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Cryptococcosis in a pup
E C Hodgin1, R E Corstvet, B W Blakewood
1Louisiana Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|September 15, 1987
Summary
A 2-week-old pup died from disseminated cryptococcosis, likely transmitted from its dam. Cryptococcus neoformans was found in the dam's vaginal discharge, suggesting a novel transmission route in young dogs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Mycology
- Canine Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cryptococcosis is a serious fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans.
- Typically, canine cryptococcosis affects older dogs (over 11 months) and is often environmentally acquired.
Observation:
- A 2-week-old pup succumbed to disseminated cryptococcosis.
- Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in the dam's vaginal discharge, but not in milk, blood, feces, or the environment.
- The dam persistently shed C neoformans from her vagina without clinical signs of vaginitis.
Findings:
- This case represents an unusually young dog diagnosed with cryptococcosis.
- The dam's persistent vaginal shedding of C neoformans suggests she was the source of infection for her pup.
- The dam cleared the infection within a year, and her subsequent litter showed no signs of cryptococcosis.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential dam-to-offspring transmission route for canine cryptococcosis.
- It expands the known age range for cryptococcosis in dogs.
- Further research is needed to understand maternal shedding and transmission dynamics of Cryptococcus neoformans in canines.