Investigation of bacterial involvement in canine CRGV cases

Canine cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV and sometimes known as 'Alabama rot') in the UK first appeared in 2012, with 4 cases presenting to a Anderson Moores from practices around the New Forest, Hampshire with acute kidney injury (AKI) and skin lesions. The numbers of cases and geographical distribution of the disease have in the main increased year on year, with 190 cases now reported. The disease is normally characterised by the initial appearance of skin lesions on the limbs +/- face and body. Some dogs then go on to develop acute deterioration of kidney function and death. On post mortem blood vessels are seen to be blocked by thrombi (clots).

The cause of the disease is unknown, despite investigation. Tests undertaken include investigation for E.coli (given some similarities to human haemolytic uremic syndrome), Circovirus, pan viral metagenomics and bacterial 16S probes, heavy metals and ethylene glycol poisoning. Leptospira has been investigated as a cause, and although presence of this organism was high in cases, results couldn't indicate a causative link.

Despite the extensive investigations already undertaken, a few bacterial causes remain possible based upon experimental results or pathological findings. Toxigenic bacteria have not been found in the kidneys, but this does not rule out their presence in the skin lesions, with local production of toxins into the circulation causing subsequent kidney injury. Shiga toxigenic E. coli were hypothesised to cause similar disease in the USA with kidney injury. Aeromonas hydrophilia causes similar skin lesions in fish and amphibians with subsequent kidney failure, as well as disease in humans, and are also toxigenic, with toxin production in limbs causing organ injury. Leptospira were unusually prevalent in cases and can cause kidney injury.

Without an analysis of cases vs healthy animals it is impossible to confirm the likely association of these bacteria (Aeromonas, E.coli and Leptospira

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