Occurrence of suspected infection of Campylobacter spp and Clostridium spp in dogs with chronic diarrhea

Suspected infections of Campylobacter spp and Clostridium spp were observed in three dogs. The diagnosis was based on fecal cytology, Gram's stain, clinical signs and serum chemistry. The rectal swabs of diarrheic dogs were performed to confirm the enteropathogens. Suspected Campylobacter spp were a sea-gull shape and Clostridium spp had a large, clear endospore in rectal cytology. Treatment with appropriate antibiotics resulted in a complete resolution of all clinical abnormalities in three cases. The source of Campylobacter spp and Clostridium spp could not be found clearly in three cases, but gastrointestinal origin was most likely. When detecting the enteropathogens in feces, fecal smear with Wright's and Gram's stain should be made at first and also, if the patients have canine parvoviral enteritis, attention should be paid to confirm the Campylobacter spp and Clostridium spp. In addition, since Campylobacter spp and Clostridium spp as normal bacterial flora exists in canine intestines, it is thought that microbiological isolation should be performed to confirm the suspected Campylobacter spp and Clostridium spp as primary enteropathogens in subsequent study.