Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Central nervous system cryptococcosis in Australian cats and dogs
By Jacobson, Else et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2022·1Department of Internal Medicine, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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 features, outcomes, and long-term survival times of cats and dogs with central nervous system cryptococcosis in Australia: 50 cases (2000-2020).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog was diagnosed with central nervous system cryptococcosis, a fungal infection affecting the brain. The dog showed signs of abnormal behavior and had a history of upper respiratory issues. After receiving antifungal treatment, the dog had a median survival time of about 679 days. However, dogs that had received steroids before diagnosis or multiple antifungal medications tended to have shorter survival times. With proper treatment, there is potential for long-term survival, but the prognosis remains cautious.
People also search for: dog abnormal behavior · cryptococcosis treatment for dogs · dog fungal infection symptoms
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical findings and outcomes of Australian cats and dogs with CNS cryptococcosis. ANIMALS: 19 cats and 31 dogs with CNS cryptococcosis diagnosed between 2000 and 2020. PROCEDURES: A case series and cohort study were performed using the same 50 animals. Both studies were multi-institutional and both retrospective and prospective. Disease features were compared between cats and dogs, and associations between putative risk factors and survival time (ST) were assessed. RESULTS: Dogs were younger at initial presentation than cats and had lower latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination titers. Extraneurologic signs were common and frequently involved sinonasal and contiguous tissues. Neuroanatomic localization was predominantly forebrain, central vestibular (including cerebellum), multifocal, or diffuse. CSF analysis predominantly showed pleocytosis, with eosinophilic inflammation common in dogs. Seventy-eight percent (39/50) of patients received antifungal treatment. Median STs (from presentation) in treated patients were 1,678 days for cats and 679 days for dogs. Abnormal mentation at presentation (in dogs) and CSF collection (in cats) were associated with shorter STs. In treated dogs, those that received glucocorticoids prior to diagnosis, or single rather than multiple antifungal agents, had shorter STs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The prognosis for feline and canine CNS cryptococcosis is guarded, yet long STs are possible with appropriate treatment. Presence of subtle upper respiratory tract signs may suggest cryptococcosis in patients with neurologic signs, while the absence of neurologic signs does not preclude CNS involvement.
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 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36434766/