A survey of enteric organisms detected by real-time PCR assay in faeces of dogs in Western Australia

M W Kim; C R Sharp; C J Boyd; L N Twomey

doi:10.1111/avj.13101

A survey of enteric organisms detected by real-time PCR assay in faeces of dogs in Western Australia

Aust Vet J. 2021 Oct;99(10):419-422. doi: 10.1111/avj.13101. Epub 2021 Jun 28.

Authors

M W Kim¹, C R Sharp^{1

2}, C J Boyd¹, L N Twomey³

Affiliations

¹ School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
² Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
³ Vetpath Laboratory Services, Jandakot, Western Australia, 6164, Australia.

PMID: 34184250
DOI: 10.1111/avj.13101

Abstract

This retrospective observational study reports the enteric organisms detected in dogs in Western Australia that had a faecal PCR (fPCR) submitted to a commercial veterinary laboratory. Of 2025 fPCR results, Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin gene was most frequently detected (87.2%), followed by Campylobacter spp. (37.8%), canine parvovirus (10.5%), Giardia spp. (9.7%), Salmonella spp. (7.0%), canine enteric coronavirus (2.3%), and canine distemper virus (0.3%). C.perfringens alpha toxin gene and Campylobacter spp. were the most common organisms co-detected. There was no statistically significant seasonal variation. Further studies are required to elucidate the role these organisms play in gastrointestinal disease in dogs.

Keywords: Campylobacter; Clostridium; Salmonella; canine distemper virus; canine parvovirus; diarrhoea.

Publication types

Case Reports
Observational Study, Veterinary

MeSH terms

Animals
Dog Diseases* / diagnosis
Dog Diseases* / epidemiology
Dogs
Feces
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
Salmonella
Western Australia / epidemiology