Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with cryptococcal infection developed brain compression
By Purcell, Sarah L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2022·School of Veterinary Science, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Acute cerebral compression caused by an epidural hematoma associated with cryptococcosis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 18-month-old neutered male Neapolitan Mastiff was found in a coma, with only a mild limp in his front leg noticed before. A CT scan revealed a serious brain issue caused by an epidural hematoma (a type of bleeding outside the brain) linked to a cryptococcal infection, which is a fungal infection. Unfortunately, despite the veterinary team's efforts, the dog was declared brain dead due to the severe brain compression. A nasal biopsy later confirmed the presence of the fungus Cryptococcus gattii.
People also search for: dog coma causes · Neapolitan Mastiff brain problems · cryptococcosis treatment in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe acute cerebral compression caused by an epidural hematoma (EDH) in a dog with cryptococcal infection. CASE SUMMARY: An 18-month-old neutered male Neapolitan Mastiff was found comatose with no preceding clinical signs apart from a mild forelimb lameness. A CT scan of the head revealed a lesion within the right caudal nasal cavity that traversed the cribriform plate in addition to a right epidural lesion resulting in compression of the right cerebrum. Assessment of brain death was made based on the presence of coma, apnea, and absence of brain stem reflexes and included assessment of the vestibulo-ocular reflex. Postmortem identified a large EDH causing marked compression of the right frontal lobe. A nasal biopsy cultured Cryptococcus gattii. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: EDH formation in a dog secondary to cryptococcosis has not been previously reported. This is also the first time a caloric vestibulo-ocular reflex assessment has been reported in a dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34766701/