Disseminated aspergillosis in dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Mycology
• Canine Pathology
• Immunology

Background:

• Disseminated aspergillosis is a rare but serious fungal infection in dogs.
• Aspergillus terreus is an emerging pathogen in canine infections.
• Understanding the clinical and immunological aspects is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report clinical and pathological findings of disseminated aspergillosis (A. terreus) in dogs.
• To investigate humoral and cell-mediated immune components and complement levels in affected dogs.
• To discuss the epidemiological and pathogenetic features of this disease.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series analysis of 12 dogs with disseminated aspergillosis.
• Clinical and pathological data collection from referred cases.
• Preliminary immunological assessment including humoral immunity, cell-mediated immunity, and complement levels in 9 dogs.

Main Results:

• 12 cases of disseminated aspergillosis (A. terreus) were identified in German Shepherd and Dalmatian dogs.
• No consistent immune abnormalities were found in 9 dogs, except for elevated IgG levels.
• Serum IgA levels were depressed in 30% of the tested cases.

Conclusions:

• Disseminated aspergillosis due to A. terreus presents with varied clinical signs.
• Immune system abnormalities are not consistently detected, suggesting other contributing factors.
• Further research into the pathogenesis and epidemiology of canine aspergillosis is warranted.