Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
German shepherd dog with lung cavity from Aspergillus infection
By Kulendra, E et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2010·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cavitary pulmonary lesion associated with Aspergillus fumigatus infection in a German shepherd dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female German shepherd was brought in for a chronic cough and coughing up blood. X-rays showed a thin-walled cavity in her left lung, and tests revealed a bacterial infection along with a fungal infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Despite trying antibiotics and other treatments, her symptoms didn't improve, so the vet performed surgery to remove the affected lung lobe. While the surgery initially helped her cough for over a year, her condition worsened later, and she was sadly euthanized.
People also search for: German shepherd cough blood · Aspergillus infection in dogs · dog lung surgery recovery
Abstract
A two-year-old female German shepherd dog was presented with chronic cough and haemoptysis. Thoracic radiographs revealed a thin-walled cavitary lesion within a consolidated left cranial lung lobe. Bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed a concurrent bacterial infection; however, despite antibiotic and anthelmintic therapy the clinical signs failed to resolve. A left cranial lung lobectomy was performed. Histopathology and fungal culture confirmed the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus. The necrotic cavity had features compatible with a bronchial origin, possibly a form of cystic bronchiectasis, arising either as a congenital anomaly or acquired secondary to infection. Surgery provided resolution of clinical signs for just over a year before the dog deteriorated again and was subsequently euthanised. Necropsy was declined by the owners. This case report presents a unique presentation in which the predominant clinical sign was coughing due to pulmonary involvement. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the left cranial lung lobe.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20214728/