Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neurological problems in dogs linked to Rocky Mountain spotted fever
By Mikszewski, Jessica S & Vite, Charles H·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2005·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Central nervous system dysfunction associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever infection in five dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Five dogs in the northeastern United States showed signs of neurological problems, such as difficulty balancing, weakness, tremors, and changes in behavior, due to an infection called Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Tests confirmed the presence of the bacteria responsible for the disease. Despite the serious nature of their symptoms, all the dogs received effective medical treatment and supportive care, leading to their recovery.
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Abstract
Five dogs from the northeastern United States were presented with clinical signs of neurological disease associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) infection. Four of the five dogs had vestibular system dysfunction. Other neurological signs included paresis, tremors, and changes in mentation. All of the dogs had an elevated indirect fluorescent antibody titer or a positive semiquantitative enzyme screening immunoassay titer for Rickettsia rickettsii at the time of presentation. Although a higher mortality rate has been reported for dogs with neurological symptoms and RMSF infection, all of the dogs in this study improved with appropriate medical therapy and supportive care.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15995164/