PSPCA pinpoints illness as bacterial infection
The Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA) received test results from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine today confirming the cause of the recent canine shelter deaths as Streptococcus equi, commonly referred to as “strep zoo.”
The bacterial infection is easily treatable with penicillin.
Shelter officials had feared they might be be dealing an outbreak of the more serious canine influenza, and imposed a quarantine after six dogs died from an unidentified respiratory illness earlier this week.
“We reached out to experts at Penn and we are in the process of implementing treatment protocol at both shelters,” said Director of Shelter Medicine and Chief Investigative Veterinarian Dr. Rachel Lee. The PSPCA reached out to animal shelters that have experienced similar “strep zoo” cases and is consulting with the Penn’s Infection Prevention Practitioner to eliminate the bacteria in the environment.
Posted by jwoestendiek June 3rd, 2009 under Muttsblog.
Tags: deaths, illness, pennsylvania, pspca, quarantine, shelter, spca, strep zoo, streptococcus equi, university of pennsylvania, veterinary
