Fungal pneumonia in dogs and cats with pulmonary clinical signs in southern Brazil

Abstract

RESUMO.-[Pneumonia fúngica em cães e gatos do sul do Brasil com sinais clínicos pulmonares.] Pneumonia fúngica tem sido um diagnóstico diferencial em cães e gatos com sinais clínicos pulmonares, sendo também um risco de saúde pública para seus respectivos proprietários. Uma vez que uma fonte comum de exposição ambiental pode resultar em infecção, cães e gatos podem agir como sentinelas da doença para ambos, pessoas e animais. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência de pneumonia fúngica em cães e gatos com sinais clínicos pulmonares, de maio de 2013 a fevereiro 2015 no sul do Brasil. Radiografias torácicas, exame de sangue e lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) não broncoscópico seguido de análise citológica e microbiológica foram realizados em todos os animais. Um cão foi positivo na cultura do fluido do LBA para um fungo patogênico (Cryptococcus neoformans) e outro cão para um fungo oportunista (Candida parapsilosis). Ambos os cães apresentaram tosse como sinal clínico principal e alterações radiológicas torácicas. Em conclusão, a ocorrência de pneumonia fúngica no sul do Brasil em cães e gatos por meio deste estudo foi relativamente baixa. A cultura do LBA pode possibilitar o diagnóstico de pneumonia fúngica causada por fungos oportunistas ou patogênicos e este diagnóstico diferencial deve ser uma preocupação em cães e gatos com sinais clínicos pulmonares.TERMOS DE INDEXAÇÃO: Pneumonia fúngica, cães, gatos, sul do Brasil, lavado broncoalveolar, saúde pública, micoses. INTRODUCTIONThe most common type of pneumonia detected in dogs and cats is caused by bacteria, however, fungal, parasitic and viral pneumonia require a differential diagnosis in patients with respiratory distress (Cohn 2009

What is Your Diagnosis? Dyspnoeic Cat

“…Although the exact etiology of this pathological condition is unclear in many cases, it is known to be highly correlated with viral infections such as feline leukaemia and feline immunodefi ciency virus (Newman and Schaible, 2019). Studies have reported that fi xed shift of mediastinum is associated with mass lesions such as scoliosis, pneumonectomy, atelectasis, pleural operations, eff usion or granulomatous structures (Pavelski et al, 2018). In our case, histopathological examination confi rmed that mediastinal shift detected in radiographic examination was associated with diff use granulomatous lesions.…”

“…Polycythaemia with a moderate to severe prerenal azotaemia was noted. Th ese combined fi ndings support the presence of signifi cant dehydration (Pavelski et al, 2018). In the leukogram, an increase in granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes were observed.…”

Candidaparapsilosis complex infection in a cutaneous lesion from a dog: Spotlight on an opportunistic pathogen of potential increasing importance

“…Other cases of C parapsilosis complex infection in dogs and cats have been associated with suspected immunosuppression 7,9,10 . In the present case, there was no reason to suspect immunocompromise.…”

“…Candida parapsilosis sensu lato is the most common yeast isolated from the mucosal sites of healthy dogs after Malassezia pachydermatis , followed by Candida tropicalis , C albicans , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , and Rhodotorula spp 6 . Candida parapsilosis sensu lato has been considered the etiologic agent of various pathologic conditions in animals, including urinary tract infections in dogs and cats, seborrheic dermatitis in dogs, fungal pneumonia in a dog, and nasal fungal granuloma in a cat 7‐10 . It has also been associated with ingluvitis in pscittacines, 11,12 disseminated infection in a ferret, 13 endocarditis in a horse, 14 and clinical and subclinical mastitis in cows 15 .…”

Investigation of Alternative Therapeutic and Biocidal Options to Combat Antifungal-Resistant Zoonotic Fungal Pathogens Isolated from Companion Animals

“…Wickerhamomyces anomalus (formerly Pichia anomala ) is a zoonotic and nosocomial yeast, associated with the production of lethal mycotoxins having a mortality rate of 38% in adults and 42% in paediatric patients globally [ 5 ]. Several case reports describe disseminated candidiasis in dogs, with Candida parapsilosis associated with fungal pneumonia, urinary tract, and dermal infections [ 6 ] and is one of the most common fungus associated with respiratory disease in humans [ 7 ]. Zoonotic Cryptococcus is also predominately associated with lung infection in immunocompromised patients, with dissemination to the brain causing meningoencephalitis, afflicting approximately 1 million AIDS patients, with 600,000 deaths annually [ 8 ].…”