Isolation of necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli from a dog with hemorrhagic pneumonia

A 7-month-old sexually intact male Cocker Spaniel was admitted to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for evaluation of lethargy, panting, and excessive salivation that had become progressively severe during a 5-hour period. Despite intensive medical care, the dog died within the first 24 hours of hospitalization, and death was attributed to acute, severe, necrotizing pneumonia. Lung tissue collected at necropsy by use of swabs was cultured and yielded an isolate of Escherichia coli; because of the rapid progression of illness in an otherwise healthy dog, the isolate underwent virulence typing and was determined to be a necrotoxigenic E coli. Necrotoxigenic E coli produce a toxin called cytotoxic necrotizing factor and are known to be involved in extraintestinal infections, including urinary tract infection, in humans and animals. Virulence typing of E coli isolates from dogs with peracute pneumonia is recommended to further characterize the epidemiologic characteristics and public health importance of necrotoxigenic E coli.