Capnocytophaga canimorsus

Capnocytophaga canimorsus (Latin canimorsus " dog bite " ) is a Gram-negative bacterium that is common in the mouth of dogs and cats.

Medical importance

Will not harm the animal, Capnocytophaga canimorsus after dog bites in humans can in rare cases lead to infection. Since the discovery in 1976 to the current estimates, amount to one case per 1 million people. These rare infections are described in more than 160 medical reports with gangrene, septicemia, meningitis or endocarditis, an inflammation of the endocardium. In more than 60 percent of known cases of patients affected with weakened immune systems, distant spleen or alcohol abuse. Infections can be treated effectively with antibiotics with early detection. 2014, one death after dog bite and following infection with C. canimorsus described (N Engl J Med 2014 Mar 27; 370 (13) :1238-48).

Molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity

C. canimorsus is a previously little -studied pathogens, but it has already been shown that C. canimorsus is neither recognized nor phagocytosed by macrophages. It is thereby no inflammatory reaction, which would be necessary for an immune response. The bacteria can feed on specific sugar residues on the surface of mammalian cells. These properties could have been incurred in their natural environment in the mammalian mouth by adjusting the bacteria. Upon transfer into human blood, the bacteria could therefore largely unrecognized multiply and thereby contribute to pathogenicity.

Weblink

• Case report in Spiegel Online