Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Why antibiotic treatment often fails for dog heart infections
By Miriam Katsburg et al.·Published in Veterinary Sciences·2023·Institute for Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertagstr. 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Limiting Factors in Treatment Success of Biofilm-Forming Streptococci in the Case of Canine Infective Endocarditis Caused by <i>Streptococcus canis</i>
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old male Rhodesian Ridgeback was brought to the vet with a fever and low platelet count. Tests showed he had infective endocarditis, which is an infection of the heart, along with kidney and brain issues. Despite starting treatment right away, his condition worsened, and sadly, he had to be euthanized. The bacteria causing the infection, identified as Streptococcus canis, formed a protective biofilm on the heart valve, making it hard for antibiotics to work effectively. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and the need for better treatment options for infections like this.
People also search for: dog fever low platelet count · Rhodesian Ridgeback heart infection treatment · canine endocarditis symptoms
Abstract
An 8-year-old male Rhodesian Ridgeback was presented with fever and severe thrombocytopenia. Clinical and laboratory examination, echocardiography, blood culture, and pathohistology revealed evidence of infective endocarditis, ischemic renal infarcts, and septic encephalitis. Treatment was started immediately but the dog’s condition worsened, and the dog had to be euthanized. The causative <i>Streptococcus canis</i> strain was detected by blood culture and MALDI-TOF MS and analyzed using whole-genome sequencing and multilocus sequence typing. Antibiotic susceptibility testing did not detect any resistance. The affected heart valve was analyzed using FISH imaging, which showed a streptococcal biofilm on the heart valve. Bacteria in biofilms are recalcitrant to antibiotic treatment. Early diagnosis could be beneficial to treatment outcome. Treatment of endocarditis could be improved by researching the optimal dosage of antibiotics in conjunction with the use of biofilm-active drugs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10050314