swine, mink, poultry, and snakes, as well as in numerous species of free-ranging large mammals, including whales. 8,9,12,15,19,25,26,33,34,39,43 Despite intensive interest in skeletal abnormalities of amphibians, descriptions of degenerative diseases or spinal pathology are rare and limited to scoliosis. 1,28,36 Cane toads (Chaunus [Bufo] marinus) were introduced into coastal Queensland, Australia, from Hawaii in 1936 in a strategy to control the sugar cane beetle.…”