Oral Flora Of Dogs Research Articles

Restoring vision after cat bite: a case report on successful diagnostic and therapeutic regimen for Capnocytophaga endophthalmitis

BackgroundCapnocytophaga is a bacterium frequently found in the oral flora of dogs and cats (e.g. Capnocytophaga canimorsus) and humans (e.g. Capnocytophaga gingivalis). Among Capnocytophaga related ocular infections, fulminant endophthalmitis is a rare but sight-threatening clinical manifestation.Case presentationA 35-year-old previously healthy patient presented after a cat bite into the left upper and lower eyelid and nasal part of the conjunctiva of the left eye. At initial consultation, the corrected visual acuity was 0.8 in decimal scale and a detailed clinical examination revealed no evidence of ocular penetration. However, daily follow-up examinations under local therapy revealed a progressive intraocular inflammation, therefore the decision was made to perform a diagnostic vitrectomy with intravitreal and systemic antibiotic treatment. Capnocytophaga felis was detected as the cause of endophthalmitis and the initiated treatment resulted in quick morphological and functional recovery of the left eye. After surgery of secondary cataract, visual acuity improved from hand motion preoperatively to 1.0 postoperatively.ConclusionsEarly recognition as well as prompt and effective treatment of animal bite associated endophthalmitis is essential for good visual recovery and functional outcome. Furthermore, this case highlights the importance of daily follow-up examinations, even in the absence of signs of ocular penetration and intraocular inflammation, to enable prompt and effective treatment initiation. Given the negative results in bacterial culture, we additionally emphasize the value of sequencing-based microbiological diagnostics in unclear cases.

Capnocytophaga canimorsus peritonitis diagnosed by mass spectrometry in a diabetic patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis: a case report

BackgroundBacterial peritonitis is a serious complication of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Although the identification of causative organisms and use of appropriate antibiotics are essential for treatment, rare and fastidious bacteria are sometimes difficult to detect by conventional biochemical assays. Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a fastidious and slow-growing bacterium that forms a part of the normal oral flora of dogs and cats and is extremely rare as a peritonitis-causing organism. This report demonstrates the usefulness of a mass spectrometry-based technique in identifying such a rare organism in PD-related peritonitis and discusses the diagnosis and treatment of C. canimorsus peritonitis.Case presentationA 49-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus underwent PD for two years. Repeated exit-site infections led to subcutaneous pathway diversion two months ago. She was hospitalized with fever and abdominal pain as well as cloudy dialysis effluent. Laboratory data revealed increased serum C-reactive protein level and white blood cell (WBC) count in the effluent. Her exit site had no sign of infection, leading to the diagnosis of PD-related peritonitis. Initial therapy with intraperitoneal ceftazidime immediately ameliorated her symptoms, and the WBC count in the effluent normalized in five days. Culture test results of the dialysis effluent on admission were negative with no information regarding the infection route. However, mass spectrometry (MALDI Biotyper, Bruker Daltonics) successfully obtained the specific spectral pattern for C. canimorsus. She had four cats in her house and was advised not to allow the cats in the room where the bag exchange took place.ConclusionsC. canimorsus is a rare cause of peritonitis in PD patients and is usually susceptible to intraperitoneal third-generation cephalosporins. This mass spectrometry-based bacterial identification method could provide more opportunities to identify uncommon causes and promote appropriate antibiotics therapy in PD-related peritonitis.

Inactivation of human coagulation factor X by a protease of the pathogen Capnocytophaga canimorsus

Background Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a Gram-negative bacterium that is present in the oral flora of dogs and causes fulminant sepsis in humans who have been bitten, licked, or scratched. In patients, bleeding abnormalities, such as petechiae, purpura fulminans, or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), occur frequently. Objective To investigate whether C. canimorsus could actively contribute to these bleeding abnormalities. Methods Calibrated automated thrombogram and clotting time assays were performed to assess the anticoagulant activity of C. canimorsus 5 (Cc5), a strain isolated from a fatal human infection. Clotting factor activities were measured with factor-deficient plasma. Factor X cleavage was monitored with the radiolabeled zymogen and western blotting. Mutagenesis of Cc5 genes encoding putative serine proteases was performed to identify the protease that cleaves FX. Protein purification was performed with affinity chromatography. Edman degradation allowed the detection of N-terminal cleavage of FX. Tail bleeding times were measured in mice. Results We found that Cc5 inhibited thrombin generation and increased the prothrombin time and the activated partial thromboplastin time of human plasma via FX cleavage. A mutant that was unable to synthesize a type 7 dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP7) of the S46 serine protease family failed to proteolyse FX. The purified protease (CcDPP7) cleaved FX heavy and light chains from the N-terminus, and was active in vivo after intravenous injection. Conclusions This is, to our knowledge, the first study demonstrating a detailed mechanism for FX inactivation by a bacterial protease, and it is the first functional study associating DPP7 proteases with a potentially pathogenic outcome.

Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis diagnosed by 16S rRNA PCR

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a common Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium from the oral flora of dogs, typically transmitted to humans by dog bites. We report a case of C. canimorsus meningitis where...

