Canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis was diagnosed in 37 dogs by finding ehrlichial morulae in 0.1 to 26.2% of their blood neutrophils and eosinophils. All 37 dogs had clinical signs of arthritis or muscular stiffness. Titer to Ehrlichia canis was determined in sera from 31 of the 37 dogs; 25 dogs had titer ranging from 1:20 to 1:5,120. In the other 6 dogs, titer to E canis was < 1:10. The most common hematologic abnormality in these dogs, other than rickettsiemia, was thrombocytopenia. Granulocytes infected with ehrlichial organisms were not found in another 10 dogs that had clinical signs of arthritis or muscular stiffness. Of these 10 dogs, 3 had titer to E canis ranging from 1:40 to 1:320. Titer in the other 7 dogs was < 1:10. Ehrlichial morulae were not found in the granulocytes of 18 healthy dogs. Of these 18 dogs, 9 had titer to E canis ranging from 1:20 to 1:5,120. Titer in the other 9 dogs was < 1:10. Titer to Borrelia burgdorferi was determined in dogs with granulocytic ehrlichiosis, arthritic dogs without detected rickettsiemia, and in healthy dogs. Low titer determined by 2 laboratories was considered to be nonspecific reaction in all 3 groups of dogs and, thus, did not indicate that the arthritic disorders were attributable to canine borreliosis.

Adult Beagles were used to evaluate clinical signs and serologic response after inoculation with, or exposure to, Borrelia burgdorferi. An indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and 2 ELISA were used to monitor the serologic response to B burgdorferi. Feeding infected ticks on 4 dogs (group 1) failed to cause seroconversion, and SC inoculation with 500 organisms caused minimal seroconversion in 2 of 4 dogs (group 2). At 56 days, approximately 3.01 X 10(8) B burgdorferi organisms were injected IV into group-1 dogs, and intraperitoneally into group-2 dogs. A control group of 4 dogs (group 3) had noninfected ticks feed on them, and then were given IV injection of physiologic saline solution. Increases in immunoglobulin M (IgM) titers were detected in 2 of 4 group-2 dogs approximately 7 days after the initial exposure. These titers returned to negligible values 20 days later. Immunoglobulin G titers increased approximately 10 days after the initial exposure and were mildly increased 56 days later, when dogs were exposed a second time. Both the IV and intraperitoneal injections (second exposures) resulted in increased IgM titers, which in both groups eventually returned to preexposure values after approximately 2 months. Immunoglobulin G titers increased within a week after the second exposure, and in 3 dogs monitored for 8 months, returned to negligible values after the 8-month period. One control dog had a slightly increased IgG titer 24 days after the second inoculation. The possibility of urine transmission is suggested. Clinical status, hemograms, serum biochemical profiles, ECG and results of urinalyses remained normal throughout the study. Borrelia burgdorferi was not isolated from either the blood or urine of these dogs. Gross or microscopic pathologic changes were not detected on necropsy.

In order to establish the extent of Streptococcal arthritis piglets, isolation of Streptococci from arthritic lesions of 34 piglets were undertaken from November 1987 to October 1988 in Korea. Also determined were isolation frequency of Streptococci in nasal cavity of 250 healthy sows and antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates. Streptococci were isolated from 52.9 % of 34 arthritic piglets and 20 strains isolated belonged to 4 S suis type I, 8 S suis type II, 2 Lancefield group C and 6 group E. From 28.8 % of 250 healthy sows, 72 strains of Streptococci were isolated and these consisted of 9 S suis type I, 51 S suis type II and 12 group C. Streptococcal arthritis seemed to occur prominently in piglets aged 2 to 4 weeks and in male than female. No significant difference were recognized in tarsal and carpal joints as affecting site. All of 92 isolates were sensitive to ampicillin and penicillin, and all strains of S suis type I and group E Streptococcus were also sensitive to chloramphenicol and cephalothin. To cephalothin all strains of group C Streptococcus were sensitive. The 1.7 to 100 % of 92 isolates were resistant with different prevalence to colistin, erythromycin, kanamycin, tetracycline, gentamycin, chloramphenicol and cephalothin. The 92.5 % of these resistant Streptococci were multiply drug-resistant strains. The drug resistant patterns most frequently encountered were Tc Cl Em Km Gm (16.3 %) in quintuple pattern, Tc Cl Em Km (16.3 %) in quadruple pattern, Tc Cl Em (10.9 %) in triple pattern and Cl Em (14.1 %) in double pattern