Original scientific paper

Atypical disseminated canine histoplasmosis - a case report.

Petar Džaja ; Department of Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb
Željko Grabarević ; Department of General Pathology and Pathological Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb
Silvija Rakočević ; “GOLDI” Veterinary Station for Small Animals, Zagreb, Croatia
Andrea Gudan ; Department of General Pathology and Pathological Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb
Ana Beck ; Department of General Pathology and Pathological Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb
Ozren Smolec ; Department of General Pathology and Pathological Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb
Ružica Sabočanec ; Department of General Pathology and Pathological Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb

Abstract

This paper describes a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a 13-year-old female, mixedbreed dog suffering from severe atopyc dermatitis that was treated with prednisolone. Blood laboratory evaluation showed anaemia, decreased haemoglobin level and decreased PCV. Blood smear examination revealed lymphopenia and neutrofilic left shift. Because of its poor health condition the animal was euthanized and necropsy was performed at our department. Macroscopically, deep haemorrhagic bilateral necrosis on both coxal tubers, miliary necroses dispersed through the liver, severe subcutaneous oedema and diffuse enlargement of spleen and lymph nodes were found. Tissue samples for histopathological examination were stained using the hematoxiline-eosine method, PAS stain and Grocott’s methamine silver method for fungi. Histopathological examination of skin lesion, liver, spleen and lymph nodes revealed numerous enlarged histiocytes infiltrated with inztracytoplasmatical oval, 2-4 ìm large, yeast-like bodies. This intramacrophagic yeast was identified as fungus Histoplasma capsulatum and to our knowledge this is the first case of histoplasmosis in Croatia. The way of infection was very likely transepidermal through pre-existing skin lesions caused by atopy, because the lungs and intestines were devoid of any sign of histoplasmosis.

Keywords

Histoplasma capsulatum; disseminated histoplasmosis; dog; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

67858

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/67858

Publication date:

22.4.2004.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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