Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with abnormal eye movements from fungal brain infection
By Lydia Lovato et al.·Published in Veterinary Medicine and Science·2025·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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Original publication title: Convergence Retraction Nystagmus Secondary to Central Nervous System Disseminated Coccidioides Immitis Infection in a Dog
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A Belgian Malinois in Phoenix was brought to the vet with unusual eye movements, specifically convergence-retraction nystagmus, where the eyes move in a jerky manner. An MRI revealed two fungal granulomas in the brain caused by a Coccidioides immitis infection. The dog was treated with antifungal and anti-inflammatory medications, which quickly resolved the eye movement issues. Follow-up imaging ten months later showed that the brain lesions were either gone or healing.
People also search for: dog eye problems · Belgian Malinois eye movement issue · Coccidioides infection treatment in dogs
Abstract
ABSTRACT This report describes a Belgian Malinois dog residing in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona that was presented to a veterinary neurology center with abnormal eye movements as his only clinical sign. On examination, clinical signs were isolated to convergence‐retraction nystagmus. A brain MRI was performed which identified two well‐demarcated, T2‐hypointense and T1‐isointense, avidly contrast enhancing mass lesions with moderate to severe perilesional T2 and FLAIR hyperintensity within the left frontal lobe and left dorsal midbrain. Imaging characteristics were most consistent with Coccidioides immitis fungal granulomas and serology was supportive of Coccidioidomycosis infection. The patient's clinical signs resolved quickly with antifungal and anti‐inflammatory therapies, and brain granulomas were resolved or resolving on repeat imaging 10 months after initial diagnosis. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of convergence‐retraction nystagmus secondary to an infectious etiology described in a canine patient.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/40034009