Pneumonic Plague in a Dog and Widespread Potential Human Exposure in a Veterinary Hospital, United States

Paula A. Schaffer; Stephanie A. Brault; Connor Hershkowitz; Lauren Harris; Kristy Dowers; Jennifer House; Tawfik A. Aboellail; Paul S. Morley; Joshua B. Daniels

Disclosures

Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2019;25(4):800-803.

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

In December 2017, a dog that had pneumonic plague was brought to a veterinary teaching hospital in northern Colorado, USA. Several factors, including signalment, season, imaging, and laboratory findings, contributed to delayed diagnosis and resulted in potential exposure of ≥116 persons and 46 concurrently hospitalized animals to Yersinia pestis.

Introduction

Plague is rare in dogs, even in areas to which Yersinia pestis is endemic.^[1,2] We describe a case of canine pneumonic plague that resulted in ≥116 potential human exposures.

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Abstract and Introduction
The Study
Conclusions
References

Table 1. Number of potentially exposed persons by occupation to dog with pneumonic plague, Colorado, USA*
Occupation	No. (%) persons
CSU-VTH employees	64 (55)
Veterinary students	35 (30)
Laboratory personnel	17 (15)
Total	116 (100)

*CSU-VTH, Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Table 2. Public health risk–based recommendations and interventions for persons exposed to dog with pneumonic plague, Colorado, USA*
Level of interaction with dog	Recommended intervention	No. (%) contacts reporting intervention
Exposure (≤6 feet) to dog with pneumonic plague; exposure to exudates, blood, or tissue without barrier precautions; bite or scratch from infected dog or flea	Antimicrobial drug prophylaxis	68 (59)†
Presence in critical care ward where dog was housed; exposure or contact after 48 h of appropriate patient antimicrobial drug treatment	Fever and symptom watch	38 (33)
Persons who did not meet the above criteria	No action (awareness education only)	Remainder of employees, staff, and students

*Ten (8%) of 116 listed contacts did not report chosen intervention.
†Of respondents who specified type of antimicrobial drug therapy received, 37 received doxycycline only, 2 doxycycline and gentamicin, 1 doxycycline and ciprofloxacin, 1 doxycycline and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and 1 ciprofloxacin only.

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Pneumonic Plague in a Dog and Widespread Potential Human Exposure in a Veterinary Hospital, United States

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Introduction

Tables

Tables

References

Authors and Disclosures

Authors and Disclosures

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