Volume 26, Number 12—December 2020
Dispatch
Novel Rickettsia Species Infecting Dogs, United States
James M. Wilson, Edward B. Breitschwerdt, Nicholas B. Juhasz, Henry S. Marr, Joao Felipe de Brito Galvão, Carmela L. Pratt, and Barbara A. Qurollo
Table 1
Findings from physical examination, laboratory results, treatment regimens for 3 dogs infected with a novel Rickettsia species, United States*
| Examination and treatment | Case 1 | Case 2 | Case 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical examination |
Febrile (39.8°C); lethargy; +/− hepatomegaly |
Febrile (40.1°C); lethargy; dehydration; joint effusion (elbow, carpus, and tarsus); arthropathy; shifting leg lameness |
Febrile (39.8°C); lethargy; abdominal pain |
| CBC |
Platelets 141 × 103 cells/µL (RI 200–500 × 103 cells/µL) |
Platelets 139 × 103 cells/µL (RI 170–400 × 103 cells/µL) |
Platelets 60 × 103 cells/µL (RI 125–500 × 103 cells/µL); Hct 35.2% (RI 36%–55%); 2 d later platelets 25 × 103 cells/µL and Hct 26.8% |
| SBP |
Globulins 4.5 g/dL (RI 2.1–4.4 g/dL); ALP 177 U/L (RI 11–140 U/L); glucose 73 mg/dL (RI 75–125 mg/dL); sodium 136.5 mmol/L (RI 143–153 mmol/L) |
Albumin 2.2 g/dL (RI 2.7–4.4 g/dL); ALT 1,158 U/L (RI 12–118 U/L); ALP 1,702 U/L (RI 5–131 U/L); cholesterol 352 mg/dL (RI 92–324 mg/dL); calcium 8.4 mg/dL (RI 8.9–11.4 mg/dL) |
Albumin 1.0 mg/dL (RI 2.5–4.3 mg/dL); calcium 8.4 mg/dL (RI 8.9–11.4 mg/dL); BUN 35 (35, RI 7–28 mg/dL) |
| Urinalysis |
USG 1.007 |
Microalbuminuria 3.1 (RI <2.5 mg/dL) |
USG 1.033; 3+ proteinuria; UPC 14.7 (RI 0.00–1.00) |
| Treatment regimen | Doxycycline (6 mg/kg every 12 h for 21 d) | Doxycycline (7 mg/kg every 12h for 28 d); prednisone (1 mg/kg every 12 h for 9 mo with gradual taper); omeprazole (1.4 mg/kg every 12h for 9 mo); ondansetron (0.5 mg/kg every 12h for 15 d); and metronidazole (17 mg/kg every 12 h for 15 d) | Doxycycline (7.5 mg/kg q12 h for 40 d); prednisone (1 mg/kg every 12 h for 14 d, then 0.5mg/kg every 12 h for 6 d, then every 24 h for 22 d until death), mycophenolate (12.5 mg/kg every 12 h for 22 d until death) |
*ALP, alkaline phosphatase activity; ALT, alanine amino transferase activity; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; CBC, complete blood count; Hct, hematocrit; RI, reference interval; SBP, serum biochemistry panel; UA, urinalysis; UPC, urine protein/creatinine ratio; USG, urine specific gravity.
Page created: July 28, 2020
Page updated: November 19, 2020
Page reviewed: November 19, 2020
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