Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with fatal hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by necrotoxigenic E. coli
By Breitschwerdt, Edward B et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2005·Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Isolation of necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli from a dog with hemorrhagic pneumonia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-month-old male Cocker Spaniel was brought to the vet because he was very lethargic, panting heavily, and drooling excessively. Sadly, despite receiving intensive care, he passed away within 24 hours due to severe pneumonia caused by a harmful strain of E. coli. This type of E. coli produces a toxin that can lead to serious infections. The case highlights the importance of identifying this bacteria in dogs with sudden pneumonia, as it can have implications for both pet and human health.
People also search for: dog pneumonia symptoms · Cocker Spaniel lethargy and drooling · necrotoxigenic E. coli in dogs
Abstract
A 7-month-old sexually intact male Cocker Spaniel was admitted to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for evaluation of lethargy, panting, and excessive salivation that had become progressively severe during a 5-hour period. Despite intensive medical care, the dog died within the first 24 hours of hospitalization, and death was attributed to acute, severe, necrotizing pneumonia. Lung tissue collected at necropsy by use of swabs was cultured and yielded an isolate of Escherichia coli; because of the rapid progression of illness in an otherwise healthy dog, the isolate underwent virulence typing and was determined to be a necrotoxigenic E. coli. Necrotoxigenic E. coli produce a toxin called cytotoxic necrotizing factor and are known to be involved in extraintestinal infections, including urinary tract infection, in humans and animals. Virulence typing of E. coli isolates from dogs with peracute pneumonia is recommended to further characterize the epidemiologic characteristics and public health importance of necrotoxigenic E. coli.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15989184/