Bacteremia and Multidrug Resistance in Naturally Parvovirus Infection Dogs

Abstract

Antimicrobials are not indicated for treating viral infections; however, secondary bacteremia is an important
complication of canine parvovirus infection. The present study aimed to identify the bacteremia and multidrugresistant bacteria in naturally parvovirus-infected dogs. A total of 50 dogs with canine parvovirus infection were
enrolled in the present study. Blood samples were serially collected from the jugular vein with a sterile technique on
days 0, 3, 5 and 7 of hospitalization, until the dog died or was discharged, to perform aerobic bacterial hemoculture.
The disk diffusion method was used for the antimicrobial susceptibility test. Overall, 13 of 83 blood samples (15.7%)
tested positive for bacterial culture [11 of 50 parvovirus-infected dogs (22.0%)]. Bacteremia and multidrug-resistant
bacteria were found on each of the days during the period of parvovirus infection and more than one kind of bacteria
was present in individual dogs. The isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli, Enterobacter species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Klebsiella pneumonia, Coagulase-negative staphylococci, and non-hemolytic streptococci group D (enterococci). In
conclusion, bacteremia and multidrug-resistant pathogens were present on each day during canine parvovirus
infection. Performing hemoculture in each case of canine parvovirus infection must be encouraged to enhance the
therapeutic outcome.