Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Skin sores from widespread toxoplasmosis in an immunosuppressed dog
By Webb, Jinelle A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2005·Department of Clinical Studies, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cutaneous manifestations of disseminated toxoplasmosis in an immunosuppressed dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3.5-year-old giant schnauzer was brought to the vet with skin problems, specifically pustular dermatitis (pimples on the skin) after being diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (a condition where the immune system attacks red blood cells) 45 days earlier. The dog was already on medications to suppress the immune system, which likely made him more vulnerable to infections. Sadly, tests showed that the dog had a widespread infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a type of protozoa. Unfortunately, despite the diagnosis, the dog did not survive.
People also search for: dog skin problems · giant schnauzer immune-mediated hemolytic anemia · Toxoplasma gondii in dogs
Abstract
A 3.5-year-old, castrated male, giant schnauzer was presented with alopecic pustular dermatitis. Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia had been diagnosed 45 days previously. At the time of presentation, the dog was receiving prednisone, azathioprine, and cyclosporine. Cutaneous protozoosis was diagnosed, and postmortem examination revealed protozoa within cutaneous, cardiac, pancreatic, and pulmonary tissues. The protozoa divided by endodyogeny, had the morphology of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) tachyzoites, and stained positively with T. gondii polyclonal antibodies but not with antibodies to Neospora caninum or Sarcocystis neurona. Immunosuppression may have predisposed this dog to disseminated toxoplasmosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15870255/