Man Who Lost Limbs to Infection From Dog Saliva Vows to Walk Again

A Wisconsin man who lost body parts to a rare blood infection transmitted by dog saliva is being praised by his doctors for his determination to walk again with prosthetics.

Greg Manteufel has undergone at least 10 surgeries since late June after falling ill due to capnocytophaga, a type of bacteria common in the saliva of cats and dogs. While the bacteria very rarely leads to illness, the 48-year-old lost his hands, feet, and parts of his arms, legs, and face.

Doctors had to amputate parts of Manteufel’s body because the disease prevented his blood from circulating properly.

Greg Manteufel (L) and his wife Dawn Manteufel, speak to reporters on Oct. 2, 2018, in Milwaukee, about his recovery from a rare blood infection that led to the amputation of part of his forearms and legs. Ivan Moreno/AP Photo

“Through all of this, the real star of the show is Greg. He’s had the most positive attitude of any patient I have ever met and he’s approached this with a fight that I don’t think I’ve seen in any patient,” Dr. Patrick Hettinger, a plastic surgeon, said during an Oct. 2 news conference about Manteufel’s recovery.

Dr. Silvia Munoz-Price, an epidemiologist with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin where Manteufel was treated, said that what happened to him is highly uncommon.

“It’s extremely rare. Do not get rid of your pets. Continue behaving the same way that you have behaved with your pets up until now,” Munoz-Price said.

The ordeal hasn’t affected Manteufel’s love of dogs.

“I still like dogs,” he told reporters.

Doctors still don’t know whether he contracted the bacteria from his dog or someone else’s.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Manteufel told reporters. “I’ve been around dogs my whole life. It’s hard to take, you know?”

Greg Manteufel (R) with the medical staff at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin on Oct. 2, 2018, in Milwaukee. Ivan Moreno/AP Photo

A Rare Bacteria

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, several types of capnocytophaga bacteria “live in the mouths of dogs and cats.”

“Rarely, capnocytophaga species can spread to humans through bites, scratches, or close contact from a dog or cat and cause illness. Most people who have contact with a dog or cat do not become sick. People with weakened immune systems who have difficulty fighting off infections (for example, people with cancer or those taking certain medications such as steroids) are at greater risk of becoming ill,” the agency said.

A similar case of capnocytophaga infection was reported in Europe in 2016, after a British woman was apparently licked by her Italian greyhound.

The 70-year-old Londoner was diagnosed with sepsis, according to a CBS report, which ended in organ failure.

Dawn Manteufel told Fox6 about the onset of her husband’s disease.

“It hit him with a vengeance,” said Dawn Manteufel. “Just bruising all over him. Looked like somebody beat him up with a baseball bat.”

“This bacteria caused the sepsis in Greg’s body that has completely changed not only Greg’s life but his entire family’s as well. Within days of being admitted to the hospital while still fighting for his life, Greg first lost both feet, after a second surgery to remove more damage on legs, they amputated thru both kneecaps. Surgery is scheduled to remove a portion of both hands as the damage from the sepsis is too extensive,” according to a GoFundMe page set up for his family.

“We can’t wrap our heads around it that all of the sudden, he’s 48 years old and been around dogs all of his life … and this happens,” said Dawn Manteufel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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• Wisconsin Man Greg Manteufel Loses Limbs From Dog Saliva That Led to Rare Infection