Back

BERGEYELLA ZOOHELCUM

(previously called Weeksella zoohelcum (CDC 11j)

Note for Pet Owners:

This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.


Bergeyella zoohelcum is a zoonosis. Zoonoses are diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans. Some of these diseases are extremely serious and potentially life-threatening others cause only transient, mild disease. At the time an animal appears ill there is no way of knowing whether or not it is a zoonosis. For this reason it is important to follow basic hygiene precautions such as washing hands after handling animals, not allowing animals to soil eating implements or plates. If your animal is ill use protective plastic gloves and clear up and dispose of any mess (eg urine and faeces) as soon as possible .

Topics on this Page:

Description
This organism is asscoaited with infected bite wounds from cats and dogs, and also other infections in humans (including septicaemia and  pneumonia) that have been in contact with animals carrying the organism

Cause

Bergeyella zoohelcum (Weeksella zoohelcum (CDC 11j))  is a nonfermentative, gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, non-motile aerobic bacterium found in the oral cavity of dogs or cats which may very occasionally cause infection in bite wounds. The organism is found in 38-90% of oral and nasal fluids, and gingival scrapings taken from dogs. It is also found as a commensal in human oral flora.

Breed Occurrence
Natural inhabitant of oral flora of dogs and cats

Signs

Cats and Dogs : None reported in dogs and cats. The organism was isolated from the necrotic lung tissue of a cat with respiratory disease, but it's significance is unknown.

Humans : Reported signs include those associated with  wound infections, abscesses, septicaemia, meningitis

Complications


Cats and Dogs : None reported in dogs and cats

Humans : Risk of septicaemia and localisation in remote sites eg heart.

Diagnosis

The organism can be identified by PCR amplification and sequencing techniques

Treatment

This organism has been reported to be sensitive to various antibiotics including β-lactams, macrolides, tetracyclines, cefotaxime,  ciprofloxacin and gatifloxacin.

Prognosis

Humans : Good if treated promptly

Long term problems

Risk of septicaemia and localisation in other sites, eg heart resulting in endocarditis

 

Updated January 2016