Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pneumocystis pneumonia in Maltese Terrier Papillon mix on toceranib
By Best, M P et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2019·Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Confirmed case of Pneumocystis pneumonia in a Maltese Terrier × Papillon dog being treated with toceranib phosphate.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female Maltese Terrier mixed with Papillon was brought to the vet because she was having trouble breathing and losing weight after a year of treatment for a low-grade mast cell tumor. Tests revealed she had Pneumocystis pneumonia, an infection that can occur when the immune system is weakened by medication. The vet treated her with a short course of antibiotics and stopped the previous medication, which led to a complete recovery.
People also search for: dog breathing problems · Maltese Terrier weight loss · Pneumocystis pneumonia treatment in dogs
Abstract
CASE REPORT: A 7-year-old female-neutered Maltese Terrier × Papillon dog was presented with tachypnoea and weight loss following 12 months of therapy with toceranib phosphate for a metastatic, histologically-low-grade mast cell tumour. The dog was diagnosed with Pneumocystis canis based on PCR with supportive clinical, radiographic and cytological findings. No other clinical evidence of immunocompromise was identified through assessment of haematology and immunoglobulin quantification. Clinical signs completely resolved with a short course of potentiated sulfonamides and discontinuation of the toceranib. CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge this represents the first case of Pneumocystis in a dog secondary to immunomodulatory drug therapy. It is also the first case of opportunist infection secondary to a tyrosine kinase inhibitor in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31025329/