Journal article
Faecal PCR panel results and clinical findings in Western Australian dogs with diarrhoea
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol.98(11), pp.563-569
2020
Abstract
Aim
To describe faecal PCR (fPCR) results and clinical findings of dogs seen at a university teaching hospital for diarrhoea.
Design
Retrospective case series (April 2015 to July 2018).
Procedure
Data were collected from the hospital electronic medical records. Data extracted included signalment, history, clinical signs, treatment, fPCR panel results, other faecal diagnostic test results and antimicrobial use.
Results
One hundred and sixty‐eight dogs with diarrhoea had a fPCR panel submitted. Most dogs (115, 68.5%) had diarrhoea of 3 days or less duration. Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin gene was most frequently detected (156, 92.9%) by fPCR, followed by Campylobacter spp. (55, 32.7%), canine parvovirus (CPV) (29, 17.3%), Salmonella spp. (14, 8.3%) and Giardia spp. (9, 5.4%). For the 45 dogs that had a negative point‐of‐care CPV test, 13 were CPV fPCR positive; some of which were adult dogs with current vaccination status. A total of 94/168 (56%) dogs received antimicrobials at some time during the treatment of diarrhoea.
Conclusion
Faecal PCR panels can identify dogs with enteric organisms in their faeces that traditional faecal diagnostics may miss, thus contributing additional information to the diagnostic process. Nonetheless, fPCR results should be interpreted in light of the clinical findings, and particular consideration given to avoiding inappropriate use of antimicrobials. This study highlights that testing for C. perfringens alpha toxin gene is not likely to be diagnostically helpful, and that adult dogs with diarrhoea might be identified as CPV positive with PCR testing, despite a negative point‐of‐care CPV test result and a current vaccination status.
Details
- Title
- Faecal PCR panel results and clinical findings in Western Australian dogs with diarrhoea
- Authors/Creators
- M.W. Kim (Author/Creator)C.R. Sharp (Author/Creator)C.J. Boyd (Author/Creator)L.N. Twomey (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol.98(11), pp.563-569
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Identifiers
- 991005540474707891
- Copyright
- © 2020 Australian Veterinary Association
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.104 Virology - General
- 1.104.1788 Parvovirus Infections
- Web Of Science research areas
- Veterinary Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science