Etiologic study of urinary tract infection in dogs / Estudo etiológico da infecção do trato urinário em cães

ABSTRACT

Urinary tract infections were documented in 51 dogs. Several factors such as etiologic agents, localization of the infection, predisposing factors, sex, age, and breed were considered. The diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) was based on bacteriological investigation and it was considered positive when urine sample collected by catheterization contained more than 105 bacteria/ml. Mixed infection was found in 4 of the infected dogs, totallizing 55 isolates. Among them, Escherichia coli (35.3%) was the most frequently isolated, followed by Staphylococcus sp. (23.5%), Proteus mirabilis (15.7%), Streptococcus sp. (13.7%), Klebsiella sp. (9.8%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.9%), Enterobacter cloacae (2.0%), Citrobacter freundii (2.0%) and Providencia rettgeri (2.0%). As to antimicrobial susceptibility, norfloxacin and gentamicin were successful for the treatment of gram-negative microorganisms, while the most effective drugs for gram-positive bacteria were cephalothin and nitrofurantoin. UTI was observed more frequently in Cocker Spaniel and German Shepherd; male dogs were more involved, and pyelonephritis was the predominant disease observed. Infection was seen in all ages, but the frequency was higher in middle aged dogs. Urolithiasis were observed as common predisposing or underlying factors to UTI being, cither Staphylococcus sp. or Proteus mirabilis isolated in those cases

RESUMO

Foram estudados 51 casos de infecção urinária, em cães, considerando-se diversos fatores, tais como agente etiológico, localização da infecção, fatores predisponentes, sexo, idade e raça. O diagnóstico da infecção do trato urinário (ITU) foi baseado no exame bacteriológico, sendo considerado positivo quando a amostra de urina, colhida com auxílio de cateter, apresentava acima de 105 bactérias/ml. Dos animais examinados, quatro cães apresentaram infecção mista, totalizando 55 microorganismos isolados. Escherichia coli foi a mais freqüentemente isolada (35,3%), seguida de Staphylococcus sp (23,5%), Proteus mirabilis (15,7%), Streptococcus sp (13,7%), Klebsiella sp (9,8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3,9%), Enterobacter cloacae (2.0%), Citrobacter freundii (2.0%) e Providencia rettgeri (2,0%). Quanto à sensibilidade dos germes isolados frente a diversos agentes antimicrobianos, a norfloxacina e a gentamicina mostraram-se eficazes no tratamento de microorganismos Gram-negativos, enquanto a cefalotina e a nitrofurantoina foram mais eficazes contra bactérias Gram-positivas. Os animais que apresentaram maior frequência de ITU pertenciam às raças Cocker Spaniel e Pastor Alemão, envolvendo mais machos do que fêmeas com predominância de pielonefrites. Embora as infecções urinárias tivessem sido observadas em todas as idades, houve um predomínio nos cães de média idade. Observou-se ainda que