Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with fluid buildup in chest and abdomen from coccidioidomycosis
By Piech, Tara L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2020·Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bicavitary eosinophilic effusion in a dog with coccidioidomycosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought in for vomiting and labored breathing. Tests showed fluid buildup in the chest and abdomen, which was linked to a fungal infection called coccidioidomycosis. The dog was treated with fluconazole, an antifungal medication, for about six months, and after six weeks, both the fluid and the dog's symptoms improved. However, three months after stopping the medication, the dog developed a bone lesion related to the same infection. This case highlights the need for awareness of coccidioidomycosis in dogs showing these symptoms, especially if they have been in areas where the fungus is common.
People also search for: dog vomiting and breathing problems · coccidioidomycosis treatment in dogs · dog fluid buildup in chest
Abstract
This is a case of coccidioidomycosis in a dog, examined for vomiting and labored breathing. Physical examination and thoracic and abdominal imaging revealed pleural and peritoneal effusions, both of which exhibited neutrophilic inflammation with a substantial eosinophilic component. The dog had positive IgM and IgG coccidioidomycosis titers at initial evaluation. The eosinophilic component of the inflammation was attributed to coccidioidomycosis. The dog underwent approximately 6 months of fluconazole treatment, with both effusions and clinical signs improving after 6 weeks. Three months after cessation of antifungal treatment, the dog developed a mid-diaphyseal lytic and proliferative lesion in the left radius caused by Coccidioides spp. This case illustrates the importance of consideration of coccidioidomycosis when an eosinophilic cavitary effusion is present in dogs that live in or have traveled to endemic regions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32447816/