Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog diagnosed with Orientia tsutsugamushi infection in Japan using
By Namikawa, Kazuhiko et al.·Published in The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health·2014·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine Orientia tsutsugamushi infection: report of a case and its epidemicity.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A lethargic dog in Japan was brought to the vet and diagnosed with an infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a bacteria that can affect both humans and dogs. The diagnosis was confirmed using a special test that detects the bacteria's genetic material in the dog's blood. This case shows that dogs can be infected with this bacteria while outdoors, and it highlights the importance of monitoring pets in areas where this infection is present. The findings suggest that dogs can act as hosts for this bacteria, which could have implications for both pet and human health.
People also search for: why is my dog lethargic · dog infection symptoms · Orientia tsutsugamushi in dogs
Abstract
A lethargic household dog was referred to a private hospital in Japan. Diagnosis was carried out by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method developed for human Orientia tsutsugamushi infection using the dog's anticoagulated peripheral blood. Karp, Kato and Kuroki-type genomes were detected and the dog was diagnosed with O. tsutsugamushi infection. These findings demonstrate that dogs can act as a host for O. tsutsugamushi and the PCR method developed for human beings can be used for the diagnosis of canine O. tsutsugamushi infection. A concurrent epidemiological study examined 10 asymptomatic dogs that were fed in the same area as the sick dog. Kuroki-type genome in all dogs, Gilliam-type genome in 6 dogs and Kawasaki-type genome in 3 dogs were detected. These results provide further evidence that dogs can be naturally infected with O. tsutsugamushi outdoors and that dogs play a role as a host in the lifecycle of O. tsutsugamushi.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24968681/