Date: Tuesday, April 13, 1999 9:45 PM
Subject: Alert to my dog show friends
    "Dr. Anna M. Platt, Supervisor of the Virology Lab at the Animal Disease
Laboratory in Centralia, Illinois, has sent the following information to the ISVMA.  This membergram is issued due to the urgency of this situation and to alert members regarding.........

STREPTOCOCCAL TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME IN DOGS  (April 1999)

    "For the past three months, I have been receiving inquiries about incidences of severe kennel cough in show dogs throughout the U.S. The last incident was after the Florida Show circuit. Upon discussion with Dr. David Bromwell, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Dr. Brad Fenwick, Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic laboratory and Dr. William Castleman a pathologist at the University of Florida, it was found to be Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome in Dogs (JAVMA Vol. 209, No. 8,Oct. 15, l996).
 
    The early symptoms are depression, weakness, rigor, febrile (105-107
degrees), shock, DIC, blood in the feces and urine, with rapid progression to coughing up blood and severe bruising of the skin.  Dogs can appear normal in the morning, by noon showing lethargy, and die within 2 to 4 hours.  The route of infection is inhalation of Streptococcal organisms. Treatment is effective if early, with IV injection of Penicillin G. or other appropriate antibiotics. Drugs such as Baytril are of little benefit because they are prmarily for gram negative bacteria.  From cases reported to me from veterinarians, there  is usually a stress factor; participation in dog shows, estrus, change of environment, shiping, etc.

    This syndrome has been confirmed at all Florida greyhound racetracks during January and February resulting in closing of some race tracks as well as the quarantine of dogs.  Cases have been reported in Alabama, Texas, Kansas, New York and Wisconsin.  There is concern as the Greyhound racing season comes to northern states that there will be continuing outbreaks as most of the initial cases were not in Greyhounds.There is also reasonable proof of human transmission to dogs.

    Dr. Fenwick is available for support and personnel, and encourages calls
if a local outbreak is suspected (Phone: 785/532-5650)."