Detection of capnocytophaga canimorsus and capnocytophaga cynodegmi in dogs by cultural and molecular methods

Every year, it is reported that millions of people are bitten by animals worldwide. 90 % of the bites are caused by dogs and there is no any special medical care for these bite wounds. Capnocytophaga canimorsus and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi species are microorganisms found in Capnocytophaga genus and grow commensally in oral flora of dogs. Capnocytophaga canimorsus may also cause mortal systemic infections in humanBy this thesis work, the diagnosis of Capnocytophaga infections which could not made as routinely, was done by using CaL2, AS, CaR and CyR gene sequences. In our study, 200 oral swap samples which were taken from owned dogs which have dental plaque, were examined and in the end of first PCR, CaL2 and AS1 gene were detected from 11 (5.5 %) samples out of 200 samples. It is found that 2 (18.2 %)of the samples were positive for CaR gene and 9 (81.8 %) of the samples were positive for both CaR and CyR gene out of examined 11 Capnocytophaga spp. positive samples. As a result of this research, there was no any positive sample detected that is only positive for CyR gene. The samples that only CaR positive were evaluated as Capnocytophaga canimorsus positive, the samples that both CaR and CyR positive were evaluated as Capnocytophaga canimorsus and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi positive. 2 (22.2 %) of the Capnocytophaga canimorsus and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi positive samples were detected from male animals, 7 (78.2 %) of them were detected from female animals. The whole 2 (100 %)samples that are only Capnocytophaga canimorsus positive were detected from female animals. In the result of positivity range by age, 10 (90.9 %) of the samples were detected from 0-5 age animals, and 1 (9.1 %) of the samples were detected from 6 aged animal out of 11 Capnocytophaga spp. positive samples. 8 (88.8 %) of the samples were detected from 0-5 age animals, and 1 (11.2 %) of the sample were detected from 6 aged animal out of 9 Capnocytophaga canimorsus and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi positive samples. The whole 2 (100 %) samples that are only Capnocytophaga canimorsus positive were detected from 0-5 age animals.