Dataset Information

Detection of Bartonella spp. in dogs after infection with Rickettsia rickettsii.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Dynamics of infection by Bartonella and Rickettsia species, which are epidemiologically associated in dogs, have not been explored in a controlled setting. OBJECTIVES:Describe an outbreak investigation of occult Bartonella spp. infection among a group of dogs, discovered after experimentally induced Rickettsia rickettsii (Rr) infection. ANIMALS:Six apparently healthy purpose-bred Beagles obtained from a commercial vendor. METHODS:Retrospective and prospective study. Dogs were serially tested for Bartonella spp. and Rr using serology, culture, and PCR, over 3 study phases: 3?months before inoculation with Rr (retrospective), 6?weeks after inoculation with Rr (retrospective), and 8?months of follow-up (prospective). RESULTS:Before Rr infection, 1 dog was Bartonella henselae (Bh) immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFA) seroreactive and 1 was Rickettsia spp. IFA seroreactive. After inoculation with Rr, all dogs developed mild Rocky Mountain spotted fever compatible with low-dose Rr infection, seroconverted to Rickettsia spp. within 4-11?days, and recovered within 1?week. When 1 dog developed ear tip vasculitis with intra-lesional Bh, an investigation of Bartonella spp. infection was undertaken. All dogs had seroconverted to 1-3 Bartonella spp. between 7 and 18?days after Rr inoculation. Between 4 and 8?months after Rr inoculation, Bh DNA was amplified from multiple tissues from 2 dogs, and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (Bvb) DNA was amplified from 4 of 5 dogs' oral swabs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE:Vector-borne disease exposure was demonstrated in research dogs from a commercial vendor. Despite limitations, our results support the possibilities of recrudescence of chronic subclinical Bartonella spp. infection after Rr infection and horizontal direct-contact transmission between dogs.

SUBMITTER: Lashnits E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6979086 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Detection of Bartonella spp. in dogs after infection with Rickettsia rickettsii.

Lashnits Erin E Neupane Pradeep P Maggi Ricardo G RG Linder Keith E KE Bradley Julie M JM Balakrishnan Nandhakumar N Southern Brittany L BL McKeon Gabriel P GP Chandrashekar Ramaswamy R Breitschwerdt Edward B EB

Journal of veterinary internal medicine 20191231 1

<h4>Background</h4>Dynamics of infection by Bartonella and Rickettsia species, which are epidemiologically associated in dogs, have not been explored in a controlled setting.<h4>Objectives</h4>Describe an outbreak investigation of occult Bartonella spp. infection among a group of dogs, discovered after experimentally induced Rickettsia rickettsii (Rr) infection.<h4>Animals</h4>Six apparently healthy purpose-bred Beagles obtained from a commercial vendor.<h4>Methods</h4>Retrospective and prospect ...[more]

PMID: 31891215

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Project description:BackgroundRickettsia conorii is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and causes Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF) in humans. Although dogs are considered the natural host of the vector, the clinical and epidemiological significance of R. conorii infection in dogs remains unclear. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether Rickettsia infection causes febrile illness in dogs living in areas endemic for human MSF.MethodsDogs from southern Italy with acute fever (n = 99) were compared with case-control dogs with normal body temperatures (n = 72). Serology and real-time PCR were performed for Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum/A. platys and Leishmania infantum. Conventional PCR was performed for Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. Acute and convalescent antibodies to R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were determined.ResultsThe seroprevalence rates at first visit for R. conorii, E. canis, A. phagocytophilum and L. infantum were 44.8%, 48.5%, 37.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The seroconversion rates for R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were 20.7%, 14.3% and 8.8%, respectively. The molecular positive rates at first visit for Rickettsia spp., E. canis, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, L. infantum, Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. were 1.8%, 4.1%, 0%, 2.3%, 11.1%, 2.3% and 0.6%, respectively. Positive PCR for E. canis (7%), Rickettsia spp. (3%), Babesia spp. (4.0%) and Hepatozoon spp. (1.0%) were found only in febrile dogs. The DNA sequences obtained from Rickettsia and Babesia PCRs positive samples were 100% identical to the R. conorii and Babesia vogeli sequences in GenBank®, respectively. Febrile illness was statistically associated with acute and convalescent positive R. conorii antibodies, seroconversion to R. conorii, E. canis positive PCR, and positivity to any tick pathogen PCRs. Fourteen febrile dogs (31.8%) were diagnosed with Rickettsia spp. infection based on seroconversion and/or PCR while only six afebrile dogs (12.5%) seroconverted (P = 0.0248). The most common clinical findings of dogs with Rickettsia infection diagnosed by seroconversion and/or PCR were fever, myalgia, lameness, elevation of C-reactive protein, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates acute febrile illness associated with Rickettsia infection in dogs living in endemic areas of human MSF based on seroconversion alone or in combination with PCR.

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Dataset Information

Detection of Bartonella spp. in dogs after infection with Rickettsia rickettsii.

Publications

Detection of Bartonella spp. in dogs after infection with Rickettsia rickettsii.

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