Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rhodococcus equi infections causing eye and lung disease in dogs
By Bryan, L K et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2017·1 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rhodococcus equi Infections in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old dog was diagnosed with a serious infection caused by Rhodococcus equi, which led to severe internal issues like eye inflammation, heart infection, and lung disease. This dog, along with others in the study, had underlying health problems or was on immunosuppressive medications, making them more vulnerable to such infections. Testing revealed different strains of the bacteria, with one strain being newly identified in dogs. Treatment for these infections can be complex, and it's crucial for pet owners with immunocompromised dogs to be aware of the risks associated with Rhodococcus equi.
People also search for: dog eye inflammation treatment · Rhodococcus equi infection in dogs · dog lung disease symptoms · immunocompromised dog care
Abstract
Five cases of Rhodococcus equi infection in dogs were identified from 2003 to 2014. Three of the dogs had severe, internal lesions attributable to R. equi that have not been previously described: endophthalmitis, endocarditis, and suppurative pleuropneumonia. Isolates from 4 of the dogs were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for Rhodococcus virulence-associated plasmid (vap) genes. One isolate was vapA-positive, 2 lacked a virulence plasmid, and 1 carried the novel vapN-associated plasmid (pVAPN) recently characterized in bovine isolates. The pVAPN plasmid has not been described in isolates cultured from companion animals. Four of the dogs either were receiving immunosuppressive drugs or had endocrinopathies. R. equi has the potential to cause significant infections in dogs, and immunocompromised animals should be considered at risk for infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27312368/