Hemorrhagic streptococcal pneumonia in newly procured research dogs

An acute necrotizing hemorrhagic pneumonia syndrome was recognized among 14 newly arrived research dogs. Typically, there were acute deaths without clinical signs. Necropsy revealed diffuse hemorrhagic pneumonia, and Lancefield group C Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated consistently from the lungs. In many cases, septic thrombi were seen in the small vessels of the kidneys, lymph nodes, spleen, brain, and adrenal glands. The syndrome was reproduced by intratracheal inoculation of the isolant into a susceptible dog.