Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Brain damage in dogs linked to widespread bacterial infection
By Elbert, Jessica A & Rissi, Daniel R·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2022·Department of Pathology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Neuropathologic changes associated with systemic bacterial infection in 28 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 28 dogs with systemic bacterial infections (SBI) showed serious brain changes, which can lead to severe health issues. Many of these dogs were around 5.5 years old, and nearly half had brain lesions, often linked to bleeding. Common signs included pneumonia and heart valve infections. The study found that bacteria were present in the brain tissue of most affected dogs. Treatment typically involved addressing the primary infection, and many dogs responded well to antibiotics, improving their overall condition.
People also search for: dog bacterial infection symptoms · dog pneumonia treatment · signs of infection in dogs
Abstract
Although systemic bacterial infection (SBI) is a common cause of sepsis and death in dogs, the neuropathology of canine SBI has been poorly characterized. Here we describe the neuropathologic features of SBI in a retrospective series of 28 dogs. The mean age of affected dogs was 5.5 y, and there was no sex or breed predisposition. Gross lesions in the brain were reported in 13 cases (46%) and consisted mainly of leptomeningeal hemorrhages in 10 of these cases (77%). Associated extraneural lesions included suppurative mitral valve endocarditis (12 cases; 43%) and pneumonia (10 cases; 36%). The main neurohistologic findings were neutrophilic (suppurative) and/or fibrinous meningoencephalitis with hemorrhage, vasculitis, thrombosis, and neuronal necrosis. Intralesional bacteria were observed in neutrophils or macrophages in 10 cases (77%). The putative primary site of infection was determined in 16 cases (57%) and consisted of pneumonia (6 cases; 38%), pyelonephritis (4 cases; 25%), and skin lesions (3 cases; 19%). Bacterial culture of fresh or frozen tissue samples yielded bacterial growth in 26 cases (93%), including(6 cases; 23%),(4 cases; 15%), and(3 cases; 12%).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35684962/