title: Phylogenetic diversity of bacteria isolated from sick dogs using the BAPGM enrichment culture platform.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bartonella alpha-Proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) enrichment culture has proven useful for documenting Bartonella species infection and has facilitated growth of other fastidious bacteria from human samples.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report non-Bartonella bacterial isolates obtained from canine samples cultured using BAPGM enrichment culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2004 and 2008, 695 specimens from 513 dogs were tested by the NCSU-IPRL using the BAPGM enrichment culture. Over the same period of time, blood samples from 270 dogs were cultured by the NCSU-CML using Bactec-Plus Aerobic/F media.
  
  
  METHODS
  BAPGM isolates were characterized using Bartonella genus primers and 16S rDNA primers followed by DNA sequencing. NCSU medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Blood culture results from the NCSU-CML were compared with BAPGM blood culture results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine non-Bartonella isolates were obtained from 69/513 dogs. The most commonly isolated phylum was Proteobacteria (48.1%) with alpha-Proteobacteria being the most commonly isolated class. Staphylococcus and Sphingomonas were the most commonly isolated genera. The majority of the remaining isolates were bacteria that are rarely isolated from canine samples. Comparison of NCSU-CML and IPRL (BAPGM) blood culture isolates showed alpha-Proteobacteria were isolated more often from BAPGM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of insect cell culture enrichment medium, such as BAPGM, appears to enhance the growth of alpha-Proteobacteria, but also results in isolation of non-alpha-Proteobacteria from sick dogs. Future studies are needed to elucidate the utility of BAPGM and other "nonconventional" growth media and methods for isolation of fastidious organisms and to determine if these organisms play a causal role in disease development.
authors: Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Davenport
authors: P E
authors: PE
authors: Mascarelli
authors: R G
authors: RG
authors: Maggi
authors: E B
authors: EB
authors: Breitschwerdt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Fastidious; Infection; Isolation; Sphingomonas