Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog died from necrotizing fasciitis after vaccination
By Greijdanus-Van Der Putten, S W M et al.·Published in Tijdschrift voor diergeneeskunde·2014·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: [Postvaccinal fatal Streptococcus zooepidemicus necrotizing fasciitis in a young dog: a case report].
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2.5-year-old female mongrel dog became mentally dull and then comatose just hours after receiving a routine vaccination. Sadly, she passed away within 48 hours. A post-mortem examination revealed that she had developed a severe skin infection called necrotizing fasciitis, caused by a bacteria known as Streptococcus zooepidemicus, which likely entered her body through a small injury from the vaccination. This rapid progression of the infection led to her death.
People also search for: dog vaccination side effects · why is my dog lethargic after shots · necrotizing fasciitis in dogs · Streptococcus infection in dogs
Abstract
A 2.5-years-old female mongrel dog was routinely subcutaneously vaccinated. A few hours later mental dullness was noticed by the owner progressing into stupor the next day and resulting in a comatose state and death within 48 hours after vaccination. At post mortem examination, which was extended with histology and bacteriology, a necrotizing fasciitis and bacteremia caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus were established. In the isolated Streptococcus strain four different superantigens were demonstrated that appeared to be able to produce exotoxins in vitro. Therefore, it is concluded that the minor skin trauma caused by vaccination enabled this strain to gain access to the subcutaneous tissue and to induce a necrotizing fasciitis. This process was complicated with a bacterial septicemia leading to death of the dog within 48 hours.
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/25272902/