CFS in a family of dogs

[skylark99]

CFS in a family of dogs

Although this article is somewhat dated (2000), I found it compelling for a few reasons. First, those with pets may find this helpful or useful for their vets.

It is written by a vet and is the first article that I have seen that lists clinical symptoms of CFS in dogs (and horses), and identifies an infectious agent, vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus xilosus. The treatment used was thiacetarsamide sodium, an organic trivalent arsenical given intravenously in low dosages (0.1/ml/Kg/day) for 3 days.

I also found the author's statement, "Experiments with different species have provided circumstancial evidence that arsenic is essential and that it ative staphylococci in the aetiology of CFS and the antimicrobial action of arsenicals are discussed.

Little is known about the syndrome in animals and therefore, in this study, dogs fulfilling the current human criteria for CFS and resistant to extensive prior therapies were checked for similar blood abnormalities and therapeutical responses. The first aim of this paper is to report the clinical history, symptoms, microbiological findings and method of treatment in a cluster of dogs diagnosed with CFS. Information about environmental risk factors are given as partial explanation and importance of the presence of micrococci-like organisms in the blood is discussed.

Haematology

Complete blood counts (CBC) were performed on samples collected at the first visit (day 0) and at days 4, 7 and 10 after therapy. Two fresh blood smears, stained with May-Grunwald-Giemsa and Wright techniques, were prepared each time . A Knott test for microfilariae was also performed at each visit.

Serology

Serum collected at day 0 was tested for circulating antigens of Dirofilaria immitis (Dirocheck ELISA) and antibodies against Lehismania donovani (Leishcan ELISA).

Biochemistry

Serum values of total protein (TP), albumin and globulin, serum CK and LDH were evaluated at days 0, 4, 7 and 10 after therapy. These values are summarized in table I and II.

Microbiology

Two swabs were taken, from drinking water and from an interdigital pustule of dog #1, immediately after the lesion was opened with a sterile needle. In both cases, sterile dry cotton-tipped swabs were placed into Brain-Heart infusion (bioMerieux) and incubated 24 h at 37oC.
Under laminar-flux hood condition (MiniSecuritas, PBI) 10 microliters of the culture established from the drinking water were subcultured onto three different agar plates (Baird-Parker, CPS ID 2 and Muller-Hinton, bioMerieux) for 24 h at 37oC. Representative colonies were transplanted onto two more Muller-Hinton plates and submitted for identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing.
Ten microliters of the culture established from the pustule were subcultured onto two separate Muller-Hinton 2 agar plates for identification (API-Staph, bioMerieux) + antibiotic sensitivity testing. All samples were subject to Gram stain and Catalase test.

Therapy

Thiacetarsamide sodium (Caparsolate, Abbott Laboratories) was administered intravenously at 0.1 mg/Kg/day for 3 days. No other medication was given.


tags: chronic fatigue, pets, dogs, CFS treatment for dogs