Chronic urinary tract infection in dogs: induction by inoculation with bacteria via percutaneous nephropyelostomy

Dogs were inoculated via percutaneous nephropyelostomy with bacteria isolated from canine patients with urinary tract infections (4 dogs were inoculated with Escherichia coli, 2 were inoculated with Proteus mirabilis, and 1 was inoculated with coagulase-positive staphylococci). At approximately monthly intervals after bacterial inoculation, bladder urine specimens were collected via antepubic cystocentesis, and renal pelvic urine specimens were collected via percutaneous nephropyelocentesis. Dogs were euthanatized between 89 and 294 days after bacterial inoculation. Extensive microscopic examination was conducted on the urinary tract of each dog. The dogs did not develop any of the common clinical signs of urinary tract infections (ie, increased frequency of urination, fever, craniodorsal abdominal [renal] pain, or malaise). Inflammation in the lower urinary tract of the dogs was more severe than that in the kidneys. Although pyelitis was present, extension into the outer medulla and renal cortex seemed to be confined to nephropyelostomy tracts. The most severe bladder lesion was found in the dog that developed cystic calculi after inoculation with coagulase-positive staphylococci.