Edward Breitschwerdt

Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

44Years (1983-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
1 September 2003 in Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ABAdam J. Birkenheuer
Adam J. Birkenheuer
MLMichael G. Levy
Michael G. Levy
Edward BreitschwerdtEdward Breitschwerdt
Edward Breitschwerdt
Canine babesiosis has recently been recognized as an emerging infectious disease of dogs in North America. We sought to develop a seminested PCR to detect and differentiateBabesia gibsoni(Asian genotype),B. canissubsp.vogeli,B. canissubsp.canis, andB. canissubsp.rossiDNA in canine blood samples. An outer primer pair was designed to amplify an ∼340-bp fragment of the 18S rRNA genes fromB. gibsoni(Asian genotype),B. canissubsp.vogeli,B. canissubsp.rossi, andB. canissubsp.canisbut not mammalian DNA. Forward primers were designed that would specifically amplify a smaller fragment from each organism in a seminested PCR. The practical limit of detection was 50 organisms/ml of mock-infected EDTA anticoagulated whole blood. The primer pair also amplified an ∼370-bp fragment of theB. gibsoni(USA/California genotype) 18S rRNA gene from the blood of an experimentally infected dog with a high percentage of parasitemia. Amplicons were not detected when DNA extracted from the blood of a dog that was naturally infected withTheileria annaeat a low percentage of parasitemia was amplified. Due to limited sensitivity, this test is not recommended for the routine diagnosis ofB. gibsoni(USA/California genotype) orT. annae. The PCR test did not amplifyToxoplasma gondii,Neospora caninum,Leishmania infantum,Cryptosporidium parvum, or canine DNA under any of the conditions tested. The seminested PCR test was able to detect and discriminateB. gibsoni(Asian genotype),B. canissubsp.vogeli,B. canissubsp.canis, andB. canissubsp.rossiDNA in blood samples from infected dogs.

1 March 2006 in Emerging Infectious Diseases
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Bruno ChomelBruno Chomel
Bruno Chomel
HBHenri-Jean Boulouis
Henri-Jean Boulouis
SMSoichi Maruyama
Soichi Maruyama
Edward BreitschwerdtEdward Breitschwerdt
Edward Breitschwerdt
Among the many mammals infected with Bartonella spp., pets represent a large reservoir for human infection because most Bartonella spp. infecting them are zoonotic. Cats are the main reservoir for Bartonella henselae, B. clarridgeiae, and B. koehlerae. Dogs can be infected with B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, B. washoensis, B. elizabethae, and B. quintana. The role of dogs as an important reservoir of Bartonella spp. is less clear than for cats because domestic dogs are more likely to be accidental hosts, at least in nontropical regions. Nevertheless, dogs are excellent sentinels for human infections because a similar disease spectrum develops in dogs. Transmission of B. henselae by cat fleas is better understood, although new potential vectors (ticks and biting flies) have been identified. We review current knowledge on the etiologic agents, clinical features, and epidemiologic characteristics of these emerging zoonoses.

10 February 2017 in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RLR. Michael Lappin
R. Michael Lappin
JBJ. Blondeau
J. Blondeau
DBD. Boothe
D. Boothe
Edward BreitschwerdtEdward Breitschwerdt
Edward Breitschwerdt
LGLuca Guardabassi
Luca Guardabassi
JWJ.S. Weese
J.S. Weese
Respiratory tract disease can be associated with primary or secondary bacterial infections in dogs and cats and is a common reason for use and potential misuse, improper use, and overuse of antimicrobials. There is a lack of comprehensive treatment guidelines such as those that are available for human medicine. Accordingly, the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases convened a Working Group of clinical microbiologists, pharmacologists, and internists to share experiences, examine scientific data, review clinical trials, and develop these guidelines to assist veterinarians in making antimicrobial treatment choices for use in the management of bacterial respiratory diseases in dogs and cats.

1 July 2000 in Clinical Microbiology Reviews
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
Edward BreitschwerdtEdward Breitschwerdt
Edward Breitschwerdt
DKDorsey L. Kordick
Dorsey L. Kordick
Recent observations have begun to support a role for Bartonella spp. as animal as well as human pathogens. Bartonella spp. are vector-transmitted, blood-borne, intracellular, gram-negative bacteria that can induce prolonged infection in the host. Persistent infections in domestic and wild animals result in a substantial reservoir of Bartonella organisms in nature that can serve as a source for inadvertent human infection. The prevalence of bacteremia can range from 50 to 95% in selected rodent, cat, deer, and cattle populations. Dogs infected with Bartonella spp. can develop lameness, endocarditis, granulomatous lymphadenitis, and peliosis hepatis, lesions that have also been reported in association with human infection. Understanding the role of Bartonella spp. as pathogens in cats and other wild or domestic animals awaits the results of additional studies. Considering the extensive animal reservoirs and the large number of insects that have been implicated in the transmission of Bartonella spp., both animal and human exposure to these organisms may be more substantial than is currently believed.

1 January 2011 in Veterinary Medicine International
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JWJ. Scott Weese
J. Scott Weese
JBJoseph M. Blondeau
Joseph M. Blondeau
DBDawn Boothe
Dawn Boothe
Edward BreitschwerdtEdward Breitschwerdt
Edward Breitschwerdt
LGLuca Guardabassi
Luca Guardabassi
JSJane E. Sykes
Jane E. Sykes
Urinary tract disease is a common reason for use (and likely misuse, improper use, and overuse) of antimicrobials in dogs and cats. There is a lack of comprehensive treatment guidelines such as those that are available for human medicine. Accordingly, guidelines for diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections were created by a Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases. While objective data are currently limited, these guidelines provide information to assist in the diagnosis and management of upper and lower urinary tract infections in dogs and cats.

8 February 2010 in Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
Edward BreitschwerdtEdward Breitschwerdt
Edward Breitschwerdt
RMRicardo G Maggi
Ricardo G Maggi
BCBruno B. Chomel
Bruno B. Chomel
MLMichael R. Lappin
Michael R. Lappin