A Wisconsin woman has been killed by a rare blood infection that was brought on by a nip by her new puppy.
Sharon Larson, 58, was bitten by her pup Bo in June, causing a small cut and then fell ill.
The Milwaukee woman developed flu-like symptoms that wouldn’t go away and was rushed to the hospital where she tested positive for the Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria. Sharom died two days later.
This particular bacteria is found in healthy dog and cat saliva but can lead to infection in humans who are immunocompromised.
Doctors believe the same bacteria was contracted by Wisconsin man Greg Manteufel, 48, who had all his limbs amputated after a lick from his pup.
Sharon Larson, 58, was bitten by her new puppy Bo in June, causing a small cut but later developed a deadly infection that killed her within two days of being diagonsed
Greg Manteuful, 48, became infected with a bacterial pathogen known as capnocytophaga canimorsus, the same bacteria that killed Sharon
‘I was told she could get struck by lightning four times and live, win the lottery twice,’ her husband Dan Larson told NBC affiliate TMJ4.
‘That’s how rare this is supposed to be,’ he said.
Dan said he thought his wife contracted the flu, but when general medication didn’t work he rushed Sharon the hospital.
Within two days, she died.
‘I feel like I got robbed. Lost my right arm. My best friend,’ Dan said.
The same bacteria is believed to have affected Greg Manteufel who had also developed flu like symptons after a lick from his dog.
When bruising appeared on his arms and legs, the West Bend man was rushed to the emergency room.
Doctors told him a blood infection had spread to all four of his limbs and, due extensive tissue and muscle damage, they would be forced to amputate all of his limbs.
Greg has developed sepsis, or blood poisoning, and his nose, both of his hands and his legs beneath his knees turned black.
Doctors amputated his legs up to his kneecaps and his arms up to his mid-forearms, and need to perform plastic surgery on his nose.
Greg was told the infection was likely transmitted via a lick from his own dog. So far, he’s had amputations on his legs up to his kneecaps (left), his arms up to his mid-forearms and will need extensive plastic surgery on his nose (right)
Capnocytophaga Canimorsus is found in the saliva of healthy dogs and cats but can lead to infection in humans who are immunocompromised
‘We can’t wrap our heads around it that all of a sudden, he’s 48 years old and been around dogs all of his life, and then this happens,’ his wife Dawn said.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the bacteria is found in the saliva of healthy dogs and cats.
One 2014 study from Japan found the bacteria to be present in 69 percent of dogs and 54 percent of cats.
The bacteria can be transmitted to humans through bites, licks, or even close proximity with the animal – seeping into the skin even without a cut or scrape.
While most people will not exhibit any symptoms if they become infected, it has been shown to cause severe illness n those who have compromised immune systems, according to a 2003 study from France.
It is unclear if Sharon or Greg had any pre-existing conditions that made them susceptible to the bacteria.