Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sudden blindness and eye infection from protothecosis in two dogs
By Schultze et al.·Published in Veterinary Ophthalmology·1998·View original on Crossref →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Clinical, cytologic and histopathologic manifestations of protothecosis in two dogs
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two adult mixed-breed female dogs suddenly lost their vision due to a rare eye infection called protothecosis. When they were examined, the dogs showed signs like watery discharge from their eyes, redness, and slow reactions to light. Despite their eye problems, blood tests didn’t show any signs of a broader infection. Unfortunately, both dogs had glaucoma, and the diagnosis was confirmed through tests of the fluid in their eyes and later at necropsy. This condition is unusual, and the dogs' symptoms progressed over a longer period than typically expected.
People also search for: dog sudden blindness · protothecosis in dogs · dog glaucoma treatment
Abstract
Two cases of sudden onset of blindness associated with ocular protothecosis in dogs are reported. Both were adult, spayed female, mixed‐breed dogs that lacked the usual clinical signs of systemic infection with Prototheca species. Physical abnormalities at the time of presentation were limited to the affected eyes which had serous discharge, hyperemic conjunctiva, and aqueous flare. The pupillary light reflexes were slow, and the menace reflexes were absent. Both dogs had glaucoma. Results of complete blood counts and serologic titres for antibodies to Blastomyces dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum were within reference intervals. Protothecosis was diagnosed by cytologic analysis of vitreous humor and was confirmed at necropsy. These two cases were unusual because of their presenting signs and prolonged course of disease progression.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1463-5224.1998.00034.x