[Calcitriol induced hypercalcemia in a hunting dog with a disseminated Paecilomyces variotii infection]

INTRODUCTION

A 5-year old hunting dog was presented with reduced appetite, weight loss and polyuria/polydipsia. Hematology and clinical chemistry revealed anemia, leukocytosis, increased liver enzymes, hypoalbuminemia and hypercalcemia. The cytological, pathohistological and microbiological examination identified a disseminated infection with the saprophytic mould fungus Paecilomyces variotii in the biopsies of the spleen and a lymph node. Determination of vitamin D metabolites confirmed a calcitriol induced hypercalcemia.

[Atypical Cushing's syndrome in a dog. A case report]

In a 12-year-old male Labrador Retriever, presented due to other disease symptoms, clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism (polyuria, polydipsia, abdominal distention, muscle atrophy) were an incidental finding. Abnormal laboratory results and sonographic findings of the adrenal glands, but negative low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests with low basal cortisol concentrations, a negative andrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulation test and exclusion of iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism, suggested an atypical hyperadrenocorticism (AHAC). Results of further examinations, particularly stimulation of progesterone production by ACTH (0 h value: 0.21 ng/ml; 1 h value: 4.9 ng/ml) and good response to therapy with trilostane, supported this diagnosis. However, it has to be critically considered, whether and to what extent additionally present diseases (arthroses, testicular tumour) played a role regarding the symptoms and laboratory results in this dog. This case illustrates the difficulties with the diagnosis of AHAC.