VMT Quiz 3/28/25 - Bacterial Diseases and Lyme Diseases

Microscopic, single celled organisms

What are bacteria?

Shape/morphology

Coccus

Bacillus

Spirochete

How are bacteria catagorized?

circle/spherical

What does the coccus shape look like?

Rod like

What does the bacillus shape look like?

spiral

What does the spirochete shape look like

Structural integrity

Protection

What does the cell wall provide bacteria?

Gives cell wall its rigidity and shape

What does peptidoglycan do for the bacteria?

Thick peptidoglycan layer, no outer lipid membrane

Gram + bacteria has what?

Thin peptidoglycan layer, with outer lipid membrane

Gram - bacteria has what?

Via binary fission

What method do bacteria use to reproduce?

DNA divides into two (replicates)

Bacterial cell elongates

Splits into 2 daughter cells - each with identical DNA to parent cell

What is the process of reproduction in bacteria?

Reproduce very quickly

Under favorable conditions, bacteria can what?

Escherichia coli divides q 20 minutes

What is an example of bacteria reproducing quickly?

2 million bacteria

In 7 hours, 1 bacterium can turn to what?

Infectious bacterial disease of dogs (mainly)

What is leptospirosis?

Lepto

What is leptospirosis also known as?

Leptospira spp

Common species - Leptospira interrogens - Multiple serotypes

What are the causative agents for leptospirosis?

Spirochete

What is the shape of leptospirosis?

Soil and water

Where does leptospirosis live?

Yes

Is leptospirosis zoonotic?

Exposure/drinking from rivers, lakes, streams

Roaming on rural areas

Exposure to wild animals, farm animals

Contact with rodents or other dogs

What are the risk factors for leptospirosis in dogs?

Appears to be mild, not much known

Susceptibility for leptospirosis in cats

Passed in urine

How is leptospirosis transmitted?

Warm, stagnant water, or moist soil

Where do leptospirosis live in the environment?

Skunks, raccoons, opossums, rats, wolves, deer

What animals is leptospirosis transmitted by?

direct contact

Contaminated water, soil with infected urine

To transmit lepto by urine there needs to be

Penetrates mucous membranes or open wounds/secretes in skin

How does the lepto enter the host?

Multiples in bloodstream, moves to tissue

Liver, kidneys; damage

8-10 days after infection, immune system produces antibodies

Organ damage remains if present

May be irreversible and fatal

Pathogenesis for lepto

Lethargy, depression, loss of appetite

Vomiting

Fever

Increased thirst and urination (polydipsia, polyuria)

Jaundice

Bleeding issues

Mild infection - Little to no clinical signs

Clinical findings for lepto

Routine blood tests = clues/starting point

High liver/kidney values

Increased WBC

Diagnosis for lepto

DNA-PCR - find DNA of lepto in blood or urine - false negative

MAT - Microscopic agglutination test - presences of antibodies against lepto in dogs blood - takes longer for results, inconclusive testing

Definitive diagnosis for lepto

Antibiotics

Kidney/Liver damage - may require hospitalization - IV fluids

Treatment for leptospirosis

Severely infected - guarded due to organ damage

Prognosis for Leptospirosis

Precautions taken (mask, gloves, etc.)

Isolation procedures for suspected patients

Avoid contact with urine and breaks in skin or with mucous membranes

Careful disposal of soiled bedding is recommended (Urine collection)

Prevention/Control for Leptospirosis

Often added too DHPP vaccine

Annual re-booster; off years from the q 3 year vaccine

Reactions in smaller dogs

Vaccination for Leptospirosis

Bordetella bronchiseptica

Causative agent for Kennel cough

Negative

Is Kennel cough Gram positive or negative

Rod-shaped

Shape of kennel cough

Bordetella

Scientific name for kennel cough

Infectious bronchitis

What can bordetella cause?

Whooping cough

What is B. pertussis

Dogs are most susceptible

Can also affect cats and other mammals

Susceptibility for Bordetella

Direct contact

Airborne (coughing, sneezing)

Contaminated fomites

Transmission for Bordetella

36 hrs - 10 days

Incubation period for Bordetella

2-14 days

Duration of illness in Bordetella

Dry hacking cough

Retching

Sneezing, nasal discharge

Serious complications = pneumonia, fever, lethargy

Clinical findings for Bordetella in dogs

Conjunctivitis

Upper respiratory signs

Clinical findings for cats with Bordetella

Combination of:

History of exposure/high risk area

Exam findings

Clinical signs

Diagnosis for Bordetella in dogs

Infective tracheobronchitis

Bordetella can turn to what

Usually another cause

Diagnosis for Bordetella in cats

Positive culture - usually unnecessary

Definitive diagnosis for Bordetella

Mild illness: supportive care (resolves on its own)

Antibiotics

Treatment for Bordetella

Usually runs is course in about 2 weeks - Compromised immune system, concurrent illnesses

Prognosis for Bordetella

Vaccinate (lifecycle vaccine)

Prevention for Bordetella

Intranasal

Oral

Injectable

How can the Bordetella vaccine be given?

Outbreak - try to contain (isolate affected animals)

Often already spread

Dogs can be carriers for months after infection

Most disinfectants will work - proper sanitation is effective

Control for Bordetella

Borreliosis Burgdorferi

What is the causative agent for Lyme disease

Lyme Borreliosis

What’s the scientific name for Lyme disease

Spirochete

Gram neg, Spirochete

What does lyme disease look like

Lyme, connecticut

What is lyme disease named after

Europe

Asia

Northeast of US

Upper midwest of US

Pacific coast of US

In what places of the world can Lyme disease be seen?

Domestic animals

Humans

Additional mammals and birds may become infected but do not develop clinical signs

What groups is lyme disease susceptible to?

Dogs

Horses

Possibly cats

What domestic animals are susceptible to lyme disease?

Tick bite

Deer tick

How is lyme disease transmitted

Ticks do not cause lyme disease - they transmit the bacteria that does

What is important to know about ticks in terms of lyme?

Ixodes scapularis; Ixodes pacificus

What deer ticks cause lyme?

1-2 days

How long do ticks take to transmit the bacteria after attached?

Fever

Loss of appetite

Painful or swollen joints

Intermittent, shifting lameness

Swollen lymph nodes

Lethargy

Signs for lyme in dogs

Kidney, nervous system damage

Lyme nephritis

What can happen if lyme is untreated?

Inflammation of the kidney - can be fatal

What is lyme nephritis?

Can get, not enough evidence of clinical signs

Clinical findings for lyme in cats

Based on clinical signs and history

Standard blood tests are often not very helpful

Antibody testing

Diagnosis for lyme

4-6 weeks after initial infection

When can antibody testing happen with lyme?

Antibiotics - 4 weeks - limb/joint diseases usually rapidly resolve

Persistent infections - second round of treatment

Additional therapies

Chronic joint pain from damage

What is the treatment/prognosis for lyme

Tick avoidance

Use of preventatives

Prompt removal of ticks - decrease likelihood of spread

Vaccine

Prevention and control for lyme

Efficacy varies

2 boosters in series, then annually

Vaccinating after infection does not help fight off infection

Lyme disease vaccine

Not a direct source

Dogs are what for human infection?