Fatal dog bite in the absence of significant trauma: Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection and unexpected death

American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Volumn 31, Issue 2, 2010, Pages 198-199

  Stiegler, Denise ^a,b   Gilbert, John D ^b   Warner, Morgyn S ^c   Byard, Roger W ^b,d  

^a MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA   (Austria)

^b FORENSIC SCIENCE SA   (Australia)

^c INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCE   (Australia)

^d UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE   (Australia)

Author keywords

Asplenia; Capnocytophaga canimorsus; Death; Dog bite; Hyposplenia

Indexed keywords

ADULT; ANIMAL; ARTICLE; BITES AND STINGS; CAPNOCYTOPHAGA; CASE REPORT; DOG; FATALITY; HUMAN; IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENT; ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION; MALE; MICROBIOLOGY; SEPSIS; SPLENECTOMY;

ADULT; ANIMALS; BITES AND STINGS; CAPNOCYTOPHAGA; DOGS; FATAL OUTCOME; HUMANS; IMMUNOCOMPROMISED HOST; MALE; SEPSIS; SPLENECTOMY;

EID: 77953131979     PISSN: 01957910     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181dfc98b     Document Type: Article

References (18)

1. Brigden M. Detection, education and management of the asplenic or hyposplenic patient. Am Fam Physician. 2001;63:499-506.
2. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of infection in patients with an absent or dysfunctional spleen. Working Party of the British Committee for Standards in Haematology Clinical Haematology Task Force. BMJ. 1996; 312:430-434.
3. Brigden M, Pattullo AL. Prevention and management of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection-an update. Crit Care Med. 1999;27:836-842.
4. Mirza I, Wolk J, Toth L, et al. Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome secondary to Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia and demonstration of bacteremia by peripheral blood smear. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000;124:859-863.
5. Brenner DJ, Hollis DG, Fanning GR, et al. Capnocytophaga canimorsus sp. nov. (formerly CDC Group DF-2), a cause of septicemia following dog bite, and C. cynodegmi sp. nov., a cause of localized wound infection following dog bite. J Clin Microbiol. 1989;27:231-235.
6. Pedersen G, Schønheyder HC, Nielsen LC. Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteraemia demonstrated by a positive peripheral blood smear. A case report. APMIS. 1993;101:572-574.
7. Sandoe JAT. Capnocytophaga canimorus endocarditis. J Med Microbiol. 2004;53:245-248.
8. Lion C, Escande F, Burdin JC. Capnocytophaga canimorsus infections in human: review of the literature and cases report. Eur J Epidemiol. 1996;12: 521-533.
9. Hantson P, Gautier PE, Vekemans M-C, et al. Fatal Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia in a previously healthy woman. Ann Emerg Med. 1991; 20:93-94.
10. Deshmukh PM, Camp CJ, Rose FB, et al. Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis with purpura fulminans and symmetrical gangrene following a dog bite in a shelter employee. Am J Med Sci. 2004;327:369-372.
11. Chaudhuri AK, Hartley RB, Maddocks AC. Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome caused by a DF-2 bacterium in a splenectomised patient. J Clin Pathol. 1981;34:172-173.
12. Vanhonsebrouck AY, Gordts B, Wauters G, et al. Fatal septicemia with Capnocytophaga canimorsus in a compromised host. A case report and review of the literature. Acta Clin Belg. 1991;46:364-370.
13. Mahrer S, Raik E. Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia associated with cat scratch. Pathology. 1992;24:194-196.
14. Janda JM, Graves MH, Lindquist D, et al. Diagnosing Capnocytophaga canimorsus infections. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12:340-342.
15. Pers C, Gahrn-Hansen B, Frederiksen W. Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicaemia in Denmark, 1982-1995: review of 39 cases. Clin Infect Dis. 1996;23:71-75.
16. Dudley MH, Czarnecki LA, Wells MA. Fatal Capnocytophaga infection associated with splenectomy. J Forensic Sci. 2006;51:664-666.
17. Tsokos M, Byard RW, Püschel K. Extensive and mutilating craniofacial trauma involving defleshing and decapitation- unusual features of fatal dog attack in the young. Am J Forens Med Pathol. 2007;28:131-136.
18. Griego RD, Rosen T, Orengo IF, et al. Dog, cat, and human bites: a review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;33:1019-1029.