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Protothecal granulomatous meningoencephalitis in a dog
C Salvadori1, G Gandini, A Ballarini
1Department of Animal Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
The Journal of Small Animal Practice
|July 18, 2008
Summary
Central nervous system protothecosis, a rare algal infection, was diagnosed in a dog presenting with neurological signs. This case highlights protothecosis as a potential cause of multi-focal neurological disease in dogs, even without systemic symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Mycology
Background:
- Protothecosis is an opportunistic infection caused by Prototheca species, an alga.
- Canine protothecosis typically presents with systemic signs due to multi-organ involvement, often involving hemorrhagic colitis or ophthalmologic issues.
Observation:
- A three-year-old Maremma sheepdog exhibited a two-month history of diarrhea, progressive tetraparesis, depression, and circling.
- Neurological examination revealed stupor, proprioceptive deficits, decreased thoracic limb reflexes, and menace deficits, suggesting a multi-focal neurological localization.
Findings:
- Histopathology identified multi-focal granulomatous lesions in the brain containing Prototheca species.
- Organisms were characterized by PAS-positive and GMS-positive cell walls, basophilic cytoplasm, and single nucleus, with scattered sporangia observed.
- Ultrastructural analysis showed degenerated algae within macrophages.
Implications:
- This case expands the differential diagnoses for canine neurological disease, particularly in Europe.
- Protothecosis should be considered in adult dogs with multi-focal neurological signs, even in the absence of other clinical manifestations.
- This finding is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment of canine protothecosis.
