Disseminated Candidiasis in a Young, Previously Healthy, Dog and Review of Literature

Clinicopathological and diagnostic imaging findings in a dog with neurocandidiasis

Neurocandidiasis is systemic candidiasis with central nervous system involvement. This case report describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic test results, and histopathology of a dog with neurocandidiasis. A 3-year-old German shepherd dog was presented for a 3-day history of abnormal mentation, neck pain, and ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain revealed multifocal, small, round, intra-axial lesions within the forebrain. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed severe neutrophilic inflammation. Extensive testing for infectious diseases was negative. The dog was administered immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids. The dog's clinical signs improved transiently but got worse 12 days after starting the treatment. Repeat MRI scan revealed multiple, intra-axial, target-like nodular lesions scattered throughout the brain parenchyma. In the temporal muscles, nodules were seen. Cytology of the fine needle aspirates of the nodules in the temporal muscles revealed a neutrophilic inflammation with hyalohyphomycosis. Postmortem examination was compatible with a severe systemic fungal infection. Candida albicans was isolated from the brain, kidney, and heart.

Candida tropicalis infectious endocarditis in a dog with a patent ductus arteriosus

A 6-month-old male intact miniature Australian Shepherd presented for surgical consultation for a previously diagnosed patent ductus arteriosus. Echocardiogram revealed a patent ductus arteriosus and a hyperechoic oscillating lesion within the main pulmonary artery. Blood cultures and eventual post-mortem examination revealed Candida tropicalis endocarditis. This case report highlights a rare case of fungal endocarditis with both echocardiographic and post-mortem findings.

The pathology of canine mammary candidiasis with embolic dissemination in a dog

Candidiasis is a fungal disease caused by Candida albicans or other members of the genus Candida. Descriptions of candidiasis are comparatively reduced in veterinary relative to human medicine, with no cases of mammary candidiasis being identified in pet animals. This report presents the cytological, pathological, and molecular findings of mammary candidiasis with embolic dissemination in a postpartum dog. A 1-year-old, female Shih-tzu dog that had recently given birth was admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital in Southern Brazil after repeated episodes of intermittent mammary disease and a neurological syndrome. The dog was euthanized due to worsened clinical status and poor prognosis despite adequate clinical therapy and was submitted for routine post-mortem evaluation to determine the cause of the neurological manifestations. Cytological analysis of purulent mastitis identified intralesional fungal hyphae. Gross evaluation revealed multiple masses within the kidneys, liver, myocardium, pancreas, and brain. Routine histopathology and histochemistry identified fungal nephritis, hepatitis, myocarditis, pancreatitis, and encephalitis associated with intralesional fungal hyphae, frequently with fungal emboli and vasculitis. Pure cultures of C. albicans were obtained from fragments of the masses observed at the myocardium and kidneys, with the typical germ tube of C. albicans being identified by microscopic evaluation. A PCR assay that targeted the ITS1 and 4 generic regions of fungi, amplified the desired amplicon, and direct sequencing confirmed C. albicans. Immunohistochemical and molecular assays designed to identify common infectious disease pathogens of dogs did not confirm the participation of canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, or canine adenovirus in the target tissues of this dog. These findings suggest that this dog suffered an initial cutaneous lesion, that probably served as portal of entry to the mammary gland, resulting in mammary candidiasis with subsequent embolic dissemination to multiple organs. This report represent the first description of mammary candidiasis in pet animals and probably one of the few pathological descriptions of mammary candidiasis in domestic animals. In this case, the cause of the fungal infection was probably associated with factors intrinsic to abdominal surgery, pregnancy, and the utilization of antibiotics.

Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary Medicine: Alternaria, Dermatophytes and Malassezia Pay the Bill!

The fungal kingdom comprises ubiquitous forms of life with 1.5 billion years, mostly phytopathogenic and commensals for humans and animals. However, in the presence of immune disorders, fungi may cause disease by intoxicating, infecting or sensitizing with allergy. Species from the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus and Malassezia, as well as dermatophytes from the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton, are the most commonly implicated in veterinary medicine. Alternaria and Malassezia stand as the most commonly associated with either allergy or infection in animals, immediately followed by Aspergillus, while dermatophytes are usually associated with the ringworm skin infection. By aiming at the relevance of fungi in veterinary allergy it was concluded that further research is still needed, especially in the veterinary field.

