Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

A Simple Fecal Flotation Method for Diagnosing Zoonotic Nematodes Under Field and Laboratory Conditions
03:46

A Simple Fecal Flotation Method for Diagnosing Zoonotic Nematodes Under Field and Laboratory Conditions

Published on: December 15, 2023

Histoplasmosis in dogs and cats

Catharina Brömel1, Jane E Sykes

  • 1Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Vetennary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. cbroemel@ucdavis.edu

Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice
|December 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Histoplasmosis, a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, is common in the Midwest and South. Diagnosis involves identifying the yeast in tissues, with itraconazole being the preferred treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Histoplasma capsulatum is a fungus endemic in the United States, particularly the Midwest and South.
  • Histoplasmosis is the second most common systemic fungal disease in cats, which may be more susceptible than dogs.
  • Infection occurs via inhalation of conidia, leading to yeast conversion within host cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of Histoplasma capsulatum infections in animals.
  • To discuss the pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of histoplasmosis.
  • To highlight the prevalence and susceptibility in different animal species.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Histoplasma capsulatum infections.
  • Analysis of clinical presentations and diagnostic findings.
  • Evaluation of treatment outcomes with itraconazole.

Main Results:

  • Infection can be subclinical or manifest as pulmonary or disseminated granulomatous disease.
  • Disseminated disease commonly affects the liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, skin, and eyes.
  • Clinical signs are often nonspecific, including wasting, fever, anorexia, respiratory issues, and lameness; gastrointestinal signs are frequent in dogs.

Conclusions:

  • Definitive diagnosis relies on identifying Histoplasma yeast in tissue samples.
  • Itraconazole is the established treatment of choice for histoplasmosis.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and clinical features is crucial for effective management.

More Related Videos

Passive Administration of Monoclonal Antibodies Against H. capsulatum and Others Fungal Pathogens09:57

Passive Administration of Monoclonal Antibodies Against H. capsulatum and Others Fungal Pathogens

Published on: February 14, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Toxoplasmosis01:28

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
American Trypanosomiasis01:22

American Trypanosomiasis

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Amebiasis01:28

Amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...