THORACIC RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN DOGS INFECTED WITH RICKETTSIA RICKETTSII

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Abstract
Sixteen beagle dogs were injected intradermally with Rickettsia rickettsii. The dogs were divided into four groups (n=4):1) infected, non‐treated withdoxycycline;3) infected, treated with doxycycline and an anti‐inflammatory dose of corticosteroid;4) infected, treated with ocular fluoresein angiograhphy was performed on days 6, 10, 17 post‐inoculatin.A mild interstitial lung opacitywas noted in4/16 dogs on day 6, 5/16 on day 10 and 17 post‐inculatin. Increased retinal vascular permeability was noted n 8/16 dogs on day 6,3/16 on day 10 and 1/16 on day 17 post‐inoculation. Correlatin between the presence of radiographic and retinal lesions was not signigicant (p=0.08). Elevan, naturally infected, dogs with thoracic radiographs and an final diagnosis of RMSF were also evluated. Four of the 11 dogs had an unstructu4red inteerstitial pattern. Dogs with acute, experimentally‐infected or naturally‐occurring RMSF may have subtle pulmonary changes characterized by an unstructured interstitial patteern.