Antifungal sensitivity and species of yeasts in oral mucosa of street mixed-breed dogs

The aim of this research is to verify the yeast species isolated from oral mucosa in street mixed-breed dogs and to determine the antifungal profiles. After capturing and sedating the animals, oral mucosa samples were collected from fifty dogs and the materials were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol. Forty-three yeast strains were isolated and identified trough the API-20C AUX method. Thirty-seven (86.1%) of the yeasts belonged to genus Candida, five (11.6%) to genus Trichosporon and only one strain (2.3%) to genus Malassezia. The sensitivity profiles to anifungals (amphotericin B, itraconanole, ketoconazole, fluconazole and variconazole) were determined through Etest® method. This study found resistance of some yeasts to amphotericin B and a good susceptibility to voriconazole and ketoconazole. Some of these antifungals are used in veterinary medical practice. This research is the first investigation on street mixed-breed dogs regarding yeast identifications and antifungals profiles.

Risk factors for Candida urinary tract infections in dogs and cats

BACKGROUND

Candida urinary tract infections occur in both dogs in cats but there is limited data about risk factors.

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors for candiduria in dogs in cats.

ANIMALS

Eighteen dogs and 8 cats with candiduria.

METHODS

A retrospective case-control study, using univariate exact logistic regression. Medical records were searched for a diagnosis of Candida and animals with culture-confirmed candiduria were enrolled. Controls had bacterial cystitis (dogs and cats) or cutaneous Malassezia infection (dogs only).

RESULTS

Administration of antibacterial drugs in the 30 days before diagnosis was associated with candiduria in dogs compared to controls with bacterial cystitis (OR 14.5; 95% CI 3.1-66.9) or with Malassezia infection (OR 26.4; 95% CI 3.4-206.7). Antecedent antibacterial drug administration was associated with candiduria in cats (OR 15.7; 95% CI 1.9-132.3). Immunosuppression was associated with candiduria in dogs when compared to controls with Malassezia infection (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.4-12.8), but not significantly when compared to dogs with bacterial cystitis (OR 2.7, 95% CI 0.9-8.0). Lower urinary tract diseases other than infection were associated with candiduria in cats (OR 6.7, 95% CI 1.6-27.9), but not significantly in dogs (OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.7-8.7). Neither diabetes mellitus nor history of hospitalization was significantly associated with candiduria in either species.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The recent administration of antibacterial drug therapy is a potential risk factor for development of candiduria in dogs and cats. Judicious use of antibacterial drugs might help to prevent candiduria.

The Curious Case of "Case Report" of Infections Caused by Human and Animal Fungal Pathogens: An Educational Tool, an Online Archive, or a Format in Need of Retooling

Case reports describe the unusual occurrence and complications of diseases, diagnostic challenges, and notable therapeutic successes. Some journals have discontinued the case reports, while new case report journals have appeared in recent years. During the eightieth anniversary of Mycopathologia, it is fitting to examine the relevance of the case report since the journal continues to traverse the boundaries of basic and clinical sciences. A random sample of recent case reports and other articles were selected from Mycopathologia. Springer Nature individual article download statistics, and Google Scholar and Scopus citations numbers were compared to assess the reader access and bibliometric impact of case reports. Our analysis indicated that the case report format continues to be a vital element of publication in a cross-disciplinary journal such as Mycopathologia. Medical and veterinary case reports covering fungal pathogens are widely read as evident from their download numbers. The download numbers have a positive correlation with the completeness of the report, the topics and geographic origin of reports have a neutral influence, and the recency leads to lower downloads. There is no discernible trend between the download numbers and the citations of case reports as measured by Google Scholar and Scopus. A specially designed checklist for Mycopathologia case reports and new format MycopathologiaIMAGES are being introduced to improve the quality and relevance of case reports further.

Antimicrobial Activity of Five Essential Oils against Bacteria and Fungi Responsible for Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are frequently encountered in small animal practice. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. are the most common agents associated to these infections, even though other bacteria and yeasts, such as Candida albicans and Candida famata, may be involved. In view of the increasing problem of the multi-drug resistance, the aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of essential oils obtained from star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), origanum (Origanum vulgare L.), clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) and thymus (Thymus vulgaris L.) against multidrug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Candida albicans and Candida famata previously isolated from dogs and cats with urinary tract infections. Enterococci were resistant to Illicium verum and Salvia sclarea, such as Candida to Salvia sclarea. Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare essential oils showed the best activity against all the tested pathogens, so they could be proposed for the formulation of external and/or intravesical washes in small animals.