title: Death of Military Working Dogs Due to Bartonella vinsonii Subspecies berkhoffii Genotype III Endocarditis and Myocarditis.
abstract: As a result of extensive field-related activities, military working dogs (MWDs) have an increased occupational risk for acquiring vector-borne infectious diseases.
  
  
  
  Indirect fluorescent antibody, Bartonella alpha-proteobacteria growth medium enrichment culture, and 16-23S Bartonella intergenic transcribed spacer polymerase chain reaction were performed using blood, serum, or tissue specimens.
  
  
  
  Endocarditis was diagnosed in three MWDs infected with Bartonella vinsonii subspecies (subsp.) berkhoffii genotype III. One dog was also infected with Bartonella rochalimae.
  
  
  
  B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii genotype III may represent an occupational risk for MWDs that develop endocarditis or myocarditis. Comprehensive periodic screening for canine vector-borne infections, in particular occult infections caused by Bartonella spp, is prudent to avoid serious or life-threating illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607.
authors.forename: Leslie M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Shelnutt
authors.affiliation: Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607.
authors.forename: Nandhakumar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Public Health Activity-Rheinland Pfalz, Dog Center Europe, CMR 422, DCE APO, AE 09067.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeVanna
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, 2899, Schofield Toad, Suite 2630, Houston, TX 78234-7583.
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Batey
authors.affiliation: Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607.
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Breitschwerdt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001475:Bartonellaceae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001476:Bartonellaceae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004285:Dogs; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*