A 7-year-old, 28-kg spayed female mixed-breed dog was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) at the University of California, Davis for evaluation of lethargy and weight loss of 6 months duration. The dog had been diagnosed with discospondylitis, spondylosis, and hilar lymphadenopathy by the referring veterinarian 2 months previously. A course of antibiotics failed to alleviate clinical signs. On physical examination at the VMTH the dog was moderately cachectic with muscle atrophy, had severe paraspinal pain from the cervical to midlumbar spine, and had decreased lateral range of motion in its neck. Crepitus was present over several joints and joint capsules were thickened. Ventral lung sounds were decreased and a slightly increased inspiratory effort was noted. Prescapular and popliteal lymph nodes were mildly enlarged. Areas of retinal hemorrhage and chorioretinitis were noted bilaterally on fundic exam. Radiographs confirmed progressive lumbar endplate lysis compatible with discospondylitis, mild to moderate pleural effusion, hilar lymphadenopathy, and moderate thoracolumbar spondylosis. Abdominal ultrasound revealed hepatosplenomegaly with echogenicity changes and diffuse abdominal lymphadenopathy.Results of a CBC revealed mild nonregenerative anemia (HCT 26.1%, reference interval 37%-55%; reticulocytes 59,840/µL, reference value >60,000/µL if anemic), mild lymphopenia (651/µL, reference interval 1000-4800/µL), and moderate thrombocytopenia (78,000/µL, reference interval 200,000-500,000/µL). Results of a chemistry profile revealed hypocalcemia (8.9 mg/dL, reference interval 9.9-11.4 mg/dL), marked hypoalbuminemia (1.0 mg/dL, reference interval 2.9-4.2 mg/dL), marked hyperglobulinemia (9.7 mg/dL, reference interval 2.3-4.2 mg/dL), moderately increased alkaline phosphatase activity (495 U/L, reference interval 15-127 U/L), and a mild increase in gamma-glutamyltransferase activity (13 U/L, reference interval 0-6 U/L). Moderate proteinuria was noted, with a urine protein:creatinine ratio of 1.72. Pleural fluid was hazy orange with a clear Vol. 31 / No. 2 / 2002 Veterinary Clinical Pathology Figure 3. Fine-needle aspirate of spleen from a dog with disseminated Pacilomyces infection. Pyogranulomatous inflammation and numerous fungal elements are seen. Wright-Giemsa, bar=10 µm.Figure 4. Fine-needle aspirate of lymph node showing pyogranulomatous inflammation and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive fungal elements. PAS, bar=10 µm. Vol. 31 / No. 2 / 2002 Veterinary Clinical Pathology Page 71Quance-Fitch, Schachter, Christopher toruloid hyphae resembling pseudohyphae, and unicellular conidia arising from phialides. The eosinophilic component of the inflammation in the pleural fluid was also of interest. Eosinophilia in fluid has been associated with fungal infections, neoplasia (including mast cell tumors, lymphoma, and thymoma), heartworm disease, allergic conditions, and hypersensitivity reactions. With the combination of other clinical findings in this dog, a high degree of suspicion existed fo...