Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with seizures diagnosed with Balamuthia amoebic brain infection
By Chien, Rory Chia-Ching et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2018·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine amoebic meningoencephalitis due to Balamuthia mandrillaris.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 1-year-old Siberian Husky was brought in after suddenly having seizures, being unable to stand, and showing unusual muscle movements. Sadly, the dog was found to have a severe brain infection caused by a type of amoeba called Balamuthia mandrillaris, which is typically found in soil and water. Despite the diagnosis, the outcome was not favorable, and the dog did not survive. This case highlights the rare but serious nature of this infection in dogs.
People also search for: dog seizures causes · Siberian Husky brain infection · Balamuthia mandrillaris in dogs
Abstract
A 1-year-old Siberian Husky dog with acute-onset of seizures, recumbency, paddling, and muscular fasciculations was autopsied. A locally extensive hemorrhagic and malacic focus was noted in the right cerebral frontal cortex, and severe necrotizing and hemorrhagic, neutrophilic meningoencephalitis was diagnosed microscopically. Amoebic trophozoites and cysts were identified within the affected cerebral parenchyma and confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay and real-time PCR as Balamuthia mandrillaris. B. mandrillaris is found in soil and water and the infection has been reported in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans and rarely in the dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31014865/