In vitro antimicrobial activity of Annona muricata against Staphylococcus intermedius

Staphylococcus intermedius is part of the normal skin and oral flora of dogs. This bacterium is the predominant coagulase-positive Staphylococcus isolated from canine skin and mucous membranes. Case reports of human infections are rare, but the true incidence is unknown because the pathogen is frequently misidentified as S. aureus. Here, we tested the in vitro activity, of an ethanolic extract of “araticum” Annona muricata L. leaves against S. intermedius strains. Plant material was harvested in UPIS, Lagoa Bonita Farm, Planaltina – DF, Brasil. The leaves were macerated with ethanol for five days and the extracts were concentrated using an evaporator at 50 °C. MICs were determined in 96-well microplates using a tetrazolium salts as an indicator of bacterial growth and corresponded to 5 mg/mL. In addition, antioxidant activity was determined with the ABTS method and polyphenol content was measured with the Folin-Ciocalteau method. The total polyphenols content in A. muricata extract was 192 mg/100 g while the antioxidant activity corresponding to 190 mM/g. These findings suggest an antimicrobial potential for A. muricata leaves. Further research needs to be carried out to identify the active molecules and evaluate the in vivo antibacterial activity as well as sub-acute or chronic toxicities.

Renal Failure Due to Capnocytophaga Canimorsus Generalized Shwartzman Reaction from a Dog Bite (Df-2 Nephropathy)

We report a case of a 54-year-old man who developed gram-negative sepsis with multiorgan failure and generalized Shwartzman reaction after sustaining a dog bite. The causative organism was the fastidious gram-negative rod Capnocytophaga canimorsus, which is a commensal organism found in the oral flora of dogs and cats. More than 30 years after it was first described and despite technological advances in identification techniques, proper identification of this organism remains a challenge. In light of the increase in pet ownership as well as the increase in the different immunocompromised populations of the 21st century, we decided to revisit the case and reignite awareness of physicians caring for patients with recent dog or cat bites presenting with fulminant sepsis.

Staphylococcus intermedius Infections: Case Report and Literature Review

Staphylococcus intermedius is part of the normal skin and oral flora of dogs. Case reports of human infections are rare, but the true incidence is unknown because the pathogen is frequently misidentified as Staphylococcus aureus. Reported cases range from soft tissue infections to brain abscess. Most reported cases in humans have been related to dog exposure. We report a case of a 73 year old female with S. intermedius surgical wound infection one month following a left elbow total arthroplasty. This is the first reported human case of S. intermedius infection of a mechanical prosthesis. The presumed source of infection was the patient’s dog. The patient was treated with vancomycin, then switched to cefazolin and rifampin once susceptibilities were known. Case reports suggest that patients generally respond well to tailored antibiotics with complete or near-complete recovery. S. intermedius should be included in the differential diagnosis of invasive infection amongst patients with close contact with dogs.

Two Dog-Related Infections Leading to Death: Overwhelming Capnocytophaga canimorsus Sepsis in a Patient With Cystic Echinococcosis

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a fastidious, capnophilic, fusiform, and filamentous gram-negative rod. It is part of the normal oral flora of dogs and cats and can cause an infection in humans, but is of generally low virulence in healthy individuals. A case of fatal sepsis due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus in a 46-year-old woman with clinically silent cystic echinococcosis discovered postmortem is present. She had been bitten by a dog 3 days before the symptoms appeared. The family had owned the dog for 4 years. A preliminary diagnosis of septic shock of unknown etiology with multisystem organ failure was established. Despite all the efforts, the patient died on the seventh day of hospitalization. Laboratory findings received postmortem showed Capnocytophaga canimorsus isolated from the blood culture after 7 incubation days. Autopsy showed a cyst in the liver with a fibrotic wall and necrotic eosinophilic interiors containing fragments of Echinococcus granulosus scolices. In conclusion, an interaction possibly established long ago between the host and Echinococcus granulosus conditioned immunosuppression mechanisms developed by the parasite in this case, which can explain such an aggressive course of the infection with Capnocytophaga. Two dog-related infections were fatal in the middle-aged dog owner considered healthy before this hospitalization. Vigilance concerning recent exposure to dogs or cats and potential immunosuppression risk factors must be maintained in a patient presenting with clinical features of fulminant sepsis.

Un choc septique d’étiologie inhabituelle : Capnocytophaga canimorsus. Le chien est-il toujours le meilleur ami de l'homme ?

The mortality of overwhelming postsplenectomy infections (OPSI) is significant (50 to 80 percent). Capnocytophaga canimorsus belongs to the normal oral flora of dogs and cats. It is seldom responsible for human infections, but its prognosis is bad (about 30 percent of overall mortality), especially in asplenic patients. We report a case of a splenectomized patient who suffered from communal septic shock due to C. canimorsus septicaemia. The course of events was rapidly fatal. Diagnosis and mode of contamination were determined only a few weeks after the patient's death. This late microbiological diagnosis is due to a slow growth of C. canimorsus in vitro.

Corneal Perforation Caused by Dysgonic Fermenter—2

DYSGONIC fermenter—2(DF-2) is the Centers for Disease Control designation given to a fastidious gram-negative organism that causes cellulitis, septicemia, meningitis, and endocarditis in man.1-9Infections with this agent are frequently associated with dog contact or dog bite, and DF-2 has been shown to be a member of the oral flora of dogs.10This organism is oxidase positive, catalase positive, and urease negative and does not grow on MacConkey's agar. Infection with this agent occurs preponderantly in debilitated patients and in patients with splenectomy. To date, to our knowledge, there has been no report of ocular infection with DF-2. We report the case of a man with severe corneal necrosis in which DF-2 was the only organism isolated and the patient's subsequent response to surgical debridement and treatment with ceftizoxime sodium. Report of a Case A 62-year-old man was seen at the Kresge Eye Clinic of Wayne State