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143.e4 Campylobacter Enteritis

culture identification or positive polymerase TREATMENT • Lack of response to therapy should prompt
chain reaction (PCR). Treatment Overview investigation into other concurrent intestinal
VetBooks.ir Differential Diagnosis Most cases are uncomplicated and self- Prevention
disease or possible antibiotic resistance.
limited, requiring only supportive therapy.
• Viral diarrhea: parvovirus, coronavirus,
rotavirus
overcrowding
• Bacterial diarrhea: Salmonella, Clostridium Antibiotic use in puppies has been associated • Good sanitation and avoidance of
with a multi-drug resistant Campylobacter
• Parasites outbreak in people. Therefore antibiotic use • Avoid raw diets.
• Dietary indiscretion should be reserved for animals with severe or
nonresponsive hemorrhagic diarrhea, fever, or Technician Tips
Initial Database an immunocompromised state. Treatment of Care should be taken to avoid any risk of fecal
• CBC, serum chemistry profile, and urinalysis healthy carriers is not recommended. contamination to other hospital patients or staff.
results are usually normal or nonspecific.
• Mild hemoconcentration may be seen with Acute General Treatment Client Education
dehydration. • Efficacy of antibiotic therapy in altering • Owners should be informed that this is
• Leukocytosis may be seen with invasion of course of disease is unknown. a zoonotic disease and humans are very
mucosa. • Erythromycin 10-15 mg/kg PO q 8h is the susceptible.
• Serum chemistry profile may show elevated preferred antibiotic. • Good hygiene is essential, especially with a
total proteins and prerenal azotemia with • Enrofloxacin 5-10 mg/kg PO q 24h in dogs; puppy or kitten with diarrhea.
dehydration. 5 mg/kg PO q 24h in cats is thought to be
effective, but a high rate of drug resistance SUGGESTED READING
Advanced or Confirmatory Testing may develop. Fox JG: Campylobacter infections. In Greene CE,
• Microscopic examination of feces ○ Deleterious effects on joint cartilage are a editor: Infectious diseases of the dog and cat, St.
○ Evaluation of stained smears of fresh feces concern because many patients are young, Louis, 2012, Saunders, pp 370-374.
for presence of characteristic organisms growing animals.
○ Increased numbers of fecal white blood ○ Marbofloxacin or pradofloxacin should be ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED
cells are observed if intestinal inflamma- considered as an alternative in cats due READINGS
tion is present. to retinal toxicity of enrofloxacin. Bender JB, et al: Epidemiologic features of Cam-
○ Campylobacter cannot be distinguished • Chloramphenicol has been given with mixed pylobacter infection among cats in the upper
cytologically from other Campylobacter-like results. Midwestern United States. J Am Vet Med Assoc
organisms; therefore, cytologic evaluation • Duration of treatment with any of these 226:544-547, 2005.
should not be the sole diagnostic criterion. antibiotics is typically 5-21 days. Campagnolo ER, et al: Pet-associated campylobacte-
○ Campylobacter may be present as part of • Treated dogs have a 50%-73% response to riosis: a persisting public health concern. Zoonoses
normal flora. treatment; cats have a 50% response rate. Public Health 65:304-311, 2018.
○ Dark-field or phase-contrast microscopy, Leahy AM, et al: Faecal Campylobacter shedding
if available Possible Complications among dogs in animal shelters across Texas.
Zoonoses Public Health 64:623-627, 2017.
• Fecal culture Erythromycin commonly causes vomiting in Marks SL, et al: Enteropathogenic bacteria in dogs
○ Requires special Campylobacter plates and dogs and cats. and cats: diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment, and
microaerophilic conditions control. J Vet Intern Med 25:1195, 2011.
○ Samples of fresh feces or rectal swabs can PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME Weese JS: Bacterial enteritis in dogs and cats:
be submitted. diagnosis, therapy, and zoonotic potential. Vet
○ Organisms remain viable for 3 days at • Prognosis for recovery is good in the absence Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 41:287, 2011.
room temperature and 1 week if refriger- of other serious, concomitant disease.
ated, but viability is improved with shorter • Worse prognosis if underlying immunode- RELATED CLIENT EDUCATION
delays. ficiency or complicating disease SHEET
• PCR
○ The most reliable method of definitive PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS Immunosuppressed Pet Owners: Risk Mini-
identification of Campylobacter species mization Strategies
○ Determination of species or, at minimum, Comments
catalase-positive versus catalase-negative, • Important to remember that many dogs and AUTHOR: Katherine D. Scott, DVM, DACVIM
EDITOR: Rance K. Sellon, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
is important due to increased clinical cats are asymptomatic carriers
relevance of catalase-positive species. • May be difficult to attribute Campylobacter
○ Fecal samples should be placed in isopropyl as cause of diarrhea in dogs and cats because
alcohol and are stable for 72 hours. also part of normal flora

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