Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Trypanosoma cruzi infection causing swelling and weight loss in young
By Nabity, M B et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2006·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: An atypical case of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a young English Mastiff.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A young English Mastiff from Texas was brought in with swelling under the skin, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, and low protein levels in the blood. Tests revealed the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that can cause serious health issues. The dog was diagnosed after various tests, including blood work and lymph node analysis, confirmed the infection. Treatment options for T. cruzi can vary, but early detection is crucial for a better outcome.
People also search for: English Mastiff weight loss · dog swollen lymph nodes · Trypanosoma cruzi treatment · dog parasite infection symptoms
Abstract
A case of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a young English Mastiff from Texas is presented. Clinical signs and laboratory findings included subcutaneous edema, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, and hypoalbuminemia. Cytology of a lymph node revealed numerous amastigotes. No trypomastigotes were observed in buffy coat preparation of peripheral blood, and on histologic evaluation, most organs contained numerous interstitial pseudocysts. Initial serology was positive for both T. cruzi and Leishmania, and immunohistochemistry supported a diagnosis of Leishmania. However, additional serology supported a T. cruzi infection, and cultivation of organisms isolated from a lymph node revealed morphology consistent with T. cruzi. In addition, PCR analysis resulted in a 504 bp fragment with 99% homology to a flagellar protein of T. cruzi. Although uncommon, autochthonous cases of both T. cruzi and Leishmania have been reported in the United States. Clinical signs observed with both diseases can show many similarities, cytology may be indistinguishable, as in this case, and serological cross-reactivity is common. This case demonstrates an unusual presentation of T. cruzi and the use of multiple testing strategies to support its diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16716519/